Blue Cheese And Dried Fruit Terrine Food

PROSECCO AND SUMMER FRUIT TERRINE

Steps:

• Arrange fruit in a 1 1/2-quart glass, ceramic, or nonstick terrine or loaf pan.
• Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup Prosecco in a small bowl and let stand 1 minute to soften. Bring 1 cup Prosecco to a boil with sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and add gelatin mixture, stirring until dissolved. Stir in remaining 3/4 cup Prosecco and lemon juice, then transfer to a metal bowl set in a larger bowl of ice and cold water. Cool mixture, stirring occasionally, just to room temperature.
• Slowly pour mixture over fruit, then chill, covered, until firm, at least 6 hours.
• To unmold, dip pan in a larger pan of hot water 3 to 5 seconds to loosen. Invert a serving plate over terrine and invert terrine onto plate.

COUNTRY TERRINE

Steps:

• Clean the chicken livers - cut away any sinew, blood or green bits, then set enough aside to run along the length of your terrine dish or loaf tin. Chop the rest into small cubes. Tip all the ingredients - except the prosciutto, whole livers and cornichons, etc, to serve - into a large bowl. Season and mix well with your hands. If you have time, you can cover and set aside in the fridge for the flavours to mingle for a few hours or overnight.
• Line the base and sides of a 1kg terrine dish or small loaf tin with baking parchment. Then carefully line the base and sides of the dish/tin with the overlapping slices of prosciutto (A), leaving some hanging over the side and a few slices for the top. Pack half the meat mixture down into the terrine and press down. Lay a row of chicken livers down the middle of the terrine (B), then add the rest of the meat mixture and press down. Lay the remaining prosciutto over the top, then lift the slices from the sides up and over, and cover the dish with foil.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 6. If you have a spare cardboard box in your kitchen, cut a piece of card out slightly larger than the base of the terrine. Put it in a deep roasting tray and sit the terrine on top (this helps the terrine to cook evenly). Boil a kettle and pour in enough water so it comes halfway up the terrine. Carefully place it on the middle shelf of the oven and cook for 1 hr.
• Remove the tin from the oven, take out the terrine and leave to cool completely. Place on a plate or a tray with another flat tray on top, weigh down with a few cans and leave to chill overnight. To turn out the terrine, slip a knife between the paper and the terrine to loosen it, then turn it out onto a board. Wipe off the jelly and either serve straight away sliced or wrap in cling film and slice later. Serve with toasted bread - a favourite of mine is walnut bread and some nice leaves dressed with walnut oil. You can keep the terrine for up to two days, but it will start to lose its colour.

VEGETABLE TERRINE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Salt it and blanch the beet greens for 1 minute. Remove the leaves and immediately rinse under ice-cold water to set their color. Gently lay flat on tea towels, and pat dry with another tea towel. They should be completely dry.
• Line a buttered terrine mold with a piece of parchment. Neatly lay in the beet leaves to cover the bottom and sides completely. They should dangle over the sides a bit so that they can be folded over the completed terrine later.
• Cook the cauliflower, carrots and peas one at a time in the same pot of boiling salted water, until very tender. Remove them and immediately rinse in ice-cold water to preserve their color. Drain well. Roast the pepper until very soft. Peel, seed and cut into pieces.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C.
• This terrine has five layers, so work one vegetable at a time. First put the cauliflower in the blender with 1/4 cup/60 ml cream and 1 egg. Pulse to a smooth puree. Pour into a small bowl and set aside. Rinse the blender and proceed with the remaining vegetables in the same manner, pouring their purees off into bowls and setting aside. Put the final egg and 1/4 cup/60 ml cream in the blender with the Parmesan cheese and puree to blend. Season each mixture with salt and pepper.
• If you pour one mixture on top of the other into the terrine, they will run together, so spoon them in instead. Start with the carrot, spooning it into the terrine and smoothing it out to the edges. Next, spoon over the cauliflower, followed by the peas. Spoon the Parmesan mixture over evenly, and end with the red pepper. If one leaks through to another layer, fear not: some think it is even more beautiful that way and in any case it will taste delicious. Fold the overhanging beet leaves over top to cover. Bake in a water bath until set, a good hour.
• Remove the terrine from the bath. Let it cool completely on a wire rack, and, if possible, chill in the refrigerator overnight so it sets well. At least half an hour before serving, turn the terrine out onto a cutting board or platter for serving in slices.

APPLE, PECAN AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Add the greens, cherries, pecans, cheese and apples into a large salad bowl.
• Mix the olive oil, Dijon, maple syrup and vinegar in a small jar and sprinkle with and salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well to mix.
• Pour a little of the salad dressing over the top of the salad and toss to combine. Taste the salad and add more dressing to taste.

COUNTRY TERRINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C.
• Melt the butter in a saute pan and gently saute the onions until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the Cognac, remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Combine the ground pork, liver and ground veal in a large bowl. Add the onion mixture, breadcrumbs, herbs, quatre-epices and eggs. Mix well. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and pepper. Fry a patty of it to check for seasonings and adjust if necessary.
• Thinly slice the pork fat and line a 10-by-2 1/2-inch terrine mold with the slices, slightly overlapping them and allowing it to hang over the edges. Pack the meat mixture into the terrine and press down evenly. Fold the overhanging strips of fat over the top and add a few more slices if necessary to cover the top. Cover the top with a piece of parchment paper, then cover the terrine with foil.
• Put the terrine in a roasting pan and pour around enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the terrine. Place in the oven and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the water bath and cool completely. Place a brick on it and refrigerate overnight. Slice and serve.

VEGAN TERRINE

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add a splash of the vinegar (this seasons the beetroot) followed by the beetroot. Simmer for 45 mins-1 hr, or until the beetroot can be easily pierced with a knife. Drain, leave to cool, then peel.
• Meanwhile, mix the soft cheese, lemon zest, thyme and oregano together. Add the garlic, then season to taste. Cover and chill until needed. Both the beetroot and filling can be prepared up to a day in advance and chilled until needed.
• Lightly oil a 450g loaf tin and line with two layers of baking parchment, leaving enough excess to allow you to cover the top. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, thinly slice the cooked beetroot into 1.5-2mm slices.
• Arrange a thin layer of overlapping beetroot slices in the bottom of the tin. Spoon over a thin layer of the filling, then repeat until everything has been used, finishing with a layer of beetroot slices. Cover, then weigh down the terrine with a piece of card and a couple of cans. Chill overnight.
• For the walnut brittle, line a baking tray with baking parchment and set aside. Toast the walnuts in a small, dry frying pan over a medium heat until they smell nutty. Tip out onto the tray and spread out in an even layer. Return the pan to the heat and sprinkle in the caster sugar. Cook until caramelised, swirling the pan occasionally but not stirring, until you have a deep amber caramel. Carefully pour this over the walnuts, then sprinkle with a large pinch of chilli flakes and sea salt. Leave to cool. Once cool, break the brittle into shards or pulse in a food processor for a finer texture. The walnut brittle can be made a week in advance and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• To serve, unwrap the beetroot terrine and turn out onto a board. Remove the baking parchment and top with the walnut brittle, then slice. Serve with toast and a balsamic-dressed salad, if you like.

DUCK & PORK TERRINE WITH CRANBERRIES & PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Put the duck breasts and skin in a shallow dish, then place in the hot oven for 20 mins. Discard the shrivelled bit of skin that remains, then pour the duck fat into a bowl to cool. Reserve 6 bacon rashers, then roughly chop the remainder. Roughly chop the cooked duck meat.
• In a food processor, blend the chopped bacon, pork and duck in batches to a coarse texture, then tip into a large bowl. Tear up the bread and soak in the milk for 5 mins. Squeeze out the bread and put in the food processor with the shallots, garlic and livers. Process to a coarse texture, then add to the bowl, mixing well.
• Grind the peppercorns, coriander seeds and cloves to a coarse powder using a pestle and mortar. Stir in the cinnamon. Add the spices to the meat along with 4 tbsp reserved duck fat, the Cognac, eggs and 2 tsp salt. Mix together very thoroughly - the best way is to use your hands.
• Press half the mixture into a 1.5-litre baking dish or similar. Scatter over the pistachios and cranberries, then cover with the remaining meat mixture. Arrange the reserved bacon rashers over the top, tucking in the ends. Cover the dish tightly with foil, then put in a roasting tin. Pour boiling water into the tin to come halfway up the sides of the dish.
• Bake for 2 hrs, remove foil, then bake for 15 mins more to brown the top. Cool completely, then wrap in fresh foil and chill. For the best flavour, let the terrine chill and mature for at least 2 days before eating.
• TO FREEZE Make the terrine as stated, cool and then freeze. Defrost in the fridge before serving.

HAM HOCK TERRINE

Steps:

• Put the ham hocks in a large pan with the stock ingredients. Cover with cold water. Set pan over a high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cook for 2 and a half to 3 hrs or until the meat falls from the bone. Leave to cool in the pan.
• Grease a 1-litre terrine mould or loaf tin with the oil, then line with cling film. Remove the hocks, then strain the stock through a fine sieve into a pan. Set aside.
• Shred the ham, leaving some large chunks, removing as much fat and sinew as possible. In a large bowl, mix the ham with the mustard and parsley. Press the mixture into the prepared terrine.
• Bring the reserved stock back to a rapid boil and reduce by half. You should have about 600ml/1pt liquid remaining. Remove from the heat. Meanwhile, soak the gelatine in cold water for 5 mins to soften. Remove from the water, then squeeze out any excess liquid. Add the gelatine to the hot stock and stir well.
• Pour enough of the stock over the ham to just cover. Tap terrine firmly on a hard surface to knock out air pockets, then cover with cling film. Chill for 3-4 hrs or overnight. To serve, remove from the mould and carve into chunky slices. Serve with caper berries and toast.

GAME TERRINE

Steps:

• Carefully cut the duck skin from the duck breast, then very finely chop the skin. Reserve 12 bacon rashers for lining the tin. Cut all the meat and remaining bacon into 1cm pieces, keeping the different meats separate (Step 1). Put all the best bits to one side.
• Reserve the chopped bacon and, from the best bits, reserve 100g chopped chicken, 250g chicken livers, half the mixed game, half the duck and half the duck skin.
• Put all the remaining meat and duck skin into a food processor (include any fattier pieces) and blend to a mince. Transfer to a bowl and add the garlic, allspice, juniper berries, parsley, Armagnac or brandy, wine and stock. Mix in the reserved chopped meat and marinate in the fridge overnight.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 1.5-litre loaf tin or terrine mould with butter. Lightly stretch the reserved bacon rashers (Step 2) and use most of them to line the tin or mould, overlapping slightly and leaving plenty of overhang at the top (Step 3). Pack the meat mixture into the tin (Step 4), then fold over the bacon overhang and lay the reserved rashers on top.
• Cover the terrine with baking parchment, then cover tightly with foil. Put a folded tea towel in a roasting tin and set the terrine on top (Step 5). Pour enough hot water into the roasting tin to come just below the rim of the terrine tin.
• Put in the oven, then reduce heat to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and bake for 1½ hrs. Take from the oven and leave to cool for 1 hr in the water bath, then remove and leave to cool completely.
• Once cool, cut a strip of foil or card to fit the top of the tin, put it on top of the terrine and weigh it down with a few heavy cans (Step 6). Chill overnight.
• Carefully remove the terrine from the tin, wipe off all the jelly and serve in slices with the toasts and cornichons.