Corn Blinis Filled With Brandade Food

COD A LA LEIF MANNERSTROM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Make slits with the tip of a knife all over the cod. Slice the cloves of garlic and press them in slits. Season with salt and pepper, place on a baking tray or roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil. Roast in the oven for approximately 45 minutes. When it easily comes off the bones, it is done. Remove the cod from the oven and set aside while you prepare the chanterelles.
• Heat a saute pan over high heat. Add the butter and the oil and heat. Add the shallots and saute for 1 minute. Add the chanterelles and cook until they are tender and have given up their liquid. Season with salt and pepper and serve with the cod.

SWEET CORN BLINI

Steps:

• Put flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt and sugar in a mixing bowl. Grind 1 cup corn kernels to a rough purée in a food processor, then add egg and yogurt, and pulse to mix. Add corn mixture to flour mixture and stir together until just mixed to make a thick batter. Stir in 4 tablespoons melted butter. Set aside for 5 minutes. Thin with a little milk if necessary. (Batter may be prepared several hours ahead.)
• Warm remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining 1 cup corn kernels. Season with salt and pepper, then cook for 1 minute or so to heat through. Keep warm.
• Put greased griddle or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Using 1 tablespoon batter, make pancakes about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Cook for 1 minute, until bubbles appear on surface and pancakes are lightly browned. Flip and cook for 30 seconds more. (Be sure to keep heat moderate or else the pancakes will blacken.) Pancakes may be cooked in advance and reheated.
• To serve, place 3 hot pancakes on small plate. Top with spoonful of cooked corn and some of the butter from the pan. Drizzle with crème fraîche and sprinkle with chives.

RUSTIC CORN BLINI WITH HAM SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Pulse the corn in a blender until almost smooth, leaving some visible kernels, then add the milk and puree until smooth. Transfer the corn mixture to a bowl and whisk in the butter and egg. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until well blended. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
• While the batter rests, pulse the ham in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer the ham to a bowl and add the mayonnaise, onions, lemon juice, paprika, celery and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Heat a griddle or heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot, then lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray. Working in batches, pour 1 teaspoon batter per pancake onto the griddle and cook until bubbles appear on the surface and the undersides are golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes with a spatula and cook until the undersides are golden brown, about 1 minute more. (Reduce the heat if the pancakes brown too quickly.) Lightly coat the griddle with cooking spray between batches, if necessary.
• To serve, top the warm pancakes with 1 teaspoon ham salad and garnish with a parsley or celery leaf.

CORN BLINI WITH SMOKED SALMON AND CHIVE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine sour cream and chives in a small bowl. Cover and chill.
• Cut kernels from ear of corn. Scrape remaining pulp from cob using the dull side of a knife blade. Discard cob. Set corn aside.
• Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and cornmeal in a medium bowl; make a well in the center of the mixture. Combine milk and egg yolk in a small bowl, stir well with whisk. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, and stir with a whisk until just moist. Stir in corn, salt, and pepper.
• Place egg white in a bowl, beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Gently fold egg white mixture into corn mixture.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Spoon 1 tbls. batter per blini onto pan, spreading to about 2" diameter. Cook 2 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges begin to set. Carefully turn blinis over, cook for 1 more mintue. Transfer blinis to a serving platter, and arrange in a single layer; keep warm. Repeat process with the remaining batter. Top each blini with with 1 piece salmon and 1 teaspoons sour cream mixture. Garnish with chopped chives, if using.
• Makes 8 servings.