Craig Claibornes Croutons Food

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Craig Claiborne believed a cast-iron skillet to be essential for the authentic preparation of this dish. Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Select a skillet large enough to hold the chicken comfortably when it is opened up, as for broiling. Fold wings under to secure them.
• Melt the butter in the pan and add the chicken, skin side down. Cover chicken with a plate that will fit comfortably inside the skillet. Place a heavy can, stone or brick on top of the plate to weigh it down. Cook over low heat, checking the chicken skin, until it is nicely browned, about 25 minutes.
• Remove weight and plate. Turn chicken so skin side is up. Replace plate and weight and continue cooking for about 15 minutes more.
• Remove chicken and pour off fat from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the flour to the fat, stirring with a wire whisk over medium heat. Gradually add the chicken broth and, when thickened, return chicken to the skillet, skin side up. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover with the plate and weight and continue cooking over low heat about 20 to 30 minutes longer or until the meat is exceptionally tender. Spoon the sauce over it.
• Cut chicken into serving pieces, and serve with the sauce and fluffy rice on the side.

CROUTONS (TOASTED FRENCH BREAD SLICES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Rub the crust of the bread all over and generously with the garlic clove. Cut the bread crosswise into 28 slices of equal width. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet. Brush each slice with butter.
• Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake six minutes or until the slices are nicely toasted.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Rub the crust of the uncut loaf all over with the cut pieces of garlic.
• Cut the bread into thin crosswise slices. Arrange the slices in one layer on a baking sheet. Brush the slices on one side with oil. Turn and brush them on the second side. Place the slices under the broiler and cook briefly until golden brown on top.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Prepare noodle dough and set aside.
• Heat butter in saucepan and add garlic. Cook briefly and add beef. Cook, stirring and chopping down with the side of a heavy metal spoon to break up lumps, about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper and stir. Remove from heat. Let cool.
• Add basil, marjoram, egg, cream, bread crumbs, cheese and parsley. Blend well.
• Roll out pasta.
• If a ravioli maker is used, cover utensil with thin sheet of pasta, add about 1 1/2 teaspoons of filling for each ravioli. Cover with second sheet of pasta and press between fillings to exclude air.Use rolling pin to seal pasta and to cut them as you roll.
• Remove ravioli to a rack. Let dry for 1 1/2 hours before cooking. To cook, drop ravioli into boiling water without crowding. Let boil about 7 minutes or to desired degree of doneness. Drain and serve with meat sauce (see recipe).

STUFFED CABBAGE WITH PORK

Steps:

• Carefully cut away the bottom center core of the cabbage. Pull off and discard any tough or blemished outer leaves.
• Bring enough water to the boil to cover the cabbage when it is added. Drop the cabbage into the water and cook, turning occasionally, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drain the cabbage and run it briefly under cold water. Place the cabbage cored side down to drain further.
• Meanwhile, cut away the cores of the tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes into one-half-inch cubes. There should be about three cups. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the two cups of finely chopped onions and two teaspoons of the garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onions are wilted. Sprinkle with one-half teaspoon of the thyme and add the cloves. Cook, stirring occasionally, about five minutes. Scrape the mixture onto a plate and let cool.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Put the pork in a large mixing bowl and add the parsley, bread crumbs, eggs, salt and pepper. Add the cooled onion and garlic mixture and blend thoroughly with the hands.
• Lay out a rectangle of cheesecloth of double thickness measuring about 17 by 24 inches (folded measure).
• Place one of the large outer leaves, rounded side up, just off center with the stem pointing outside. Add a second leaf, the leaf ends slightly overlapping. Add a total of eight leaves, the leaf edges overlapping to form a circle.
• Add two cups of the pork mixture to the center of the leaves and spread it out slightly. Cover with a second layer of six fairly large leaves, stem point outside and with the leaf edges overlapping. Add two more cups of the pork mixture to the center and spread it out slightly. Add a third layer of leaves, edges overlapping, and the remaining pork mixture. Bring up the edges of the cloth rectangle and pull tightly to reassemble the mass into a large cabbage shape. Twist the ends of the cheesecloth bag tightly and tie tightly with string. Cut off the excess cheesecloth ends.
• Heat the butter in a heavy casserole large enough to hold the stuffed cabbage comfortably without crowding. Add the one and one-half cups of coarsely chopped onions, celery, bay leaf and remaining one-half teaspoons of garlic and thyme and cook briefly until the mixture is wilted. Add the tomatoes and allspice, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil and cook about one minute.
• Add the wine and broth. Put in the stuffed cabbage, tied side down, and cover closely. Bring to the boil and simmer one and one-half hours or until the internal temperature reads 170 degrees.
• Remove the cabbage from the casserole. Cut away and remove the cheesecloth bag. Line a mixing bowl with a sieve and pour the liquid and solids from the casserole into it. Strain, pressing the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Reheat this sauce.
• Cut the cabbage into pie-shaped wedges and serve with the hot sauce.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S BOUILLABAISSE

Steps:

• Heat one-third cup of the olive oil in a large saucepan and add the onions, leeks, fennel, garlic and celery. Cook, stirring without browning, about five minutes.
• Add the hot red pepper flakes, saffron, tomatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaf, thyme and wine. Bring to a boil and cook 30 minutes. Pour the sauce into a wide casserole and allow it to cool to room temperature.
• Leave the sea robin and sculpin fillets whole. Cut the conger and monkfish into 1 1/2-inch squares. Add all the fish to the tomato sauce. Stir to coat all the pieces. At this point it is best to refrigerate the mixture for two or three hours, but if you do not have the time, the soup can be cooked immediately. When ready, add the fish broth to the tomato mixture and bring to a boil. Let simmer about two minutes.
• Add the mussels and stir gently so they are covered with liquid. Cover closely and let simmer until the mussels open, about five minutes.
• Stir in the shrimp and let cook about one minute. Sprinkle with parsley and dribble the remaining one- quarter cup of oil over all. Baste the top of the solids briefly with the liquid. Gently stir in the Pernod or Ricard until blended.
• Serve in hot soup bowls with a crouton or two on top. Add the sauce to the top of the toast. Serve the remaining croutons on the side.

CRAIG CLAIBORNE'S SOUTHERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl.
• Beat the eggs until foamy and stir them into the dry mixture.
• Stir in the buttermilk and 1 cup whole milk.
• Heat the butter in a 9 X 2-inch black skillet, and when it is very hot but not brown, pour in the batter.
• Carefully pour the remaining 1 cup whole milk on top of the batter without stirring.
• Place the dish in the oven and bake 50 minutes, or until set and baked through.
• Slice into wedges.