Cream Of Sherry Pheasant Or Partridge Food

POT-ROAST PHEASANT WITH FINO & PORCINI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Soak the dried porcini in 100ml boiling water for 10 mins until softened and then drain, reserving the mushroom stock.
• Cover each pheasant in four overlapping slices of prosciutto and tie them each in place with a piece of string. Heat the oil in a high-sided, heavy-bottomed skillet or frying pan over a medium heat. Season the pheasants all over and brown them one at a time in the pan, starting with the breast side for a few mins, and then turning until they are golden all over - this should take about 8 mins. Tuck the bay leaves into their cavities, then put them into one large or two medium-sized flameproof, lidded casseroles.
• Keeping the pan on the hob, lower the heat and add the butter. When it has melted, add the juniper berries, thyme and shallots, then season. Fry gently for 5-10 mins, until the shallots are golden brown. Add the flour to the pan and cook, stirring for 1 min. Then turn up the heat and pour in the sherry, scraping the bottom of the pan to pick up any crust. Cook for 1-2 mins, stirring, then add the stock and mushroom water, and bring to the boil. Simmer for 10 mins, or until reduced by a third, then pour into the casserole with the pheasants.
• Cover the casserole tightly with foil and put the lid on top of the foil. Roast the pheasants in the oven for 20 mins, then uncover the pot and put back in the oven for a further 15-20 mins or until cooked through (a little pinkness is okay). Lift out the pheasants onto a platter, cover with foil and rest them for at least 10 mins.
• While the pheasants are resting add the grapes, porcini and cream to the liquor in the casserole and cook over a gentle heat for 10-15 mins (if your casserole is not flameproof, tip the cooking juices into a saucepan instead). While this is cooking, carve the breasts and legs off the birds, put in a roasting tin and cover with foil. Just before serving, return to the oven at 150C/130C fan/gas 2 for 3 mins to heat through. Serve the meat with a generous spoonful of the sauce and the side dishes.

CREAM OF SHERRY PHEASANT OR PARTRIDGE

Steps:

• 1. Quarter pheasant using a heavy knife: cut through back just ahead of the thighs. Split thighs along one side of the backbone. Carefully cut back from the wings and breast and discard. Find the keelbone at the center of the breast. Place knife flush along one side of the keelbone and spit breast lengthwise. For partridge, follow same procedure, but use two birds and leave breasts whole.
• 2. Dredge poultry pieces in dry mix, then the wet bath, then dry mix again. Place breaded pieces on a large plate.
• 3. Heat 3 tbsp butter in a large skillet (preferably cast iron), over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add poultry pieces. Cook bone side up for 5 minutes, covering pan with a tight lid (glass is best). Avoid searing breading. Add mushrooms and onion, rotate poultry with tongs, and continue to brown the bone side for 5 min, covered. Add sherry, return lid.
• 4. Reduce heat to simmer for 25-30 minutes, covered. Deeply prick a thick piece of meat to test doneness. If juice runs clear, it is done. During this time, add chicken broth sparingly if neccessary to keep bottom of pan from drying out. By the end of the 25 minutes, liquid should be almost completely dissipated.
• 5. While poultry is simmering, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and toss with pine nuts and a pat of butter.
• 6. Remove cover, stirring cream gently into pan. Allow to re-heat slowly, removing from heat when cream is hot. Serve over pasta.
• 7. Remember, watch out for shot in your meat!

POT-ROASTED PHEASANT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Dust the pheasants with the flour, then heat the oil in a large flameproof dish. Brown the pheasants all over, then remove from the dish.
• In the same dish, fry the bacon, vegetables, garlic and herbs with 1 tbsp of the dusting flour for 5 mins, until the vegetables start to colour. Put the pheasants and any resting juices back in the dish, pour on the Marsala, wine and stock, add the sugar, then cover and cook for 1 hr 30 mins - 1 hr 50 mins or until the leg meat easily comes away from the bone. Serve with bread sauce.

DUTCH STAMPPOT WITH ROOKWORST

Steps:

• Prepare the vegetables: Peel and roughly chop the potato, Butternut squash (pumpkin), sweet potato/yam, carrots, parsnips and turnip. Peel and finely chop the onion. Wash any grit from the leek and cabbage, then slice both fairly finely.
• Place the chopped vegetables in a large stock pot, and add water to barely cover. Place over heat, cover, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, around 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the rookworst as per the instructions on the wrap, or saute the chorizo, or other spicy saudage you choose, in a little oil. Slice, then keep warm.
• Drain the vegetables well, then mash - but not too smoothly - some lumps are good ;-) Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the butter, and mix through (use less than 1/2 cup if you prefer). If desired, stir through the chopped parsley.
• Serve the stamppot topped with the sliced sausage, and if you are really decadent, with an extra knob of butter!

FANCY PINWHEEL SANDWICHES

Steps:

• You will be making two different types of pinwheels: Roast Beef with Cheddar and cucumber in a tomato wrap and Turkey with bacon and garlic herb cheese in a spinach wrap.
• Wash head of lettuce and dry thoroughly.
• Slice off the ends of the cucumber and remove the skin.
• Cut in half lenghtwise and each half again and scoop out seeds with a spoon.
• Slice each quarter into thin, wedgeshaped strips.
• Place a tomato wrap on a cutting board and cover the surface of it with a thin layer of the cheddar horseraddish cheese spread, making sure to go to the edges. This is very important as the cheese spread holds everything together.
• Leaving the top 2" of the wrap uncovered, lay 2 lettuce leaves on the cheese and press gently. You will need the layer of just cheese to "stick" the wrap together after rolling.
• Lay 2 slices of Roast Beef on top of the lettuce.
• Place about 3 wedges of cucumber crosswise on each slice of Roast Beef bringing the ends together in the middle.
• Starting from the bottom, roll the wrap upward, firmly but gently as not to tear it, finishing at the layer of cheese.
• Cover the pinwheel with a piece of plastice wrap , twisting the ends to secure.
• Repeat for the 4 remaining wraps.
• You use the same preparation process for the Turkey and Garlic Herb Pinwheels using the Spinach wraps, garlic and herb cheese spread, Smoked Turkey and the lettuce leaves. Omit the cucumber and add 3 bacon strips placed crosswise over the turkey. Roll and cover with plastic wrap.
• Place wrapped pinwheels in the refrigerator for several hours to overnight to allow cheese to firm back up. You want them cold and firm when you slice them.
• After chilling, remove plastic wrap and place pinwheel on a cutting board. Using a thin, sharp serated knife slice off the end and then continue cutting slices down every 1/2" until you reach the other end. Neither of the end pieces will be nice enough for presentation but that doesn't mean the cook can't enjoy them!
• You will have 50 slices of each kind of pinwheel when you are finished.

NO-FAT GRAVY

Steps:

• In a large frying pan, add broth, mushrooms and liquid and bring to boil.
• Add pepper, garlic powder, chicken soup base, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, stir to blend.
• While still at boil, add potato flakes stirring constantly until gravy thickens to a desired consistency.
• Use additional instant potato flakes if gravy is too thin.
• If gravy gets too thick, add small amounts of water.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• If you desire a brown color, add a few drops of (Bovril, beef concentrate).
• This gravy is excellent with roasts or chicken.