Elsas Ham And Asparagus Toasts Food

HAM AND ASPARAGUS STRATA

Steps:

• Repeat the layer: Add another layer of cubed bread, ham, asparagus, Gruyere, and milk egg mixture. Press down on the mixture with your (clean) hands to help the bread soak up more of the milk mixture. At this point you can make up to a day ahead, cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
• Bake: Cover with aluminum foil and place in the 350°F oven for 40 minutes. Remove the foil. Bake uncovered for an additional 20 to 30 minutes, until the egg mixture is set. Test by inserting a sharp knife into the center of the casserole. If the inside is still runny, it's not cooked through yet and needs more time in the oven. If the top starts to get too browned, you can cover again with aluminum foil. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

ELSA'S HAM AND ASPARAGUS TOASTS

Steps:

• Holding 1 spear at each end snap off the tough stem of asparagus. Use this spear as a guide line to trim the bundle with a sharp knife. Simmer asparagus in salted boiling water 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water. Cut asparagus to fit the size of the toasts.
• Toast 8 thick slices of farmhouse style bread under a preheated broiler 6 inches from heat. Combine softened butter and mustard. Spread the toasted bread with mustard butter. Cut sliced ham into smaller pieces to process. Grind the ham in your food processor. Spread the toast with ground ham. Arrange steamed asparagus spears on top of the layer of ham. Top each toast with a few grinds of black pepper and a mound of fontina cheese. Return toasts to hot oven under broiler and cook toasts until cheese melts and lightly browns at edges. Arrange ham and asparagus toast on a platter and serve.

WARM BRIE WITH FUJI APPLE, PEAR AND MELBA TOASTS

Steps:

• Quarter apple and pear lengthwise and cut into each quarter on an angle to remove the core. Slice apple and pear into 1/4-inch thick slices. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the fruit to slow browning.
• Cut the top rind off the brie and place in the microwave on high for 60 seconds. Depending on the ripeness of the cheese, it will take 60 to 90 seconds on high to heat and melt. If brie is not yet soft and hot after 1 minute, place it back in microwave for another 30 seconds on high.
• Serve the softened, warm brie with a platter of fruit and Melba toasts for dipping and spreading. Reheat brie if it tightens up for 20 to 30 seconds at a time on high.

ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Season the water with salt and add the asparagus. Cook until tender-crisp then transfer the asparagus to a serving plate. Squeeze the juice of the lemon over the top and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

HERB AND GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Arrange sliced baguette or sliced crusty roll rounds on a cookie sheet or broiler pan. Toast under hot broiler until lightly golden on each side. Remove toasts from broiler and arrange on a serving plate. Remove goat cheese log or buttons from packaging and set on cutting board. Chop and combine fresh chives, rosemary and parsley. Add coarse black pepper to the herb mixture. Roll goat cheese in the herbs to coat evenly. Set goat cheese alongside toasts. Using a spreader or butter knife, spread herbed cheese on warm toasts.

CREAM OF CELERY SOUP AND DEVILED-HAM TOASTS

Steps:

• For the poached chicken stock: Place the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, lemon, herb bundle, peppercorns and salt in a pot, cover with water and bring to a low boil. Reduce heat to simmer and simmer for 1 hour minimum. Cool the chicken in the broth. Remove the chicken and cool. Separate the meat and pull or chop into bite-size pieces. Reserve for another use. The chicken can be stored in plastic bag in the fridge for 4 days. Strain the stock and reserve for soup.
• For the soup: Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Melt the butter and when it begins to foam, add the celery, onions and garlic; season with celery salt and pepper. Add the fresh bay leaf to the pot, partially cover, and cook until very tender and soft, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the potatoes, celeriac and stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low rolling boil and simmer, partially covered, for another 20 minutes, then puree with an immersion blender. Cool the soup and store for a make-ahead meal.
• Place the soup in a stockpot and stir in the cream. Bring to simmer and taste to adjust seasoning. Serve in shallow bowls with Deviled-Ham Toasts alongside.
• Combine the prosciutto, celery, Fresno chile pepper, red onion, parsley, garlic, mustard, pickle relish, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning in a food processor and pulse until it's very, very finely chopped and well combined, almost smooth. Deviled ham stores well in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Spread deviled ham on the toast and cut into toast points, corner to corner, or serve with saltines.

CREAMED HAM AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, cook asparagus in a small amount of water until tender; drain and set aside. , In a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in cornstarch, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Add parsley, ham, eggs, cheese and asparagus; cook and stir over low heat until ham is warmed and cheese is melted. Serve over toast points or biscuits.

ÜBERBACKENER SPARGELTOAST (WHITE ASPARAGUS ON TOAST)

Steps:

• Peel white asparagus with a vegetable peeler from top to bottom, starting below the tips. Cut off any woody ends with a knife.
• Place asparagus spears and salt in a large, wide saucepan and pour in enough water to just cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until spears are tender and easily pierced with a knife, 15 to 25 minutes. Drain.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Toast bread slices; arrange on a baking sheet. Spread butter over warm bread.
• Lay 1/2 slice ham on top of each slice of bread; trim excess on all sides. Cut asparagus spears in half; divide evenly over ham. Cover asparagus spears with Edam cheese.
• Place under the preheated broiler until cheese starts to bubble and brown slightly, about 3 minutes.

ASPARAGUS ON TOAST

Steps:

• Melt butter and stir in four, salt and nutmeg.
• Drain broth from mushrooms and add milk to broth to make 1-1/4 cups.
• Add to flour mixture and cook, stirring until thickened.
• Add mushrooms and heat through.
• Blend in sour cream.
• Arrange warm asparagus spears on toast.
• Top with sauce and garnish with pimento.

SAUTéED ASPARAGUS, TOASTED ALMONDS & MANCHEGO CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and plunge in the asparagus. Cook for 2-3 mins, drain, then leave them to sit somewhere warm.
• Next, put the butter into a cold pan with the almonds. Carefully heat it up, watching that the butter doesn't get too dark. When it just turns golden brown and is beginning to foam, remove from the heat and pour in the lemon juice to stop the cooking.
• Arrange the asparagus onto 6 serving plates and spoon over some of the brown butter and almonds. Shave the cheese with a peeler, scatter over and serve.

HAM ASPARAGUS ROLLS

Steps:

• Steam or boil asparagus until tender-crisp.
• Spread each side of ham with mustard.
• Lay 3 asparagus spears on each slice, alternating tips for appearance and ease of rolling.
• Roll these up and place seam side down in casserole dish.
• Melt butter in med size saucepan.
• Stir in flour slowly, then add milk.
• Stir and cook until boiling.
• Add salt and pepper.
• Stir in cheese until melted, add green onion slices.
• Stir and pour over meat rolls.
• Cover and bake in 350 F oven 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.