Endive Stuffed With Goat Cheese And Smoked Salmon And Cheesy Chicken Bon Bons Food

ENDIVE SPEARS STUFFED WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream the goat cheese with the back of a kitchen spoon. Add the cream, rosemary, thyme, parsley, chives, and pepper and mix until smooth and creamy. Add more cream if the cheese is particularly thick. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Bring to room temperature before assembling.
• Core the endive and separate into spears. Spoon the filling into 20 endive spears, filling each spear about halfway. Assemble on a plate and sprinkle with the paprika, if using. Cover and refrigerate.

ENDIVE STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SMOKED SALMON AND CHEESY CHICKEN BON-BONS

Steps:

• For the goat cheese filling: Mix the goat cheese, 1/2 cup of the cream cheese, the cream, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, vinegar, 2 tablespoons salt and pepper in the bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-low speed until well blended and creamy. Remove half of the goat cheese filling to a separate bowl and add in the remaining 1/2 cup cream cheese. Set aside and chill for the cheesy chicken bon-bons.
• For the salmon stuffed endive: Add the salmon, the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, the dill and parsley to the first half of the goat cheese filling. Mix to combine well. Check the seasoning; you may want to add some salt or pepper but that will depend on the flavor your salmon has.
• Transfer the filling into a zip-top bag and cut the tip to make a medium opening, or use a pastry bag with a medium tip. The filling is dense so you need a larger opening to pipe it. You can also use a spoon to fill the endive but piping is faster. Pipe the mixture onto the tip of the endive. Keep the endive chilled until serving time.
• To serve, garnish with a bit of lemon zest, a sprinkle of toasted almonds and a bit of the salmon roe if using on top.
• For the chicken bon-bons: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Put the chicken thighs on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 35 minutes. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F and roast for 10 minutes more (about 15 minutes per pound cooking time, depending on the size of the thighs. To check doneness, pierce the thigh in the thickest part; if the juices run clear, it is likely done). Set aside to cool. Remove the chicken from the bone and mince; not too fine, but not big chunks, either.
• While the chicken is cooling, mix the sour cream, parsley, chives, dill, garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne and a big pinch salt into the reserved goat cheese filling. Add the chopped chicken and chill again.
• Select 15 to 20 of the animal crackers for garnish. Put 2 cups of the remaining animal crackers into a food processor and pulse to make them into fine crumbs. Pour the crumbs onto a plate. Using a very small ice cream scoop (so you have consistent size), scoop the chicken mixture and roll into small balls. Roll in the crumbs and garnish with an animal cracker. Do this final step just before serving so the cracker crumbs don't get too damp.

TOMATO BON BONS

Steps:

• Stuff each of the tomatoes with a cube of Asiago cheese. Beat 1 egg in a medium bowl. Mix the sausage in until the egg is completely incorporated. Lay a 12 by 12-inch piece of plastic wrap on your workspace. Break off about 3/4 of an ounce of the sausage mixture and make a small pancake in the palm of your hand. Put the stuffed tomato in the middle of the pancake and wrap the sausage around it, rolling it in your palms to create a meatball, making sure the entire tomato is covered with the sausage mixture. Set it on the plastic wrap and continue with the remaining tomatoes.
• Beat the 2 remaining eggs in a small bowl. Put the flour and Breading in separate small bowls. To set up your breading station, place the 3 bowls in this order: flour, egg, and breading mixture. Lay another 12 by 12-inch piece of plastic wrap on your work space. With one hand (the wet hand), place a bon bon into the flour. With the other hand (the dry hand), roll it around gently until it is lightly coated. Pick it up and place it into the egg bowl. With your wet hand, roll it around gently until it is lightly coated with the egg. Place it into the breading bowl. With your dry hand, sprinkle some Breading over the bon bon, and then begin to gently roll it around to coat it. Place it on the clean piece of plastic wrap. Continue until all of the bon bons have been breaded. If needed, you can roll the bon bons around gently in your clean dry hands to ensure that they're perfectly round. Let sit while the oil is heating.
• Using a candy thermometer, heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a pan that is deep enough that the bon bons will be completely submerged. Fry the bon bons 6 at a time until they are completely golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain on paper towels. (The bon bons can be made ahead and warmed on a sheet pan in a 325 degree F oven for 5 to 7 minutes before serving.)
• Process the salsa and ranch dressing in a small food processor for about 30 seconds. Pour into a bowl and stir in the cucumber. Serve with the bon bons.
• Mix all the ingredients well.

ENDIVE "SPOONS" WITH LEMON-HERB GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Using on/off turns, blend goat cheese, olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and lemon peel in food processor just until smooth and creamy. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Stir in chopped cilantro and chives. Season cheese mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.) If desired, transfer cheese mixture to pastry bag fitted with small plain tip.
• Cut off and discard root ends of endive. Separate leaves. Cut cores, with some smaller leaves still attached, crosswise into thin strips. Toss sliced endive with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice in large bowl to coat. Arrange sliced endive on large platter. Pipe or spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese mixture at wide end of each endive leaf. Place 1 very small sprig cilantro and tomato slice atop each. Arrange leaves in concentric circles atop sliced endive. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)

ENDIVE-SALMON BOATS

Steps:

• Spread about 1 teaspoon cream cheese inside each endive leaf.
• Top each with salmon strip, capers, onion and dill weed.

CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH SMOKED SALMON WITH CHEESE AND SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 190°C.
• Make a deep cut into each chicken breast and insert a slice of smoked salmon.
• Place on greased baking tray and place in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
• When the chicken has been in the oven for about 15 minutes, start to prepare the sauce.
• Mix the flour and butter together and put in a pan on gentle heat for one minute then gradually add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps.
• When all the milk has been added and any lumps whisked out add the smoked salmon and stir till well mixed. then add the nutmeg and black pepper to taste.
• When the sauce begins to thicken to the required consistency and the cheese and stir in till melted.
• I normally serve this with only a little sauce on the plate with baby veg. taking the remaining sauce to the table so guest can help themselves, and it all goes.
• Enjoy.

SMOKED SALMON AND ENDIVE

Steps:

• mix cream cheese with next 5 ingredients.
• separate endive into leaves.
• spread cheese mixture on the base end of the endive, top with pieces of salmon.
• arrange on a platter, garnish with dill sprigs.