Forest Spread And Pate Platter With Sliced Baguette Food

TOASTED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice the baguette diagonally into 1/4-inch slices. You should have 20 to 25 slices. Place the slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet. Brush each slice with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake the toasts for 15 to 20 minutes or until they are crisp and browned. Serve at room temperature.

FRESH FRUIT PLATTER

Steps:

• I like to begin the platter with a base of ripe, colorful, sliced melons and pineapple--for example, cantaloupe, honeydew, Galia, or Cavaillon melons, plus the new "golden" pineapples. Peel the outside of a whole melon, cut it in half through the stem end, and scoop out the seeds. Place the melon halves cut side down on a board, and slice them straight across into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Fan each half-melon out slightly and arrange it on the platter. Next, cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple, peel the outside, and use a sharp knife to remove the "eyes." Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise and remove the core by cutting a "V" down the center of each half. Again, place the pineapple halves, cut side down, on a board and slice them straight across into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Fan the slices out and arrange them next to the melon on the platter.
• Once the base is set, you can add any kind of fruit that's available. I like to have one thing that is taller than the rest, such as a large bunch of grapes or a decoratively cut papaya, to give the platter height. Then I add raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and fresh figs in casual but organized groups. The platter can look like a bowl of M&M's if there are too many colors scattered with no order. Visually, your eye needs to have a focal point and to be able to see each type of fruit. After all the fruit is arranged, I add flat green leaves around the outside of the fruit, to set off the colors. Use lemon and galax leaves from your florist, or fig leaves and grape leaves from your garden. Make sure they are pesticide-free and well washed.
• Any kind of fruit will work well on this platter. For special occasions, add persimmons, kiwi, passion fruit, Queen Anne cherries, fresh apricots, and mangos. Choose whatever is colorful and seasonal.

OLIVE AND GARLIC SOFT CHEESE SPREAD WITH WHOLE-GRAIN BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven 425 degrees F.
• Place olives in food processor and grate in garlic, add cream cheese and ricotta cheese. Pulse the cheese and olives into a fairly smooth spread. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with hazelnuts. Toast the bread on a baking sheet 5 to 10 minutes to lightly crisp. Surround the spread with bread, pita crisps and celery.

TOASTED BAGUETTE SLICES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Slice bread into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Place bread slices on baking stone or pan.
• Brush tops lightly with olive oil-if you do not have a pastry brush, you can pour some olive oil into a bowl and simply dip the slices in it.
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until slices are lightly browned.

MUSHROOM DUXELLES AND PATE PLATTER WITH SLICED BAGUETTE

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Finely chop the mushrooms in a food processor. Add oil and butter to the skillet, then shallots and mushroom bits. Season with ground thyme, salt and pepper and saute until the mushrooms are deep brown, about 6 minutes. Deglaze pan with the sherry.
• Transfer this mushroom duxelles to a serving dish and place on a platter alongside the storebought pate. Garnish tray with sliced baguette, cornichons, capers and a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
• Enjoy bread rounds with a slather of pate topped with mushrooms.