Jerk Spiced Pumpkin Squash Vol Au Vents Food

JERK SPICED PUMPKIN / SQUASH VOL AU VENTS

Steps:

• Bake pastry shells at 375F for 20 minutes or as directed on package. (If you are adventureous enough to make your own, you probably don't need me giving you details on baking them.).
• Filling:.
• Cube the squash and coat with a little olive oil before roasting for about a half hour (or until soft with a little crispiness on the outside). Set aside.
• In a skillet, saute the chopped spinach and almonds until spinch is soft. Season with jerk seasoning and add to squash.
• Divide mixture between pastry shells and warm in the oven for about 5 minutes.
• Curry Sauce:.
• Saute the curry powder or paste in some olive oil. Add coconut milk and veggie stock. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Slice the plantain thinly and fry in oil until golden on each side.
• To serve, put a filled pastry shell on a plate, spoon on some curry sauce and top with a few slices of plantain. Garnish with some fresh green herbs such as cilantro.

CHICKEN LIVER VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Bake the pastry according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a skillet. Add the chicken livers and saute gently for 3 to 4 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from the skillet.
• Add the onion to the skillet and saute until softened.
• Add the mushrooms and saute for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in the flour, then the broth. Simmer, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the chicken livers.
• Remove the "lids" from the pastry shells and spoon the filling into the shells.
• Sprinkle with the cheese.
• Replace the lids and serve.

CHICKEN AVOCADO AND MUSHROOM STUFFED VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Heat oil in a pan cook chicken in batches until browned, remove and set to one side.
• Heat a little more oil in the same pan, add leeks, garlic and mushrooms, cook until leeks and mushrooms have softened, return chicken to pan and removed from heat.
• In a saucepan whisk soup powder with milk and stock, bring to the boil to thicken, stir in tarragon. (my packet mix requires one more cup of liquid than I use, so that I end up with a thicker version than a soup, to use as the sauce, so bear this in mind.).
• Pour soup mix into pan with chicken and mushroom mix, stir to combine, gently stir in avocado.
• Place spoonfuls of chicken mix into pastry cases, bake in oven for about 5-8 Min's until hot.
• I served our with honeyed carrots and buttered spinach.

LOBSTER VOL AU VENT WITH ORANGE COGNAC SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Orange Cognac Sauce: In a medium saucepan over high heat combine the orange juice, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce heat until nearly evaporated. Add the stock, heavy cream, and cognac. Boil for minute, remove from the heat, and set aside.
• For the Lobster Vol au Vent: Preheat a saucepan over high heat until very hot. Add the olive oil, then the lobster meat, mushrooms, shallots, tarragon, and white pepper, to taste, while stirring to combine ingredients. Add 1/2 cup of the Orange Cognac Sauce and bring to a boil for 1 minute. Reduce to a simmer.
• Spoon reduced mixture into prepared shells, drizzle with remaining orange cognac sauce, and garnish with parsley leaves.

MUSHROOM VOL AU VENT

Steps:

• If you would rather not make the pastry you can purchase Vol au Vent shells and can skip the first several steps.
• Roll the pastry out to 1/4 inches thick on a well floured board.
• Cut six 3 inches circles with a pastry cutter. Make a smaller cut 1/4 " inside each case all around but do not cut all the way through.
• Place on ungreased baking tray and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Brush the tops of the cases with the egg and water glaze and bake at 400 degree for 20 minutes or until well risen and golden.
• Cool on a wire rack then carefully remove the lids with a sharp knife and scoop out any uncooked mixture.
• Filling.
• melt the butter in a skillet and add the sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook for 2 minutes.
• Blend in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
• Blend in the milk, bring to a boil then lower to a simmer for 2 minutes.
• Season well with salt and pepper.
• Fill the prepared cases with the filling, replace the lids and return to a 400 degree oven for another 10 - 15 minutes. Be careful they do not burn.
• prep time includes making the shells.

OYSTER VOL-AU-VENTS

Steps:

• Pat the oysters dry with paper towels and set aside.
• Prepare béchamel sauce by combining the milk, bay leaf, onion, peppercorns and celery in a small, heavy-based saucepan, over a medium heat until bubbles form around the edge of the saucepan. Remove from the heat and stand at room temperature for 15 minutes to cool. Strain and reserve the milk.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan until hot and bubbling. Add the flour and stir constantly for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to avoid the sauce from becoming lumpy.
• Return the saucepan to the heat and cook the sauce, stirring constantly on a medium-high heat until it comes to the boil and thickens. Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
• Spoon 1 teaspoon of béchamel sauce into the base of each vol-au-vent case, top with an oyster and spoon over a little extra béchamel sauce.
• Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp and hot. Just before serving, sprinkle with chopped chives.
• Note: These vol-au-vents can be prepared a few hours in advance and put in the oven just before they are required.

JERK SEASONING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the dried onion, thyme, allspice, ground black pepper, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and salt. Coat meat lightly with oil, then rub seasoning onto meat.