Karens Smooth French Milk Mussels Food

CLASSIC FRENCH MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the mussels, wine, cream, butter, and parsley and season well with salt. Give it a good stir, cover the pot, and cook until mussels open and are cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Divide the mussels and the juices between 2 bowls and serve with the crusty bread.

MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE

Steps:

• To clean the mussels, put them in a large bowl with 2 quarts of water and the flour and soak for 30 minutes, or until the mussels disgorge any sand. Drain the mussels, then remove the "beard" from each with your fingers. If they're dirty, scrub the mussels with a brush under running water. Discard any mussels whose shells aren't tightly shut.
• In a large non-aluminum stockpot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook for 5 minutes; then add the garlic and cook for 3 more minutes, or until the shallots are translucent. Add the tomatoes, saffron, parsley, thyme, wine, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
• Add the mussels, stir well, then cover the pot, and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until all the mussels are opened (discard any that do not open). With the lid on, shake the pot once or twice to be sure the mussels don't burn on the bottom. Pour the mussels and the sauce into a large bowl and serve hot.

MUSSELS IN CREAM SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add leek; sauté 3 minutes. Add mussels and wine. Cover and simmer until mussels open, about 4 minutes (discard any that do not open). Using slotted spoon, transfer mussels to 2 bowls.
• Stir cream and 2 tablespoons parsley into liquid in pot. Simmer uncovered 3 minutes. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over mussels. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons parsley.

MUSSELS WITH PERNOD AND CREAM

Steps:

• Combine sliced leeks, dry white wine and red bell pepper in large pot. Add mussels. Bring to boil over high heat. Cover pot and cook until mussels open, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer mussels to medium bowl (discard any mussels that do not open). Add whipping cream and Pernod to pot; boil until liquid is slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Mix in chopped parsley. Return mussels and any accumulated juices to pot. Simmer until mussels are warmed through, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper. Serve mussels with broth.

MUSSELS, WHITE WINE & PARSLEY

Steps:

• Tip the mussels into the sink or a large bowl of cold water. Swish them around with your hands to wash them thoroughly. Use a small sharp knife to scrape off any barnacles attached to the shells. Discard any mussels with broken shells.
• Pull off the beards using the knife to help you - they just need a good tug. The beard is the brown wispy bit hanging out of the join in the shells. Not all mussels will have beards.
• If any mussels are open, tap them sharply against the side of the sink, worktop or with a knife. If they don't close, discard them - they are dead and not edible.
• Rinse the mussels again in fresh cold water to remove any bits of shell or barnacle, and drain in a colander. Tip the mussels into a large pan, then add the wine and chopped shallot. The pan should not be more than half full - the mussels need plenty of space to move around so that they cook thoroughly.
• Set the pan over a high heat and cover tightly with a lid. When the pan starts to steam, cook the mussels for 3-4 mins, shaking the pan from time to time to ensure they cook evenly. They are cooked when the shells have opened. Mussels that have not opened are fine to eat if they can be easily opened.
• Remove the pan from the heat to stop the mussels cooking any further. Sprinkle with chopped parsley, then spoon them into warmed bowls and pour over the pan juices.

KAREN'S SMOOTH FRENCH MILK MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat butter and oil in a very large pan over medium heat till bubbles stops. Add onions and saute for 3-5 minutes till translucent add garlic saute for 1 minute.
• Mix the herbs together and divide in half.
• Add wine, Pernod and 1/2 of the fresh herbs.
• Raise the heat up to high and place the mussels in toss, cover and cook for 2 1/2 minutes.
• Meanwhile have a even larger pan heating.
• After the mussels cooked for 2 1/2 minutes flip them into the hot pot and cook for 2 1/2 minutes more.
• Meanwhile place the other 1/2 of fresh herbs into a 1 cup measure with lemon zest, salt, pepper and flakes top with cream and stir.
• Toss into the mussel's the remove mussels, plating them.
• Cook sauce and reduce while plating the mussels.
• Pour sauce over mussels and garnish with fresh tarragon and lemon halves.

FRENCH COUNTRY MUSSELS

Steps:

• Heat oil in 8 quart pot and cook garlic and onion until browned, about 5 minutes Add tomatoes, parsley and pepper and cook 2 minutes.
• Add the wine and cook another 2 minutes.
• Add mussels, toss well, cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally Serve in a bowl with crusty french bread to soak up the juices.