Muenster Stuffed Potatoes Food

LOBSTER-STUFFED POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F; position an oven rack in the middle of the oven.
• Poke holes in the potatoes, then place them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until just soft, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place the lobsters in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes-this will put the lobsters to sleep and calm them down so they're not so acrobatic when you try to finish them off. Fill a large pot with water and add enough salt so the water tastes like seawater, then bring to a boil. Fill a very large bowl with ice and water.
• Working with one lobster at a time, in one decisive motion, plunge a chef's knife into and all the way through the lobster's head so the head is halved vertically-this kills it quickly. Break down the lobster by removing the claws and the tail. Discard the lobster carcasses or save them to make lobster stock later.
• Add the lobster tails to the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes, then add the claws and cook for an additional 6 to 7 minutes. Remove the lobster from the boiling water and set aside. Once cool, crack the claws and tails and remove the meat. Quarter the tails lengthwise and chop. Cut the claw meat in half and chop it into pieces the same size as the tail meat.
• Let the potatoes cool slightly; leave the oven on. Carefully, without breaking the skin, slice the potatoes in half and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Reserve for later.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and cook until the milk solids sink to the bottom of the pan and turn hazelnut brown and the butter starts to smell nutty, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rosemary and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the scallions and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the scooped potato flesh, salt and pepper to the saucepan and stir to combine. Add the chopped lobster, creme fraiche and 3/4 cup of the Gruyere. Mix until thoroughly combined.
• Spoon the potato-lobster mixture into the potato shells and place them in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or on a quarter-sheet tray. Sprinkle the potatoes with the remaining 1/4 cup Gruyere and bake until the potatoes are hot and bubbling, 12 to 15 minutes. Top with the scallions, and serve.

TWICE-BAKED POTATO CUPS WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Pierce potatoes in several places with fork, then brush lightly with oil. Place potatoes directly on oven rack and bake until tender when pierced with fork, about 55 minutes. Cool potatoes slightly.
• Cut off thin slice from both short ends of each potato and discard. Cut each potato crosswise in half; stand each half on its small flat end. Using teaspoon, scoop out cooked potato pulp from each half, leaving 1/3-inch-thick shell and forming potato cup. Place potato cups in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Place potato pulp in medium bowl; add cheese, sour cream, milk, and cayenne. Using potato masher or fork, mash until well blended and almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mound mashed potato mixture in potato cups.
• Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until tender and deep brown, about 12 minutes. Top potato cups with shallots. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake potato cups until heated through, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

PANFRIED POTATO, ONION, AND CHEESE DUMPLINGS

Steps:

• Cook onion in butter with 1/4 teaspoon salt in a heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
• Uncover and cook onion, stirring frequently, until deep golden- brown, about 20 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, cover potatoes with water in a small saucepan and season well with salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and mash, then stir in onion and cheese.
• Put a rounded teaspoon filling in center of a wrapper. Lightly brush wrapper with water, then fold in half (diagonally if square) and press to seal. Form remaining dumplings.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Stand dumplings, seam side up, in skillet and fry until bottoms are pale golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Add water, then cover tightly with lid and cook until water has evaporated and bottoms of dumplings are crisp and golden, about 5 minutes.

MUENSTER MASHED POTATOES

Steps:

• Cover potatoes in a pot with cold water and salt the water. Set over high heat and bring up to a boil. Lower and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain potatoes through a colander and return them to pot. The heat from the pot will dry out any residual water on the potatoes. With a hand-held electric mixer, start to beat potatoes. Add butter, cream and cheese and continue beating until pretty smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh chopped chives if desired.