Pate With Pomegranate Gelee Food

PATE WITH POMEGRANATE GELEE

Steps:

• Line a 6-inch square pan or a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap; set aside. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add livers, mushrooms, shallots, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until livers are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt, the wine, and thyme. Reduce heat to low. Cover; cook until liquid has reduced and mushrooms are very soft, about 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Transfer mixture to a food processor. Add remaining 3/4 cup butter and 11/2 teaspoons salt; process until smooth, about 3 minutes. Transfer to prepared pan, and refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle gelatin over 3 tablespoons pomegranate juice in a bowl; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath. Heat remaining juice until warm; add to gelatin mixture. Stir until dissolved. Set bowl in ice-water bath; let cool to room temperature, stirring. Slowly pour over pate; refrigerate until firm, 3 hours or overnight. Lift up on plastic wrap to unmold. Serve with toast or crackers.

PASSION-FRUIT GELEES

Steps:

• Lightly oil baking pan.
• Sprinkle gelatin over water in a 2-quart heavy saucepan and let stand 4 minutes to soften. Heat gelatin over medium-low heat, stirring, until dissolved. Stir in 2 cups sugar until dissolved, then stir in lemon juice.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, washing any sugar crystals down side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Reduce heat to medium-low and boil, uncovered, without stirring, 13 minutes (watch carefully so that mixture does not boil over). Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes for bubbles to dissipate. (Skim any foam that remains after 5 minutes.) Stir in passion-fruit purée (do not scrape bottom of pan; leave any dark bits that stick). Pour into baking pan and let stand at room temperature until set, at least 12 hours.
• Run a sharp knife around edge of gelatin and invert onto a cutting board. Cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then cut strips into 1-inch pieces. Just before serving, gently toss gelées in a bowl of sugar to coat, brushing off excess.

CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE WITH RIESLING-THYME GELéE

Steps:

• For mousse:
• Mellow the flavor of the chicken livers by placing them in a glass bowl with 2 cups milk. Cover; chill for 2 hours. Drain; discard milk. Return livers to same bowl, add the remaining 2 cups milk, cover, and chill for 2 more hours (or overnight). Drain; discard milk and rinse livers. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl; set aside. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallots and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are very soft, about 10 minutes. Add livers, increase heat to medium, and cook, turning once, until livers are firm but still pink inside, about 4 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in Calvados. Return to heat; cook until Calvados is reduced by half, about 30 seconds. Discard thyme.
• Transfer liver mixture to a food processor; add 2 teaspoons salt and pepper. Process until smooth. With processor running, add remaining butter by tablespoonfuls until all butter is incorporated. Transfer mousse to prepared strainer. Using a rubber spatula, press mousse through strainer. Rinse and dry strainer, then strain mousse again, discarding solids in strainer. Divide among small jars. Chill until firm, 1-2 hours.
• For gelée and toasts:
• Place 1/4 cup water in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over water and let stand until softened, about 10 minutes. Microwave gelatin mixture until gelatin dissolves and mixture becomes clear, about 30 seconds. Add sugar; stir until dissolved. Stir in wine.
• Spoon gelée over mousse in jars, forming a 1/4" layer (not all gelée may be used). Top each jar with thyme sprigs or leaves, if desired. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until gelée is set, about 1 hour. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Arrange bread triangles on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush with melted butter. Bake until golden brown, about 5 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• Let mousse soften slightly at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving with toasts.

GRATED VEGETABLE PATTIES WITH POMEGRANATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, to the grated vegetables, add the eggs, flour and seasonings. Combine well. Turn mixture into a greased and floured cake pan and bake about 1 1/2 hours, or until patty is crusty brown. Cut into slices and serve with Pomegranate Sauce.
• POMEGRANATE SAUCE: In a saucepan, cook all ingredients over high heat 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes until sauce reduces, add cornstarch and water to thicken.