Profiteroles With Port Wine Mushrooms Food

GOUGERES WITH SAVORY MUSHROOM FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 450F and set a rack in the middle. Be proud of yourself that you remembered to do this first.
• Bring the water, milk, salt, Herbes de Provence and butter to a boil.
• Dump in the flour all at once and cook over medium heat, stirring manically, until the mixture resembles mashed potatoes, pulls away from the sides of the pan and into a big clump and leaves a slight, dry film on the inside of the pan, about 2-3 minutes.
• Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or prepare to stir madly awhile longer.
• Mix for a minute or so to cool off the dough, then add almost all the beaten egg (reserve about a Tablespoon) and mix in thoroughly. Test to see if batter runs very slowly off the end of the beater and ends in a point. If it doesn't flow or it ends in a raggedy point, add the rest of the egg and beat it in. You should be good to go.
• Thoroughly mix in 2/3 of the grated cheese.
• Drop about 2 teaspoons of the dough into tiny mounds on a Silpat- or parchment-lined baking sheet. Leave about 1" of space between each wee mound. You can pipe them if you want, but it goes quickly with spoons too.
• With a wet finger, press down any little points of dough that might be sticking up.
• Divide the last ounce of cheese evenly among the wee gougeres and bake for ten minutes.
• Reduce the heat to 375F and bake another 10 minutes. You may need to cover the pan loosely with foil at the five-minute mark.
• Reduce the heat to 325F and bake for another 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
• Turn off the oven, crack the door open and let the gougeres cool to just warm.
• Fill each puff with about 1-2 teaspoons of the bechamel aux champignons.
• Melt the butter over medium heat. When it's sizzling, add the flour.
• Stir well and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes or until it's a golden blonde color. Lightly season with salt and pepper.
• Pour in the milk slowly, whisking all the while to prevent lumps.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking frequently.
• When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat and keep it at a low simmer, whisking occasionally, until it has thickened.
• Put the bechamel in your blender and add the duxelles. Blend on low speed. It doesn't have to be completely smooth, but it needs to be smooth enough that you can pipe it without little bits getting stuck in your piping tip. Cool to warm.
• Mince the mushrooms very finely in the bowl of your food processor. If you have a mini one, now would be the perfect time to use it.
• Melt half the butter over medium high heat. Add the mushrooms, seasoning with salt and pepper, and stir until they release their juices. Cook some more, stirring, until the mushrooms are dry again and have darkened in color.
• Add the second half of the butter along with the minced shallot and the thyme.
• Cook until the shallots have softened.
• Add the wine and cook until dry.

PROFITEROLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Heat the milk, butter, and salt over medium heat until scalded. When the butter is melted, add the flour all at once and beat it with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together and forms a dough. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat for 2 minutes. The flour will begin to coat the bottom of the pan. Dump the hot mixture into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the eggs and pulse until the eggs are incorporated into the dough and the mixture is thick.
• Spoon the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip. Pipe in mounds 1 1/2 inches wide and 1-inch high onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You should have about 18 puffs. With a wet finger, lightly press down the swirl at the top of each puff. (You can also use 2 spoons to scoop out the mixture and shape the puffs with damp fingers.) Bake for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned, then turn off the oven and allow them to sit for another 10 minutes, until they sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Make a small slit in the side of each puff to allow the steam to escape. Set aside to cool.
• For the chocolate sauce, place the cream and chocolate chips in a bowl set over simmering water and stir just until the chocolate melts. Add the honey and coffee and stir until smooth. Set aside.
• For serving, cut each profiterole in half crosswise, fill with a small scoop of ice cream, replace the top, and drizzle with slightly warm chocolate sauce.

PORT WINE MUSHROOM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, melt the butter and saute the mushrooms for about 3 minutes, then stir in flour, combining well.
• In another skillet, combine the wine, shallots and vinegar, boiling until thickk, about 3 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add broth, Worcestershire, tomato paste and rosemary, cooking for 1 minute.
• Add mushroom mixture and cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly, then add mustard to sauce.
• Serve warm.

PROFITEROLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan combine the water, butter and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and add the flour all at once and stir it vigorously with a wooden spoon. Cook until the mixture has formed a ball and has a slightly sweaty sheen to it and it has pulled away from the pan. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and let cool for 3 to 4 minutes. The mixture does not have to be cold, just cool enough not to cook the eggs when added. Using an electric mixer or lots of good old-fashioned elbow grease, beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Do not add the second egg until the first is fully incorporated. Add in the cinnamon and beat for another second to combine.
• Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag equipped with a large straight tip and pipe 1-inch balls onto a sheet tray lined with parchment paper. When done dip your finger in water and smooth the top of each ball where the pastry bag released the dough. Be sure to leave at least 1-inch between each of the balls. They grow! Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through the cooking time to insure even cooking. When done, the puffs should be light, airy and dry inside. Cool on a rack.
• When ready to serve, cut in half horizontally and fill with ice cream of your choosing. (I prefer a really high-quality vanilla.) Top with warm Chocolate Sauce.
• Bring a saucepan with 1-inch of water to a boil. Put the chocolate in a metal or heatproof glass mixing bowl and place on top of the saucepan with boiling water. Pay careful attention that the mixing bowl does not touch the surface of the boiling water. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until the chocolate has melted and everything is combined. This is a pretty quick process, once the chocolate has melted remove it from the double boiler set up. Spoon over the filled profiteroles. This is best when served warm!

PROFITEROLES WITH PORT-WINE MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a skillet and add the shallots. Cook briefly, stirring.
• Add the mushrooms, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, until the liquid evaporates. Add the wine and cook until it is almost wholly evaporated.
• Add the cream and cook down about 10 minutes or until the mixture is reduced to two cups.
• Slice off the tops of all the cream puffs. Spoon an equal portion of the mixture into each cream-puff bottom. Replace the tops and serve.

PORTOBELLO CREAM SAUCE WITH WHOLE-WHEAT LINGUINI

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, heat the extra-virgin olive oil, a turn of the pan, and butter over medium to medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and brown for 10 minutes. Stir in the thyme, shallots and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir in the port or Marsala, the stock and the cream. Season the sauce with a little nutmeg, then reduce the heat and simmer until it is just thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Cool completely and store in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal. Reheat the sauce, covered, over medium heat until it bubbles, then reduce heat to low.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat. Salt the water and add the pasta. Cook until al dente and then drain. Add the pasta to a large serving bowl.
• Toast the nuts in small pan over low heat until fragrant. Add the warm sauce to the pasta and serve with cheese, nuts and chopped watercress on top.

PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS SAUTEED IN GARLIC AND WINE

Steps:

• Bring medium-sized saute pan up to medium heat and add oil, onions, garlic and sugar. Saute until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add beef bouillon and wine; stir until bouillon dissolves.
• Saute until wine is mostly absorbed, about 4-5 minutes. Add mushroom caps and saute until soft, about 5 minutes total, turning to cook each side. Place caps on plate, topping with sauce from the saute pan. Serve hot.