Prune And Apple Croustade Food

APPLE CROSTATA

Steps:

• Mix the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add the butter. Pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the ice water and pulse until moist clumps form. Gather the dough into a ball; flatten into a disk. (If the dough still crumbles and does not form into a ball, add another tablespoon of ice water.) Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the apples, 1/4 cup of the sugar and lemon juice in large bowl; toss gently to blend. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, dust a large sheet of parchment paper with flour and roll out the dough on the paper to an 11-inch round. Transfer the dough and parchment paper to a large heavy baking sheet. Spoon the apple mixture over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, leaving the apples exposed in the center. Pleat loosely and pinch the dough to seal any cracks. Brush the crust with the egg wash and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar.
• Bake the crostata until the crust is golden and the apples are tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a rack; cool for 10 minutes. Slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the crostata from the parchment. Cool the crostata to lukewarm. Sprinkle with the almonds and serve.

MUSHROOMS AUX CROUSTADE

Steps:

• Cut the baguette in 1/4-inch slices. In a large saute pan over high heat, saute the chopped mushrooms in butter in small batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Cook until the mushrooms begin to brown and release their juices. Add the shallots and garlic toward the end of the cooking process, then deglaze with white wine. Add parsley, season with salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve on top of the slices of the baguette, or in a bowl on the table.

ROASTED QUAIL WITH SAVORY APPLE AND CHEDDAR CROUSTADE

Steps:

• To prepare the croustade:
• Slice the apples into thin wedges. To a hot saute pan, add 2 tablespoons of the butter and immediately add the apples. Saute over high heat while tossing the apples, cooking until the apples begin to soften and brown on the edges, approximately 3 minutes. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper; continue to cook for 30 seconds. Remove the apples from the heat and let them cool for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Lay out the pie dough disks and evenly spread 2 tablespoons of the grated cheddar on each. Place approximately 3 to 4 tablespoons of the apple mixture in the center of each pie dough disk. To form the croustade work from the outside in, folding in 2-inch pleats and continue around until the folds meet each other. The croustade should have an accordion look with a hole in the center; it should look like a small volcano.
• Either set aside and keep refrigerated until ready to bake, or bake in a 450 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes until evenly golden brown. Keep warm until ready to use.
• To prepare the quail:
• Slice the fennel very thinly. Heat a saute pan over high heat, add 2 tablespoons of butter, and then add the fennel and saute for 3 to 4 minutes until the fennel starts to become tender and translucent. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Carefully open the breast cavity of each quail and fill the cavity with approximately 1 tablespoon of the sauteed fennel. Do not over-stuff the quail, as they will shrink when cooking.
• Place the quail in a bowl or shallow container. Add 1 1/2 cups of the red wine, the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of chopped herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Gently toss the quail to evenly disperse the herbs, salt and pepper. Marinate the quail in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 3 hours and up to 12 hours.
• In a separate bowl, combine the blueberries and the remaining 1/2 cup of wine and let sit for 1 to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Remove the quail from the marinade and drain off the excess liquid, discarding the remaining marinade. To a large oven-safe saute pan over high heat, add enough vegetable oil to evenly coat the pan (about 2 tablespoons). Place the quail, breast-side down, in the pan and cook for 2 minutes or until evenly browned. Turn the quail over and cook for 1 minute on the other side, or until browned. Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 8 to 10 minutes, or until fully cooked through.
• Remove the quail from the pan and immediately add the wine and blueberry mixture. Return the pan to the stovetop and cook over high heat for 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper and add a healthy pinch of the herb blend. Continue to cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of butter and remove from the heat. Whisk the sauce until the butter is incorporated.
• Place a warm croustade on each plate. Split the quail down the middle and arrange around the croustade. Drizzle the sauce on and around the quail and evenly distribute the blueberries. Serve immediately.

PRUNE AND APPLE CROUSTADE

Steps:

• Soak the prunes in Armagnac overnight (or perhaps use preserved prunes in Armagnac from a gourmet shop, which have even more flavor because they'll have macerated longer). Drain, pit and roughly chop, reserving the liquid.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a saute pan and add the apples until soft, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle over 2 to 3 tablespoons of the sugar and continue cooking to caramelize, about 10 minutes more. Pour on about a tablespoon of the reserved Armagnac, flambe, and boil until the flames die out and the liquid has disappeared. Remove from the heat and taste. Depending on your apples, the mixture may need more acidity. If it does, add a squirt of lemon to taste. Stir through the chopped prunes.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C. Set the ring part of an 8-inch/20 cm springform pan on a baking sheet.
• Prepare the pastry: Melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan or microwave. Working with one phyllo sheet at a time, prepare as follows: lay one sheet of phyllo on a clean surface and cut into three strips crosswise (not lengthwise). Brush one of the three strips with melted butter, sprinkle with a little sugar and a few drops of Armagnac. Lay another strip on top and repeat. Lay the final strip on top and brush with butter. Your single sheet of phyllo is now a three-layer-thick strip. Lay it in the center of the ring mold so that it runs from the middle out, and up and over the edge of the ring, like the spoke of a wheel. Continue with the remaining strips, laying them in around the ring slightly overlapping so that there are no openings.
• Spoon the prune and apple filling into the bottom of the mold. Fold the pastry strips up in over top, twisting somewhat as you go so that the top is a rustic landscape of papery peaks and valleys totally covering the top of the tart. Brush quite generously with butter and scatter over a scant handful of sugar. (You may have some butter and sugar left over once you're done. If you do, use them for something else. The same goes for the Armagnac, of which you will have a lot left: use it in fruit salad or let a piece of pound cake drink it up...or serve it in tiny glasses with dessert.)
• Remove the springform ring, leaving the formed croustade on the baking sheet. Bake until the pastry is fully cooked and golden, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven, slide onto rack and cool. Serve with ice cream on the side or all on its own.