Salmon Timballes And Scallops Tartare With Caviar Food

SALMON TIMBALLES AND SCALLOPS TARTARE WITH CAVIAR

Steps:

• Combine all the marinade ingredients, except the lime juice, in a small deep bowl. Add the salmon and scallop dice, stir well and add just enough lime juice to barely cover the mixture. Cover tightly and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Lightly oil 12 mini muffin cups, timbale molds or similar vessels roughly one-and-a-half-inches across and one-inch high. Line with squares of plastic wrap, keeping them as smooth as possible.
• Line the molds with the thin salmon slices, overlapping if necessary to cover interior completely, letting the excess hang over.
• Drain the marinated mixture, pressing hard on the solids to remove all possible liquid, then distribute it among the lined molds. The mixture should mound slightly above the edges. Fold the edges of the salmon liner over the tops, cover with plastic wrap and weight with a heavy cutting board or other flat weight.
• Chill the timbales for one or two hours, then remove from molds and reverse to show smooth bottoms. Top each with a dab of creme fraiche, sprinkle with chives and add a half teaspoon of the caviar.

FOUR SEASONS VANILLA SUGAR

Steps:

• Cut beans into one-inch lengths and combine with the superfine sugar in a food processor. Process, using a pulsing motion, until the beans are well chopped. The sugar will be coffee-colored. Transfer to an airtight jar and allow to sit for one week.
• Strain the sugar through a fine sieve, reserving the bean pieces to use in the same way again. The sugar will strain more easily if spread on a flat pan and dried in a turned-off oven or one with a pilot light for two or three hours. Do not let the temperature exceed about 100 degrees.
• Measure the strained sugar and combine with an equal amount of confectioners' sugar. Store in a tightly closed container and use in place of regular sugar whenever a strong vanilla flavor is desired. It is delicious with hot chocolate and on fresh fruits, crepes, waffles and french toast, as well as in baked goods.

SIMPLE HOMESTYLE SOURDOUGH BAGUETTES

Steps:

• Combine the sourdough with the water and allow to sit until the sourdough relaxes and begins to dissolve, about 20 minutes. Beat in the whole-wheat flour and one cup of the bread flour, cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise until very bubbly and light, six to eight hours depending on the warmth of the room.
• Beat in the salt and another cup of flour, again cover and let rise until double in size, five to seven hours.
• Transfer the mixture to a kneading bowl or food processor fitted with a eel blade and knead in the remaining flour, a third of a cup at a time, until the dough is smooth, shiny and elastic. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle a baking sheet with cornmeal. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a thin snake about one-and-a-half inches in diameter. Place the snakes, well separated, on the baking sheet, cover lightly with a dampened tea towel or plastic wrap and allow to rise until double in size, about one to one-and-a-half hours.
• Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Make several shallow diagonal slashes across the loaves with a razor blade and put the sheet in the oven. Being careful not to get burned by the steam, throw about a quarter cup of water onto the oven floor and shut the oven at once.
• Bake the bread for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the baguettes are crusty and well browned. Cool on wire racks.

VANILLA OIL

Steps:

• Put the oil in a small saucepan. Split the bean and scrape in the seeds. Cut the pod into one-inch lengths and add.
• Simmer the oil over very low heat for five minutes. Remove from heat and allow to macerate at least six hours before using.
• Store the oil in a covered jar, with the pods still in it. The flavor will continue to intensify for a day or so and then remain constant almost indefinitely. Use to grease baking pans, to add flavor to salad dressings (especially for fruit) and as a sauteing medium for vegetables such as carrots, summer squash and new onions.

SMOKED SALMON TARTINES

Steps:

• Place the toasted bread on a cutting board and overlap slices of avocado on each piece of bread, using a quarter to half an avocado for each, depending on the sizes of the avocado and the bread.
• Sprinkle the avocado with lemon juice, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place one large slice of salmon on top, ribboning it to fit. Drizzle with a tablespoon of the Gravlax Sauce. Garnish with some red onion, sprinkle with the dill fronds, salt, and pepper, and serve with extra sauce on the side.
• Whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey mustard, whole-grain mustard, ground mustard, sugar, and vinegar in a medium bowl. Combine the olive and grapeseed oils in a small measuring cup. Slowly add the oil mixture to the mustard mixture, whisking constantly, until emulsified. Stir in the dill and salt.

SEARED SEA SCALLOPS WITH CRèME FRAîCHE AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season scallops with salt and pepper. Cook scallops until golden on bottom, about 2 minutes. Turn over; sauté until just cooked through, about 1 minute. Drain on paper towels. Cool to room temperature.
• Top each scallop with 1/2 teaspoon crème fraîche. Top with caviar. Garnish with chives and serve.

GINGER AND LIME SALMON TARTARE

Steps:

• Clean and chop spring onions.
• Peel and grate ginger.
• Rinse and dry salmon fillets. Cut them into small dices (around 1/2-inch square).
• Combine salmon, spring onions, ginger and sweet soy sauce. Cover and leave in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
• Serve in Chinese soup spoons, small individual ramekins or glass cups leaving marinade in the plate.
• Rinse lime and grate zest over individual portions.
• Squeeze lime, add on top and serve tartare right away.