Sauteed Cantaloupe With Fleur De Sel Food

FLEUR DE SEL CARAMELS

Steps:

• Prep the pan.
• Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to drape over 2 sides, then brush the paper lightly with oil.
• Boil the sugar.
• In a deep saucepan (6 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches deep), combine 1/4 cup water, the sugar and corn syrup and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the mixture is a warm golden brown. Don't stir -- just swirl the pan.
• Heat the cream.
• In the meantime, in a small pot, bring the cream, butter and 1 teaspoon of fleur de sel to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and set aside.
• Finish the caramel.
• When the sugar mixture is done, turn off the heat and slowly add the cream mixture to the sugar mixture. Be careful -- it will bubble up violently. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon and cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture reaches 248 degrees F (firm ball) on a candy thermometer.
• Fill the pan.
• Very carefully (it's hot!) pour the caramel into the prepared pan and refrigerate for a few hours, until firm.
• Cut the caramel.
• When the caramel is cold, pry the sheet from the pan onto a cutting board. Cut the square in half.
• Roll it up.
• Starting with a long side, roll the caramel up tightly into an 8-inch-long log.
• Cut into pieces.
• Sprinkle the log with fleur de sel, trim the ends and cut into 8 pieces. (Start by cutting the log in half, then continue cutting each piece in half until you have 8 equal pieces.) It's easier to cut the caramels if you brush the knife with flavorless oil like corn oil.
• Wrap the candies.
• Cut glassine or parchment paper into 4-by-5-inch pieces and wrap each caramel individually, twisting the ends. Store in the refrigerator and serve the caramels chilled.

SAUTEED CANTALOUPE WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• Using a serrated knife, remove peel of both cantaloupes. Cut them in half lengthwise. With a spoon, gently remove seeds, being careful not to bruise the fruit.
• Set aside one cantaloupe half. Place remaining three halves cut side down on a cutting board. Slice each half lengthwise into six spears, for a total of 18 spears. Using a vegetable peeler, shave remaining cantaloupe half into paper-thin slices, and refrigerate.
• In a large saute pan over low heat, melt 4 tablespoons sugar until it liquefies and turns a light caramel color, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add half the cantaloupe spears, and saute for about 30 seconds on each side. Add 1/4 cup water, and simmer until water is almost gone, about 5 minutes. Transfer cantaloupe to a plate, and repeat with remaining cantaloupe spears, the remaining 4 tablespoons sugar, and an additional 1/4 cup water.
• To serve, sprinkle spears evenly with fleur de sel. Place three spears on each of six serving plates, and garnish with the chilled paper-thin cantaloupe slices and two turns of freshly ground pepper.

SAUTEED ASPARAGUS WITH FLEUR DE SEL

Steps:

• In a large saute pan over medium heat, melt the butter. When bubbling, add the asparagus spears, placing them in a single layer. Immediately cover with a piece of parchment paper cut to the size of the pan, and lower the heat to low so the asparagus sweat without browning. Turn the asparagus from time to time, and continue cooking until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes. (You may need to do this in batches. For a second batch, wipe out the pan and add 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh butter; keep the first batch warm in a low oven.)
• To serve, transfer the asparagus to 4 serving plates and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Drizzle a little white truffle oil, if you like, around the asparagus, and serve.