Surimi Salad With Greens Jacques Pepin Food

SURIMI SALAD WITH GREENS (JACQUES PEPIN)

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except the salad greens in a medium bowl. I reduce the surimi into smaller flakes or pieces, but it's up to you.
• Divide the greens among four plates, top with greens.
• I often add other herbs - garlic chives, thyme or lemon thyme, dill. I also omit the salt - surimi is salted, and I really don't think the salad needs additional salt, but do it to your taste.

JACQUES PEPIN'S VINAIGRETTE IN A JAR

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a jar.
• Shake well before serving.
• Keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.

PEPIN'S PENNE, HAM AND VEGETABLE GRATIN

Steps:

• Boil about 2 quarts of water. Add penne and cook about 12 minutes until al dente (slightly firm). Drain and cool under cold water.
• Put cooked penne into a large bowl and stir in the ham, corn, peas, zucchini and cheese.
• Make the White Sauce:.
• Melt butter in saucepan, add the flour, and whisk it together until smooth.
• Add the milk and bring to a boil, stirring a bit. The sauce should thicken.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cream. Let it cool until lukewarm.
• Heat the broiler. Add the sauce to the penne and vegetables, and place in a shallow baking dish that can hold about 6 cups.
• Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.
• Broil about 4 inches from the heat until the top is lightly browned (about 6 to 8 minutes).
• Serve immediately.
• NOTE: Pepin says you can make this ahead of time up to adding the Parmesan. It will keep, covered, at room temperature for a few hours, or up to a day in the fridge before finishing in the oven, so it's a great make-ahead dish. If refrigerated, just bring it back to room temp and bake at 425 for about 30 minutes.
• SECOND NOTE: Don't let this sit in the oven after it's finished or it will become gooey.

SURIMI SALAD

Steps:

• Cut imitation crab legs in half inch pieces at an angle and place in a bowl. Add all other ingredients except for salad dressing, dill, salt, and pepper.
• Mix the salad together to combine and add dressing and dill. Stir again to combine.
• Last season the salad with salt and pepper to taste and stir once to combine. Chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes up to 20 minutes and serve.

CARAMELS BY JACQUES PEPIN

Steps:

• Prepare a standard loaf pan either by buttering it or lining it with lightly oiled parchment paper.
• Place the butter, cut into pieces, and the cream in a glass bowl and microwave until butter is melted and mixture is hot, about 90 seconds. Set mixture aside, close enough to be reached quickly.
• Combine water, corn syrup, and sugar in a straight-sided pan. Stir just enough to moisten the sugar, but not so vigorously as to slosh any sugar onto the sides of the pan, where it is likely to crystalize.
• Heat over medium-high heat until mixture begins to boil, then put on a tight-fitting lid and continue to cook for one to two minutes. The steam will condense in the lidded pan and run down the sides, washing away any sugar crystals that have formed.
• Remove the lid and attach a candy thermometer. Cook to 320 degrees F or until the sugar begins to turn amber around the edges. This may take five to six minutes, but it can happen fast, so do not allow your attention to be diverted at this point or you will have a smoking black mess on your hands.
• As soon as the thermometer hits 320 F, or you see the edges turning amber, pour the butter and cream mixture slowly into the sugar mixture, stirring to combine. Temperature will drop to just above 200°F.
• Continue cooking until the mixture reaches your desired temperature: 240 degrees F for very soft caramels, 245 for soft-but-chewy, 250 for hard.
• When the desired temperature is reached, pour the mixture immediately into the prepared loaf pan. Allow to cool until they are just slightly warm to the touch, then turn out onto parchment or waxed paper and cut to desired size. They're very rich, so I like small pieces.
• Wrap in squares of waxed paper to store. The softer ones will need to be refrigerated, the medium and hard ones will not. These also freeze well if you want to store them longer-term.

FRENCH HERBED OMELETTE

Steps:

• Beat the eggs, pepper and salt in a bowl.
• Stir in the herbs.
• Heat 1 teaspoon each of the oil and butter in a nonstick frying pan over high heat.
• When the oil and butter are hot, add half the egg mixture.
• Stir it continuously with a fork while shaking the pan for about 2 minutes to create small curds.
• When most of the mixture is solid, cook it without stirring for 10 seconds to create a thin``skin´´ on the underside of the mixture, binding it together.
• Roll the omelet by bringing together 2 opposite edges.
• Invert in a plate.
• Repeat process using remainder of ingredients to create a second omelette.
• Serve immediately, half an omelet per person.