Curry Crab Strudel

I've been wanting to try this recipe for quite some time and today's the day! I.LOVE.CRAB. There's a local fish truck in my neighborhood selling fresh Dungeness crabmeat at $35 per pound, so this recipe is a bit on the expensive side – but it's time to splurge and the flavor is worth it. I got about 18 pieces out of this recipe and served it as hors d'oeuvres with a crisp Oregon Dobbes Estate "Wine by Joe" 2012 Pinot Gris. Happy happy!

Watch Ina make this delicious recipe here (starts at approx. 6:05 minutes in)

Recipe

Ready for the oven

1 cube unsalted butter
3 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. curry powder
1 pound lump crabmeat (drained and picked over to remove any shells)
3 T. fresh Italian parsley, chopped
1 lime, juiced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
10 sheets phyllo dough (thaw overnight in refrigerator; take out of refrigerator 30 minutes before using)
1/2 c. plain dry bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400-degrees.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium saute pan, add the scallions and cook over medium-low heat – a few minutes in, add the garlic and continue until scallions are softened, about 5 minutes total. Add the curry powder and stir. Remove from heat.

Shred the crabmeat into a bowl and mix with the parsley, lime juice, salt (to taste), and pepper. Stir in the scallion/curry powder mixture.

Melt the rest of the butter in a small saucepan and set aside. Unfold 1 sheet of the phyllo dough. Brush the sheet with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Repeat this process by laying a second sheet of phyllo over the first sheet, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs until 5 sheets have been used. Spoon a 1-inch wide row of the crab mixture (half of the crab mixture) along the long edge of the phyllo dough. Roll it up tightly. Repeat the process with 5 more sheets and the other half of the crab mixture.

Cover a sheet pan with parchment paper and lay the crab strudel on top. With a sharp knife, score the strudel diagonally into 1-1/2-inch pieces a little more than halfway through. Brush outside with more melted butter. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned. Slice and serve.

Ina Garten "Barefoot Contessa," Food Network

Summer Squash Goat Cheese Custard

This custard has a wonderfully mild, summery flavor. I served it with Pistachio Crusted Salmon and a Vegan Caesar Salad, but it would be very nice for a luncheon or light dinner.

Recipe

2 large yellow squash, sliced in 1/2" rounds (about 4 cups)
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
3 oz. goat cheese
3 T. butter
1/4 c. cornmeal
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. half and half
3 T. chopped fresh dill, plus sprigs for garnish (or use parsley or tarragon)
1 T. sugar
1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Put the squash and onion in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Cook over medium-high heat, covered, until the squash are tender, about 15 minutes. Strain well and mash slightly with a potato masher or fork. Add the goat cheese and butter while still hot and stir until melted. Mix in the cornmeal, eggs, milk, dill, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Pour into an 8"x8" baking dish, or six individual ramekins that have been coated with butter. Bake at 400-degrees for 40 minutes (35 minutes for the ramekins) or until golden brown on top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Cottage Cheese Dip

I found the recipe for this simple, yet spectacular dip/spread on numerous websites. Onceuponachef.com says that it comes from a restaurant where she used to work – L'Auberge Chez Francois outside of Washington DC. So few ingredients but packed with flavor and absolutely sublime on toasted baguette or crackers!

Recipe

16 oz. 4% small-curd, cream-style cottage cheese
2/3 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. finely minced garlic
1 T. finely minced shallots
1 T. finely minced chives
1 T. finely minced parsley

Mix the cottage cheese and sour cream until well blended, then stir in the rest of the ingredients. Cover and keep in the refrigerator – it gets better the longer it is chilled – if you can wait that long!

Corn Parfait

What a great way to use up all that fresh summer corn – Jacques Pépin's "gratin" of corn parfait recipe. Light, fluffy, the essence of sweet corn flavor – delicious! Goes very nicely with the feta stuffed lamb burger on a bed of greens.

Watch Jacques prepare this recipe here (starts at the 2:22 mark)

Recipe

1/2 T. butter
4 ears corn, husked
3 eggs
2 T. all-purpose flour
1 to 1-1/2 c. half 'n half
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 T. Parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 375-degrees and butter a 1 quart gratin dish.

Cut the kernels off the ears of corn and put them in a food processor and puree – while it's running, add the eggs and flour. Turn off processor and add the salt and pepper. Turn on again and add the half and half through the feed tube and process for another 5-10 seconds. Pour into the buttered gratin dish and grate fresh parmesan generously over the top of the dish. Place gratin dish on a cookie sheet and put in the oven.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until just set, puffy, and nicely browned on top.

– Jacques Pépin, "More Fast Food My Way"

Sweet & Sour Bombay Lentils

This is my favorite Indian lentil recipe! A bit sweet, a bit spicy, thick and filling and contains about 11 grams of protein per serving. It's well worth the effort. Gather your ingredients before starting. I find it easier to line up the spices in little containers so it's all ready to go. Watch the turmeric though - it stains everything! The recipe is from my Indian cuisine go-to cookbook – Julie Sahni's "Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking." Every recipe I have prepared from her book is excellent!

Recipe

FOR THE LENTILS
1-1/2 c. red lentils (masar dal)
1/2 tsp. turmeric
2 T. vegetable oil
4-1/2 c. water
1 heaping tsp. tamarind paste
1 T. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 T. chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
3 T. shredded coconut, unsweetened or sweetened (for garnish)

Wash the lentils in several changes of water. Put in a saucepan with the turmeric, oil and water; bring to a boil. Stir often. Cook over medium heat, partially covered for 25 minutes. Cover, reduce heat and continue cooking for another 10 minutes or until soft. Add tamarind paste and brown sugar and cook an additional 10 minutes. Stir in the salt. Turn off heat and beat with a whisk for a minute or two to smooth and thicken the puree. Keep on a low simmer while preparing the spice-perfumed butter.

SPICE PERFUMED BUTTER
3 T. ghee (or vegetable oil)
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tsp. black mustard seeds
1/4 tsp. fenugreek seeds
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. garam masala

Heat the oil in a small frying pan (I use cast iron) over medium-high heat. When hot add the cumin seeds, black mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds. When the spices turn dark brown and the spattering of the mustard seeds subsides, add the turmeric, cayenne and garam masala. Let the spices sizzle for a second or two and immediately pour over the dal and mix well. Let it cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve sprinkled with chopped fresh cilantro and flaked coconut. Serves 4-6.

– Julie Sahni, "Classic Indian Vegetarian and Grain Cooking"

Middle Eastern Couscous with Saffron

I hadn't used Israeli couscous before so I was in for a treat. Larger in diameter that the regular couscous that everyone is familiar with, soft and flavorful it's a must for this dish. I served the couscous with Jacques Pépin's Turkey Scaloppine with Dried Morels - a perfect combination.

Recipe

2 T. olive oil
2/3 c. finely chopped onion
1/4 c. pumpkin seeds (+ 1 T. for garnish)
1 tsp. saffron (crush between your fingers before adding)
1 c. Israeli couscous
1-1/2 c. vegetable stock
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
4 sprigs fresh tarragon or parsley (for garnish)

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat and add the onion, pumpkin seeds, and saffron. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the couscous and mix well. Add the chicken stock, salt and pepper, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to very low, cover and cook for about 10-12 minutes. Uncover, turn the heat up to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 or 4 minutes longer (so the grains are dry and fluffy). Serve garnished with the herb sprigs and a tablespoon of pumpkin seeds.

– Jacques Pépin, "More Fast Food My Way"