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Daughter of two professional chefs provides a young adult's perspective on food, restaurants, and eating!! follow us on facebook @Francis Xavier

Author: Chef Francis Xavier

Closings.

Closings.

Denver restaurants closing is part of the tableau story that i have in my mind’s eye. It is a bit of a continuous covid restaurant closing hangover. The posted eulogy is from Wednesday 03 from Life & Culture. The closing is Denver Teds Cheesesteak as […]

Practical Method of Cookery. Oven Temperature

Practical Method of Cookery. Oven Temperature

Inspired from CSN, Just a note before I go todayTo whom it may concernCooking twice the speed of soundIt’s easy to get burned … so I thought oven temperatures would be a good thing to write down. My thoughts to the culinary thread. Oven Temperatures […]

Practical Cookery. Basic Sauce Chicken Veloute

Practical Cookery. Basic Sauce Chicken Veloute

Basic Sauce for one quart

Basic Sauce Chicken Veloute

Chef Francis Xavier
Basic Sauces: Bechamel, Velout'e, Espagnole, Demiglace, Sauce Tomate, Sauce hollandaise
Course Sauce
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • sauce pot
  • proper whisk
  • wooden spoon
  • strainer (#prefered a chinois == conical strainer)

Ingredients
  

  • 4 ounces butter
  • 4 ounces flour
  • 1 quart chicken stock

Instructions
 

  • melt the margarine in a thick bottomed sauce pan (larger that one quart).
  • add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon
  • cook the roux on medium heat but with out coloring
  • set aside the roux to cool a bit
  • slowly add the boiling stock
  • whisk until smooth
  • allow to simmer for 30 minutes
  • dip the wooden spoon in the sauce and draw a line on the back of the spoon to confirm consistency
  • pass through the chinois
Keyword Sauces
Awakening a (#wet) Spring

Awakening a (#wet) Spring

It has been raining for 3 days – seems like raining straight for 3 days. A bit unusual. How ever with the river rising and God willing the tunnel did not flood … it is time for comfort food. Spring Vegetables are still out a […]

Pickle

Pickle

Curiosities unfold as a different trend emerges. Life & Culture Wednesday May 10 speaks to Chicken N’ Pickle opening two Colorado locations next year. Pickle Ball is a fast growing sport and not a stretch is trending it to food. looking forward to seeing the vision coming into reality. North of Jordan road and E470 with six indoor courts and two covered courts.

Opening in 2024 … One pickle not to miss.

Cinco

Cinco

Re-reading my favorite Diana Kennedy book seemed appropriate last Friday. I was looking to tart up store bought tamales and looking to The Cuisines of Mexico for inspiration.

Awakening Spring

Awakening Spring

Still raining. It has been a cold winter and the snows still flying in Summit County. Out side i am looking forward to the vegetables from the farmers markets. At this point – due to climate we are sticking with salads – fresh but store […]

Coronation Quiche

Coronation Quiche

Monday, Buckingham Palace shared this recipe. The Coronation Quiche. My friend Martha forwarded it along. https://www.royal.uk/the-coronation-quiche

Since 2013the Queen Consort has been a patron of lunch to bring neighbors and communities together. Fancy Something a bit different? This quiche has Spinach, Broad Beans and Fresh tarragon. “Eat hot or cold with a green salad and boiled new potatoes”

Set and decorated for big lunch to celebrate the Coronation

Coronation Quiche

Buckinham Palace
A deep quiche with a crisp, light pastry case and delicate flavours of Spinach, Broad Beans and fresh Tarragon. Eat hot or cold with a green salad and boiled new potatoes – perfect for a Coronation Big Lunch!
Course baking
Cuisine English
Servings 6 people

Equipment

  • One 20cm Flan Tin

Ingredients
  

  • 125 g flour
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 25 g cold butter diced
  • 25 g lard
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 250 g ready made short crust pastry

filling

  • 125 ml milk
  • 175 ml double cream
  • 2 med eggs
  • 1 t chopped fresh tarragon
  • salt and pepper
  • 100 g cheddar cheese grated
  • 180 g spinach cooked, lightly chopped
  • 60 g broad beans or soya beans (Cooked)

Instructions
 

  • Method
  • To make the pastry
  • Sieve the flour and salt into a bowl; add the fats and rub the mixture together using your finger tips
  • Add the milk a little at a time.
  • bring the ingredients together
  • cover and rest the dough in the fridge for an hour.

roll out the dough

  • Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the pastry to a circle
  • Line the tin with the pastry, taking care not to have any holes or the mixture could leak. Cover and rest for a further 30 minutes in the fridge
  • Preheat the oven  to 190°C.
  • Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper, add baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes, before removing the greaseproof paper and baking beans
  • Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C.
  • Beat together the milk, cream, eggs, herbs and seasoning.
  • Scatter 1/2 of the grated cheese in the blind-baked base, top with the chopped spinach and beans and herbs, then pour over the liquid mixture
  • Sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until set and lightly golden
Keyword Pastry

Fancy something a bit different?

Baking

Baking

Life & Culture April 19 writes about Baking and the the Sweetness of the sourdough life. The recipe dives straight into SourDough Buckwheat – Oat Pancakes, from Cultures for health. Life and culture continues with … “Getting back to a baking ritual pays off in […]