Happy Birthday Julia!

August is a special month for those that love Julia Child: On the 7th, Julie & Julia, a movie that intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends…until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible, opens. The role of Julia Child is played by Meryl Streep. Then, on the 15th, people all over the country will celebrate her birthday by cooking her recipes or dining at their favorite French restaurant.

She was (born Julia Carolyn McWilliams August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004) was an American chef, author and television personality, who introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to the American mainstream, through her many cookbooks and television programs. Her most famous works are the 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the television series The French Chef, which premiered in 1963 and showcased her fabulous persona.

I had the privilege of meeting Julia Child in early 2000. I was employed at Sur La Table and one morning when I walked into work, I saw a memo that simply said, “Julia is coming!” I was so excited that I danced around the back of the store. I was finally going to meet Julia Child!

On the morning of the book signing the whole staff was at the store ready to greet her. The line of customers, waiting to meet her, snaked through the store and out the door as far as one could see. Everyone was eagerly awaiting her arrival. We all greeted her and then she sat down at a table surrounded by eager fans and she began to sign her books. She was gracious, kind and answered as many questions as she could. She was supposed to sign books for an hour and a half, but she did not stop until every single book was signed. The one thing that stays with me was how she made each person feel like she was there just for them.

Once she finished signing the last person’s book, she came into the back of the store where she chatted with us, posed for pictures and signed our books. Finally it came time for her to say good bye. It was sad to see her go, and it was even harder to hear of her passing, but I still have my signed copy of “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”. Each time I cook out my signed books, I still flip back and look at her signature and feel so blessed to have been in her presents for that small window of time.

One of my favorite recipe is from “The Way To Cook”
Master Recipe for Pate Brisee Fine
Makes two 9-inch tart shell
1 1/2 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1/2 cup plain cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, quarter & diced
1/4 cup (2 ounces) chilled vegetable shortening
1/2 cup ice water, plus droplets more, if needed

Blending flour and butter. have all the ingredients measured our and ready to use. Put the flour, salt and diced butter in the container of the processor and pulse 5 or 6 times to break up the butter roughly. Add the shortening, turn on the machine and immediately pour in the 1/2 cup of ice water then pulse 2 or 3 times. Remove the cover and feel the sough. It should look like a bunch of small lumps and will just hold together in a mass when you press a handful together. (It is important not over mix: it should not mass on the blade of the machine.) If too dry, pulse in droplets more water. From now on work rapidly to keep the dough cold and manageable.

Final Blending. Turn the dough out onto your work surface; press it in to a rough mass. For the final blending, rapidly and roughly, with the heel of your hand , push egg-size clumps of dough out in front of you in a 6-inch smear.

Resting and Chilling. Form the dough into a cake – it should be fairly smooth and pliable. Srap in plastic, slide into a plastic bag and refrigerate. Freshly made dough should chill 2 hours at least, allowing the flour particles to absorb the liquid, as well as to firm the butter and relax the gluten.

The dough will keep 2 day in the refrigerator before the flour will start to turn grayish, but it can be frozen for several months.

Cheese and Bacon Quiche
For a 9-inch quiche, serving 6
Seasonings: salt, freshly ground pepper and nutmeg
The custard: 3 large eggs blended with enough milk or cream to make 1 1/2 cups

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Break up the pieces of bacona nd stew them in the bottom of the shell. Sprinkle on all but a spoonful of the cheese. Season the custoard and pour in to within 1/8 inch of the rim; sprinkle on the rest of the cheese. Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until puffed and browned.
A 9-inch prebaked shell
6 crisp strips of cooked bacon
1/2 cup coarsely grated Swiss cheese

With fresh fruit, this makes a lovely breakfast. I also enjoy serving this quiche with a salad for a light lunch or dinner.

I have dug out my “Fall vegetable” recipes that I use at this time of year. Some of the vegetables that I am mixing in to my farmers market list are; Beans, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Jerusalem  Artichokes, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Pumpkin, Snow Peas, Spinach, Squash (Winter).

In the next few post I do, I want to feature a fall vegetable and share a recipe. This week I am sharing a cauliflower soup recipe. I have included some pictures of some different types: white cauliflower, purple cauliflower and ramanesco cauliflower. 

Cauliflower Soup with Wild Mushrooms 
(The original recipe was found in “Mustards Grill” cook book. I have change the recipe to my liking and posted my version.)

The most important thing to remember with this soup is to keep it white, so cook it over low heat “melting” the vegetables instead of browning or caramelizing them. Covering the soup as it cooks also seems to help it keep white. Puree the soup in a blender; a food processor just can’t give you the velvety effect you want. You have two choices of garnishes: a heady combination of mushrooms and Cognac or a simple sprinkling of chopped, blanched cauliflower. Serves 6

1 cup of Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)

Soup
Heat oil in large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic and cook for about 8 minutes or until hot, over low heat. Add the 4 cups of cauliflower and cook another couple of minutes, stirring to coat with oil. Add the salt and pepper and cook for an minute more. Add the wine and cook until almost evaporated. Add the stock and potatoes and cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until the cauliflower and potatoes are very tender. Don’t rush, as you want the soup to be smooth when it is pureed.

Meanwhile, prepare the garnish. For the 1-cup cauliflower garnish, blanch the cauliflower florets in boiling salt water until tender-crisp. About 1 1/2 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Mushroom garnish, Heat the butter in a small fry pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, shallots, nutmeg, salt and pepper and sauté for about 7 minutes, until tender. Pour in Cognac and light, using a match. The liquor may burst into flames, but this will only last of a few moments and will burn off the alcohol flavor, making for a richer taste. Cook until almost dry.

To finish the soup, put the cheese and cream in a large bowl. Blend the soup, in small batches, in a blender. While it is still hot, pour it over the cheese and cream, stirring well with each addition. Serve it right away with a spoonful or two of the crisp-tender cauliflower or the mushroom garnish.  

You may chill the pureed soup, before adding the cheese and cream. Reheat soup and add the cheese and cream.

This soup is so delicious! I was not a huge fan of cauliflower, but after making this soup, I am now a fan. 

On a side note, the purple cauliflower roasted and finished with a bit of lemon juice and Parmesan cheese is a yummy side dish. The purple cauliflower keeps its color when roasted.