Fresh Fruit Tart
 Servings: 1 tarte

INGREDIENTS
For the tart shell: (one 9 inch crust)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed

For the pastry cream
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds scraped
Pinch of salt
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Assembly
1 baked tart shell
1 recipe of pastry cream
1 ½ pints of berries and fresh fruit cut as desired
1/2 cup clear apple jelly, melted

DIRECTIONS
For the tart shell:
Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Combine the butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and stir until evenly incorporated. Add the measured flour and stir until just combined and a soft dough forms.
Sprinkle the dough over the bottom of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Using a measuring cup or your fingers, evenly press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan (flour the cup occasionally to prevent sticking).
Cover the tart shell with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Once chilled, prick it all over with a fork and bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before filling and removing from the pan.

For the pastry cream:
In a medium saucepan, combine milk, 1/4 cup sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, and salt. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a simmer.
In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks, cornstarch, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Whisking constantly, slowly pour about 1/2 cup of the hot-milk mixture into the egg-yolk mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, until it has been incorporated. Pour mixture back into saucepan, and cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until it thickens and registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer, about 2 minutes. Remove and discard vanilla bean.
Transfer to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter, and beat on medium speed until the butter melts and the mixture cools, about 5 minutes.
Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Just before using, beat on low speed until smooth (you can also whisk by hand).

For the assembly:
Spread cooled pastry cream in cooled tart shell or tartlet shells. Arrange fruit over pastry cream in concentric circles in an attractive pattern. With a small brush, brush apple jelly over fruit to glaze.

NOTES
Notes: Crisp, lightly sweet, and buttery, this classic pastry crust is an elegant base on which to build an entire repertoire of tarts. It’s easier to make than flaky pie pastry, too—just stir melted butter with sugar and a bit of salt, then blend in all-purpose flour to form the dough. With your fingers, press it into a tart pan and put it in the fridge for half an hour before pricking the bottom and baking.

Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Servings: 6-8

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2-pound flat iron steaks

Chimichurri
2/3 c. Parsley, Basil, and Tarragon Leaves, Chopped Fine
2 ea. Lemons, Zested
1 ea. Garlic Clove, Minced
2 T, Capers, Drained and Coarsely Chopped
1/2 t. Kosher Salt
Black Pepper to taste
1 c. Olive Oil

DIRECTIONS
Chimichurri
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together all ingredients, taste, adjust seasoning if necessary. Refrigerate

Steaks
Prepare grill (medium-high heat). Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper.
Place steaks on grill and cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Remove steaks from grill; let stand 5 minutes.
Thinly slice steaks across grain. Serve with chimichurri sauce.

 

Salmon Arroser
Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS
4 ea. Salmon Fillets
3 oz. Olive Oil
1/2 c. White Wine
2 T. Shallots, Julienne
2 t. Garlic, minced
4 t. Capers, drained
2 T. Lemon Juice
4 T. Parsley, Chopped
1/2 t. Black Pepper
3 oz. Cold Butter, Cubed

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large skillet, on medium-high heat, add olive oil to hot pan. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Place salmon, flesh side down in the pan for 4 minutes. Flip.
2. Lower the heat and add shallots, garlic, and capers. Cook until translucent.
3. Add white wine and reduce by half. Remove fish from pan and plate flesh side up.
4. Turn heat off and remove pan from stove. Add lemon juice, parsley, black pepper, and cold butter to the pan, whisking continually until butter is emulsified.
5. Spoon sauce over fish.

Grilled Shrimp with Miso Garlic Butter
Servings: 4 - 6

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. Shrimp (24-26 count)
6 tbsp Butter melted
1-2 tbsp Miso paste (use the lighter version)
1 Garlic clove-pressed, microplaned or finely minced.
Pinch of Pepper
1 tbsp EVOO

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat your grill to med-high
2. In a larger dish, pour in the melted butter, miso, garlic and pepper and whisk to combine.
Toss the shrimp in to coat.
3. Skewer the shrimp on bamboo skewers and grill until until pink, turning to cook both sides, about 2 minutes or less per side. (Don't over cook!!)

Brown Sugar-Miso Ice Cream
Servings: 1 Quart

INGREDIENTS
1 cup whole milk
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons white miso
5 egg yolks
2 cups heavy cream

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, sugar, and miso. Place over medium heat & scald, whisking often.
2. Meanwhile, place egg yolks into mixing bowl and whisk until pale colored.
3. Temper milk mixture into yolks. Add milk-egg mixture back into the saucepan and hat on medium low heat until mixture thickens.
4. Pour the heavy cream into a clean mixing bowl with a strainer set on top of it, once custard is thickened, strain into the the heavy cream and whisk to combine.
5. Chill and spin in the ice cream machine.