Friday, October 4, 2013

Bruce's SALAD NICOISE

SALAD NICOISE
Dressing
Mix: Heaping tbl. of Dijon Mustard
½ tbl. of sugar
6-8 dashes of pepper
¼ cup vinegar
Shake in bottle to mix well
Add: ¼ cup of vegetable oil
Shake in bottle and mix well
Set aside or refrigerate
Salad
Cube and Steam Red Potatoes (approx. one per person)
Slice and Steam String Beans (appox. Eight per person)
Prepare before serving and refrigerate or chill in cold water after steaming
Next: Pour lemon juice over solid tuna and mix with mayonnaise and dill seed to taste
Slice roma tomato
5 Whole black olives
Sliver dilled beets
Set aside while preparing serving plate with lettuce
Next: Break up romaine lettuce and place on serving plate
Place tuna mix in center of serving plate
Side dress tuna with slivered beets, cubed potatoes, cut string beans, sliced tomatoes and black olives (place in a criss-cross pattern and circular pattern)
Refrigerate salad on plate until ready to serve. Pour dressing mix over salad and serve chilled. Serve with a smile to add flavor and flare to dish!

Bruce's Lemon Icebox Cheesecake

CRUST
10 lemon sandwich cookies, broken into pieces (about 1 1/4 cups)
2 Tbls butter, melted
1 tsp grated lemon zest

CURD
buy ready made lemon curd, or use Julie's Microwave Lemon Curd recipe

FILLING
1 envelope (2 3/4 tsp) unflavored gelatin (or use lemon jello)
1/4 cup lemon juice from 2 lemons
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese, cut into 1 inch pieces and softened
3/4 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 1/4 cups heavy cream

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Process cookies in food processor until finely ground. Add butter and zest and pulse until combined.  Press mixture into a 9" springform pan. Bake until lightly browned and set, about 10 minutes. Cool completely (at least 30 minutes)

Combine lemon juice and gelatin in a small bowl and let stand until gelatin softens, about 5 minutes. Microwave until mixture is bubbling around edges and gelatin dissolves, about 30 seconds.  set aside.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and salt until smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes). Slowly add cream and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add gelatin mixture and 1/4 cup lemon curd. Increase speed to medium high and beat until smooth and airy, about 3 minutes.

Pour filling into crust and smooth top.  Pour remaining curd  in thin lines onto the top and lightly drag a knife or skewer through it to create a marbled appearance. Refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours.