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Beef and Wild Mushroom Pate with Cognac Mustard Sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup minced yellow onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
8 ounces exotic mushrooms, such as chanterelles, wood ears, morels, shiitakes, cleaned and chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon
1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper, plus 1/4 teaspoon
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons chopped sage
2 teaspoons chopped thyme
2 egg whites
10 to 12 slices prosciutto
Cognac Mustard Sauce, recipe follows
Cornichons, for serving
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook until they give off their liquid, about 5 minutes. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and cool.
In a mixing bowl, combine the beef, pork, buttermilk, sage, thyme, remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, egg whites, and the cooled mushrooms. Stir well to blend. Line a 6-cup (12 by 3 by 3-inch) terrine mold with prosciutto slices, overhanging the strips over the edges of the mold. Pour the pate filling into the mold and cover with the prosciutto. Wrap the terrine loosely in plastic wrap. Top with an equal sized terrine, or a piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil. Place a brick on top of the terrine mold and bake for 1 hour.
Remove from the oven and allow pate to stand for 30 minutes before removing the weight and unwrapping. Pour off any accumulated juices and allow pate to cool completely. Cover pate with plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely cooled. Serve slices of pate either cold or at room temperature, lightly drizzled with the Cognac Mustard Sauce, with cornichons on the side.
Cognac mustard sauce:
1/2 cup dry mustard
1/2 cup brandy or Cognac
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and whisk until well incorporated.
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1 pound butter, room temperature
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley, plus 1 tablespoon
Salt and pepper
1 pound medium size mushrooms
Olive oil
Preheat a grill. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine butter, garlic, and 1/2 cup of the parsley, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
To prepare the mushrooms, remove stems, lightly coat with olive oil, and grill until tender. Place a spoonful of the butter mixture on each mushroom, and bake until butter is melted, approximately 3 minutes.
To serve, place on large platter, and sprinkle with remaining parsley.
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6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
6 ounces shiitake mushrooms, wiped clean, stems trimmed, and sliced
6 ounces oyster mushrooms, wiped clean, stems trimmed, and sliced
8 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, wiped clean, stems trimmed, and sliced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup brandy
6 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 (8-inch long) thin baguette French bread, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
3 cloves peeled, crushed garlic
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, and cayenne and cook, stirring, until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, thyme, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring, the mushrooms give off their liquid and start to brown, about 7 minutes. Add the brandy, bring to a boil and cook until glazed, about 2 minutes. Add the stock and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and puree with a hand-held immersion blender, or in batches in a food processor. Add the cream, return to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and adjust seasoning, to taste.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Rub both sides of the French bread slices with the crushed garlic and place on a baking sheet. With a pastry brush, brush 1 side with the olive oil. Top with a fine sprinkling of the cheese and bake until the cheese is bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven.
To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with 2 croutons.
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