CordonBlues’ blog

This Is Not The Rice Pudding From Work

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:47:11 -0500

Soft, sweet, and delicately perfumed, rice pudding is one of the most soothing desserts imaginable. I buy this almost everyday for breakfast or it’s my dessert for lunch at work, but I realized only recently that this is so easy to prepare at home, and really delicious with a bit of good quality ingredients. Here’s one recipe from Everyday Italian, I thought the flavour was great but it was a bit soupy, I like them thick or a bit "gluey." I suggest reducing the liquid to 4 ½ cups from 5 cups. Next time, I'm going to try a combination of black and white rice to get much more texture and colour than this recipe, add some dried fruit, like raisins, and, instead of white sugar, brown sugar. Yum.

Ingredients

5 cups whole milk

2/3 cups Arborio rice

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise ( or you can use vanilla extract)

½ cup sugar

2 tsp dark rum

1 tsp grated orange zest

Directions

In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine the milk and rice. Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean and add the bean. Bring the milk to a boil. Make sure you keep stirring, you don’t want the rice to stick to the bottom of the saucepan. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender, for about 25 minutes. Stir in the sugar, rum and orange zest. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Discard the vanilla bean and spoon the rice pudding into bowls. Cover and refrigerate until the pudding is cold, about 5 hours and up to 1 day ahead.

Rice Pudding Flavoured With Vanilla, Orange and Rum

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Happy New Year Bloggers

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:48:50 -0500

I'm so ready for tonight's New Year's party! Today, I bought flowers and champagne, several bottles of wine, smoked salmon, cheese (Le Cendrillon which was nominated the best cheese in the world in 2009) and made several types of appetizers and espresso cookies. Tomorrow morning I'll make panettone french toast for friends and guests. I made this last year and it was simply delicious. I love the idea of bringing in the new year with really great friends and, of course, delicious wines and rich food. Here's to you and wishing you all the best in the new year!

Spanakopita

White Roses

Orchids

Panettone French Toast (2008 photo)

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Chicken BBQ Recipe

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:38:58 -0500

Here's the Chicken BBQ recipe I owe you. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 cup blanched spinach, squeezed dry

½ cup dried white mushrooms, cooked and cooled

2 tbsp goat cheese

8 oz chicken breasts, trimmed with skins on

2 slices bacon

1 tsp of a mix of spices that’s keeps well and is great to season fish, meats or chicken:

¼ cup sweet paprika

2 tbsp smoked paprika

¼ tsp chili powder

1 tsp ground black pepper

½ cup sea salt

¼ cup brown sugar

1 tsp dry sage

1 tsp dry thyme

2 tbsp onion powder

2 tbsp English mustard

1 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp cayenne pepper

Salt and pepper

Directions

Mix the spinach, mushrooms and goat cheese together. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

With a sharp knife make a small pocket in each chicken breast under the skin. Fill with the spinach stuffing and wrap with bacon. Skewer, if necessary.

Rub the chicken breast thoroughly with spice mix.

Grill on a preheated BBQ over medium - high heat for 6-10 minutes, turning from time to time.

BBQ Chicken

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Culinary Reflections of 2009

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:47:04 -0500

I’m ready to say goodbye to big chunks of 2009, but I’ll keep the best parts of the year close to my heart and bring them along to 2010—like my memories of Paris, Ecole Escoffier and South of France, and reconnecting with my friends from that part of the world. What else I’ll bring to 2010 is my love of wines. I’ve tried some spectacular wines this year both in France and in Canada, and I hope to share more of my weekly buys—hits and misses-- in the upcoming year. That reminds me I must post my latest list for you.

2010 will also be about finishing off my pastry degree at the College, and returning to Le Cordon Bleu to complete the first level of basic patisserie program to share certain techniques with you. I’ll also spend a lot more time reviewing cookbooks, and comparing and testing recipes, all in an effort to save you money and build you a good collection of cookbooks.

Happy New Year everyone whose been reading my blog, leaving thoughtful comments, and I wish you great eating, drinking and cooking for 2010.

Cheers everyone, wishing you the best!

Burgundy Region

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Tasty Champagnes Under $60

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:04:38 -0500

I’ve rejected big name champagnes for this year's New Year party, like Veuve Clicquot or Charles Heidsieck, for more affordable bottles priced at about $50. Here are my four tasty picks all available at LCBO you may want to consider.

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particulière Champagne smells and tastes like flowers, zest and fresh green apples. $49.15 Cdn.

Piper-Heidsieck ‘Cuvée Brut’ Champagne. This is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, and I would describe it as elegant and light with hints of flower and citrus. $49.95 Cdn.
Pol Roger “Extra Cuvee de Reserve Champagne. A decent, elegant bottle with light flavours of lemon, green apple and ripe fruit. $58.80 Cdn.

Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne, This is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinto Meunier. It’s rich, balanced and elegant with rich fruit-filled flavours and zesty spice. $59.95 Cdn (Save $8 at LCBO).

Cheers, and Happy New Year!

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Particuliere

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My Cuisine Pictures of the Year

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:29:08 -0500

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My Pastry Pictures of the Year

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:14:45 -0500

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Dark Chocolate Souffle

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:48:44 -0500

Chocolate Souffle

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Go Ahead Be A Babich: More Wines Under $25

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:07:22 -0500

Whites

2008 Babich Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand. Life is a Babich, then you have another glass! This costs $17.30 Canadian. One of the best Sauvignon Blanc I've tried this year.

2008 Extreme Pierre Sparr Riesling Alsace. Big Alsace wine that smells like flowers, and tastes like lime and tropical fruit. You can't go wrong with this one.

Reds

2007 Fetzer Merlot California. Cheap, and really pleasant -- a polite friend.

2006 Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon California. Really nice. Interesting. A spicy new world wine.

2008 Lindemans Bin 50. The Chevy of Aussie Shiraz. This is the cola of wine; always good to have around.

I tried a Canadian Cabernet Franc, but I won't tell you what it was, it was awful on the nose and taste, I think it's more for cooking.

Babich SB

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I Drink You Save: Wines Under $25

nobody@vox.com(CordonBlues) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:18:03 -0500

I’ve tried all of these wines, and they are all good and a deal as gifts.

Whites

Chardonnay

2006 La Chablisienne Chablis Les Venerables Vielles Vignes France

2008 Toasted Head Chardonnay California

2005 Meusault 1er Cur Les Poruzots Nicolas Potel CHardonnay France

2005 Mount Gisborne Chardonnay Australia

2008 Lindemman Bin 65 Chardonnay California

Sauvignon Blanc

2009 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand

2009 Errazuriz Estate Sauvignon Blanc Chile

Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Canelli, Chardonnay and Viognier

2007 Conundrum California

Riesling

2008 Yalumba Y Series Riesling South Australia

2007 Trimbach Riesling Reserve Alsace, France

2008 Tamar Ridge Devil’s Corner Riesling Tasmania

2007 Domdechant Werner Hochheimer Kirchenstuck Riesling Spatlese Germany

2007 Cave Spring Cellars Riesling Ontario

Viognier

2008 Cono Sur Reserva Viognier Chile

Gewurtztraminer

2007 Colio Estate Vineyards Gewurtztraminer Harrow Ontario

2007 Pierre Sparr Gewurrztraminer Alsace, FRance

2008 Louis Hauller Gewurtsraminer Alsace, France

Muscat

2007 Ottonel Serbia

Reds

Pinot Noir

2005 Manuel Olivier Pinot Noir Bourgogne Hautes Cotes De Nuits Cuvee de Garde France

2007 Maison Chanson Bourgogne Pinot Noir France

2007 Bell Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir California

2005 Irony Pinot Noir California

Grenache

2005 Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva Italy

Tempranillo, Granache, Mazuelo and Graciano

2005 Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva Spain

Cabernet Sauvignon

2008 Sanata Carolina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Chile

2007 Penisula Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Ontatio

2006 Sumac Ridge Balck Sage Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon British Columbia

Cabernet-Merlot

2004 Chateau de Terrefort Quancard France

Merlot

2005 Chateau Laborde Lalande-de-Pomerol France

Zindfandel

2007 Ravenswood Zinfandel California

2007 Cline Zinfandel California

Primitvo

2005 Salento Primitvo del Salento Puglai Italy

Shiraz/Syrah

2007 Perrin & Fils Reserve Cotes du Phone Syrah France

2006 Plunkett Fowles Therite Shiraz Australia

2006 Kilikanoon Killerman’s Run Shiraz South Australia

2006 Elderton E Series Shiraz California

2008 Palin Syrah Chile

Malbec

2008 Kaiken Malbec Argentina

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