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1.21.2008

60 Minute Gourmet


I never throw anything out. My Mother thankfully kept a lot of good stuff I valued. My fashion magazines and books were stored in boxes.The fashion magazines have long since gone,but a lot of cookbooks remain.One of my first cookbooks as a pre-teenager was The New York Times 60-Minute Gourmet(1979). Yes that's was the type of child I was.The late Pierre Franey collaborated with the late Craig Claiborne on this great book and others that changed the way America cooked at home. Pierre Franey believed many great gourmet dishes can be prepared in a hour with good preparation and well stocked pantry. He pairs a entree and a side on each page.I chose to make a cheese souffle , which I never made before,and he makes seem so simple.I paired this with another entree, since the souffle was so light.Rather than the Swiss or Gruyere cheese, and Parmesan ,that was called for, I used Gouda,Peccorino Romano and some chives for color.I chose Poulet Scarpiello (chicken in white wine)as the main entree. Can I just say I love making souffles. My first attempt was sloppy(need one big dish rather than individual ramekins) but I can see myself having fun with these.Pierres Franey took the fear of making these out. No more images of the famous scene in Sabrina where all the classes souffles fall. The taste was pretty good. Light and buttery. Certain Someone came home a little later than planned and was hungry. He ate all, but declared it wasn't his type of food( naturally it wasn't pasta or sausages for a change). Certain Someone went into the refrigerator for leftover SPAM. Yes we have SPAM. He loves it. I have come to tolerate it , but it has to be cooked crisp like bacon for me. I admit I was still hungry afterwards too. I ate another mini souffle. but still was hungry. The meal had a lot of flavor but was very light. And I don't think that's a bad thing as I want to cut back but eat well.
Souffle au Fromage adapted from The New York Times 60-Minute Gourmet 1979
Pierre Franey
Cheese Souffle
1/4 Swiss or preferably Gruyere
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons of butter
6 large eggs
4 tablespoons flour
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
1/4 finely grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.Grate cheese into tiny cubes. It should be about 3/4 cup. Set aside. Heat milk to just about to boil.Butter your souffle dishes/dish with the 2 teaspoons of butter.Separate the egg yolks from whites.Put whited into mixing bowl to beaten stiff .
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan.Add flour and stir with wire whisk until smooth. Add hot milk to mix,stirring rapidly with whisk. Add salt,pepper,cayenne,nutmeg, stirring for approx 5 minutes.Blend cornstarch and water and add. Remove from heat.Add yolks stirring rapidly.Scrape mixture into a large mixing bowl and add Parmesan cheese. Beat egg whites until stiff.Add half the whites to the sauce and fold in with the whisk. Add remaining whites and grated cubed cheese and fold into mixture with rubber spatula.Fold until all is Incorporated.Pour and scrape mixture in souffle dish and bake for 20 min.

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9 comments:

Mary said...

I am so impressed you made a souffle! I am WAY too chicken for something that scary yet.

Thistlemoon said...

I love this. The food philosophy is one close to my heart - a well stocked pantry and a little love is all you need to make a great meal.

I had spam once, long ago. I don't remember it much.

Deborah said...

Another thing I have never made - a souffle! Yours looks beautiful.

I haven't had Spam in ages. I used to love it as a child.

Helene said...

Some simple ingredients can make some pretty stunning dishes! WTG!

Proud Italian Cook said...

I'd like to stick my spoon down the center of this cheesy goodness!!

Cynthia said...

Okay, that is jaw-dropping awesome. I am so wanted to try making a souffle but I am scared to bits.

Gabi said...

Lovely looking souffle! I was that kind of child too by the way- not a bad thing to be!
xoxo

~~louise~~ said...

Hi Courtney,
Just going to "steal" this link for a post I am doing about Pierre Franey on Tuesday the 13th of January. Hope you don't mind, it's the day he was born! Hopefully, I'll get it done in time:)

Thanks so much...

~~louise~~ said...

Thank you so much Courtney. I borrowed the link and here is the post.