Recipe: Blini with Caviar

by jbfauthor on December 29, 2009

Consider this classic, decadent hors d'oeuvre for your New Year's Eve party. From the pages of James Beard's New Fish Cookery, the blini are a cinch to prepare, and the gleaming caviar provides the perfect celebratory note. A clean Champagne or vodka helps it all go down.

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Recipe: James Beard's Brussels Sprouts and Chestnuts

by jbfauthor on November 19, 2009

This unfussy recipe comes from the pages of James Beard's American Cookery. Beard recommends serving this as a side for Thanksgiving dinner, describing it as "an extraordinarily good combination and one which nowadays is very easy to prepare." The ingredient list is concise and the method brief, so prepping and preparation won't disrupt that strict holiday cooking timeline you've probably already plotted. Beard, never one to oppose ramped up flavor, endorses generous extra butter and parsley at the finish.

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Food Matters: James Beard–Themed Dining in Hawaii

by jbfauthor on October 30, 2009

When one of our board members mentioned that they had gotten wind of a yearly James Beard–themed dinner in Hawaii, we knew we had to investigate. We eventually tracked down Hilo resident Mike Middleworth, a member of a group called Wine Connection that stages wine and culinary events throughout the year. "I have always enjoyed James Beard's recipes, so it seemed very logical to produce a dinner with a menu of his dishes that call for a wine as an ingredient," Middleworth explained. "We then drink the same wine for the pairing."

This is the fourth year that Middleworth has hosted the dinner, which is attended by anywhere from 30 to 50 people, and it's always a huge success. "Beard's recipes, of course, are richer than today's healthy cooking, but you can't beat the results," says Middleworth.

The menu for the event, which was held last weekend, is below. We're charmed to see that the spirit of the dean of American cookery is alive and well in the 50th state.

... Read more >

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Recipe: James Beard’s Moules Marinière

by jbfauthor on July 14, 2009

This deliciously simple recipe from Beard’s American Cookery puts us in the Bastille Day spirit. Make sure you have plenty of fresh, crusty baguette on hand to soak up the buttery, aromatic broth. 2 to 3 quarts mussels, scrubbed and bearded 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 large onion, thinly sliced 2 to 3 sprigs parsley 1 stick unsalted butter 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper ½ cup white wine ½ cup chopped parsley ¼ teaspoon Tabasco Place the garlic, onion, parsley sprigs, 4 tablespoons of the butter, salt, and pepper in a large pot. Add the mussels and pour the wine over them. Cover tightly and cook over low heat until the shells open. Transfer the mussels to a soup tureen or serving dish. Add the remaining butter, chopped parsley, and Tabasco to the pot. Adjust the seasoning and serve the mussels in soup plates along with some of the broth and plenty of crusty bread.

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