Giveaway, Recipe + New Recipe Book from Missing Goat Farm

Today I'm excited to share with you a brand new (and seriously yummy-looking) cookbook (and a recipe from it) by Canadian magazine stylist, story producer and organic farmer Heather Cameron from the Missing Goat Farm.  I've been lucky enough to taste Heather's most delicious (and I'm not just saying that), rhubarb pie that she made for Janis and I a few years back (see here). And so I was really anticipating her new book, Farm-Fresh Recipes from the Missing Goat Farm which is filled with over a 100 recipes organized by season, and what I think would be a beautiful addition to any cookbook collection.  The recipes are inspiring using fresh, in-season ingredients that I think will soon become some of my own family's favourites. The book is available through cicobooks.com and amazon and ships internationally.

Along with hosting a giveaway here on the blog today, Heather is sharing two of her signature recipes with us, a beautiful Meyer Lemon Curd and a Meringue Tart recipe to go with it. I've also created a printable lemon curd label set  in case you wish to gift them.  The curd recipe and book would be a nice gift to give for Mother's Day (perhaps)? Check out the recipes below, and be sure to enter to win a copy in the comments (they'll ship worldwide)!.  We'll pick a winner Monday!  Good luck!

MEYER LEMON CURD
If you love lemon, you will make this recipe and then send me a handwritten note saying thank you sweet lady for introducing me to Lemon Curd. You are welcome. Now go for a jog.

Makes about 4 jars

5 eggs
1 1⁄2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
1 1⁄2 cups (360 ml) fresh Meyer lemon juice (available winter to spring)
1 1⁄2 cups (375 g) unsalted butter, cubed
1⁄4 teaspoon salt


1 Place the eggs, sugar, and lemon juice in a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler use a large bowl on top of a large saucepan and hold the pan in place with an oven mitt on. Whisk until smooth and continue whisking for about 5–7 minutes, until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the cubed butter and salt. Stir until it melts. Voila!

2 At this point you can grab a spoon and enjoy, or ladle into jars to keep in the fridge for a few weeks. You can also let cool completely in the fridge and then use it in a pie or tart (opposite).

NOTE: I have tried making this with regular lemons, but found it is not as good. Meyer lemons are sweeter and have less bite. If you do use regular lemons, then you may want to add an extra ¼ cup (50 g) sugar.

Click here to print the labels.  And get the Meringue tart recipe after the jump!

MERINGUE TARTS
Now that you are in love with the previous recipe for Lemon Curd, you will make these tarts and then send me a note saying I am wicked as you have just eaten three of them—it’s OK … I did too!

Makes 4 tarts
1 jar (1 pint) Meyer Lemon Curd (see opposite) for filling

For the meringue:
4 egg whites (general rule of thumb for meringue is 1 egg white to 1⁄4 cup (50 g) sugar)
1 cup (200 g) superfine (caster) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (see page 129)

For the crumb crust:
1 1⁄4 cups (125 g) graham cracker (digestive biscuit) crumbs
1⁄4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
1⁄4 cup (60 g) butter, melted

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/Gas 4.

2 Beat the egg whites in a stand mixer or with a hand-held electric whisk until they begin to firm up. Slowly start to add the sugar. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides. Keep beating for about 15 minutes until the egg whites are firm and can stand up on their own and the sugar has dissolved completely. Fold in the vanilla extract.

3 Mix the crumb crust ingredients together in a bowl. Press the mixture firmly into individual, lined muffin pans or a pie plate—I used parchment (greaseproof) paper, because if you haven't noticed yet, I use it a lot.

4 Bake the crust in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes. Let the shells cool completely and then spoon in your lemon curd filling.

5 Pile the meringue high as you can on top of the lemon curd—simply because it's fun and looks very cool.

6 Bake the tarts in the oven for another 10 minutes, but keep your eye on them, so the meringue doesn't over-brown. Let cool and then devour.

Farm Fresh Recipes

by Heather Cameron

CICO Books, $24.95; www.cicobooks.com

Also available through amazon.com

Photo credit: Photography by Heather Cameron, Kim Christie, and Janis Nicolay

Visit Heather's blog at heathercameronstylist.blogspot.ca

Note - this giveaway has ended.  The winner is:

Meghan Silvasaid...

The recipes look delicious and oh how I'd love to win that cookbook.


Meghan Silva's Blog
 

 

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Just the Ticket: Pasta with Lemony Brussels Sprouts

By Jeannette Ordas of Everybody likes Sandwiches

I'm always on the hunt for easy dinners. Some might think it odd since I love cooking, but I'm not always wanting to prep and be in the kitchen for hours on end. Especially when I have things to do. I'm hungry and I want to eat. Now. 

Which is why I love dishes like this. The only real work is prepping the B-sprouts. I love this green little cute veg, but truth be told, it takes a bit of work to get them stage ready. First, you have to rinse them well. Then you have to peel off the outer leaves which can be tough or yellow or bug eaten. And then you have to slice them thinly, which is key to having them cook in just a few minutes. But after that, it's smooth sailing. The rest of the recipe is a snap.

Don't like Brussels sprouts? Well, we clearly can't be friends. Or you can venture into new territory - these aren't the stinky, mushy orbs made by your grandma. 

The dish is flavoured with garlic, chili and lemon and the sauce is simply the starchy pasta water enriched with 1/2 a bullion cube. I told you it was easy. The walnuts add a nice nutty dimension which works well with the B-sprouts, but if you're nut-adverse, you can leave them out. Parmesan tops it off with a delicious blanket of cheesy goodness. It's comforting, easy, and even a little bit vibrant. Just the ticket for a January evening.

Pasta with Lemony Brussels Sprouts

1 lb brussels sprouts

250 g dried pasta (I used a wagon wheel shape, but any pasta will do)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon chili flakes

1/2 a veggie or chicken stock cube, crumbled

2 tablespoons roughly chopped walnuts or pine nuts

juice of 1/2 a lemon

Parmesan cheese, for serving

Rinse and trim brussels sprouts and slice them thinly. Use a food processor if you want to speed things up, but I used a knife and I live to tell this tale. 

Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, but reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid for later on. You'll put it to good use.

Meanwhile, heat olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add in brussels sprouts, along with a pinch of salt, the red chill flakes and sauté until tender and lightly golden, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in the nuts and let those get toasty, about another minute or so. 

Toss in the pasta along with a 1/4-1/2 cup of cooking liquid and the crumbled stock cube, stirring in to create a light sauce. The liquid will reduce slightly to thicken. Squeeze lemon over top, give a quick stir  and serve in bowls sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

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