Chef Frank Downs Gets Creative

Frank is never too busy that he can’t think of new ideas. This week he produced a pretty fruit cup to serve at breakfast, taking the time to hollow out an orange and filling it with sliced honeydew, kiwi fruit, strawberries and blueberries.  The thinly sliced honeydew gives the fruit cup the benefit of added height and drama.

Frank also wanted to produce a breakfast dish which would accommodate guests who are vegetarians who eat fish.  He came up with Buckhorn’s Bayou Breakfast, the layered dish you see below:  hash browns followed by crunchy fried shrimp, spinach, creamy scrambled eggs and a garnish of chopped tomatoes and green onions.  He finished it off with a great aioli sauce.  Our guests, whether vegetarians or not, really went for it.  We think the secret of the dish was the crunchy shrimp!

Great Winter Soups

Nothing beats the winter chill  like a steaming bowl of soup.  Try these three tried-and-tested  recipes from the Buckhorn Inn  Kitchen.

Sweet Potato-Leek Soup with Buttered Pecans

Soup
1½ Tbl Butter
¼ Cup Onions, chopped
½ Cup Leeks, washed, drained and
finely chopped
1 Lge Garlic clove, minced
2 Lge Carrots, peeled and thinly
sliced
1 Bay leaf
1 Lb Sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
¼ Lb Russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
¼ Cup Dry wine
2½ Cups Chicken stock
¾ Cup Water
½ Tsp Salt
½ Tsp Pepper

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and saute the onions, leeks, garlic and carrots over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Add bay leaf, sweet potatoes, Russet potatoes, wine, chicken stock and water. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Discard bay leaf. In a blender, puree the cooked ingredients in batches until smooth. Transfer pureed portions to a medium saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. If the soup needs thinning, add more chicken stock. To serve, ladle into soup bowls and top with a dollop of sour cream and the buttered pecans.

Garnish
1 Tbl Butter
¼ Cup Pecans, chopped
Pinch Salt
Sour Cream

Slowly melt butter in a skillet. Add pecans and salt. Cook over moderate heat. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer nuts to a paper towel and drain.

Yield: 8 servings

Caramelized Onion and Portobello Mushroom Soup with Goat Cheese Croutons

Soup
3 Tbl Unsalted butter
5 Cups Onions, halved, thinly sliced
4 Fresh Thyme sprigs
1½ Lbs Portobello mushrooms caps,
halved and cut into ¼ inch
thick strips
3 Tbl Cognac or brandy
3 Garlic cloves, minced
8 Cups Vegetable or chicken stock and 1 Cup Dry white wine
                                                                

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large pot over high heat. Add onions and thyme. Sauté until onions begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook until onions are caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Transfer onion mixture to medium bowl.

Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in same pot over medium-high heat. Add mush-rooms. Sauté until soft, about 12 minutes. Add cognac and garlic and stir 20 seconds. Stir in onion mixture, then broth and wine. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until onions are very tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

Croutons
18 1-inch thick slices French bread, toasted
8 Oz Soft fresh goat cheese, room temperature

Preheat broiler. Place bread slices on large baking sheet. Spread goat cheese on bread slices, dividing equally. Broil goat cheese croutons until cheese begins to brown in spots, about 30 seconds.

Divide soup among 6 bowls. Top with croutons and serve.

Yield: 6 servings

Split Pea Soup with Smoked Ham Hocks

Ingredients
o 1 large leek
o 3 to 4 tablespoons butter
o 1 large carrot, peeled and fine chopped
o 3 medium onions, peeled and chopped into 1/4-inch dice
o Meat cut from 2 large smoked ham hocks (2 to 2-1/2 pounds)
o Salt and fresh-ground black pepper
o 3 medium red skin potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
o 1-1/2 cups dried split peas 
o 3 whole cloves
o 1 teaspoon ground allspice
o 1 teaspoon ground ginger
o 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
o 1 large garlic clove, minced
o 2 14-ounce cans vegetable or chicken broth
o 3 to 4 cups water

Finish
o 2 tablespoons butter
o 1/4 teaspoon allspice

Instructions
1. Prepare the leek by cutting away the green top and the root. You’ll use only the white portion. Slice the white stalk down its length and rinse it under cold running water to wash away any sand. Pat the leek dry with paper towels and slice it thin.
2. In a 6-quart pot, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the leeks, carrots, onions, and meat, and salt and pepper. Sauté until the onions begin to brown. Then stir in the potatoes, split peas, cloves, 1 teaspoon allspice, the ginger, thyme, garlic, broth, and water. There should be enough liquid to cover the peas and vegetables by an inch. Add more water if necessary.
3. Simmer the soup, partially covered, 30 minutes, or until the split peas are almost dissolved and the potatoes are tender. Taste the soup for seasoning, and just before serving it, swirl in the 2 tablespoons of butter. Finish the soup by stirring in the last 1/4 teaspoon of allspice.