Flounder en Papillote

 

I remember having fish prepared in parchment a few years ago, at Not Your Average Joe's in Lexington. It was really tasty, the presentation was excellent (like opening a present!)… Finally got around to trying it myself. Why did it take me so long??!! Consider cooking chicken this way, just needs an extra 10 minutes. The food steams inside and all the juices are delicious. Soak them up with rice or mashed potatoes.

Some veggies need more cooking time- so you partially cook then cool them before adding to the packet. Since it's still Valentine's season, I made the packets heart shaped. The taster was not in on this one, he feasted on sushi earlier.

This recipe was torn out of magazine in March of 2006. Can't guess which one, on the back is an ad for Central Kitchen and The Kendall. One cookie sheet fits 2 hearts.

Flounder en Papillote
Total time: 30 minutes; active time: 12 minutes

1/2 lb fresh green beans
8 15x12" sheets parchment paper
3 Tb olive oil, divided
4 flounder fillets (or other firm white fish), about 6 oz each
1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Garnish: lemon wedges

Heat oven to 450º.
Cook green beans in boiling salted water about 3 minutes. Run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.

Fold parchment sheets in half (but don't crease), in order to cut out hearts.
Place on sheet pan(s) for assembly.

Drizzle about 1 tsp olive oil on one side of each heart.
Place a fillet on top, sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Top with green beans, tomatoes, scallions & Italian seasoning.
Drizzle with about 1 tsp olive oil.
Seal packages, forming a heart shape, and put in oven.

Bake for 12 minutes or until bags are puffed and fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. (I baked for 11 minutes without testing it). Garnish with lemon wedges, serve immediately. Have water with lemon to drink.

Guests can eat directly from the parchment (I recommend) or empty the contents onto their plate.
Beware of the steam!

Fairy Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies are so light and delicious, you'll love them!  Interesting: no eggs used. 

They are a great accompaniment to tea or coffee.  After making them I am now inspired to try making various thin crackers…. 

From Cook's Country | February/March 2011

The original recipes for Fairy Gingerbread Cookies melted in our mouths but were also severely lacking in flavor. A bit of vanilla extract and salt helped boost the otherwise bland confections. Doubling the ginger added a much-needed kick, but without any competing flavors it was overwhelming.… 

MAKES 5 DOZEN COOKIES

Use cookie or baking sheets that measure at least 15 by 12 inches. Don't be disconcerted by the scant amount of batter: You really are going to spread it very thin. Use the edges of the parchment paper as your guide, covering the entire surface thinly and evenly. For easier grating, freeze a 2-inch piece of peeled ginger for 30 minutes, then use a rasp-style grater.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2teaspoons ground ginger
• 3/4cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4teaspoon Salt
• 5tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 9tablespoons packed light brown sugar (or 1/2 cup + 1 TB)
• 4teaspoons grated fresh ginger
• 3/4teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4cup whole milk, room temperature

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray 2 cookie sheets (or inverted baking sheets) with cooking spray and cover each with 15 by 12-inch sheet parchment paper. Heat ground ginger in small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Combine flour, toasted ginger, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl.
   2. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add fresh ginger and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of milk.
   3. Following photo 1, evenly spread ¾ cup batter to cover parchment on each prepared cookie sheet (batter will be very thin). Bake until deep golden brown, 16 to 20 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Following photos 2 and 3, immediately score cookies into 3 by 2-inch rectangles. Cool completely, about 20 minutes. Using tip of paring knife, separate cookies along score mark. Serve. (Cookies can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.)

MAKING FAIRY GINGERBREAD COOKIES

While making several dozen batches of Fairy Gingerbread, we had time to perfect our technique. The cookies are made with an unusual method we'd never encountered before. Here's how:

1. SPREAD BATTER

To form cookies of the requisite thinness, use a small offset spatula to spread the batter to the edges of a 15 by 12-inch sheet of parchment paper.

2. SCORE COOKIES

Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, use a chef’s knife or pizza wheel to score 3 by 2-inch rectangles. Work quickly to prevent breaking.

3. SEPARATE COOKIES

Once the cookies are cool, trace over the scored lines with a paring knife and gently break the cookies apart along the lines.