Chocolate Cream Puff Swans – Oh, Mama!

Mother’s Day is coming up soon, and these chocolate ganache-filled cream puff swans would be a great way to say thanks to her for that whole giving you life thing. I think once she tastes them, she’ll agree that it was all worth it after all.

This is mostly a technique video, as these beautiful birds would work with any number of fillings. Pastry cream, lemon curd, mousse, and fresh fruit are all perfect with this pâte à choux delivery system. This classic French dough has a thousand uses, and must be mastered by any serious cook. 

By the way, these are much better chilled, so make them an hour or two ahead. The one I eat in the video wasn’t well chilled, and you can see was pretty soft. Once cold, the chocolate ganache becomes very truffle-like, the whipped cream firms up, and you get something much more toothsome. So whether you do these for Mother's Day or not, I really hope you give these a try soon. Enjoy!

Pâte à Choux (Cream Puff Dough)

*enough for about 8-10 “swans”

1/2 cup water

1 tsp sugar

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

pinch salt

1/2 cup flour

2 eggs
*Bake "bodies" at 425 F. for 20-25 minutes, necks for about 12 minutes

For the ganache (makes extra):

4 oz dark chocolate, chopped

4 oz boiling heavy cream

For the whipped cream:

1 cup very cold heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp sugar or to taste

*whip cream to soft peaks, add sugar, and whip to firm peaks

Next Up: Something for Mom

Spicy Coconut & Calamari Salad, Formerly Know As Failed Squid Ceviche

There’s nothing quite as satisfying in the kitchen as snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. I was playing around with some squid ceviche preparations, and while it did “cook” in the acidic marinade, I really didn’t enjoy the texture. I actually hated it. 

I’m not sure if it needed more time, or more acid, but it wasn’t good. Not wanting to toss it, I decided to fry it up, and maybe hide it in some pasta, or something. I went with “or something,” and this cold, coconut-spiked salad was the result. I haven’t been this happy about a failed recipe in a long time.

Not only did it make a fantastic, sort of Thai-like salad, I can see this being quite versatile as well. It was very tasty hot, and would be great over rice with some of the cooked-down marinade. It would also be amazing over a big bowl of crunchy greens. Just don’t skip the toasted coconut, as it really does make the dish. I hope you give this delicious accident a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 Portions Spicy Coconut & Calamari Salad:

1 pound calamari, cleaned, cut into thin rings

1 small green Serrano pepper, minced

1 red Fresno pepper, sliced thin

2 tablespoons green onion

1 teaspoon palm sugar (aka coconut)

1 generous tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup lime juice

2 tablespoons Coconut milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil to cook calamari

- After calamari is marinated and cooked:

1 tsp Lime juice, or to taste

1 tbsp chopped green onions

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

2/3 cup toasted coconut flakes (unsweeted)

How to Make French Toast like Noah Greene

It’s been far too long since I shared a video from some of the new blood on YouTube. And by “new blood” I mean the young punks who will eventually put me out of work. Oh well, we had a good run. Anyway, Noah does a great job here, and I hope he keeps adding to his channel. By the way, I really like the music. Enjoy!

You can subscribe to NoahGreeneCooking here.

Joe’s Special – A True Original

After the ominous, but delicious, “Hangtown Fry,” Original Joe’s “Joe’s Special” is probably San Francisco’s most famous breakfast. Unless you’re counting the Buena Vista Café’s Irish coffee as breakfast, and now that I think about it, you probably should.

This mammoth plate of food features three eggs, a half-pound of meat, and more than enough spinach. Apparently a late-night patron requested his spinach omelet include a hamburger patty, and this is what happened. In respect to good ol’ made-up “Joe,” I’ve kept the original portions, so feel free to share with a friend or three.

Speaking of mammoth, this should make all you paleo-diet people who keep emailing me happy. Skip the toast and you’re in high-protein/low-carb heaven. As far as the method goes; even a caveman could do it. Just be sure to season generously at each stage, and taste at the end, and you’ll be enjoying a truly delicious, San Francisco original. Enjoy!

Ingredients for one huge portion:
NOTE: This version is mostly meat and spinach, but if you want something closer to a classic scramble, then cup the beef and spinach amounts in half. This is how most restaurants that copy the recipe do it!) 

1 tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup diced onion

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

8 oz lean ground chuck

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 to 3/4 cup chopped, cooked spinach, squeezed very dry

3 large eggs

1 tsp chopped fresh basil

1 tsp chopped fresh oregano

Parmigiano-Reggiano to finish the top