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Arugula, Fresh Fennel, Endive, and Baby Greens with Pear, Pomegranate Seeds, Hazelnuts and Pomegranate-Hazelnut Vinaigrette
Pan-Seared Strip Steak
Double Tarragon Bernaise Mayo
Crusted, Herby, Very Best and Easiest-of-All-Time Potato "Cakes"
Haricots Verts, Asparagus, Mushroom and Green Pea Sauté
Freeform Chocolate Meringue Tart with Whipped Cream
About the Class
The salad has been my go-to holiday first course for years. Holiday meals are often groaning boards of heavy food. I love to start them off with something light that does not fill you up before serious eating even begins. And this salad is perfect in so many ways. The pomegranates and pears are enticingly seasonal and spectacular and unusual paired with hazelnuts and a pomegranate molasses vinaigrette. And the jewel-like pomegranate seeds are gorgeous.
The meat is prime and the recipe simple. It's always a boon to have a least one recipe in a menu (especially at the holidays) be a no-brainer. If you've never made it, Bernaise Mayonnaise is great to have in your repertoire. So much easier to make than Bernaise Sauce. Make it days in advance. No last minute fussing and holding and hoping your sauce doesn't curdle.
With a generous hit of garlic and onions, the potatoes are super flavorful. Additional seasonings are also possible but I tend to stick with just salt and pepper. Nonetheless, I"d never say no to a handful of fresh herbs strewn over last minute for crispness, variety and color.
Though herbs are not really called for when making the potatoes for this in this menu as they're served with a bright green saute of asparagus, peas, haricots verts and mushrooms.
Last but hardly least is an extravagant free-form meringue topped with a REALLY good (and Kahlua-laden ) chocolate-coffee cocoction, somewhat of a mousse. Slathered with whipped cream, it's the best. AND if there are leftovers, smash them together (meringue, chocolate and the whipped cream) and freeze. One of the best frozen desserts of all time. Actually worth making extra components to smash together and freeze.