APPLE AND AVOCADO SALSA WITH HONEY-LIME DRESSING
Recipe from The Nature of the Feast by Louise Penny. Mentioned in her book The Nature of the Beast: “Their dinner guests had already arrived and were sipping drinks and eating apple and avocado salsa by the time Armand returned.”
Makes: about 1½ cups (375 mL)
Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime 1 tsp (5 mL) light honey ½ tsp (2 mL) sea salt ¼ tsp (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper 1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into ½-inch (1-cm) dice 1/2 red apple, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½-inch (1-cm) dice 1 tbsp (15 mL) finely chopped fresh cilantro (optional) Chips of choice
1. Put the lime zest and juice into a bowl.
2. Whisk in the honey, salt and pepper.
3. Fold in the avocado and apple until coated with the dressing.
4. Add the cilantro, if using. Taste and add a pinch more of salt and pepper, if needed. 5. Spoon the salsa onto the chips.
Notes: The salsa is best eaten when freshly made but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a few hours. If refrigerating, gently press a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the top of the salsa, then cover the container. Bring the salsa to room temperature about 15 minutes before serving. Choose a slightly firmer (but still ripe) avocado than you would for guacamole and a naturally soft red apple such as a McIntosh. The quantities above can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
Recipe from The Nature of the Feast, by Louise Penny. Mentioned in The Long Way Home: “Armand Gamache looked down at his plate. Empty. All the wonderful food gone. He was sure it must have been delicious, but he couldn’t remember eating a single bite. After a dessert of raspberry and chocolate mousse they went home.” Makes: 6 servings 10 oz (284 g) good-quality semisweet or extra bittersweet (about 70% cocoa) chocolate 2 tbsp (30 mL) unsalted butter 4 large eggs, separated (see Note) 1 cup (250 mL) heavy cream, very cold 1 tbsp (15 mL) raspberry liqueur, such as Chambord, or 1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract Additional whipped cream (optional) One ½-pint basket fresh raspberries
1. Break up or chop the chocolate into small chunks.
2. Melt the chocolate and butter in the top of a regular or improvised double-boiler: Set a heatproof bowl into a saucepan; the size of the bowl should be large enough to easily hold the chocolate, fit the top of the saucepan, and keep the bottom of the bowl at least 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) above the water).
3. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has completely melted, about 10 minutes. Keep the water at a bare simmer.
4. Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat and beat in the egg yolks, one at a time.
5. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl with an electric mixer just until they hold soft peaks.
6. Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, one-half at a time, using a rubber spatula.
7. Fold gently, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
8. Stop folding when the whites have been halfway incorporated into the chocolate.
9. Whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer just until it holds soft peaks.
10. Add the liqueur to the chocolate mixture.
11. Fold in about three-quarters of the whipped cream just until no white streaks remain.
12. Set 12 raspberries aside. Mash the remaining berries into the reserved whipped cream until the cream takes on a light pink colour.
13. Spoon about 1/3 cup (80 mL) chocolate mousse into a champagne flute or other tall, clear glass (a white ramekin will work in a pinch).
14. Spoon in a tablespoon (15 mL) or so of the raspberry cream, and then top up the glass (or ramekin) with another 1/3 cup (80 mL) of mousse.
15. Cover each serving with a small piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate until completely set, at least 3 hours or up to 1 day.
16. Serve with additional whipped cream, if you like, and a couple of the reserved fresh berries.
Note: Eating raw eggs may lead to food-borne illness. You can reduce the risk of illness by washing the eggshells before cracking them. In any case, pregnant women and those with c ompromised immune systems should refrain from eating raw eggs.