When I list my heroes,
Julia Child is at the top. So I was thrilled to discover the #SundaySupper
group of bloggers planned to honor her today. I joined the group because I
believe in the importance of sitting down to the dinner table as a family,
however your family is designed. That my first post features Julia and is
part of the PBS Food
#CookForJulia celebration just adds to the fun! And considering all of the
stories told about her dinner gatherings in the kitchen, these posts seem more
than appropriate!
Yes, I admire Julia’s cooking skills and ability to teach those skills to others, but I most
admire her quest to find her talent at the age of 37 and the passion she gave
to the pursuit once she found her life’s calling. Her journey parallels my own
somewhat, since I was near that age when my first newspaper article was
published. And like her husband, Paul, I also have a wonderful love who
supports my own pursuit of my life’s passion. (I wrote a great deal about my admiration
for Julia on her birthday last year. You can read it here.)
One summer a couple
of years ago when I was a food reporter in New Hampshire , the chef/owner of a Manchester restaurant invited me to be a celebrity chef
for one night to raise money for the local food bank. Since I admire Julia, and
the Julie & Julia movie was about
to open, the chef and I planned a Julia Child-inspired menu. I even helped
prepare and serve the dishes.
It was a hot summer
evening, but everyone had a great time and the food was wonderful. I was so
busy that I only got a taste of each dish, but the one I remember the most was
the French-Style Country Pâté, a recipe we took right out of Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom.
The pâté has
ingredients that are easy to find at most grocery stores, and it is simple to make.
However, it does take time to bake, and it tastes best if you eat it a day or
two after it’s made. So plan ahead.
The ingredients for
the recipe below came right from Julia’s
Kitchen Wisdom, but I used two of her other books to come up with the
proper pâté-making technique.
What’s wonderful
about this pâté is it not only makes a lovely starter to a meal, but it also
can be a meal in itself. Just add some olives, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and
bread, and you have an elegant, light summer supper!
French-Style Country
Pâté
Adapted from Julia’s
Kitchen Wisdom and From Juila Child’s Kitchen, by Julia Child; and Mastering
the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone
Beck.
2/3 cups minced
onions
2 tablespoons butter1 1/4 pound ground pork
1/2 pound chicken livers
3/4 pound ground chicken
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
1 egg
1/3 cup goat cheese
1 medium garlic clove, finely minced
3 tablespoons cognac
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to
350 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2-inch loaf
pan and set aside.
Saute the onions in the butter until they are translucent
and tender. Set aside to cool. Place the chicken livers into a food processor
and pulse until well ground.
In a large bowl, place all of the ingredients, including the
onions and chicken livers, and mix together until all of the ingredients are
well incorporated. Turn the mixture into the loaf pan and pack well. Cover the
pan with a piece of waxed paper and foil. Set the loaf pan into another larger pan.
Pour boiling water into the larger pan, and then bake for 1 1/4 to 2 hours, or
until the juices are a clear pale yellow and the internal temperature reaches
170 degrees F. (Mine took 2 hours.)
Remove the loaf pan from the larger water bath. Pour out the
water from the larger pan and then set the loaf pan back in. Place a board or another
pan directly on top of the covered pâté,
and then weigh it down with a 5-pound weight. (Canned goods worked for me.) Be
careful because some of the juices may spill out of the loaf pan, but this step
is necessary to create a compact and dense pâté. Let the pâté sit at room temperature
until it cools, and then place it, weights and all, into the refrigerator to chill.
Allow the pâté to chill
for at least a day before serving to develop the flavor.
Be sure to check out my fellow #SundaySupper bloggers to see what they created in honor of Ms. Child. And don’t forget to join us at
#CookForJulia Breakfast
Râpée Morvandelle by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Croissants by Cookistry
Cheese and Bacon Quiche by Tora’s Real Food
#CookForJulia Lunch
Tuna Salad Nicoise by Magnolia Days
Blood Orange, Walnut, and Rocket Salad by Granny’s Down Home Southern Cooking
Croque Monsieur by Webicurean
Spinach and Cream Cheese Pancakes by Happy Baking Days
Julia’s Chicken Salad by My Trials in the Kitchen
Pissaladière Niçoise (Onion Tart with Anchovies and Black Olives) by The Wimpy Vegetarian
Provencal Tomato Quiche by Are you hungry?
Quiche Lorraine Spoon and Saucer
Potato and Onion Soup (Potage Parmentier) by Shockingly Delicious
#CookForJulia Dinner
Bouillabaisse by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
Boeuf Bourguignon by Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence
Orecchiette Con Broccoli Di Rape and Sausages by Doggie at the Dinner Table
Boeuf Bourguignon by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
Veal Stew with Onions and Mushrooms with Baked Cucumbers and Boiled Potatoes (Blanquette de veau a l’ancienne with concombres au buerre) by Kimchi Mom
Salmon en Papillote by Girlichef
Poached salmon with cucumber sauce by Katherine Martinelli
Lobster Souffle and Deviled Chicken- Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
Roasted Chicken with Julia’s Mustard Marinade by The Meltaways
Wild Mushroom and Herb Stuffed Chicken- Mama Mommy Mom
Puree of White Beans with Garlic and Herbs (Brandade á la Soissonaise) Avocado Pesto
Poulet au Porto by Family Foodie
#CookForJulia Sides
Hollondaise over Blanched Asparagus by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Scalloped Potatoes with Milk, Cheese, and Garlic (Gratin Dauphinois) by Home Cooking Memories
Ratatouille by Basic N Delicious
French-style country pate by There and Back Again
White Bean Dip with Homemade Tortilla Chips Momma’s Meals
Oeufs à la Diable by What Smells So Good?
Soubise by The Weekend Gourmet
Ratatouille by Cupcakes and Kale Chips
#CookForJulia Desserts
Cream Cheese and Lemon Flan by Juanita’s Cocina
Strawberry Sherbert in Cooky Cups by Cravings of a Lunatic
Creme Brulee by Wine Everyday
Mousseline Au Chocolat by Small Wallet Big Appetite
Peach Tarte Tatin by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Cinnamon Toast Flan by Vintage Kitchen Notes
Dark Chocolate Crepes by Family Spice
Crepes Fines Sucrees by Mangoes and Chutney
Pommes Rosemarie:Apples Rosie The Daily Dish Recipes
Espresso Soufflé by Chocolate Moosey
Best Ever Brownies by In the Kitchen with Audrey
Orange-Almond Jelly Roll Cake by Mrs. Mama Hen
Orange Spongecake Cupcakes by Mama’s Blissful Bites
Orange Mousse with Greek Yogurt by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Frozen Chocolate Mousse by Big Bear’s Wife
Wine Pairings: Relishing Food and Wine; Thanks to Julia Child! by ENOFYLZ
Râpée Morvandelle by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
Croissants by Cookistry
Cheese and Bacon Quiche by Tora’s Real Food
#CookForJulia Lunch
Tuna Salad Nicoise by Magnolia Days
Blood Orange, Walnut, and Rocket Salad by Granny’s Down Home Southern Cooking
Croque Monsieur by Webicurean
Spinach and Cream Cheese Pancakes by Happy Baking Days
Julia’s Chicken Salad by My Trials in the Kitchen
Pissaladière Niçoise (Onion Tart with Anchovies and Black Olives) by The Wimpy Vegetarian
Provencal Tomato Quiche by Are you hungry?
Quiche Lorraine Spoon and Saucer
Potato and Onion Soup (Potage Parmentier) by Shockingly Delicious
#CookForJulia Dinner
Bouillabaisse by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
Boeuf Bourguignon by Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence
Orecchiette Con Broccoli Di Rape and Sausages by Doggie at the Dinner Table
Boeuf Bourguignon by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
Veal Stew with Onions and Mushrooms with Baked Cucumbers and Boiled Potatoes (Blanquette de veau a l’ancienne with concombres au buerre) by Kimchi Mom
Salmon en Papillote by Girlichef
Poached salmon with cucumber sauce by Katherine Martinelli
Lobster Souffle and Deviled Chicken- Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
Roasted Chicken with Julia’s Mustard Marinade by The Meltaways
Wild Mushroom and Herb Stuffed Chicken- Mama Mommy Mom
Puree of White Beans with Garlic and Herbs (Brandade á la Soissonaise) Avocado Pesto
Poulet au Porto by Family Foodie
#CookForJulia Sides
Hollondaise over Blanched Asparagus by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Scalloped Potatoes with Milk, Cheese, and Garlic (Gratin Dauphinois) by Home Cooking Memories
Ratatouille by Basic N Delicious
French-style country pate by There and Back Again
White Bean Dip with Homemade Tortilla Chips Momma’s Meals
Oeufs à la Diable by What Smells So Good?
Soubise by The Weekend Gourmet
Ratatouille by Cupcakes and Kale Chips
#CookForJulia Desserts
Cream Cheese and Lemon Flan by Juanita’s Cocina
Strawberry Sherbert in Cooky Cups by Cravings of a Lunatic
Creme Brulee by Wine Everyday
Mousseline Au Chocolat by Small Wallet Big Appetite
Peach Tarte Tatin by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Cinnamon Toast Flan by Vintage Kitchen Notes
Dark Chocolate Crepes by Family Spice
Crepes Fines Sucrees by Mangoes and Chutney
Pommes Rosemarie:Apples Rosie The Daily Dish Recipes
Espresso Soufflé by Chocolate Moosey
Best Ever Brownies by In the Kitchen with Audrey
Orange-Almond Jelly Roll Cake by Mrs. Mama Hen
Orange Spongecake Cupcakes by Mama’s Blissful Bites
Orange Mousse with Greek Yogurt by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
Frozen Chocolate Mousse by Big Bear’s Wife
Wine Pairings: Relishing Food and Wine; Thanks to Julia Child! by ENOFYLZ
25 comments:
My Mom made a pate for Christmas one year and I always remembered it - I think I will have to give this one a try - sounds delicious!
Julia's success story really is a great and inspiring one! You found the perfect dish to represent her!
Thank you, Joanne!
Pam, I seem to remember seeing Julia and Jacques make a pate on their show that was for the holidays. Must be a tradition!
I make pate rarely--usually for an autumn wine and cheese spread--but I notice it goes first. Always. People are just crazy about it. Thanks for this cool post...gotta love Julia always. Enjoy your Sunday!
It has been years since I've had pate! So delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Sounds good, Linda! I'll bring the toastettes!
I love pate. I definitely have to try this one to mix it up a bit.
I haven't had pâté in ages...yours turned out beautifully! And that dinner sounds like so much fun. Lovely Julia post,Linda =)
I really need to try this! I make a silky mushroom paté every year for Christmas, but I think it's time for a change up!
What a great recipe to have when entertaining. Something special and different.
Do you have any idea how much I love Pate? I can't wait to try this fabulous recipe. I am so glad you are part of our #SundaySupper group and love your inspiration.
You're braver than me for making this!! Great work.
I love pate! I grew up on chicken livers haha so I love all of it! Thank you so much for cooking for this #SS :)
I want to try this soon since I buy it so often. Thank you for sharing.
Chicken liver pate is such a treat. This recipe sounds incredible! I like the addition of goat cheese, very intriguing.
Confession: I've never had pate. But I've had sushi and shredded jellyfish. Time to try it!
Paté? Amazing! I bow down to you for doing such a wonderful job!
This is really impressive. Would be wonderful for a dinner party. Great SS recipe.
looks quite perfect ! Lovely pic :)
Making your own pate, now that's impressive! That would be the perfect dinner party starter :)
This sounds like a great Christmas even dinner item to me, wonderful post!
You are so much braver than I am! I just don't think I can do pate....
I love pate, thanks for reminding me. I need to make one... :)
OMG! I have always been a little afraid of making pate ... can it really bedone at home ?! You are an inspiration!
I'm amazed how many people are intimidated by they thought of making pate. It really isn't difficult. If you can make meatloaf, you can make pate! There are only a couple of extra steps required. :)
Post a Comment