To start off 2012, I cooked using two of my favourite ingredients - duck and chocolate. Tonight's menu was Roast Duck Breast with pickled red cabbage and figs (Matt Moran, Dinner at Matt's, p98), followed by a flourless chocolate cake with raspberries (Delicious Sweet, p56)
I chose the duck dish as I actually had all the ingredients (except Veal jus) in the cupboard or fridge. I know what you're thinking - who has duck breast and random duck bits hanging around??? What can I say, I love duck.
I have learnt from experience that the cheapest way to cook with duck is to buy a whole one and break it down, which will cost you in the range of $20. To buy just two duck breasts costs the same. So why not make an effort and then you have the wings, neck and ribs in the freezer for a rainy day when you just so happen to feel like making spiced duck jus! It's not as hard as it sounds!
The entire dish was quite simple to create. The pickled red cabbage is better if done the day before, and allowed to soak in the fridge overnight. Once you've made the spiced duck jus and reduced it, cook the duck breasts and allow them to rest for 10 or so minutes. Then slice, plate and serve.
The chocolate cake was straight forward as well. I love flourless chocolate cakes with their gooey centres and this one didn't disappoint. I served it simply with fresh raspberries and a dollop of cream. Very tasty.
My rating for tonight's dinner: 4/5 wooden spoons
Rose
As the first dish of the new year i must say that the duck was very nice and tender and juicy. The jus was superb and the cabbage was a great accompianment. As I am not a massive fan of the fig I'm not quite sure what to say about it (LOL.
ReplyDeleteThe Flourless Chocolate cake was gooey and yummy. What made this a great choccy cake was that it did not hit you in the head with bitter chocolateyness - the balance was just right. A good dolop of cream never goes astray with Chocolate cake.
Here's to the New Year Rose and to Order in the Chaos
I give the duck and cake 4/s tongs (go the tongs)
How about a measuring jug with a rating of quarter cup through to a half cup to a three quarter and a full cup ?
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a bit technical to me Peach! Thanks for the suggestion
ReplyDelete