Warm Almond Crusted Manchego Cheese With Hot Garlic Vinaigrette And Slivered Almonds Recipes

Steps:

• Sift confectioners sugar over cream cheese in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer at moderate speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in extract and milk until just incorporated (be careful not to overbeat, or mixture will become too loose).

Steps:

• Set up three bowls: 1 with flour, seasoned with salt and pepper; 1 with egg and 1 tablespoon of water and seasoned with salt and pepper and 1 with bread crumbs and ground almonds.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cut cheese into 2 equal pieces. Dredge the cheese first in the flour, then the egg wash and finally in the bread crumbs. Place the cheese in a small cazuela, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is soft. Immediately drizzle with the Hot Garlic Vinaigrette and sprinkle with slivered almonds and parsley. Serve with warm crusty bread.
• For the Vinaigrette: Heat oil over low heat in sauté pan. Add garlic and cook until light golden brown. Remove from heat and whisk in the vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Vinaigrette: Combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the ginger, lemongrass and shallots in a large sauce pot over medium heat, and cook, stirring until the vegetables are soft and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the vegetable stock with the ginger, lemongrass and shallot trimmings in a sauce pot over medium heat (the scraps will infuse the stock with even more flavor). When the sauteed vegetables are ready, strain the stock into the pot, then add the fish sauce, hot pepper sauce, soy sauce, thyme, lime juice, balsamic vinegar and peppercorns to the pot. Bring the liquid to a very low simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and whisk in the remaining olive oil. Remove the pot from the burner and set aside until cool. You may store the vinaigrette in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
• Skate: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Slice the tops and bottoms from the turnips and peel away the outer skin. Using the julienne blade on a mandolin (or a very sharp knife), julienne the turnip, slicing it into very thin, match-stick size pieces. Set aside.
• Spread the almonds on a non-stick sheet pan, and toast in the middle of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until you can just begin to smell them toasting. Remove the pan from the oven and transfer the almonds to a plate or bowl. Set aside.
• Place a large, non-stick saute pan over medium-high heat. As it warms, brush the skate on 1 side with the softened butter. Season with salt and pepper, and add the skate to the hot pan, buttered-side down. Season again with salt and pepper. Let the skate sear without moving it, so the fish forms a crispy brown crust. When well browned, turn the skate and brown on the other side.
• While the skate is searing, warm another medium-sized saute pan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, swirl to coat the bottom, and add the turnips and snow peas to the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing frequently so that the vegetables cook evenly until crisp-tender. After 30 seconds, add the snow pea shoots. Toss, add the almonds, and remove from heat and mound in the center of 4 warm dinner plates. Top each with 1 piece of skate. Mix the vinaigrette well and ladle over the top of the fish, scattering the dressing and seasonings over the flesh. Serve.

Steps:

• To Make Hot Garlic Vinaigrette: Heat oil over low heat in small saute pan. Add garlic and cook until light golden brown. Remove from heat and whisk in the vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
• Set up 3 bowls: 1 with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, 1 with egg and 1 tablespoon of water and seasoned with salt and pepper, and 1 with the bread crumbs and ground almonds.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cut cheese into 2 equal pieces. Dredge the cheese first in the flour, then in the egg wash, and finally in the bread crumbs. Place the cheese in a small cazuela, (or any other small, open oven proof dish) with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is soft. Immediately drizzle with the Hot Garlic Vinaigrette and sprinkle with slivered almonds and parsley. Serve with warm crusty bread.

Steps:

• Trim the crusts from the bread and spread the slices out on a tray to dry for about 24 hours.
• In the container of a food processor, place the almonds, garlic, and cooled potato. Process until smooth.
• Mix the lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and sugar in a small bowl and set aside. Fill a large bowl with cool water. Drop the dried bread into the water, 1 slice at a time. When it is soaked, squeeze about half the water from the bread between the palms of your hands. Add the bread to the ingredients in the processor, alternating with the lemon-juice mixture, and process until smooth. Since the skordalia has a tendency to stiffen and become pasty as it chills, the mixture should be quite loose at this point. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Scrape the mixture into a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to mellow and blend. If the mixture seems too stiff, beat in a little water before serving.

Steps:

• Cut the cheese into bite sized pieces (1-inch by 1-inch). Leave the cheese's rind on. It acts as a stabilizer for the cheese pieces (don't worry if your cheese doesn't have the rind. This recipe will still work out. It is just more helpful and fancier when the rind is left).
• Mix together the oil, peppercorns, garlic, and herbs. Pour over cheese in a small bowl. Cover and chill for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender.
• Blend until creamy and garlic is shredded, about 60 seconds.
• Keeps well in the refrigerator.