Petes Pommy Pommes Recipes

CHAUSSONS AUX POMMES

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the apples, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Take off the lid, sprinkle over the granulated sugar, toss in the raisins, if using, and cook until the sugar caramelizes and coats the fruit (by now possibly a shaggy, golden mass, depending on the type of apples). Taste. Depending on the sweetness of the fruit, you may want a squirt of lemon for balance.
• Roll the pastry out to a large square, about 1/4-inch/5 mm thick. Cut into 4 squares, then roll each one to make it slightly rectangular (not that shape matters one bit). Spoon the fruit mixture over half of each pastry, leaving a 1 cm/5 mm margin. Brush the margins with the egg wash. Fold the pastry over the filling and press the edges to seal. Set on a damp baking sheet. Slash the top of each pastry with a knife. Brush with more egg wash and let rest in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F/220 degrees C.
• Bake the pastries for 10 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F/190 degrees C and continue baking until golden, puffed up and brown, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Cool slightly on a wire rack and serve dusted with confectioners' sugar.

PETE'S POMMY POMMES

Steps:

• Slice the potatoes very finely on a mandolin, or with a good, sharp knife or a food processor. Steep in cold water for 30 minutes, drain and pat dry.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• There should only be about 5 layers of potatoes, so choose your roasting pan accordingly. Drizzle some olive oil over the base of the pan. Put a layer of overlapping potato slices on the base, season with salt and freshly ground pepper, a sprinkling of herbs and garlic, a drizzle of olive oil and moisten with a little stock. Continue in this manner until everything is used up.
• Bake in the oven until softish when pierced, then increase the heat to 450 degrees F until very brown and crisp.
• Serve with what you will.

CRISPY POTATO BALLS

Steps:

• Mix together the Mashed Potatoes, flour, egg, parsley, Parmesan, mozzarella and black pepper in a bowl. Place the breadcrumbs on a large plate.
• Form the potato mix into 12 golf-ball-sized balls. The mixture will be a little sticky, so wet your hands a little as you go. Place the balls directly on the breadcrumbs and roll each ball in the breadcrumbs, pressing to make sure they stick well. Put the breadcrumbed balls on a plate.
• Heat 2 inches of oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 375 degrees F, or until the mixture bubbles when a breadcrumb is added.
• Add the balls to the oil and fry until golden brown on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes total. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle immediately with salt.
• Garnish with more Parmesan and parsley.
• Peel and cut the potatoes into pieces of approximately the same size. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer and add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until a fork easily slides into the potatoes with no resistance and the potatoes almost, but not totally, fall apart, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Drain the potatoes in a large colander. Place them back into the dry pot and put the pot on the stove. Mash the potatoes over a low heat, allowing all the steam to escape.
• Turn off the stove and add the butter, cream cheese and half-and-half. Mash, mash, mash! Add the seasoned salt and black pepper.
• Stir well and place in a medium baking dish. Throw a few pats of butter over the top of the potatoes and place bake until the butter has melted and the potatoes are warmed through, a few minutes.