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toaster oven
french
fry container, squeeze bottle.
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Faux
"Fries" with Raspberry "Catsup"
serves
2 [from "off the eaten path"]
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I am frequently asked, "why are you
called The Surreal Gourmet?" The truth is that the moniker was
inspired by the garlic-induced illustrations I created to accompany
the otherwise very real recipes in my first book. Unfortunately,
the truth just isn't good enough for some people. One skeptical
Australian reviewer went out of his way to chastise me for not
presenting food that lived up to its Surreal billing. My first
reaction was to cry foul. After all, does the Galloping Gourmet
really gallop? Is the Frugal Gourmet really frugal? But something
in the reviewer's criticism lingered in my mind until it provoked
an epiphany. From that moment on, I accepted the mission to
fully embrace my nom du plume, and I became a fool for faux.
Now I amuse myself by concocting cocktail appetizers and multicourse
meals that are prepared from one set of ingredients but presented
to look like something entirely different.
These
edible trompe l'oeils have proven to be as much fun for the
company as they are for the cook. Try one at your next dinner
party—chances are your guests will not have had the same
thing for lunch. |
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loaf of
Entenmann's pound cake, sliced into 1/4-inch slices |
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1 cardboard
French fry container (ask politely and you shall receive) |
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| 1 |
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Cut pound
cake slices into 1/4-inch strips. |
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Arrange
strips on a toaster oven rack and toast until browned
on top and bottom. Turn strips and toast until remaining
two sides are browned. Let cool, then arrange. |
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12 ounce
bag frozen raspberries, thawed, or 2 cups of fresh raspberries |
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tablespoons
of confectionery (icing) sugar |
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empty catsup
squeeze bottle |
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Place raspberries
in a blender or food processor, and puree (add a few tablespoons
of water, or lemon juice, if necessary, to facilitate
blending). |
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Add sugar,
one teaspoon at a time, to taste—until tartness is gone. |
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Place raspberry
puree in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl. Use a rubber
spatula to force the puree through the strainer. Discard
the seeds and transfer the puree to the squeeze bottle.
Serve alongside "fries". |
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