LUXURY HOLIDAY RECIPE: Juicy Duck Breast in Red Wine Sauce

In some parts of the world duck is a regular dish, especially among people who hunt it. But if you’re not a hunter or don’t live in those areas then duck might be a little bit more uncommon on your table. We recently have been testing recipes with Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, which is well known for some of the highest quality duck selections in the United States. Not to mention being a fairly upscale red meat option, the duck meat itself is quite lean and tasty.

 

 

When you cook duck breast for the first few times it’s best not to be too fancy, especially when you have the savory natural flavors already inherent in this type of poultry. We prefer to start off with a simple salt, pepper, garlic powder and skillet or oven recipe.

For example, using a sharp knife you score crosswise the fatty side of the duck. Then salt, pepper, and lightly powder both sides, and place the fatty side face down in a hot skillet with a small amount of California olive oil for about 10 minutes while the fat is rendering. Flip over and cook the other side for another 5 to 10 minutes on medium high. Alternatively, you could heat your oven to 425° and put the uncooked breast in for 10 minutes, then flip it to cook for another 10 minutes. It’s important to let your breast rest after you remove it from the skillet or oven so that it can re-absorb some of those juices and remain tender.

After you remove the duck from the skillet or pan, put the skillet back on the stove and heat to medium high and add a large splash of red wine, which you can use to create a red wine reduction sauce. You want to make sure that you use a spoon to scrape up the bits of fat and duck in the skillet and mix them into the sauce reduction. You also want to make sure the sauce has thickened and all of the alcohol in the wine has evaporated before using.

This sauce is perfect for the duck breast as it adds additional moisture and flavor, plus is a perfect complement to this dish.

It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it’s not going to be boring and plain.

Maple Leaf Farms
www.MapleLeafFarms.com

 

About Maple Leaf Farms
Maple Leaf Farms, Inc. is North America’s leading producer of quality duck products, supplying retail and food service markets throughout the world with innovative, value-added foods. Founded in 1958, Maple Leaf Farms is a fourth-generation family-owned company.

LUXURY HOLIDAY RECIPE: A Tender Rack of Aussie Lamb

Sometimes you can overdo the recipe for a great piece of meat, especially one that is as delicious as a cut of Aussie lamb. That is why this TasteTV Kitchen‘s recipe only relies on a handful of ingredients and prep.

Although we are huge fans of American lamb, we cannot walk away from a tasty source like Australia. Australia is known for many culinary treats, and one of them is great lamb. Aussie grass fed beef and lamb is  healthier than some other sources and types of meats, and is very time efficient to cook, often reducing meal prep time by 30%.

Australia ranchers also have made a large effort to be more sustainable. In a study over the last 30 years, Aussie ranchers have:

  • Reduced their water use by over 65%
  • Reduced their animals’ greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 14%

It doesn’t make the meat taste better, but it definitely helps satisfy your soul.

Easy Rack of Lamb

Ingredients

  • 1 Rack of Lamb
  • 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons of kosher or sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon of Oregano (dried or fresh)
  • 1 teaspoon of  Rosemary or Thyme (dried or fresh)
  • Pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Combine the olive oil with salt pepper, garlic powder, and herbs in a bowl. Mix well.
  2. Score the fatty side of the rack of lamb in a cross-hatch formation  with a sharp knife
  3. Using a spoon or brush, spread the olive oil mixture over both sides of the meat evenly and allow to marinate for 15 minutes to an hour
  4. Heat oven to 450°
  5. Place rack of lamb with fatty side up on a baking tray covered with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Roast for 30 minutes
  6. Remove from oven, allowed to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve

 

Interested in finding out more about Aussie Lamb? Find more information here.

@aussiebeeflamb

Favorite Holiday Food & Fashion Video: Burberry with Kristin Scott Thomas, Matt Smith, M.I.A and Naomi Campbell

In this time when it’s not clear what Holiday food and fashion events are going to be like, especially family gatherings and dinners, it’s nice to look back on a era (2018/2019) when Burberry was able to do an incredible Holiday photo-shoot and 90-second film featuring Kristin Scott Thomas, Matt Smith, M.I.A and Naomi Campbell (and her mother).

The video was directed by British artist Juno Calypso.

TasteTV Gift Guide: 10 Cool Gifts for the Stylish Innovationist

If you are looking for a gift that is innovative yet stylish, TasteTV has found some cool ideas for you. They include grooming accessories, luxury bags, fitness gear, new cameras, portable smartphone printers, tech treats, and of course great books.

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Special Holiday Menu by Chef and Food Personality Leigh Ann Chatagnier

 

 

Chef, food personality and founder of My Diary of Us, Leigh Ann Chatagnier, created a delicious menu for the Holidays that is sure to delight friends and family.

“I created this menu with the idea of loved ones gathered in the kitchen helping to prepare a special … meal to share together,” Leigh Ann explains. “This menu is perfect for large family gatherings that you may be hosting, but also is makes a potluck offering for a party or dinner throughout the holidays. Each recipe is unique, but simple enough to make in any kitchen.

This special menu is one of her favorites because not only are the recipes simple enough to make in any kitchen, they are also beautiful and tasty.

Says Leigh Ann, “My Rosemary Pomegranate Maple Glazed Turkey is easy to make and is topped with a rosemary infused pomegranate glaze that takes this roasted turkey to a whole new level. It pairs perfectly with my savory twist on a sweet potato casserole that is a must try this… To round off the menu I like to serve my Brussel Sprout, Sausage, and Apple Rice Stuffing. This rice stuffing is a great alternative to the classic stuffing, especially if you have gluten sensitive family members, and each bite tastes just like the holidays!”

Rosemary Pomegranate Maple Glazed Roasted Turkey
Serves 6-10

Ingredients:

• 1 13-16 Lb. Whole Turkey
• 4 Tbsp. Kosher Salt
• 2 Tbsp. Black Pepper

For the Glaze:

• 2 Cups Pomegranate Juice
• 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
• 1 Tsp. Black Pepper
• 2 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary

 

Directions:

• Rub turkey down on all sides with salt and pepper liberally, including the inside of the bird.
• Let sit uncovered in the refrigerator overnight, or at least 4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Let turkey sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking while the oven preheats.
• Place the turkey on a roasting pan and cover with foil.
• Bake for 2 1/2-3 hours until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• While the turkey bakes, make the rosemary pomegranate maple glaze by combining pomegranate juice, maple syrup, pepper, and rosemary sprigs in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and let reduce by half until slightly thickened.
• Uncover the turkey for the last 20 minutes of cooking and brush a liberal amount of the pomegranate glaze all over the turkey. Brush a second coat of the glaze on the turkey if desired.
• Serve with extra pomegranate glaze.

Brussel Sprout, Apple, and Sausage Rice Stuffing
Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 1 Lb. Pork Breakfast Sausage or Sausage of Choice
• 1/2 Cup Diced Celery
• 1/2 Cup Diced Onion
• 2 Finely Minced Garlic Cloves
• 1/2 Cup Diced Fennel
• 1/2 Cup Diced Apple
• 1 Tsp. Chopped Fresh Rosemary
• 1 Tsp. Chopped Fresh Sage
• 1 Tsp. Chopped Fresh Thyme
• 1 Tbsp. Kosher Salt + 1 Tsp.
• 1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper + 1/2 Tsp.
• 1 Tbsp. Avocado Oil
• 1 Tbsp. Butter
• 4 Cup Cooked Wild Rice
• 2 Cups Brussel Sprouts, stems removed and cut in half.

Directions:

• Add sausage to a large skillet and cook until browned. Remove from the skillet and drain any excess grease on a paper towel lined plate.
• Add oil and butter to the skillet and place Brussel sprouts cut side down and let sear for 2 minutes without touching. Season with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Once the cut side is browned, sauté for another 2 minutes until Brussels are bright green but still have some bite. Remove them from the skillet.
• Add celery, onion, garlic, fennel and apple to the skillet and season with 1/2 Tbsp. of salt and 1/4 Tsp. black pepper and sauté until the veggies become tender, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add in fresh herbs and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add sausage back into the skillet and along with the cooked wild rice and cooked brussel sprouts.
• Season with the rest of the salt and pepper and stir to combine.
• Cook another 2-3 minutes until flavors have combined well and serve immediately.

*Note: You can also stuff the turkey with this stuffing.

About Leigh Ann Chatagnier

Leigh Ann Chatagnier loves to share favorite recipes with her social media followers. As the founder of My Diary of Us, Leigh Ann invites visitors to come into her kitchen and cook with her and her family. She is a frequent guest on Houston Life, and cooks up family-friendly meals on Home & Family on The Hallmark Channel and NBC Syndicated Daytime. She has been featured in Louisiana Cookin’ magazine, Red Trycycle and inRegister. Leigh Ann is the author of two cookbooks, The Unexpected Cajun Kitchen: Classic Cuisine with a Twist of Farm-to-Table Freshness (Skyhorse/2016), and Natural Baby & Toddler Treats: Homemade, Nourishing Recipes for Baby and Beyond (Skyhorse/2019).

Leigh Ann lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and young son. Visit her at www.MyDiaryofUs.com.

Recipe for Avocado Deviled Eggs by Chef Claudia Sandoval of MASTERCHEF

MASTERCHEF Winner Claudia Sandoval and host of MASTERCHEF LATINO shares a great recipe for Avocado Deviled Eggs in just 3 steps.

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