THE VILLAGE VOICE

" Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. " ~Albert Camus ~ AUTUMN LEAVES __________ SPINACH, PEAR and WATERCRESS SALAD with HONEY-MUSTARD DRESSING (from Pontiac's old Pike Street Restaurant ) * Dressing: 1/2 cup Peanut Oil 1/4 cup Honey 1 tsp. Hungarian Paprika 5 Tbsp. Cider vinegar 1/4 cup Dijon Mustard 2 1/2 Tbsp. Chopped Garlic 2 tsp. Grated Fresh Ginger Root Juice of 1 Large Lemon Salad: 1 Lb. Fresh Spinach Leaves 2 Ripe Bosch or D'Anjou Pears 2 Bunches Fresh Watercress Procedure: Wash spinach well, remove all stems. Make dressing. Cut pears in half, core and julienne. Place pears in some of the dressing so they don't brown. Wash watercress, remove long part of stem. Put spinach leaves in bowl, coat leaves with a bit of dressing. Place on plates, garnish with pears and watercress. Note: Past post from November 4, 2006 _________________ SPICY ASIAN GRILLED SHRIMP with COCONUT RICE ~ Sweet coconut smooths and compliments the fiery flavored...

" White...is not a mere absence of colour; it is a shining and affirmative thing, as fierce as red, as definite as black...God paints in many colours; but He never paints so gorgeously, I had almost said so gaudily, as when He paints in white. " - G. K. Chesterton ~ Gaudy white hibiscus ______________ WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE ~ Beloved 1982 prized recipe, an Italian meringue with finely chopped white chocolate and whipped cream, from (no-longer in Northville) ELIZABETH'S * 1 lb. white chocolate 6 oz. sugar 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup egg whites pinch cream of tartar 1 tsp. sugar 2 cups heavy cream 1 quart strawberries Shave chocolate and put shavings into food processor bowl. Process in 2 batches until very fine. Set aside. Combine sugar and water in small saucepan. Bring to boil. Simmer sugar syrup until it reaches 238-degrees. If edges turn gold, you have cooked it too long. In the meantime, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and sugar with electric mixer until stiff peaks for...

~ LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY __________ COLD DUCK ~ classic retro 1937 sparkling drink invented by Harold Borgman , owner of Detroit's classic Pontchartrain Wine Cellars in Detroit ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Duck ) ____________________ Combine one part of Californian red wine with two parts of New York sparkling wine. ___________________ CAMEMBERT GOUGERE ~ classic rich appetizer to sample sipping Cold Duck * 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tsp. crushed dried fine herbs 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper 1 cup flour 4 eggs 8 oz. Camembert cheese (rind removed and cubed) 1/2 cup tasted slivered onions 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley Preheat oven to 400-degrees. Combine 1 cup water, butter, salt & pepper, and fine herbs. Bring to boil and add flour, all at once, stirring vigorously until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating 1 minute after each . Stir in cheese, almonds, and parsley. Spread mixture in greased 9-inch pie pl...

GARDENING NOTE: As spring progresses, dig, divide and share crowded perennials that have spread beyond their allotted space. They will thank you by prolific performance in your garden as will the adopted plants in their new home. ~ a sea of tulips __________________________________ LEMON MOUSSE CHEESECAKE ~ very springlike and lemony * 1 cup crushed shortbread cookies 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter 3 (8-oz) packages softened cream cheese 1 1/2 cups sugar 1/3 cup flour 6 egg yolks 1 Tbsp. finely shredded lemon zest 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice 4 room temperature egg whites pinch of cream of tartar sifted powdered sugar fresh blackberry and raspberry garnish fresh mint leaf garish Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and wrap outside with heavy foil. Combine crushed cookies and melted butter. Press into prepared pan. In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese till fluffy. Gradually add 1 1/4 cups sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add flour and egg yolks; beat for ...