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Mother's Day with French Revolution

Season Eight, Spring 2009

Mother's Day with French Revolution

This week we team up with Kerry Saretsky of French Revolution for our Mother's Day Special! She teaches us her Moroccan/French family recipes that have been passed down from her Meme and Maman!

Tasty Tip

Making Preserved Lemons at Home: Preserved lemons are the secret ingredient in Moroccan cuisine. You can buy them at some Whole Foods, Middle Eastern markets, broad- thinking supermarkets, and online. But they are also easy to make. Use unwaxed lemons, and cut them as if to quarter them, but not slicing all the way through, so that the lemon stays attached to itself. Place some salt in the bottom of a clean jar, and then pack the lemons themselves generously with salt. Place them in the jar, and cover with fresh lemon juice, and a little more salt. Seal, and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at 1-2 months. When you go to use them, give them a quick rinse, and you’re ready to go. Once preserved, every part of the lemon is edible except the seeds: the flesh, juice, rind, and pith. Nothing in the
world is quite so lemony!

Recipe

This Moroccan-French recipe is from Kerry Saretsky of French Revolution. With a grandmother from Casablanca, Kerry likes to infuse her French cooking with Moroccan flair!

3 5.5-ounce (156-gram) jars Manzanilla Spanish olives (pitted, unstuffed)
1 1⁄2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1-2 teaspoons harissa
2 bay leaves
Zest 1⁄4-1/3 lemon
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 14.5-ounce can petite diced tomatoes, partially drained
Salt and pepper

1. Prepare the olives by boiling two medium saucepots half full of water. Drain and rinse the olives, and then put them into the first pot of boiling water for 2- 3 minutes. Drain. Then put the olives into the second pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain. This removes a lot of the over-salinity of the olives.

2. In a medium saucepot, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the olives, tomato paste, harissa (use 1 teaspoon for good flavor, 2 teaspoons for good heat), bay leaves, lemon zest, and sliced garlic. Add a most-drained can of petite diced tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and stir.

3. Cook on medium-low heat, uncovered, for 30 minutes. At the end of the cooking time, raise the heat to medium-high to boil off some excess liquid for 1 or 2 minutes.

4. Serve with baguette.

This Olive Ratatouille with Harissa is a great side dish to include in this Mother's Day Moroccan meal. Make sure to serve it with a baguette, to scoop up as much sauce as possible!
Recipe

This elegant Martini recipe comes to us from Kerry Saretsky of French Revolution.

2 1⁄2 cups boiling water
2 mint tea bags
8 mint leaves, plus 16 mint leaves
1⁄4 cup water
1⁄2 cup sugar
1 cup vodka, very cold

1. Brew a pot of mint tea, with 2 1⁄2 cups hot water, 2 mint tea bags, and 8 fresh mint leaves. Allow to steep for 5 minutes, then pull out the tea bags (leave the mint leaves), and refrigerate until very cold.

2. Make the mint syrup by put 16 mint leaves, lightly chopped, into a sauce pot with 1⁄4 cup water and 1⁄2 cup sugar. Heat on medium-high until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is translucent. Set aside to cool, and then drain.

3. In a large pitcher, strain the mint tea. Add the cool, strained mint syrup, and the vodka. Serve, garnished with fresh mint leaves.

What better way to bring in a special day than with an elegant Martini? Kerry Saretsky's recipe elevates Moroccan mint tea from an after dinner drink to a sophisticated cocktail.
May 9, 2009   |   0 comments
Tags: Drinks, Middle East and North Africa
Cooking Show Video

This crème brûlée recipe mixes French technique with Moroccan orange blossom essence. It is rich and indulgent in texture, yet light and floral in taste. This is also a great make-ahead dessert for family gatherings and celebrations, such as Mother's Day. For more chic French recipes check out French Revolution.

Cooking Show Video

Kerry Saretsky of French Revolution shared her grandmother's recipe for Moroccan Salmon with us for Mother's Day. Thick salmon steaks are slowly cooked with paprika, preserved lemon, and parsley. Although it can be made any night of the week, this dish's vibrant colors make it perfect for celebrations and family gatherings. The Moroccan seasonings are exquisite and bound to make you file this recipe as a favorite!