NEW expanded edition now 40 recipes - 15 more recipes than in the
original version, all dedicated to using the dinky little STONEWARE dish aka as the 0.25L 'MINI-COCOTTE', from LE CREUSET!
Spring 2011/ Lec. English version
Lissa Streeter & Loic Nicoloso
This recipe book is aimed at the type of cook/entertainer who likes to present individual dishes, as is (at the time of writing) becoming a more fashionable trend.
Each recipe is compiled and designed to be presented in four of the 0.25L mini-cocottes.
The introductory pages of this colourful book describe the origins of the cast iron foundry in France and goes on to describe one of the first ever produced items:
'.....a Cocotte........
It is a cast iron French oven and this shape, and indeed the name, was the pivot of what is now an extensive range of cookware.
Our Stoneware Mini-Cocotte is a tribute to our cast iron heritage.'
The introduction includes general use and care of Le Creuset STONEWARE, inc.:
* durability
* ease of handling
* vitreous surface
Oven/Grill/Broiler/Microwave/Freezer/Dishwasher safe but Le Creuset's Stoneware range cannot be used on a direct heat source.
The book measures approximately 20.5 cm square.
Adorned with 'Mini Cottage Pie with Curry', from pages 52/53, the quality hardback cover opens to 96 thick shiny pages, offering the 40 recipes, presented in this sized
Mini-Cocotte, available in an ever expanding rainbow of colours.
The table of contents pages at the front is split into:
* The Savoury Selection pg 12-61 (25 recipes)
* The Sweet Selection pg 62-93 15 recipes)
with each recipe title also appearing, alphabetically, in the index at the back, although it can be hard to find something quickly due to e.g 'Little Swiss Cocottes' being under 'L' and 'Mini Orange Polenta Cakes' and everything else starting 'MINI' being under 'M'!
The two sections: Savoury Cocottes & Sweet Cocottes, each have a double-page spread opening with a simple cocotte photo on the right and the complete list of recipes included in the chapter, on the left. 'Sweet Cocottes' also follows through as a bottom of the page identifier for the second half of the book.
Each recipe has the title, the list of ingredients (Metric/US) and oven temperatures, along with the method, which often includes a useful note or two.
The recipes are on the left-hand page, accompanied on the right by a full-page colour photograph - and the mouth-watering photography really makes this book!
The text is generally fairly small and in a mix of (occasionally irritating) faint pastel colours, which can be hard to read in a poor light.
The preparation time and cooking time, with the number of servings (4) appear in one circular diagram.
Another coloured circular diagram also appears on each with a helpful 'mod' or general note.
It should be emphasised that these are 'little' dishes and I have found that I can have some 'leftovers', especially on the savoury choices, but I just dish up another one and pop it in the fridge or the freezer!
Another slight niggle is the lids don't fit on a number of the completed dishes so can minimise the special presentation impact, e.g. depending on the size of the apples in 'Cinnamon Apples' & the thickness of the crusty bread on the 'Mini Onion Soups', but I am sure that more patient, and craftier cooks than me could cope!
To date, my favourite recipes are 'Chocolate Cocottes with Molten Hearts,' from pages 70/71 & 'Pear Bread Puddings', from pages 74/75, which I often serve together as a pud choice at larger gatherings.
Other recipes include:
* Cod on a Bed of Leeks and Potato Vitelottes (Black Potatoes)
* Cockerel with Green Olives and Falafel
* Mini Leek Gratins with Cream and Mustard
* Hazelnut Sponge Cake with Mascarpone & Seasonal Fruit
* Frozen Rose Soufflés
* Upside Down Plum Tarts
Most unusual ingredients have a possible source e.g. 'Limoncello in most wine merchants' or 'Kaffir Lime Leaves in Asian speciality stores', if online ordering is not an option.