Serves 2. Time requirement: 15-20 minutes. Plus, time to soak the green peppercorns in cognac. At the risk of repeating myself, a avoid this dish because it is usually prepared with the beef fillet, which is too mild for the accompanying sauce. Also, the sauce is usually to peppery because it consists of whole green peppercorns. So after too many attempts to be good for my lipid panel, I recommend this version. What you will need: Four to 24 hours in advance, grind 1 teaspoon

Serves 2 Sauce américaine is a misnomer. It translates from French to American sauce. It is a “classic” preparation in which the lobster is dismembered alive, sautéed in butter and olive oil, flambeed in cognac (what a way to go!) and simmered in a tomato sauce seasoned onions, shallots, garlic, parsley, and white wine. I add tarragon and marjoram or oregano. The dish is thought to have originated in Brittany and its current name a bastardization of its the original name, der

Serves 2. Time requirement: 15-20 minutes. Plus, the day before soak the green peppercorns in cognac. Generally, Steak Au Poivre is a dish I avoid because it is prepared with beef fillet. While the fillet is wonderful, it is a delicate and shy cut of meat. It does not pack a lot of flavor. At the same time, the “au poivre” packs a lot of flavor. In my opinion it is a poor match. I recommend, the chuck eye, a well marbled New York strip, or a ribeye that has a well marble eye

Rockfish (or Flounder, Sole, or other thin fish fillets) with Dill, Shallots, and Vinegar Serves 1. Time requirement: 30 minutes. What you will need: ½ pound of thin rockfish fillet (Or use another thin fish fillet such as flounder, black sea bass, or sole.) Wondra flour. ½ cup virgin olive oil. 1 garlic clove 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill. 1 shallot chopped, about ¼ cup. ½ cup red or white wine vinegar. ¼ teaspoon freshly group black pepper Preparation: Combine the dill, s

The easiest way to cook a fish fillet and make a nice sauce to accompany it. Serves 2. Time requirement: 15-20 minutes. What you will need: 2 rockfish fillets 6-8 ounces each. Or other thin fillets. A few pinches each salt and a fresh ground black pepper. Wondra flour. (Wondra flour because it is precooked.) 1 tablespoon light olive oil or clarified butter. ¼ cup fresh lemon juice. ¼ cup white wine. 1 teaspoon capers, rinse if packed in vinegar, separate from the salt if pack

Serves 2. Time requirement, about 45 minutes plus an hour to rehydrate the dried wild mushrooms. The rehydration can be done in advance. What you will need: 2 chicken leg/thigh joints with the skin on. ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. 25 g (1 ounce) of dried wild mushrooms. 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 1 tablespoon butter. 2 shallots chopped finely (3½ - 4 ounces). ½ cup dry sherry. Use a good Andalusian sherry. 1 cup of rich homemade chicken stoc

Serves 2. Time requirement: It is a commitment. Preparation takes about an hour. Plus, another 1½ hour to cook. You must be near the kitchen the entire time the ballotine cooks. You are its prisoner. It is worthy of the effort. It is an impressive dish. There are two steps to this dish. The first is to make the stuffing. The second is to stuff and cook the rabbit. The recipe breaks out these steps. What you will need: For the stuffing… 1 tablespoon walnut oil. 2 ½- 3 ounces o

Serves 2 as a first course. Double the recipe to serve 2 as a main course. Also, use a 12-inch fry pan if you double the recipe. Time requirement: 10-15 minutes. What you will need: 5-6 large scallops. 2 tablespoons chopped pimento (from a jar is fine), drained well. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. ½ teaspoon herb de province which you pulverized to a rough powder in a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder. ¼ teaspoon paprika. (Not a Spanish smok

Serves 2. Time requirement: 10-15 minutes. What you will need: 8-10 large scallops. ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. ½ teaspoon blackening spice mix. ¼ teaspoon powder turmeric. 2 tablespoon olive oil. 1 garlic clove. ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger. ½ teaspoon chopped fresh garlic. 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. 2 tablespoon white wine 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley. 2 tablespoon butter. A warm serving plate(s). Preparation: Pat dry the scal