Noel's Special Menu
"A Special Birthday Menu as inspired by Sinclair"
This page is dedicated to Noel, with my thanks
On February 18, 1998, just in time for Mr. Rickman’s birthday, Noel sent this sumptuous menu with recipes!
For a those on a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet, avoid all alcoholic drinks, see notes after the recipes, and instead of cake, see alternate dessert. A * indicates this is NOT a "safe" item for those on low-sugar, low carbo diets.
Hi Fausta,
Thanks for all the hard work you've put into your page. I think it is just great and I love the recipe section! Here is a little fantasy for our favorite actor/director!
A Birthday Menu
Starter:
Mushroom Croustades
Mixed nuts (no, not the Rickmaniacs!)
Shrimp with cocktail sauce Most commercially prepared coctail sauces are loaded with sugar
Rumaki (water chestnuts wrapped in bacon, seasoned with teryaki and broiled) For a low-sugar alternative, use Irish bacon (or bacon that has not been cured in sugar), and soy sauce instead of teriyaki.
Open bar*
Champagne: Tattinger*
Soup:
Tomato Bisque
Chardonnay*
Main Course:
Coq au Vin
Mother's Rice
Cabernet Sauvignon*
Salad:
Mesclun with crumbled Bleu cheese and walnuts. Vinaigrette dressing
Dessert:
Birthday Cake*
Coffee Decaf
Assorted liqueurs*, Brandy*
Recipes:
24 thin slices white bread
2 T. butter, softened
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut a 3-inch round from each bread slice For a no-suagr diet, use Jewish Rye bread. Brush insides of 2 miniature muffin tins generously with butter. Gently fit bread rounds into each mold to form a cup. Bake 10 mins. or until lightly browned.
Cool.
3 T. minced shallots
1/4 c. butter
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, finely chopped
2 T. flour
1 c. heavy cream
1 1/2 T. minced chives
1 T. minced parsley
1/2 t. lemon juice
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
In a heavy skillet, sauté shallots in butter for 1 min. Stir in mushrooms and simmer, uncovered, until all liquid has evaporated; about 10 mins.
Remove from heat and stir flour into mushrooms. Pour cream over and return to heat. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil and cook another min. or so while mixture becomes very thick. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Let cool, then cover and refrigerate.
At this point, you may spoon the mushroom mixture into the toast shells and freeze in their tins. Once frozen, remove to plastic bags for easier freezer storage.
When ready to serve, place in 400 degree oven until heated through.
3 T. butter
1 medium onion, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
5 large tomatoes (well-ripe) sliced
1 T. basil
1/4 t. dry mustard
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
1/4 c. tomato paste (more if preferred to taste)
1/4 c. flour
2 cans of chicken broth
1 to 2 c. cream
2-4 T. sherry, optional
Melt butter and sauté the onion and garlic until golden. Slice tomatoes and add with mustard, salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 mins. Stir in tomato paste. Add flour and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Puree in blender or food processor. Strain. Add cream and warm through. Add sherry last.
For those on a now-sugar diet, use no more than 1 tb. dry sherry, NOT cooking sherry, or omit sherry altogether.
4 strips of bacon
2 T. chopped onion
4 chicken breasts
8 small whole onions
1/2 c. coarsely chopped carrots
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T. cognac
1 lbs. fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 T. butter
2 c. Burgundy For those on sugar-restricted diets, use only 1/4 cup Burgundy, and 1 3/4 cups of beef or chicken stock
Bouquet Garni:
4 sprigs parsley
1 bay leaf
3 sprigs celery leaves
1/4 t. thyme
In skillet, brown bacon and chopped onion. Remove. Add chicken and brown slowly in bacon fat; remove. Add onions, carrots, garlic and cognac. Cook until tender, about 3 mins. Sauté mushrooms in butter. Place bouquet garni in casserole dish. Arrange chicken, vegetables and mushrooms in layers. Add Burgundy to browning skillet. Deglaze. Pour mixture over contents in casserole. Cover and bake in 350 degree oven for 30 to 40 mins.
Mother's Rice (old family recipe)
1 stick butter
1 onion, chopped
1 c. rice
2 c. chicken broth
saffron
Melt butter and sauté onion until golden and soft. Add rice and sauté 3 mins. Add chicken broth and saffron. Bring to a boil; then lower heat and simmer 20 mins. or until liquid is absorbed.
--- another old family recipe
2 squares chocolate, unsweetened
1 stick of butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 c. flour
1 egg
1 c. milk
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla (add at the end)
Melt chocolate and butter in saucepan. Add sugar, then egg. Sift other ingredients and add to mix alternating with milk. THEN ADD VANILLA. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 mins. Ice with any kind of frosting.
Bon Apetit!!
Noel
*For those on sugar-restricted diets, serve unsweetened fresh fruit, such as strawberries, raspberries, and kiwis, with fresh whipped cream (use only a few drops of vanilla extract when whipping the cream and no other ingredients), and/or fresh pears with soft cheeses, such as Bel Paese or Brie.
I know, you'd rather have cake.
