Fonds d’artichauts à blanc

For 6 or 8 artichoke bottoms.

1/2 cup of flour
1 quart of cold water
2 Tbsp of lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp of salt

  • Put the flour in a saucepan and beat in a bit of cold water to make a smooth paste.
  • Then beat in the rest of the water, the lemon juice and the salt.
  • Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add the artichokes.
  • Bring liquid to the boil again and cook for 30 to 40 minutes at a simmer or until tender.
  • Allow them to cool in the liquid.
  • If they are to be refrigerated for a day or two, cover the water with a film of oil.
  • Remove the artichokes from the cooking liquid and rinse under cold water.
  • Delicately scoop out the choke with a spoon and trim off any remaining leaf ends.

 Sauce au crabe

1 cup of crab meat
2 Tbsp of butter
1 onion, sliced
1 green pepper, sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
2 Tbsp of butter
2 Tbsp of flour
enough milk to make a creamy sauce 

  • Cook the onions in the butter until barely brown.
  • Add the green pepper then the red pepper. Reserve.
  • In saucepan melt the butter, add the flour and mix while cooking on medium heat.
  • Add the milk slowly and bring to a boil.
  • Add the vegetables and the crab meat to the sauce.
  • Roll some pastry dough cut it into small squares and fill each square with the filling.
  • Refrigerate.
  • Cover each turnover with an egg wash (1 egg beaten with some water).
  • Cook on a cookie sheet at 400°F until golden.

Petits chaussons au crabe

Another way to use the pâte brisée!  The rolled out dough is cut in small 3 inch squares instead of a large pie crust and each piece is filled in the center and folded into a triangle.

1/4 lb of crab meat, chopped
1 large onion cooked in 1 Tbsp of olive oil
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, thinly sliced (it can be roasted if desired)
2 Tbsp of butter + 2 Tbsp of flour
1 cup of hot milk
1/2 cup of Swiss cheese

  • Brown the onion.
  • Add the green and red pepper.
  • Mix with the crab.
  • Make a béchamel sauce:
    • Melt the butter, add the flour.
    • Slowly pour in the milk.
    • Bring to a boil.
  • Add the crab meat and the Swiss cheese.
  • Cut the dough in 3″ squares and fill each center. 
  • Run a brush, wet with water, on the edges.
  • Fold and press the edges firmly.
  • Press the end of a fork all around the edges for decoration.
  • Paint the top of each chausson with the egg wash.
  • Make a design on the surface of the dough with the back of a knife or a fork. 
  • Poke a hole in the center of each chausson.
  • Place on a baking dish and refrigerate until firm. 
  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Bake in upper third of the oven until brown (about 15 minutes).