Crispy Potato Flower Recipe

The preparation of this visually striking potato dish is fairly easy if you own a mandoline. Very-thinly-sliced potatoes are parboiled, then brushed with a butter and oil mixture. The slices are then stacked in individual ramekins to mimic flower petals.

It’s an elegant and innovative way to have potatoes as a part of your Thanksgiving table. With my first cookbook on shelves very soon (it's due out on December 18th), I'm going to be posting a lot of potato dishes that didn't make into to the book. If you’re interested, you can pre-order it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble!

Fumet de Poisson (Fish Stock Recipe)

Since I arrived at my parents' in Paris, I’ve been preparing Vietnamese dishes they haven’t had since they left Saigon in the mid ‘70s. In the Bay Area where I live, all kinds of ethnic ingredients are widely available, so I brought some and made the best bỏ nhúng dấm (Vietnamese-style beef fondue) and used the shells for this fumet.  

A fumet de poisson is a flavorful fish stock made with seafood remnants. I used écrevisse (small French lobster, similar to a crayfish) shells, empty clam shells and a whole fish. I also added a few whole chiles, carrots, leeks, celery leaves, garlic and tomatoes for extra natural sweetness. The fumet is incredibly versatile, and can be used in soups and sauces that accompany just about any seafood. I especially like to use this in my lobster bisque. Enjoy!

Creamy Pesto Polenta Recipe

In this recipe I brightened a creamy polenta dish with homemade pesto. The pesto is made with parsley, pine nuts and roasted garlic. To ensure fluffy polenta, I incorporated whipped cream. The result is spectacular, almost dessert-like.

This delicious side dish pairs wonderfully with beef steaks. I’ve also served it with a red cabbage coleslaw so the colors pop on the plate. You know the saying: you eat with your eyes first!

Boiled Brussels Sprouts with Grapefruit Salad Dressing

Cooking Brussel sprouts can be a chore, especially if you roast them. So today since I was running out of time, I simply boiled and mixed them warm with a grapefruit salad dressing. For garnish I added freshly-cut grapefruit segments and sunflower seeds.

Boiled vegetables can be delicious if seasoned and paired with a flavorful sauce. Just look for a few fresh, complementary ingredients before deciding on a particular flavor route.

Pattypan Squash Salad Recipe

The vinaigrette for this fresh pattypan squash salad is a blend of chives, parsley, oregano, tarragon, thyme, a bit of mint, garlic, onion and lemon finished with a drizzle of good quality extra-virgin olive oil. You could serve this salad nicely as a side dish; it goes quite well with grilled chicken, for example. Pattypansquash goes by many names. You may recognize it as sunburst squash, cibleme, scallopini squash, custard squash, scallop squash, button squash or summer squash. No matter the name, pattypan squash makes a pleasantly sweet and refreshing addition to just about any salad or grilled vegetable medley. Our friend Kris from Full Circle has again kindly offered a free box of farm-fresh vegetables to two PhamFatale readers this week! The Full Circle box consists of fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers. If you’re lucky enough to win (or if you sign up directly on FullCircle.com) and get your hands on some pattypan squash, definitely give this recipe a try!

To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is enter your email address. I'll pick a winner on Monday, September 24^th at 12AM. It's very easy! Also make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page and FullCircle.com and tweet about this giveaway.