|
Dear Fran:
For all you sleepy heads who hate to get up in the morning - Gourmet Gifts chef/owner Joan Cook has come up with the consummate reason to rise and shine. Her savory Strata with Creole Sauce provides all the impetus you’ll need to start the day off right.
Cook tells us that she started Gourmet Gifts more than 11 years ago, and as the name suggests, it was a gift basket shop.
“My wine salesman assured me we could pay the rent if I did ‘sandwiches at lunch.’ We have been knee-deep in catering ever since then,” she says.
They still do custom gourmet gift baskets, but now their main focus is on catering.
“Everything we make is completely from scratch, with the finest of fresh herbs, wine, butter, heavy cream and lots of love,” Cook adds.
The recipe is most appropriate for leisurely weekend menus, but don’t dismiss the possibility of a weekday indulgence.
The strata can be assembled the weekend before, covered and refrigerated, then baked in the morning. The Creole sauce can be made a day ahead and reheated. It uses gumbo file' powder made from ground sassafras leaves as a flavoring and thickening agent. (File' powder is most commonly encoutered in gumbos and other Cajun specialties, and can be found at most grocery stores.) The sauce can be used to jazz up chicken or shrimp dishes, too, or served over jambalaya.
Although the term strata suggests careful layering of ingredients, Cook’s easy method produces fine results with less fuss.
She uses a 9-by 13-inch baking pan in place of a souffle' dish - a great early morning strategy, don’t you think?
Gourmet Gifts recently moved from the Elms Shopping Center to 2227 Lockhill Selma, Suite 100. For catering or gift baskets, call 341-3886.
|
