Cooking Classes

10.9.10

Fresh Friday Sunset and Nice Dinner

I have joined with Valli at La Bella Vita for Fresh Friday.  I have always found it a challenge to have set commitments!  A realtor by trade for 30 years means that I lived by the seat of my pants for a very long time.  I can adapt to change in a heartbeat but plan ahead....well, it wasn't required very often in my career!

Duck Breast with Blackberry Sauce

1 duck breast
1/4 cup blackberry preserve
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 425F.

Score the skin of the duck breast at regular intervals in a crisscross pattern, cutting through the skin only and not into the meat.  Season each side of the breast with sea salt and coarsely ground black pepper.


Sear the duck breast, skin side down, in a very hot cast iron pan.  Turn the duck over so the skin is up and place the pan in the oven.  Cook until medium rare, about 10 minutes for medium sized breasts and 12 minutes for large.  When cooked, tent with tin foil and let rest for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, saute the shallots and garlic in duck fat skimmed from the duck breast.  Add chopped rosemary.  Add the blackberry preserves.  .

To serve, slice the duck breast about 1/2 inch thick crosswise on a diagonal and spoon sauce over.

Now I find myself collecting ideas for Fridays.  Last night my good friends Greg and Jerry stayed with me enroute to Calgary.  I served some of my Hutterite duck breast.  It was lovely with a bit of blackberry sauce, truffled potatoes, baby summer squash, a salad of bitter green with roasted beets, goat cheese and a sweet balsamic dressing, and yellow beans.

Then tonight the sunset was beautiful even from my house in town.  I had to get out my tripod.

Fresh local food and fresh air sunset in autumn.

13 comments:

  1. I love blackberries and duck.. what a great combination and gorgeous meal... and that sunset ... magical... the pink ghost is amazing!!

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  2. It's nice when friends drop by. I'll bet they loved that duck!

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  3. Oh my gosh, does this sound fantastic! I love duck with a fabulous sauce drizzled all over it. Is the recipe over at Valli's? I'll go over and check. Aren't beautiful sunsets just the best? I'm glad you're enjoying life so much in all it's beauty! Thanks sweetheart, for linking up today. I'm trying to keep the linkup to quality bloggers (by deleting the garbage trying to sell stuff) and build up those who are really trying to live healthier (or at least once a week to start with! LOL!). Have a lovely Friday and weekend, Sarah!!!!

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  4. Beautiful sunsets, good friends, good food...whar more could we ask for:D

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  5. What a beautiful Friday evening shared with good friends.

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  6. aw, i love the little pattypan squash in the back there--those things are so tasty!

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  7. That's a fabulous dinner and a gorgeous sunset!

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  8. Deana> I didn't see that ghost!

    Marjie> I hope they enjoyed it. I did.

    Roz> I just made this by the seat of my pants. Just added a 'recipe'.

    Valli> not much :)

    Velva> yes it was.

    Grace> I love 'em too.

    henfruit> thx

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  9. Hi!
    Following from Fresh Friday Blog Hop...would love to have you follow back!
    http://funfritzfamily.blogspot.com/

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  10. I love your blog!

    That looks so delicious!

    Have a nice time!
    Paula

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  11. There's something about blackberries and duck...they are perfect together. I come from an old hunting family in Michigan and we always made a blackberry sauce to go on our wild duck.

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  12. WOW! That looks incredibly delicious!

    Great blog, everything looks so great! Happy I found you :)

    Mary xo
    Delightful Bitefuls

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