Best Fané Recipes

FANé

Steps:

• The day before, prepare the meringue: preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, salt and cream of tartar on low speed. When soft peaks form, increase the speed and sprinkle in 3/4 cup of the sugar until the meringue holds stiff peaks.
• Spread meringue into a rough 1-inch layer on baking sheet. Bake until slightly sticky when pierced with a knife, about 2 hours. Turn off oven and leave meringue inside for a few hours to dry completely. Break into 1- to 2-inch chunks. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
• Four hours before serving, assemble the fané: spray the inside of a 4-quart metal bowl with cooking spray and lay a large piece of plastic wrap against the inside of the bowl. Spread the ice cream evenly over the entire inside of bowl and plastic wrap. Cover and freeze.
• Two hours before serving, whip the cream. When it begins to thicken, add remaining sugar and the vanilla, then beat to soft peaks. Set aside 2 cups of the whipped cream and refrigerate. Fold nougat into remaining whipped cream, then add to the ice-cream-lined bowl. Cover and freeze.
• Just before serving, rewhip the reserved whipped cream to firm peaks. Turn the bowl out onto a platter, separating the plastic wrap from the bowl. Remove the plastic wrap. Cover the ice cream with whipped cream, followed by chunks of meringue. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings. Let soften a bit at the table before cutting into wedges.

RUSSET POTATO FANS

Steps:

• 1. Throughly wash the potatoes with the skins intact. Chef's Note: To keep the cooking stable, choose potatoes of uniform size and shape. Chef's Note: Some people remove the skin, but I prefer to leave the skins on.
• 2. Slice a small section off the bottom of the potato. This serves two functions: One, it will keep the spud from rolling around, and two, when they bake it helps the slices to fan out.
• 3. Use a sharp knife and cut the fans into the potato, crosswise, and about 1/4 thick, leaving about 1/4 of the bottom intact. Rinse in cold water and allow to air dry for about an hour. Chef's Note: During the drying process see if you can gently begin to fan out the potato slices.
• 4. Add the parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon of the melted butter, and paprika into a small bowl and then mix until throughly combined.
• 5. Take 3 tablespoons of the melted butter, and brush into each of the potatoes; making sure to get in in-between each one of the fan slices.
• 6. Take the breadcrumb mixture, and pat 1/4 on the top of each of the potatoes. Sprinkle the tops with some big flakes of sea salt... to your taste.
• 7. Place a rack in the lower position, and preheat your oven to 430f (220c).
• 8. Place the potatoes in a lightly oiled baking dish, cover with foil, and then bake, covered, for about 40 minutes. Chef's Note: At the CIA we used an arched baking rack, so the potatoes didn't bake on a flat surface, and the arch in the rack helped to fan out the slices... neat trick.
• 9. Remove foil, and continue baking for about 15 additional minutes, or until the skin turns crispy.
• 10. Plate/Prepare This is, of course, a side dish, so use it as your one starch in just about any meal. As a matter of fact, I've taken these out of the oven, smothered them in my homemade chili recipe, and made it a meal... Keep the faith, and keep cooking...

CHEESE & HERB POTATO FANS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. With a sharp knife, cut each potato crosswise into 1/8-in. slices, leaving slices attached at the bottom; fan potatoes slightly and place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a small bowl, mix butter, salt and pepper; drizzle over potatoes., Bake, uncovered, 50-55 minutes or until potatoes are tender. In a small bowl, toss cheeses with herbs; sprinkle over potatoes. Bake about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.