"May your life be like a wildflower growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day"
~ Native American proverb
Yellow Lady's Slipper
(Cypripedium Calceolus L.)
Orchid Family
______________
CHEVRE and MOREL CHEESECAKE
(Goat Cheesecake with Mushrooms)
~ Savory Cheesecake from France ... Routas Culinary Director Frances Wilson
___________
Base:
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs
5 Tbsp. melted butter
course salt & freshly ground pepper
Topping:
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 washed and finely chopped leek
4 oz. washed fresh morel mushrooms
(or favorite wild mushrooms)
12 oz. fresh chevre
(or favorite goat cheese)
12 oz. softened cream cheese
1 cup creme fraiche
1 lightly beaten large egg
1 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs like tarragon, parsley or thyme
3 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. salt
2 egg whites
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Combine Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs and butter in a bowl. Season with salt & freshly ground pepper. Press into base of a 9-inch springform pan.
- Heat butter in a pan and add leeks. Cook over low heat to soften the leeks. Add morels. Cook for a couple of minutes. Allow to cool.
- Place chevre, softened cream cheese and creme fraiche. Mix in the egg, chopped herbs, flour and salt. Add leeks and morels and combine.
- Beat egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold into the mixture. Pour mixture over the base.
- Place in oven and bake for 45 minutes to an hour our until almost set. Cool in oven for a further hour. Chill in the fridge until ready to serve. Serve as appetizer or lunch dish with green salad.
+20103.JPG)
NOTE: Found in swamps, bogs, wet woods. Flower is yellow, inflated pouch, single or sometimes 2 per stem. Petals are long, narrow, twisted, and mottled with brown or purple. Stem is leafy with 3-6 broad, parallel veined leaves that somewhat sheath the stem.
(Michigan Wildflowers in Color)
Protected Michigan Wildflower ~ DO NOT DISTURB
Comments
i love this proverb...if we could all learn to live this way.
this is a wonderful wildflower...it looks like it belongs in the bogs.
do you think dried morels would work if i soak them first in this recipe?
hope you are enjoying all that is spring.
I had forgotten about the lovely lady slipper. I had these many years ago in my old old house. Thanks for the beautiful photos.
Eileen
Hi Eileen ... morels are such a treat I love them simply sauteed but if lucky to get a stash, this recipe is good. Agee, she is a beauty!
I don't think I've ever seen one except in photos.
Marnie
Kiki~
JOEY... you have to come visit me sometime in the BGgarden. Seriously...do you every drive south to Ohio?!
Happy Thursday!
Just came back from the Cabin (in Fairview) last nite. Thought I'd check with you for past Morel recipes and there you are with something different!!!
Went up for several days to do some 'shrooming, but it's sooo dry up there finding the little beauties was difficult. But I did get enought to saute with Vidalia Onion's and maybe enough to try this Cheesecake.
So shopping I go for some goat cheese!!
Take care,
Ann
donna
Beautiful photos, as ever my friend :)
The next time I ever get to Michigan, could we try to get together??
Now this is not your typical cheesecake, but sounds tasty--do you serve it with crackers or something else?
Hi Kiki ... thank you my charming friend.
One of mine also, Di. Thank you. This is such a beautiful time of the year for wildflowers ... I can't keep up with my camera :)
Thank you, dear Bren. Yes, these are all photos from my garden gone wild and May crazy. Can't keep up but love trying. Don't get your way much anymore (sons played football against Bowling Green ... actually, one blew his knee out there :( Would love for you to visit me also. Monica (Garden Faerie) was here last week for lunch/May wine ... shlepped her over to Detroit Garden Works and Telly's ... we had a lovely time together.
Hi Ann ... lucky gal to even find a few morels! Even though surrounded by woods at the lake, have not been as fortunate and must pay dearly for mine from locals. Love the antique store in Fairview (right off 72) ... you are not very far from us, maybe 35-40 miles. You should come for a visit sometime this summer ... we could picnic on the lake :) We have a gang coming for Memorial weekend ... how 'bout you?
You are not alone, Clare. Morels are like gold and though surrounded by woods when we are up north at the cottage, have yet to find the elusive fungi so must bite the bullet and pay dearly :(
Thanks imac (you are on the trip of my dreams)!
I'm with you, Donna. I love wildflowers, especially spring wildflowers.
Thank you, dear Nutty Liz friend! Hope you enjoy and Happy Weekend :)
Hello Shady, new best friend! Does that mean you are sharing your stash? Of course it would be delightful to meet ... keep me posted on your trips to Michigan. We are back & forth to the lake all summer with as much time spent there as possible but life settles down more in the fall. You just might be surprised ... this is a lovely appetizer ... savory not sweet.
Thank you, Scott ... it's a delight to shoot things I love.
Enjoy Kala ... Happy weekend shooting :)
Thank you for the lovely comment, dear Michelle (daughter's middle name and who many years ago coined the phrase 'ho-hum' regarding me as a mother ... love it ... now she emulates me : ). I love chevre ... ever try it on a boboli shell with roasted red/yellow peppers and toasted pine nuts ... yummy!
Karen, you are a dear and thank you. It has been a joy connecting with you and your lovely photography.
Question for you. Is trillium a protected Michigan wildflower? I remember hearing that in the past but I saw a woman picking some this week on my drive to work. (I could google it..but it's more fun asking you.)
You are a dear, Carol, and thank you. I bet, in that huge heaven you live in, these orchids might be hiding in a bed of similar wildflowers. Isn't spring grand!
Lady slippers are gorgeous. If they weren't so pricey I'd experiment with one in a boggy spot in our swale. LOVE the quote. Hope you're having a great weekend.
Jen
As always, you are a dear Jen, and thank you. How fun to be beside you on a photo shoot :)
(I'll have to come back a little later - still catching up on blogs)
Hello, dear Katarina! That is one of my favorite proverbs also and, yes, Lady's Slippers are indeed awesome! Enjoyed tiptoeing through your lovely tulip garden :)