__christie Henson Recipes

CHICKEN BREASTS WITH HOLLANDAISE SAUCE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small saucepan or the bottom of a double boiler, bring about 1 inch of water to a simmer (do not boil).
• In the top of a double boiler or a stainless steel bowl which will fit on a small saucepan, whisk the egg yolks with the lemon juice and water.
• Place the bowl or pan over the simmering water, making sure the bottom does not come in contact with the water. Whisk constantly for a minute or two, or until the egg mixture is warm and begins to thicken.
• Slowly whisk the melted butter into the egg yolk mixture. Cook over the simmering-not boiling-water, whisking constantly, until the sauce mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in salt to taste and cayenne pepper. Cover and move to the preheated oven or a very low burner to keep warm.
• In a large skillet over high heat, combine chicken, onion, salt, thyme, pepper, and water to cover. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low; cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and tender. The minimum safe temperature for chicken is 160 F.
• Alternatively, season the chicken breasts with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and saute in a large skillet in 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook until browned and thoroughly cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on thickness.
• Meanwhile, prepare rice following the package directions, along with a steamed vegetable side dish or tossed salad .
• Divide the rice among six plates.
• Top each mound of rice with a chicken breast.
• Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of the warm Hollandaise sauce over each chicken breast and add a steamed vegetable or salad, as desired.
• If desired, sprinkle paprika over the sauce.

__CHRISTIE HENSON

Steps:

• If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again . . .Christie Henson volunteered an early disaster story: "One time I made cream pie and added the eggs too late. I ended up with scrambled eggs in my chocolate pie." Christie never gave up, thanks to the unwavering support of her family. "My poor father ate whatever I made, no matter how it turned out." Christie ultimately mastered the tricky arts of eclair making and converting European classics for busy American cooks--and then she captured a cash prize at BakeOff® Contest 35 for her efforts.From "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off® Cookbook." Copyright 2004 General Mills. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

__ELLEN BURR

Steps:

• So much of American cooking has international roots, but a sense of what the cooking of indigenous Americans was like can be gleaned from Cape Cod resident Ellen Burr's harvest. "I love to gather wild edibles: bolete mushrooms, dandelion greens, sassafras leaves (to dry for file powder for gumbo). I pick lots of berries--blueberries, strawberries, shad berries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, cranberries, elderberries, rosehips, rum cherries, and English blueberries--for desserts, for freezing, for preserves, and for jellies. I also dig clams, gather oysters and mussels, go crabbing and fish for trout and perch." Although Ellen has devoted so much of her keen attention to native foods, she also turns to foods with an international heritage for inspiration, and comes up with hits like her Dotted Swiss and Spinach Quiche.From "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off® Cookbook." Copyright 2004 General Mills. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

__ELLA RITA HELFRICH

Steps:

• Did someone invent birthday candles? Christmas trees? Jack-o'-lanterns? If someone did, that someone deserves applause for introducing a whole lot of happiness into a whole bunch of lives.And who came up with taffy apples? Chocolate truffles? Pecan pralines? No one knows, but we know for sure that someone did invent the Tunnel of Fudge Cake, and that someone was Ella Rita Helfrich. She spent days of "trial-and-error baking" to come up with the distinctive treat, and her cake has become an American classic, one which hundreds of thousands of people make for their special celebrations.From "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off® Cookbook." Copyright 2004 General Mills. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.