Cold Hors D'Oeuvres

For Stuffed Eggplant Halves: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In food processor or meat grinder, combine liver, garlic, onion, and bread. Heat saute pan with clarified butter. Add meat mixture and eggplant pulp. Saute for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Spoon this mixture into the eggplant halves and place in a casserole dish. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with salad oil. Cool before cutting into sections and serving.

For Rice Pilaf: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat butter in saute pan. Cook onions. Add rice and peppers and continue to saute. Add chicken stock. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs. Pour into a casserole dish and bake for 20 minutes. Once cool, adjust seasoning.

For Shrimp: Heat clarified butter in saute pan. Add shrimp and garlic. Cook, turning shrimp once, till done. Remove to bowl and sprinkle with white wine. Let cool. Season with salt and pepper.

For Belgian Endive: Blanch the endive in boiling water for one minute and add cucumber. Cook another 30 seconds. Drain and cool. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with oil and vinegar.

For Spanish Onions: Heat clarified butter in saute pan over low heat. Add onion slices. Cook for a few minutes on one side. Turn and cook on other side, adding shallots and scallions to pan. Season generously with salt and pepper. Remove all, including pan juices, to a bowl and cool.

For Cucumber: Combine vinegar, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, and cream in a pan. Gradually bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Chill. Blanch cucumber in boiling water for one minute. Slice. Place hot cucumber in bowl and cover with dressing. Chill.

For Mushrooms: Heat butter and lemon juice in a saute pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms. Then add the oil. Cook gently. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into bowl and cool.

This recipe yields 2 to 4 servings of each hors d'oeuvres.