France - Foie de Veau au Sauternes 2 medium onions [about 8 ounces total], ends cut flat, peeled, cut
in half lengthwise 1 3/4 sticks unsalted butter [7 ounces], cut into 14 pieces 2 small carrots [about 4 ounces total], peeled, cut to fit the feed tube vertically 3 plum tomatoes [about 9 ounces total], quartered and seeded 3 1/2 pounds fresh spinach, washed, stems removed 1 cup veal stock, preferably homemade 1/2 cup Sauternes Salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 slices calf's liver [about 5 ounces each], trimmed Slice the onions thin, and saute in 2 tablespoons butter over low heat until the onions begin to exude their liquid, about 5 minutes. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and very soft, about 25 minutes more. For flower-like carrot slices, make 5 evenly-spaced lengthwise cuts on each carrot piece with a fruit and vegetable stripper; slice them into very thin rounds. Reserve. Coarsely chop the tomatoes. Reserve. Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the spinach and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water until cool enough to handle. Squeeze the spinach to remove all the liquid. Pulse the spinach, in a food processor until finely chopped, about 6 times. Add the onions and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Reserve. To make the sauce, bring the stock, Sauternes and chopped tomatoes to the boil in a medium skillet. Cook until reduced by one-third, about 9 minutes. Strain into a small saucepan, pressing on the tomatoes to exude all their liquid: there should be about l/2 cup. Set the skillet aside. Whisk 8 tablespoons of the butter, one piece at a time, into the reduced liquid, over low heat. Season to taste and keep warm. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the skillet used to reduce the sauce. Add the spinach mixture and season to taste. Keep warm, stirring occasionally. Season the liver with salt and pepper. Cook 3 slices in 2 tablespoons butter over medium high heat until golden brown on the outside but still pink on the inside, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Cook the remaining liver, adding more butter as necessary. Meanwhile, blanch the carrot slices in boiling water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain.
