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VEAL SWEETBREADS WITH ROOT VEGETABLES

 1 lb VEAL SWEETBREADS
 WONDRA FLOUR
 1 LARGE SHALLOT
 FRESH THYME
 ½ cup WHITE WINE
 4 SMALL CARROTS
 4 SMALL TURNIPS OR POTATOES
 FLATLEAF PARSLEY AND/OR CHIVES, TARRAGON OR CHERVIL
 1 LEMON
SWEETBREADS
1

PLACE THE SWEETBREADS IN A BOWL WITH 3 TBSPS OF SALT AND COVER WITH WATER. SOAK OVERNIGHT OR FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS IN THE REFRIGERATOR. THIS PROCESS WILL REMOVE MOST OF THE BLOOD FROM THE SWEETBREADS.

GENTLY SEPARATE THE LOBES OF THE SWEETBREADS WITH YOUR FINGERS AND PULL OUT ANY VEINS.

BRING A SAUCEPAN OF SALTED WATER TO A BOIL. ADD THE SWEETBREADS, REDUCE TO A SIMMER. SIMMER FOR AROUND 8 MINUTES OR UNTIL THE SWEETBREADS ARE FIRM BUT STILL SPRINGY LIKE A HARD-BOILED EGG.

DRAIN SWEETBREADS AND PLUNGE INTO A BOWL OF ICED WATER. WHEN THEY ARE COOL ENOUGH TO HANDLE, GENTLY PEEL OFF THE OUTER MEMBRANE. SEPARATE INTO GOLF-BALL-SIZED PIECES. WRAP IN A KITCHEN TOWEL AND PLACE ON A PLATE. WEIGH DOWN WITH A DUTCH OVEN OR ANYTHING HEAVY. THIS WILL FORCE OUT MOST OF THE MOISTURE.

PEEL AND MINCE ONE LARGE SHALLOT.

HEAT 3 TBSPS OF VEGETABLE OIL IN A SAUTÉ PAN. ADD 3 TBSPS OF BUTTER.

SPREAD ABOUT 1/2 CUP OF WONDRA FLOUR ON A PLATE. SALT AND PEPPER THE SWEETBREADS, DREDGE IN THE FLOUR AND SHAKE OFF EXCESS.

SAUTÉ SWEETBREADS WITHOUT CROWDING ALONG WITH A FEW SPRIGS OF THYME. THEY SHOULD BE NICELY BROWNED ON ALL SIDES. REMOVE TO A WARMED SERVING PLATTER.

REDUCE HEAT AND ADD THE MINCED SHALLOTS, STIRRING SO THEY SOFTEN BUT DO NOT BROWN.

ADD 1/2 CUP OF WHITE WINE. REDUCE BY HALF. TURN OFF HEAT. STIR IN A FEW TBSPS OF BUTTER A BIT AT A TIME TO THICKEN THE SAUCE. POUR OVER THE SWEETBREADS.

ADD THE SAUTÉED VEGETABLES TO THE PLATTER, SCATTER WITH CHOPPED HERBS AND LEMON WEDGES.

SERVES 3 OR 2

ROOT VEGETABLES
2

TRIM AND PEEL THE VEGETABLES, LEAVING A BIT OF GREEN STEM.

BOIL VEGETABLES IN A LARGE SAUCEPAN OF SALTED WATER. SINCE THEY WILL NOT ALL COOK AT THE SAME RATE, REMOVE THEM AS THEY ARE DONE AND PUT IN A BOWL OF ICED WATER. WHEN THEY'RE COOL, DRAIN AND WRAP IN A KITCHEN TOWEL.

HEAT 2 TBSPS OF VEGETABLE OIL AND 4 TBSPS OF BUTTER IN A SAUTÉ PAN. (YOU CAN USE THE SAME PAN AS YOU DID FOR THE SWEETBREADS.)

ADD ALL THE VEGETABLES AND SPRINKLE WITH 1 TSP OF SUGAR, WHICH WILL HELP TO CARAMELIZE THEM.

COOK TO YOUR LIKING, EITHER LIGHTLY BROWNED OR A BIT CHARRED.

SERVE WITH THE SWEETBREADS OR ON THEIR OWN AS A SIDE DISH.