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1
Flatten pheasant breasts slightly with a mallet or rolling pin, then rub with 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and season with black pepper.
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2
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat in a 9-inch skillet.
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3
When it foams, sear the pheasant, skin side down, about 5 minutes per side.
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4
Remove to a plate, cover and keep warm.
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5
Steep the dried morels in 1/2 cup hot water for about 5 minutes.
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6
Drain and strain, reserving the soaking liquid.
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7
Discard stems and slice caps thinly.
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8
Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet and saute the shallots for 2 minutes, until golden, then add the morels and mushrooms for 1 minute.
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9
Remove to a bowl and keep warm.
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10
Boil the reserved soaking liquid with the brandy and white wine until reduced by 1/2, about 1 minute, then whisk in the cream and demi-glace and boil about 1 minute, until sauce is thickened and smooth.
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11
Whisk in the remaining lemon juice and the cayenne.
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12
Place the pheasant breasts skin side up on hot serving plates and top each with half the mushroom mixture, then the sauce.
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13
Enclose each breast with (ideally) a glass cover.
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14
Alert your guests to the olfactory possibilities, so they don't blow the experience the way I did.
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15
Once they are seated and you have their attention, lift the cover and fan the essence toward them, if necessary.