Month: October 2011

  • Bay Leaf Créme Burlée

    Makes 6 ramekins Ingredients 2 cups of whole milk 2 cups of heavy cream 12 fresh bay leaves 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped out (seeds reserved) 3 large eggs 5 large egg yolks ¾ cup of sugar (plus more) Pinch of salt Bay leaf sugar (1 cup sugar and 4-6 bay leaves in…

  • Fall Herb Cassoulet

    Serves 4-6 Ingredients Olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine 4 cloves garlic, chopped fine ½ tablespoon lemon zest 2 pounds heirloom beans, pre soaked and par boiled 1 cup white wine 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock ½ cup fresh thyme leaves ¼ cup fresh parsley leaves 2 tablespoons fresh marjoram leaves 2…

  • Herbs De Provence Crispy Baked Chicken with Lemon Olive Tapenade

    Serves 6 Ingredients 6-12 pieces of chicken (wings, legs, boneless thighs and boneless breasts) Salt & pepper 1 cup buttermilk Zest and juice of one lemon 2 tablespoons herbs of Provence 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves ½ tablespoon fresh marjoram leaves ½ tablespoon fresh savory, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped fine 1 tablespoon lavender…

  • Red Onion, Apple & Brie Tart

    Makes 24 small tarts Ingredients 1 sheet puff pastry, rolled out on a baking sheet and cold 3 tablespoons butter 2 cups red onion, sliced 1 cup apples, sliced 1 cup brie 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves Salt/pepper Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan over medium heat, and butter. Cook…

  • Lavender Lemon Pastis

    Makes 1 drink Ingredients 1 cup water 1 tablespoon lavender flowers 1 tablespoon lemon zest 1 cup sugar 2 ounces pastis (ricard) 4 ounces cold water Directions Make the simple syrup by adding the water, lavender, lemon zest and sugar into a medium saucepan and bring to a slow boil, reduce heat and simmer for…

  • Thai Basil Chili Tofu Satay with Mild Peanut Sauce

    Serves 6 Ingredients 1 pound firm tofu, cubed Wooden skewers, presoaked 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 3 cloves of garlic, grated 2 tablespoons fresh thai basil, chopped fine Zest of 1 lime Juice of 3 limes 2 tablespoons soy sauce Mild Peanut Sauce (recipe follows) Directions Mix the ginger, garlic, thai basil, lime juice and…

  • Ginger Lime Shrimp Satay with Chili Honey Sauce

    Serves 6 Ingredients 1½ pounds medium to large sized shrimp Wooden skewers presoaked 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 3 cloves of garlic, grated 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped fine Zest of 1 lime Juice of 3 limes 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon spicy sambal Chili Honey Sauce (recipe follows) Directions Mix the ginger, garlic, lime…

  • Tamarind Beef Satay with Hot & Cold Cucumber Mint Sauce

    Serves 6 Ingredients 1½ pounds beef, hanger of flank steak preffered, cut into strips and pound thin Wooden Skewers, pre-soaked 2 tablespoons tamarind paste 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 3 cloves of garlic, grated 1 shallot, chopped fine Zest of 1 lime Juice of 3 limes 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sambal Hot &…

  • Spicy Indonesian Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce & Spicy Sambal

    Serves 6 Ingredients 1½ pounds of chicken breast, cut into strips and pounded thin Wooden skewers, pre-soaked 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 3 cloves of garlic, grated ½ cup red onion, chopped fine ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped fine ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped fine Zest of 1 lime Juice of 3 limes 2 tablespoons…

  • Pickled Ginger Red Onion Cucumbers

    Makes 2 cups Ingredients 1 cup water 1 cup rice wine vinegar, flavored with ginger if you can find ¼ cup sugar 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup chopped fresh mint 1 large euro cucumber washed & sliced thin (peels on) 2 cayenne or red chili peppers sliced thinly, seeds removed (Serrano chili’s can be substituted)…

  • Ginger-Lime Basil Coolers

    Makes One Pitcher Ingredients 2 chunks of fresh ginger the size of a small sized hand each 2 cups fresh basil leaves 1 cup sugar 3-4 lime juiced 2 liters seltzer water 2 cups water Directions Wash and scrub ginger well, remove skin by scraping ginger with a spoon, not worrying too much about getting…

  • Ramen in Spicy Seafood Broth

    Serves 4 Ingredients 8 ounces Ramen Noodles 1 head garlic, cloves separated and smashed 1 small jalapeño pepper, sliced into paper-thin rings (with its seeds) 1 small bunch cilantro, stems removed from leaves and reserved, leaves coarsely chopped (about ½ cup) 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup frozen peas 1 medium carrot, peeled, halved…

  • Ramen in Curried Coconut Broth

    Serves 4 Ingredients 8 ounces Ramen Noodles 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 cups diced onion (about 2 medium) Coarse sea salt or kosher salt 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 4 cups) 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger 1 teaspoon ground…

  • Roasted Chicken Stock

    Ingredients 4 pounds chicken wings, each chopped into 3-4 pieces 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 8 cloves garlic peeled and left whole 2 stalks of celery, chopped 6 sprigs fresh thyme Directions 1. Place oven rack in lowest position and preheat oven to 500°F. 2. Combine the…

  • Ramen Noodles in Quick Roasted Chicken Broth and Crispy Shallots

    Serves 4 Ingredients 8 ounces Ramen 4 cups roasted chicken broth Crispy shallots Salt and fresh ground black pepper Chopped parsley Directions 1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt to taste. Cook the ramen then drain well. Divide the noodles among 4 deep bowls. 2. Heat the chicken stock…

  • Ramen Tofu and Vegetables in Dashi

    Serves 4 Ingredients For the soup 8 ounces Ramen ½ cup naturally brewed soy sauce 1⁄3 cup mirin 3 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger 1 cup snow peas, stringed and halved crosswire 1 package soft tofu, cubed For the garnishes 1 romaine lettuce heart, shredded 1 cup daikon or red radish,…

  • Petit Fours

    Ingredients For the cake ½ cup butter or margarine, melted 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 11⁄3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 2⁄3 cup milk 3 egg whites For the fruit glaze 12 ounces apricot or raspberry preserves (or heated jelly may be used instead) 3 tablespoons water For…

  • Ginger Lemon Meringue Tarts

    Ingredients 4 egg yolks (reseve whites for meringue) 1⁄3 cup cornstarch 1½ cups water 11⁄3 cup sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons butter ½ cup lemon juice 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest 1 box gingersnap cookies (2 cups) 2 tablespoons butter, melted 4 egg whites Pinch of salt 2 tablespoons sugar Directions Pre-heat oven…

  • Earl Grey Tea Madeleines with Orange Chocolate Glaze

    Ingredients 5 tablespoons unsalted butter plus additional for molds, at room temperature 2 tablespoons loose tea or tea from 2 tea bags (preferably Earl Grey) ¾ cup all purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt 2 large eggs 1⁄3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon…

  • Rainbow Cookies

    Ingredients 8 ounces almond paste, at room temperature 8 ounces butter, softened 1 cup sugar 4 eggs, separated 2 cups all purpose flour 6 drops yellow, pink and green food coloring 1⁄3 cup raspberry preserves 1⁄3 cup orange marmalade 1 cup semisweet chocolate (melted) Directions Cream butter, almond paste and sugar until creamed. Add egg…

  • Skyr Mousse with Crowberry Sauce and Sweet Rye Bread Dust

    Serves 12 Ingredients For the Skyr Mousse 1 vanilla bean pod 18 ounces plain skyr 3 ounces granulated sugar 2 ounces heavy cream 7 ounces heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks 3 sheets gelatin, soaked in warm water until pliable, excess water squeezed out For the Crowberry Sauce 5 ounces fresh crowberries 2 ounces granulated…

  • Pine Bough Sautéed Langoustines and Crispy Shallots with Nori Salt and Shallot Mayonnaise

    Serves 12 Ingredients For the Crispy Shallots 2⁄3 cup canola oil 10 shallots, peeled and thinly sliced into rings 2 sprigs finely chopped dill Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste For the Shallot Mayonnaise 6 large eggs 2 tablespoons canola oil, plus ½ cup 1 small red onion, finely chopped 1 small leek,…

  • Icelandic Herb & Moss Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

    Serves 12 Ingredients For the dressing 2 cups buttermilk 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 garlic clove, peeled 1 sprig dill, finely chopped ¼ cup grapeseed oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste For serving A variety of Icelandic flowers, herbs and moss that could include purslane, wood sorrel, dill, Icelandic moss,…

  • Hay Smoked Arctic Char and Celery Root Purée with Wood Sorrel Ash and Pickled Pearl Onions

    Serves 12 Ingredients For the Pickled Pearl Onions 1¼ pounds pearl onions 3 tablespoons sugar 8 cloves 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds Eight ½-wide strips of lemon zest 1¼ cups white vinegar 1¼ cups water 2 teaspoons kosher salt For the Wood Sorrel Ash 2 ounces wood sorrel For the Celery Root Purée 1 medium…

  • Homemade Kit Kat Bars

    Ingredients 75 club crackers ½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar ½ cup milk 1⁄3 cup granulated sugar 2⁄3 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup butterscotch chips Directions Line 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking pan with one later of Club crackers…

  • Pumpkin Seed Brittle

    Ingredients 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1⁄8 teaspoon fine sea salt ¾ cup raw green (hulled) pumpkin seeds (not toasted; 4 ounces) Directions Put a 24-by-12-inch sheet of parchment on a work surface and anchor corners with pieces of tape. Bring sugar, water, and sea salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan…

  • Maple Pecan Popcorn

    Makes about 10 cups Ingredients About 8 cups plain popcorn 1 cup pecans or any nuts on hand, coarsely chopped and toasted ¾ stick unsalted butter 1½ cups pure maple syrup ½ teaspoon salt Directions Toss popcorn and pecans in a large bowl. Line bottom of a 17-by-11-inch 4-sided sheet pan with foil, then lightly…

  • Homemade Peanut Butter & S’mores Cups

    Yields about 2 dozen mini peanut butter cups and 4-6 large s’mores. Ingredients For the candy shells Chocolate For the peanut butter filling 1 cup peanut butter ½ cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the s’mores filling 1 cup marshmallow fluff 2 graham crackers, broken in pieces Directions Temper the chocolate and pour…

  • Old Fashion Candy Apples

    Ingredients 15 apples 2 cups white sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 1½ cups water 8 drops red food coloring Directions Lightly grease cookie sheets. Insert craft sticks into whole, stemmed apples. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat to 300 to 310 degrees F (149 to 154…

  • Buckwheat Crepes with Greek Yogurt and Fresh Fruit

    Makes 8 crepes Buckwheat adds a delicious sour note to crepes and breads. As a crop, buckwheat gives a boost to the environment because it suppresses weed growth and provides nectar for honeybees. It requires little to no chemical fertilization and actually adds nutrients to the depleted soil on which it’s grown. I like to…

  • Savory Millet and Hominy Cakes with Cilantro Jalapeño Sauce

    Makes 8 cakes The cakes can be seared in a pan instead of baked. For additional serving options, put a dollop of yogurt or some crumbled feta cheese on top. Or serve grilled chicken or fish on top of the cakes, and garnish with the sauce. Ingredients 2 tablespoons canola or olive oil for cooking,…

  • Lemony Gold Beet Barley Risotto

    Serves 6 Barley replaces the traditional Arborio rice here for a textured, nutty-tasting whole-grain risotto. Soaking the barley overnight reduces its cooking time. Gold beets have a sweet, mellow flavor. When roasted with the skin intact, their beautiful color is preserved. Wait to salt the risotto until you’ve added the ricotta salata; as the name…

  • Creamy Farro Salad with Shaved Fennel, Beets and Radishes

    Serves 4 Farro is the Tuscan name for spelt, a hard brown wheat traditionally eaten in Tuscany, Italy. Farro looks similar to short grain brown rice, and has a nutty, earthy taste. Farro’s chewy texture holds up even after long cooking. Because of its hard texture, it’s good to soak farro overnight in order to…

  • Deep Beef Stew

    Serves 6 Ingredients 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1″ chunks Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup Wondra flour Grapeseed oil as needed 1 large or 2 small white onions, diced large 2 large carrots, sliced in half lengthwide and cut into ½” half-moons 2 turnips, diced medium (same size as potatoes) 2…

  • Porcini & Parmesan Farro

    Serves 4 Ingredients 1 cup farro or barley, rinsed and drained 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large shallot, minced 2 oz. dried porcini mushrooms, or other dried mushrooms, such as shitake or morels 1 cup hot water ¼ cup white wine 1 cup mushrooms, vegetable or chicken stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper to…

  • Tangy Muhammara (Red Pepper & Walnut Dip)

    Ingredients 1 cup walnuts 3 to 4 cloves garlic ¼ cup breadcrumbs 2 red peppers, roasted and pureed 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 tablespoon pomegranate molasses 1 teaspoon lemon juice Salt to taste ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon dried mint (or 1…

  • Cucumber & Marmite Tea Sandwiches

    Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients 1 English cucumber 1 jar of Marmite or Vegemite 1 stick of good, unsalted butter (such as Plugra) 1 loaf of Brioche (or any fine-crumb white) bread, thinly sliced & crusts removed Directions Slice the cucumber very thinly on a mandolin. Spread butter onto four slices of the bread. Thinly…