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Recipe Results
| | | | | | - Herbes de Napa
6 tablespoons dried thyme leaves
Combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container away from light and heat for up to 4 months. Details... - Roasted Tomatoes
24 plum (Roma) tomatoes, halved lengthwise
Preheat the broiler. Arrange the tomato halves cut side up and close together on a baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the 6 tablespoons olive oil, the herbs, and the garlic. Spoon a little over each tomato half, stirring the mixture as you go.
Broil until the tomatoes are soft and shriveled but still retain some moisture, 15 to 20 minutes. Timing will depend on how large, meaty and juicy the tomatoes are. Let cool completely, then peel and chop tomato halves roughly into a salsa cruda.
Details... - Veal, Pork and Porcini Bolognese Sauce
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook gently to sweat for about 2 minutes. Do not let the onions caramelize. Add the garlic and rosemary and cook about 1 minute, or until garlic is lightly browned.
Add the veal and pork and cook, smashing the meat apart with a wooden spoon, to keep it from clumping together. Cook for about 2 minutes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the mushrooms and continue to cook about 4 minutes, evaporating any liquid and caramelizing the meat.
Add the porcini juice to the meat and cook for 1 minute to evaporate. Add the veal stock and cook for 2 minutes. Add the marinara and the wine. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
Toss 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan into the sauce to help it bind. Add some reserved pasta water, as necessary, if the sauce appears too dry. Top with the remaining Parmesan. Marinara Sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 cups fresh tomato puree
1 large fresh basil stem with leaves removed
1 teaspoon sea salt, preferably gray salt
Pinch baking soda or sugar, if needed
Heat the olive oil in a large non-reactive pot over moderate heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the parsley and garlic and cook briefly to release their fragrance. Add the tomatoes, basil and salt. Simmer briskly until reduced to a sauce like consistency, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot. The timing will depend on the ripeness and meatiness of your tomatoes and the size of your pot. If the sauce thickens too much before the flavors have developed, add a little water and continue cooking.
Taste and adjust the seasoning. If the sauce tastes too acidic, add the baking soda and cook for 5 more minutes. If it needs a touch of sweetness, add the sugar and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove the basil stem before serving.
Yield: 4 cups Details... - Soft Polenta
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
In a heavy saucepan, combine the stock and cream, and bring to a boil. Add the nutmeg and salt. Whisk in the polenta and semolina and cook over low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the grains are soft. Fold in the cheeses. Serve immediately or reserve.
To encourage polenta to come cleanly out of the pan, cook over medium heat. Run a spatula or wooden spoon around the sides of the pan to clean off the polenta. Do not stir, but wait and watch for a few seconds until a large bubble begins to form and pushes the polenta upward. Pour immediately into a warm dish.
The polenta can be made ahead and reheated: add 1/4 to 1/2 cup water or stock, cover the dish, and reheat in the microwave or over low heat. Whisk well before serving. Grate a dusting of Parmesan over the top just before serving. Details... - Arugula Pesto
4 cups packed fresh arugula
Prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl, and bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the arugula in a large sieve and plunge it into the boiling water. Immediately immerse all the arugula and stir so that it blanches evenly. Blanch for about 15 seconds. Remove, shake off the excess water, then plunge the arugula into the ice water bath and stir again so it cools as fast as possible. Drain well.
Squeeze the water out of the arugula with your hands until very dry. Roughly chop the arugula and put in a blender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the pine nuts, and the vitamin C, if using. Blend for at least 30 seconds. In this way the green of the arugula will thoroughly color the oil. Add the cheese and pulse to combine. The pesto will keep several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Pull out before dinner to get to room temperature. Before serving, add the remaining 1 tablespoon toasted pinenuts.
Details... - Marinara Sauce
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Heat the olive oil in a large non-reactive pot over moderate heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the parsley and garlic and cook briefly to release their fragrance. Add the tomatoes, basil and salt. Simmer briskly until reduced to a sauce like consistency, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot. The timing will depend on the ripeness and meatiness of your tomatoes and the size of your pot. If the sauce thickens too much before the flavors have developed, add a little water and continue cooking.
Taste and adjust the seasoning. If the sauce tastes too acidic, add the baking soda and cook for 5 more minutes. If it needs a touch of sweetness, add the sugar and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove the basil stem before serving. Details... - Grilled Pressed Sandwich
1 large, round soft crusted loaf of bread
Preheat a stovetop grill or griddle. Cut the bread in half lengthwise. Hollow out the insides. Set aside
Make compound butter by combining butter, olives and oregano.
Spread and even layer of compound butter on each cut surface of bread. Reassemble the pieces.
Brush outside of bread with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Place the bread on the griddle and top with pans or other type of weight to gently press the bread while it is toasting. Griddle or grill about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Serve warm.
Details... - Pomegranate Breakfast Soda
16 ounces pomegranate juice
Mix the ingredients together in a pitcher and serve over ice. Details... - Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (an 8-ounce box isn't quite 2 cups)
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the eggs, sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Details... - Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler
2 (16-ounce) cans sliced peaches in heavy or light syrup, or in fruit juice, your choice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a Dutch oven with vegetable oil cooking spray
Drain 1 can of the peaches. Combine both cans of peaches, including the juice from the undrained can, the blueberries, if using, the baking mix, sugar, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Place this mixture into the Dutch oven.
To make the topping: Combine the biscuit mix, sugar, butter, and milk in a resealable plastic bag. Drop bits of dough, using your fingers, on top of the peaches. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Place the Dutch oven into the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crusty.
Details... - Easter Pie
3/4 cup powdered sugar, plus extra for garnish
Blend 3/4 cup of powdered sugar, eggs, vanilla, orange zest and ricotta in a food processor until smooth. Stir in the rice and pine nuts. Set the ricotta mixture aside.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Lightly butter a 9-inch glass pie dish. Lay 1 phyllo sheet over the bottom and up the sides of the dish, allowing the phyllo to hang over the sides. Brush the phyllo with the melted butter. Top with a second sheet of phyllo dough, laying it in the opposite direction as the first phyllo sheet. Continue layering the remaining sheets of phyllo sheets, alternating after each layer and buttering each sheet. Spoon the ricotta mixture into the dish. Fold the overhanging phyllo dough over the top of the filling to enclose it completely. Brush completely with melted butter.
Bake the pie until the phyllo is golden brown and the filling is set, about 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool completely. Sift powdered sugar over the pie and serve. Details... - Strawberry-Lime Stuffed Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
In another medium bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. While beating, gradually pour in the butter and then the vanilla.
While mixing slowly, add half the dry ingredients, then add all the milk, and follow with the rest of the dry ingredients. Take care not to over mix the batter. Divide the batter evenly in the prepared tin.
Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a rack in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove. Cool on the rack completely.
For icing: Mix the confectioners' sugar and lime zest in a medium bowl. Add the lime juice and mix with an electric mixer to make a firm but pourable icing. (If needed, add up to 1 teaspoon more juice, but take care if the icing is too loose it doesn't set properly.) Add food color to make a pale pastel green icing.
To assemble: Remove cupcake from its liner. Cut and remove a strawberry (coned) shaped portion of cupcake from the top of each cupcake, leaving about 1/2 to 1-inch of cake in the bottom. Stuff each cake with a strawberry and cover with a little bit of cake. Spoon and spread icing over the top of the cupcakes. Sprinkle with green sanding sugar. Top with small mint leaves or candied leaves.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells with Arrabbiata Sauce
1 (12-ounce) box jumbo pasta shells (recommended: Barilla)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and partially cook until tender but still very firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain pasta.
Meanwhile, in a large heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and the garlic and cook until the onions are soft and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the ground turkey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is slightly golden and cooked through. Add the artichoke hearts and stir to combine. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a large bowl combine the cooled turkey mixture with the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs, basil, parsley, and the remaining salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
To stuff the shells, cover the bottom of a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish with 1 cup of Arrabbiata sauce. Take a shell in the palm of your hand and stuff it with a large spoonful of turkey mixture, about 2 tablespoons. Place the stuffed shell in the baking dish. Continue filling the shells until the baking dish is full, about 24 shells. Drizzle the remaining Arrabbiata Sauce over the shells, top with the grated mozzarella. If freezing, cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for 1 day and up to 1 month.
To bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bake until the shells are warmed through and the cheese is beginning to brown, about 60 minutes (20 minutes if shells are unfrozen.)Arrabbiata Sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 ounces sliced pancetta, coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 garlic cloves, minced
5 cups jarred or fresh marinara sauceHeat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute until tender, about 1 minute. Add the marinara sauce and red pepper flakes and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and let cool until ready to use.
Yield: approximately 6 cups Details... - Five Layer Bars
Five Layer Bar Mix:
In a decorative jar, layer pecans, butterscotch morsels, coconut, and chocolate morsels. Spoon graham cracker crumbs into a small plastic or cellophane bag and place on top of the layers.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove graham cracker crumbs from jar. Combine graham cracker crumbs and melted butter. Press into bottom of a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining ingredients of mix over crumb mixture. Pour sweetened condensed milk over the layers. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool and cut into bars. Details... - Paula's Lemon Cake
Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) cake pans.
To make the cake: Using an electric mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream well for 6 to 8 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and continue to beat until just mixed. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Level batter in each pan by holding pan 3 or 4-inches above counter, then dropping flat onto counter. Do this several times to release air bubbles and assure you of a more level cake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 to 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks. Cool completely.
To make the frosting: Place sugar, cream of tartar or corn syrup, salt, water, and egg whites in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a handheld electric mixer for 1 minute. Place pan over boiling water, being sure that boiling water does not touch the bottom of the top pan. Beat constantly on high speed with electric mixer for 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla.
To make the filling: Place the ingredients in the double boiler over boiling water. Don't let top pan touch the water. Cook and stir until mixture begins to gel or thicken. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
To assemble, add 1 tablespoon of filling to the cake pedestal. Run hands along the side of the cake to remove excess crumbs. Place the cake layers on the pedestal, spreading filling between the layers and on top. Spread the sides and top of the cake with the remaining filling. Frost top and sides of cake with frosting. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of mint.
Details... - Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina
1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.
Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Details... - Easter Bunny Cake
Cake and Frosting:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter and flour the metal bowls. Combine the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs in another clean bowl. Beat for 2 minutes or until well blended. Pour 2 cups of batter into the smaller prepared bowl; pour remaining batter into larger prepared bowl. Bake smaller cake for 40 minutes and larger cake for 45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool cakes on cooling rack for 30 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling rack and cool completely.
Cut larger cake in half, forming 2 half-moon pieces. Spread 1/4 cup of frosting over flat top of each piece. Place pieces cut side down on work surface, adhering frosted sides together. Trim 1-inch from 1 end of the cake; discard trimmings. Repeat with the smaller cake. Place larger cake on a serving platter. Spread 2 tablespoons of frosting over trimmed end of smaller cake. Place trimmed end of smaller cake against trimmed end of larger cake. Spread remaining frosting over cakes to cover completely. Sprinkle with all but 1/2 cup of the coconut, pressing to adhere.
Brush melted milk chocolate over both sides of the cookie halves to coat completely. Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup coconut; set aside to dry. Press 2 semisweet chocolate morsels onto bunny face for eyes. Using toothpicks, secure jellied candy onto bunny face for nose. Using toothpicks, secure licorice pieces onto face for whiskers. Using toothpicks, secure miniature marshmallows onto bunny face for teeth. Make 2-inch deep cuts atop bunny head; insert chocolate cookie halves for ears. Roll large marshmallows together; using toothpick, secure onto bunny for tail. Details... - Queso Flameado
12 to 18 ounces Panela cheese
Slice the cheese 1/2inch thick and place in a bowl of ice water for about 5 minutes. Pat the cheese dry and dust with the flour, shaking off any excess.
Heat a large cast iron skillet, over a high heat. Add the oil and fry the cheese, turning once, until golden brown. USE CAUTION: Standing far enough back so you do not get near the flames, ignite the tequila. Let the flames die out.
Remove the cheese and tequila to a platter and finish with a sprinkling of lime juice. Serve with pickled chipotle peppers and warm corn tortillas. Details... - Classic Yellow Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Frosting
Cupcakes:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl.
In another medium bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. While beating, gradually pour in the butter and then the vanilla.
While mixing slowly, add half the dry ingredients, then add all the milk, and follow with the rest of the dry ingredients. Take care not to over mix the batter. Divide the batter evenly in the prepared tin (about 1/3 cup batter per cup cake.)
Bake until a tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool cupcakes on a rack in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove. Cool on the rack completely.
For icing: Put the chocolates in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
Add the confectioners' sugar, milk, butter, vanilla extract, and salt and beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Divide icing evenly between cupcakes and swirl with the back of a spoon or an offset spatula. Top with a sugar cookie or marshmallow candies. Serve.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - Bobby's Signature Mojito
2 lime wedges
Place the lime, mint and Thai basil in a cocktail shaker and muddle well. Add Ginger Simple Syrup, club soda, and rum and shake well.
Rim a glass with fine sugar and fill with ice. Pour drink over ice. Float coconut milk on top of the drink.Ginger Simple Syrup:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 (2-inch) piece ginger, thickly sliced
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool. Once cool, strain out the ginger. Details... - Lump Blue Crab Salad
8 ounces lump blue crabmeat
In medium non-reactive bowl, combine all ingredients except mache and chives, taking care not to break up the crab as it is stirred. Mound mache in 2 halves of hollowed out avocado and top with crab salad. Garnish with chopped chives and serve chilled. Details... - Chicken with Chorizo and Cannellini
2 cups chicken stock
In a saucepan, bring the stock to a gentle boil, lower in the chicken and cook, still gently, for 10 minutes or until all trace of pink has disappeared. Pierce with the point of a knife to check.
Meanwhile, cook the kale, which you've roughly torn into pieces, in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes (if it's tough) and drain. Then heat the oil in a frying pan, throw in the chopped chorizo, add the drained cannellini and, stirring, warm everything through, moistening with a couple of tablespoons or so of the chicken stock - or more if you want this soupier.
Tip the beans and chorizo into a shallow bowl or lipped plate, roughly arrange the kale on top (drizzling with a little extra-virgin olive oil if you like) and then lift the cooked chicken out of the stock with a spatula and sit this on top of the kale. Sprinkle the pale chicken breast with the paprika and gaze at your Spanish still life of a supper before eating it.
Details... - Strawberry Scones
4 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine 4 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in the cold butter at the lowest speed and mix until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. Combine the eggs and heavy cream and quickly add them to the flour and butter mixture. Combine until just blended. Toss the strawberries with 1 tablespoon of flour, add them to the dough, and mix quickly. The dough may be a bit sticky.
Dump the dough out onto a well-floured surface and be sure it is well combined. Flour your hands and a rolling pin and roll the dough 3/4-inch thick. You should see lumps of butter in the dough. Cut into squares with a 4-inch plain or fluted cutter, and then cut them in half diagonally to make triangles. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Brush the tops with egg wash. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the outsides are crisp and the insides are fully baked.
Details... - Mixed Green Salad with Whole Citrus Vinaigrette
2 lemons
Juice the lemons, orange, and shallot in a juice extractor. Put the juices in a bowl and whisk in the olive oil in a slow stream to form an emulsion. Season with the salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Whisk again, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. You should have about 2 cups.
Just before serving, place the greens in a salad bowl, add about 1/2 cup vinaigrette, and toss well. Add more to taste and adjust the seasoning. Finish the salad with a sprinkling of cocoa nibs to taste.
Variation for Blender: Use 3 lemons, 2 small oranges, 1 shallot, 1 teaspoon gray salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 1/2 cups pure olive oil. Cut off and discard the stem ends of 2 lemons and 1 orange. Cut into quarters, cut out the core, and remove seed. Place in a blender. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon and orange; add to the blender with the shallot, salt, and pepper. Pulse and then blend the fruit until as smooth as possible. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a thin, steady stream. The vinaigrette will be thick like a mayonnaise. If it is too thick, with the machine still on, thin with a little hot water. Taste for seasoning. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If the vinaigrette separates, return it to the blender and blend until smooth again. Makes about 3 cups. Details... - Grilled Lobster Tails with Mashed Jerusalem Artichokes, Sauteed Asparagus, and Lemon-Tarragon Butter
2 (1 1/2 pound) live lobsters
Set a large 2 to 3 gallon stockpot to boil over high heat. Once the water comes to a boil, immerse the lobsters in the pot. Cook the lobsters for 3 minutes, remove, and chill immediately in an ice bath. Once the lobsters are cool enough to handle, remove from the water and place on a kitchen towel draped over a cutting board.
Twist the tails off the lobsters, and cut the tails in half lengthwise using a large chef's knife (score along the length of the tail). Set the cut tails aside, and crack the shells of the claws to remove the meat. Reserve the claw meat for pasta or a salad for a later date.
Place the Jerusalem artichokes in a 1-quart saucepan, and cover with water. Set over high heat and bring to a boil. Once the water comes to a boil, cook the artichokes for 15 minutes, or until easily pierced with a knife. Remove from the heat, drain, and place the artichokes in a food processor with the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of white pepper. Process the artichokes for 10 to 15 seconds, or until a smooth puree is formed. Remove from the bowl of the food processor, and place in a heat resistant bowl set over a water bath to keep warm.
Trim the ends off of the asparagus and blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, remove from the water and cool in ice water. Once the asparagus is cool enough to handle, remove from the ice water and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut the asparagus into thirds on a bias.
Set a small saucepan over a low heat and add 4 tablespoons of the remaining butter, the lemon zest, and the lemon juice. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld, and season with a pinch of salt, white pepper, and the chopped tarragon. Set aside, but keep warm.
To finish the dish, set the grill on medium-high. Brush the lobster tails with the olive oil on the cut end, and season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of white pepper. Place the tails, cut-side down, on the grill, and cook for 3 minutes. Rotate 45 degrees, and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Turn the lobsters over and cook for 2 minutes. While the lobsters are cooking on the shell side, place a small skillet over medium-high heat, and once the pan is hot, add the remaining1 teaspoon of butter and saute the asparagus, tossing, for 1 minute. Season lightly with salt and white pepper.
To plate the dish, divide the Jerusalem artichoke puree evenly between 2 warmed dinner plates or wide shallow bowls. Arrange the asparagus around the artichoke puree, and place the lobster tails on top of the puree. Pour 2 tablespoons of the lemon- tarragon butter over each serving of lobster and garnish with additional tarragon if desired.
Serve immediately. Details... - Oatmeal Waffles with Allspiced Apple Butter
It hadn't occurred to us until our little son Gio started eating real breakfasts that a waffle iron is a magical item. You pour cold, lumpy batter into a mysterious machine, leave it alone for a while, and open it to find hot nut-brown waffles inside! He just loves them.
Now, when Gio wakes up at 7AM, he is ready to begin his day; we are still bleary from a night in the restaurant. He demands to "mix now," but the last thing we want to do is cook. So we devised a waffle recipe that is improved by being started the night before. Use quick cooking oats for a tender waffle, plain if you prefer a more substantial, chewy waffle. The light tang of orange juice and buttermilk add a wonderful flavor. Serve with butter and Spiced Apple Butter or maple syrup. With the orange-and-oat flavors of the waffles, plus melting butter and maple syrup...what could be better than cold, fresh apple cider? Garnished with apple butter and whipped cream they taste like apple pie ala mode only in breakfast form. 2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup orange juice
2/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 egg
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for cooking
Allspiced Apple Butter, recipe follows
Whipped cream, for garnish
Fresh berries, for garnish, optional
Equipment: Waffle ironThe night before you plan to serve the waffles, in a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, orange juice, and oats. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Add the sugar and mix. Add the flours, baking soda, salt, and the oat mixture and mix well. Stir in the melted butter. The batter may be slightly lumpy.
Preheat and lightly butter a waffle iron. Spoon a generous 1/2 cup of batter onto the hot iron and close the lid. Cook until no more steam escapes from the iron and the waffle is golden on both sides, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with the apple butter and whipped cream and garnished with fresh berries.Allspiced Apple Butter:
5 pounds apples, like MacIntosh or Ida, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
1 pound light brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice, preferably freshly groundPut the apples in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over low heat. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice and continue cooking over low heat, stirring occasionally, until very thick, about 30 minutes more.
To test for doneness, place a spoonful of the mixture on a white plate and let sit 20 seconds. If a ring of liquid forms around the apples, there is still too much liquid in the mixture. Continue cooking and testing until no ring forms.
Yield: about 5 cups Details... - Oatmeal Raisin Pancakes with Cinnamon Sour Cream
1 cup old fashion oats
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla, blend thoroughly. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix with the whisk until just combined. Don't worry if the batter is a bit lumpy. With a rubber spatula gently fold in the raisins. The batter will thicken as it stands. If necessary, lightly butter, oil, or spray your griddle or skillet. Preheat over medium heat or if using an electric griddle set to 350 degrees F. If you want to hold the pancakes until serving time preheat your oven to 200 degrees F. Spoon 1/4 cup of batter onto griddle for each pancake, allowing space for spreading, and use a spatula or the back of your spoon to lightly press the batter into rounds. When the underside of the pancake are golden and the tops are speckled with bubbles that pop and stay open, flip over with a wide spatula and cook on the other side until light brown. Serve immediately or place in oven while you make the rest of the batch. Details... - Molten Chocolate Oooozy Cake
What I've heard about this recipe is it was created by Chef Joel Robachen of Jamoin in Paris for Valrhona Chocolate Company. He taught it to Jean George Vongerichtin and I learned it from one of his sous chefs who worked for me in London at the Criterion Brasserie. It's basically an under baked cake sp the batter is just raw in the center, though when I worked at Charlie Trotter's we placed a thin layer of chocolate sponge cake on the bottom and placed on that balls of ganache to stuff in the center to assure a wet lava effect when you cut into the cake, then surrounded the whole thing with the cake batter. Cakes:
11 ounces butter (2 3/4 sticks)
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
6 eggs
6 egg yolks
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
Garnishes:
Chocolate Bergamot Paint, recipe follows
Cocoa nibs, as needed
Star Anise Ice Cream, recipe follows
Citrus Reduction, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, as needed
Cocoa powder, as needed
Equipment: 12 (8-ounce) foil tinsMake the Cakes: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease the tins and set aside.
In a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.
Meanwhile, in a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, yolks, and sugar. Whisk the egg mixture into chocolate mixture; then whisk in the flour.
Fill the tins with the batter and bake for 4 to 5 minutes. (Alternatively, refrigerate the cakes until ready to bake, up to a day in advance. If baking cold, do so for 5 to 6 minutes.)
Paint the bottoms of several shallow soup plates with the chocolate bergamont paint. Immediately unmold the cakes onto the plates. Place a pinch of cocoa nibs beside each cake (as a small stand for the ice cream), and place a scoop of star anise ice cream on top of each. Drizzle the citrus reduction around each plate and dust with confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder. Chocolate Bergamot Paint:
4 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup brewed tea (recommended: Earl Grey)
1/4 cup light corn syrupIn the top half of a double boiler, combine the 2 chocolates over simmering water. Stir constantly until melted; then whisk in the tea and syrup, without removing the double boiler from the heat. Whisk until smooth and shiny.
If the sauce is too thick, thin it with a touch of hot water. Using a brush, paint the sauce onto plate before serving.
(The sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance and refrigerated. To rewarm, stir over low heat or heat in a microwave.)
Yield: approximately 1 1/4 cupsStar Anise Ice Cream:
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups heavy cream
1 heaping tablespoon star anise pieces
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 cinnamon stick
9 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugarIn a saucepan over medium heat, heat the half-and-half, cream, star anise, ground cinnamon, vanilla, and cinnamon stick, whisking occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat and let the flavors infuse for 10 minutes.
In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. In a thin stream, whisk half of the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture. Then pour the egg-cream mixture back into the saucepan containing the rest of the cream mixture.
Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. If you don't have a thermometer, test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.
Meanwhile, put 2 handfuls of ice cubes in a large bowl, and add enough cold water to cover. Rest a smaller bowl in the ice water. Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve into the smaller bowl, to remove the vanilla bean pieces and cinnamon sticks. Chill 3 hours; then freeze in an ice cream freezer according to the manufacturer's directions
Yield: 1 quartCitrus Reduction:
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup corn syrup
Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer on low until reduced to a thick syrup. Chill before using.
Yield: approximately 1/3 cup Details... - Prosecco Gold Rush
12 ounces Prosecco, chilled
Pour Prosecco into a clear glass without ice. Add vodka and cinnamon schnapps, and stir to mix gold flakes evenly through the drink. Details... - Lime Sherbet Punch
2 quarts lime sherbet
In a punch bowl, add 2 quarts of lime sherbet. Then add ginger ale and pineapple juice. Decorate with lemon and lime slices and some maraschino cherries. Details... - Virgin Daiquiri
1 (14.5-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice
In a blender, combine pineapple, frozen strawberries, sugar, and lime juice and puree until smooth. Pour into glasses, garnish with fresh strawberries, if desired, and serve immediately. Details... - Roasted Asparagus with Egg Garnish
1 large egg
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Put the egg in a small saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cover the pot, and remove from the heat; set aside for 10 minutes. Drain; roll the egg between your palm and the counter to crack the shell, and then peel under cool running water.
Trim the woody ends from the asparagus. Spread the spears in a single layer on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with the salt, and roll to coat thoroughly. Roast the asparagus until lightly browned and tender, about 8 minutes, giving the pan a good shake about halfway through to turn the asparagus. Arrange the roasted asparagus on a serving platter. Rub the egg through a medium-mesh strainer and sprinkle it over the asparagus.
Grind a generous amount of black pepper over the top. Serve warm or room temperature. Details... - Fried Mac and Cheese Balls
1 pound elbow macaroni
Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni. Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.
Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash and pour it into a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs into another shallow bowl. Remove the mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Dip the frozen balls into the egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.
Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination or both for dipping. Details... - Sesame Grilled Asparagus
Wooden toothpicks or bamboo skewers
In a shallow pan, soak skewers in cold water for 1 hour, then drain and set aside.
Preheat grill to high. Snap off the woody bases of the asparagus and discard. Skewer 4 or 5 asparagus spears together, using the toothpicks or 2 bamboo skewers, forming a raft shape.
In a small bowl, combine the sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic and stir with a fork to mix. Brush this mixture on the asparagus rafts on both sides. Season the asparagus with a little salt and lots of pepper.
When ready to cook, place the asparagus rafts on the hot grate and grill until nicely browned on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds as they grill. You can serve the asparagus as rafts or unskewered. Details... - Blue Cheese with Date Spread
4 ounces blue cheese
In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine blue cheese and cream cheese. Process until smooth and blended. Transfer to air-tight container and chill in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Once chilled, form cheese into 6 even sized balls and roll each blue cheese ball in chopped dates. Serve cheese set on clean basil leaves. Arrange on a platter or cheese board with assorted crackers. Details... - Asparagus with Lemon Vinaigrette
1 pound thin asparagus
Trim asparagus and have ready a large bowl of ice and cold water. In a large saucepan of boiling salted water cook asparagus until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes, and with tongs transfer to ice water to stop cooking. Drain asparagus well in a colander and pat dry. Gently toss asparagus with vinaigrette and salt and pepper to taste.LEMON VINAIGRETTE:
1 lemon
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oilSqueeze enough juice from lemons to measure 1/3 cup. In a bowl combine lemon juice with salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in oil in a slow stream. Vinaigrette may be made 3 hours ahead and chilled, covered. Bring vinaigrette to room temperature before proceeding. Yield: 1 cup Details... - Herb Coated Goat Cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Arrange the bread slices on 2 heavy baking sheets. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the bread slices. Bake until the crostini are pale golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, stir the herbs, lemon zest, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using about 2 teaspoons of cheese for each, form the goat cheese into 1-inch diameter balls. Roll the cheese balls in the herb mixture to coat completely. Arrange the cheese balls on a platter. Drizzle the extra-virgin olive oil over and around the cheese balls. Serve with the crostini. Garnish with herb sprigs.
The crostini and cheese balls can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store the crostini in an airtight container at room temperature. Cover and refrigerate the cheese balls. Details... - Batido Colada
1 small papaya, seeded and chopped
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour and enjoy. Details... - Peachy Green Tea Cooler
6 green tea teabags
Bring 6 cups cold water to a boil.
Place teabags in a saucepan. Slice the peaches and place in a saucepan. Pour boiling water over the peaches and teabags. Steep for about 5 minutes.
Strain the tea into a heat-safe pitcher and reserve the peaches. Stir in honey and lemon juice to taste.
Allow tea to cool, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled. Reserve peaches in refrigerator.
To serve: Fill tall glasses with ice, place a few chilled peach slices in each glass, pour chilled tea over the peaches and top with a sprig of mint. Details... - Kir Royale
12 ounces Champagne
Divide the Champagne evenly between 2 Champagne flutes. Slowly add the creme de cassis so that it settles at the bottom of each glass. Serve immediately.
Cook's Note: when prepared in this manner the creme de cassis will form a pink layer at the bottom of the glass. If you wish a more uniform cocktail, add the creme de cassis first to the glasses and then add the Champagne.
Details... - Cheese Ball Goblin
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature, plus 2 (8-ounce) packages whipped cream cheese
Place 2 packages of cream cheese, butter, and milk in a mixing bowl, scraping down the sides of the bowl a few times. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and combined. Add the shredded cheese and mix until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or up to 24 hours.
Remove the chilled cheese mixture from the refrigerator. Place the mixture on a piece of waxed paper and form the cheese ball into a head-like shape. Place 3 pieces of waxed paper around the edges of a serving plate, leaving open space in the center. Place the cheese in the center of the platter so some of it is right on the platter, but the edges are on the waxed paper. This will ensure that the platter does not get dirty while you make your goblin.
In a medium bowl, stir the remaining softened cream cheese until totally smooth. With a spatula, spread the whipped cream cheese over the head. It's O.K. if it's not totally smooth - this will give your goblin spooky skin.
Place a few drops of green food coloring in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and mix well. With a pastry brush, paint the tortilla chips with the food coloring until they are the desired color. Set aside to dry for a few minutes.
Once the chips are dry, press them into the sides of the cheese ball to form ears. Skewer the pepperoncini with a toothpick and then attach it to the center of the head to make a nose. Press the pimiento-stuffed olives into the head to form eyes. Use the 2 red bell pepper strips to make eyebrows. Take the pepper triangles and insert them into the holes in the pitted green olives. The green olives will serve as toes, and the red pepper strips will be scary toenails. Once the olives are assembled, press them into the bottom of the head to form the toes.
Press the carrot sticks into the head to form teeth. Leave them sticking out a bit to make scary teeth. It's O.K. if your carrot sticks are different lengths and thicknesses. Hold the head onto the platter with a spatula and gently pull away the waxed paper. Finally, press the cabbage into the top of the head to make hair.
Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables. Details... - Campari Citrus Soda
1 shot Campari
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour a shot of Campari over ice. Add 3 to 4 ounces grapefruit juice. Fill to top with ginger ale. Details... - Batini Black
2 ounces vodka (recommended: Tito's Handmade Vodka)
Add vodka, blue curacao, blackberries, simple syrup and grapefruit juice to a martini shaker and shake vigorously until the drink turns a deep purple. Strain into a cocktail glass and top with a splash of champagne. Garnish with a blackberry and a bat-shaped mint. Details... - Cherry Lime Ricky
6 fresh cherries, pitted
Put the cherries, lime, and sugar into a large rocks glass. Muddle the fruit and sugar by pressing them with a pestle or a wooden spoon until juicy and fragrant. Add the gin and crushed ice. Cover with a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously, or stir, until combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, by the time the shaker mists up the drink is ready.) Serve.
Copyright (c) 2004 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved. Details... - Harold McGee's Chocolate-Cheese Truffles
Do not try Roquefort instead of the Stilton or Gorgonzola; it will be too salty and sharp. Serve the truffles at the end of a meal with a complex red wine like a Banyuls or late-harvest Zinfandel.
Trimany rind from the cheese and bring it to room temperature. In a mixing bowl, combine the cheese and sugar and mix until the sugar has dissolved.
Melt the filling chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Use 1 ounce chocolate for Camembert and goat cheese fillings; use 2 ounces for blue cheese fillings. Make sure the cheese you use is at room temperature and very soft. If it is too firm, microwave it briefly to soften it.
Combine the melted chocolate, superfine sugar, and cheese, and work together with a wooden spoon or flexible spatula until the mixture is homogenous. (This may be easier if you add a few drops of water or a little butter.) If the mixture is too soft to shape, refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.
Roll portions of the mixture into 1/2-inch balls and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Melt and temper the coating chocolate. Dip the cheese balls in the tempered chocolate, letting the excess drainoff. Allow to set at room temperature. Keep in a cool place and serve on the same day.
Note: Cheese will resume fermentation if left at room temperature, so this is one case where the truffles should be refrigerated if kept for more than a day. Place on a sheet or tray and wrap snugly in waxed paper, then plastic wrap, before refrigerating. Allow to warm to room temperature before unwrapping. Details... - Crab Cakes
Nonstick cooking spray
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl mix together the egg, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning and hot sauce. Stir in the bell pepper and scallion. Gently fold in the crab, 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs and salt and pepper to taste. Put the remaining bread rumbs in a shallow dish.
Divide the crab mixture into 8 mounds. Shape 1 mound into a round and coat in bread crumbs. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and flatten the crab cake to form a patty about 1-inch high. Repeat to form the remaining crab cakes.
Bake until golden on the bottom, about 10 minutes. Gently flip the crab cakes and cook until the second side is golden, 5 to 10 minutes longer.
Smarter Tartar Sauce:
6 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 scallion, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped sour pickles
1 tablespoon chopped capers
Spoon yogurt into a small bowl lined with paper towels. Place in the refrigerator for 1/2 hour until some of the liquid from the yogurt is released. Scoop thickend yogurt into a small bowl, add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.
Yield: 3/4 cup
Details... - Blissini
1 1/2 cups Prosecco, chilled
Combine the Prosecco, orange juice, and pomegranate juice and pour into 4 Champagne glasses. Garnish with mint leaves and serve. Details... - Conghilie with Clams and Mussels
1 pound conghilie (small shells) pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the broccoli into the pasta water and continue cooking until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, and the broccoli is blanched, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain pasta and broccoli, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and saute for 3 minutes. Add the clams, mussels, and wine. Cook for 5 minutes, making sure all the shells have opened. Discard any shells that remain closed. Sprinkle with the parsley.
In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, broccoli, and shellfish. Add the reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Toss to combine. Transfer to a serving platter and serve immediately. Details... - Tuscan Salad
8 ounces green beans, cut into 1 to 2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the green beans and stir. Cook for about 2 minutes, or until beans are slightly tender. Transfer the cooked green beans to a bowl of ice water and let cool for 3 minutes. Drain the green beans.
In a large bowl, combine the green beans with the lettuce, cannellini beans, olives, and red onion. Toss to combine. Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Top with shaved Parmesan and serve. Details... - Grapefruit Zabaglione over Mixed Berries
3 cups mix of hulled and quartered strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and/or blackberries
In a large bowl, toss together the berries. Spoon the berries into serving dishes and set aside.
Meanwhile, combine the egg yolks, sugar, grapefruit juice, and salt in a large metal or glass bowl. Whisk vigorously until combined and the color is a pale yellow. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Be very careful not to let the bottom of the bowl touch the simmering water. Using a whisk or an electric hand mixer, vigorously whisk the egg mixture until it has tripled in volume and is very thick and creamy, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Spoon the warm zabaglione over the berries. Top with a light sprinkle of grapefruit zest. Serve immediately. Details... - Italian Seafood Boil
1 bay leaf
Wrap the bay leaf, rosemary, and fennel seeds in a cheesecloth bag. Set the sachet aside. Heat the oil in a very large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped fennel and shallots and saute until the fennel is tender, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes with their juices, the wine and fish broth. Stir in the tomato paste. Add the sachet. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
Add the clams to the cooking liquid. Cover and cook until the clams open, about 6-8 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Using tongs, transfer the clams to a bowl. Repeat with the mussels. Add the potatoes to the cooking liquid and simmer until they are almost tender, about 10 minutes. Add the fish, shrimp, and corn. Simmer until the fish and shrimp are just cooked through, and the corn is heated through, about 5 minutes. Return the clams and mussels to the soup. Stir in the parsley. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper.
Ladle the soup into bowls and serve with the Garlic Toasts with Red Pepper Aioli. Garlic Toasts with Red Pepper Aioli:
Garlic Bread:
2 tablespoons olive oil
12 (1/2-inch thick) slices ciabatta bread
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves
Aioli:
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup roasted red bell peppers, drained, patted dry
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
To make the garlic bread: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Drizzle the oil over the bread slices. Arrange the bread on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until the bread is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Immediately rub the garlic cloves over the hot toasts.
To make the aioli: Finely chop the garlic in the food processor. Add the peppers and blend until almost smooth. Blend in the mayonnaise. With the machine running, blend in the oil. Season the aioli, to taste, with salt and pepper. Transfer the aioli to a small bowl. (The aioli can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Spread the aioli over the toasts and serve.
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes Details... - Maple-Roasted Bacon
3/4 pound thick-cut smoked bacon (16 slices)
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon begins to brown. Remove the pan carefully from the oven; there will be hot grease in the pan! Brush the bacon slices with maple syrup and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the bacon is a warm golden brown. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and serve warm.
Details... - Chicken Salad with Fennel Spice
Boiled chicken:
Lay out the chicken, spreading out the parts as much as possible. Cover generously with 3 tablespoons of the fennel spice, rubbing it into the skin. Place a large pot over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add 6 tablespoons of the oil and heat to almost smoking. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Add the celery, carrot, onion and bay leaves and sauté for a few minutes. Add 4 cups of water to the pot, or enough to cover the chicken. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook just until the chicken is almost fully cooked, about 40 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover and let cool. When pan has cooled, place in the fridge overnight.
Lift out the cooled chicken and strain the stock, discarding the solids. Refrigerate or freeze the chicken stock for another use.
Remove the skin and bones from the chicken. Shred the meat by hand into rough bite-size pieces.
In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, celery heart, red onion, 6 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons Fennel Spice Rub, and salt and pepper, to taste. Add more oil, lemon juice, or Fennel Spice Rub, if desired. Add the basil and serve.
Fennel Spice Rub:
1 cup fennel seeds
3 tablespoons coriander seeds
2 tablespoons white peppercorns
3 tablespoons kosher saltPut the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. Watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. When light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. They must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades.
Pour the seeds into a blender and add the salt. Blend to a fine powder, shaking the blender occasionally to redistribute the seeds. Store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
Yield: about 1 1/4 cups Details... - Grilled Shrimp and Cilantro Pesto Pizza
1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
Whisk together the yeast and 1/4 cup of the water in a small bowl and let sit for 5 minutes to proof. Place 1 3/4 cups of the flour in a large bowl with the salt. Add the yeast mixture, the remaining water, and oil and stir until combined. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth. Grease a large bowl with the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil, add the dough, and turn to coat. Cover and place in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Preheat the grill to high. Once the dough has risen, divide it in half. Divide each half into 2 balls. Roll each ball into an 8-inch circle. Brush with oil and grill on both sides until golden brown. Spread a few tablespoons of the Cilantro Pesto over each pizza, top with a few slices of buffalo mozzarella, and then top with 4 shrimp and cilantro leaves. Place the pizza on the grill until the cheese melts. Serve hot. Cilantro Pesto:
3/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grilled Shrimp:
16 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the grill to medium-high.
Brush each shrimp with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side or until just cooked through (shrimp will be opaque and turn pink). Details... - Involtini of Beef
1/4 cup olive oil
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrot, onion, and garlic and saute until the carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Stir in the Parmesan. Season beef with salt and pepper. Using 2 tablespoons for each, divide the carrot mixture among the beef slices. Roll up the beef slices to enclose the filling, tucking in the ends. Secure the rolls with toothpicks.
Heat the remaining oil and the remaining tablespoon of butter in the same large frying pan over medium-high heat. Dredge the beef rolls in flour to coat lightly. Add the beef rolls and cook until brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and stir to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Add the tomatoes with their juices and the bay leaf. Cover and simmer until the beef is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the beef rolls to a platter. Remove the toothpicks, then cover the beef rolls with foil to keep warm. Add the peas and prosciutto to the sauce in the skillet and stir until the peas are heated through and the sauce reduces slightly, about 5 minutes. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. Drizzle the sauce over the beef rolls and serve. Details... - Grilled Portobellos Filled with Wild Rice-Almond Pilaf and Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette
8 medium-sized portobello caps
Heat grill to high. Brush both sides of mushrooms with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill caps until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Fill the caps with the wild rice pilaf, drizzle the piquillo vinaigrette and sprinkle tops with the toasted almonds. Wild Rice Pilaf:
1 1/2 cups wild rice
3 cups chicken stock, plus 1/2 cup
2 cups water
Salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 Spanish onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Place wild rice in a colander and rinse well with cold water. Combine 3 cups of the stock and the water in a large saucepan with a tablespoon of salt and bring to a boil. Add the rice and cook until the grains open and are very soft, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Drain well.
Heat oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the wine and cook until reduced by half. Add the cooked wild rice, thyme, rosemary and remaining 1/2 cup of stock and season with salt and pepper and cook until heated through and flavors combine, 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and fold in the parsley.
Piquillo Pepper Vinaigrette:
5 piquillo peppers, chopped
1/2 small red onion, coarsely chopped
8 cloves roasted garlic, peeled
1/4 cup aged sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup canola oil
Combine peppers, onion, garlic, vinegar, honey, mustard, and salt and pepper in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified.
Details... - Herb Chicken Soup with Spring Vegetables
3 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus 1 tablespoon chopped
Tie the parsley, tarragon, and thyme sprigs and bay leaf together with kitchen twine and put in a large saucepan with the onion, carrot, celery, lemon zest, and chicken breasts. Cover with the broth, bring just to a boil over high heat, skim off any foam that comes to the surface. Adjust the heat to very low and cover. Cook the chicken until firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken to a platter, when cool enough to handle and pull into large strips; discard the bones.
When ready to serve, add the asparagus, peas, and mushrooms to the broth. Cook until the vegetables are just tender, about 3 to 5 minutes, and remove herb bundle. Return chicken to the broth and warm through.
Divide chicken between 4 large soup bowls and ladle some broth and vegetables into each bowl. Garnish each soup with the chopped parsley and tarragon. Serve.
Copyright 2005 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved. Details... - Jicama Slices with Avocado and Crab Salad
1 large jicama (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Peel and slice the jicama into 1 by 3-inch strips about 1/8-inch thick; you should have 20 to 24 slices total. Cover with a damp towel and set aside.
Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits. Scoop the pulp into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the tomato, bell pepper, jalapeno, salt, and lemon juice, and mix well. Taste and adjust the salt and lemon juice. Stir in the crabmeat.
Spread 1 tablespoon of the salad on each jicama slice, or serve as a dip with jicama as the crudite. This is not a make-ahead dish. Details... - Rosemary-Lemon Grilled Ahi
For the marinade:
To make the marinade:
Preheat broiler. Place lemons, cut side up, in a small, non-aluminum baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, about 6 inches below the heat, until very soft, about 20 minutes. The tops will darken and caramelize. Let cool in the baking dish.
Squeeze the lemon pulp and juice and scrape all the cooking juices from the baking dish into a strainer supported over a bowl. Force it through and add garlic. Whisk in rosemary and extra-virgin olive oil. Keeps up to 1 week refrigerated in a tightly sealed container.
Soak rosemary or wooden skewers in water to cover 1 to 2 hours.
Preheat grill or broiler. Skewer 2 tuna pieces lengthwise on each rosemary sprig and brush with marinade. Season with salt and pepper and grill, turning once or twice, to medium rare, 8 to 10 minutes, depending on heat. Serve immediately. Details... - Marinated Crab Claws
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
In a large, glass bowl, combine all the ingredients except the crab claws and whisk to mix well. Add the crab claws and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight.
Serve chilled. Details... - Sushi Rolls for All Ages
Sushi:
For the rice:
Mix together vinegar, sugar, and salt.
Rinse the rice in colander and drain. Put the rice and water in medium saucepan with a tight fitting lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to very low and simmer, tightly covered. (For a good seal wrap the pan's lid tightly with a small kitchen towel and cover the saucepan. Make sure the towel's edges are folded up well away from the heat.) Cook until all the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove the rice from the heat (don't uncover) and set aside for 10 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork and transfer it to a large bowl. Add the vinegar mixture and toss with the rice, using a wooden spoon. Spread it out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Fan the rice continuously with a fan or magazine until cooled. Cover the rice with a damp towel.
Meanwhile, beat the eggs with a teaspoon of water and a pinch of salt. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat, add the vegetable oil. Pour in the eggs, tilting the skillet as you add the eggs to make an even coating. Cook eggs until set. Invert eggs onto a cutting board and cut into strips.
To assemble rolls:
Place the sushi mat with the slats running crosswise directly in front of you on a clean work space. Lay a sheet of nori shiny-side down and lined up with the closest edge of the mat. Lightly moisten fingers with water, and evenly press about 1/4 of the rice onto the nori, with 1 1/2-inches uncovered at the far edge. Line up the fillings about 1-inch from the closest near edge, evenly across the rice. Leave 1-inch of rice uncovered at the far edge.
Beginning with the near edge of the mat, tightly roll up the nori, rice, and fillings into a cylinder. Firmly tug on the rounded mat over the roll as you pull on the far edge of the mat to tighten the roll. Open the mat, dab unsealed edge of nori with a bit of water and roll the sushi forward to seal. Transfer the sushi to a plate and cover with damp paper towels. Repeat with remaining rice and fillings.
Cut each sushi roll, crosswise, into 8 pieces with a sharp wet knife.
Serve with bowl of soy sauce for dipping.
Copyright 2005 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved. Details... - Amaretto Chocolate Fondue
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
In a heavy saucepan, bring whipping cream to a boil. Remove from heat, then add the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Stir in liqueur. Spoon into a fondue pot; keep warm over low heat. Serve with desired dippers. Details... - Southern Shrimp Salad
2 tablespoons shrimp boil, tied into a cheesecloth
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add shrimp boil sachet. Add shrimp and boil for 4 minutes. Drain shrimp and reserve shrimp boil water. Chop shrimp into bite size chunks and place on paper towels to cool. In the reserved shrimp boil water, add the rice, and cook until tender for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain rice in colander and allow to cool. Add onion, olives, and pepper to rice, and stir in the mayonnaise. Add the cooled dry shrimp to the mixture and blend well. Sprinkle with paprika and garnish with lemon and tomato wedges. Details... - Fresh Fruit Tart
Crust:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
For the crust: In a food processor, combine the confectioners' sugar, flour, and butter, and process until the mixture forms a ball. With your fingers, press the dough into a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, taking care to push the crust into the indentations in the sides. Pat until the crust is even. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until very lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
For the filling and topping: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. Spread over the cooled crust. Cut the strawberries into 1/4-inch slices and arrange around the edge of the crust. For the next circle, use kiwi slices. Add another circle of strawberries, filling in any spaces with blueberries. Cluster the raspberries in the center of the tart.
For the glaze: Combine the limeade, cornstarch, lime juice, and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until clear and thick, about 2 minutes. Let cool. With a pastry brush, glaze the entire tart. You will not use all of the glaze.
Keep the tart in the refrigerator. Remove about 15 minutes before serving. Slice into 8 wedges and serve with a dollop of whipped cream. Details... - Beet-Arugula Salad with Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing
4 cups fresh arugula
Arrange arugula on a serving platter. Top with sliced beets and mandarin oranges.
In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and blue cheese. Mix until blended and season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Pour mixture over salad and serve.
Details... - The Shrimp Cocktail
32 shell-on (21 to 25 count) tiger shrimp
Using a pair of scissors or a serrated knife, make an incision down the backside of the shrimp, following the intestinal track. Eviscerate shrimp and rinse under cool water leaving shells intact.
Place cleaned shrimp into a bowl with brine and refrigerate mixture for 20 to 25 minutes. While shrimp are brining, place tomatoes, chili sauce, horseradish, sugar, pepper, and salt in food processor and blend until smooth. Refrigerate cocktail sauce until ready to serve.
Place a baking sheet or broiler pan under oven broiler and preheat for 5 minutes. Remove shrimp from brine and drain thoroughly. Rinse the shrimp under cold water and dry on paper towels. In a large bowl, toss shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning, if desired.
Place shrimp onto a sizzling sheet pan and return to broiler immediately. After 2 minutes, turn the shrimp with a pair of tongs. Return the shrimp to broiler for 1 minute. Transfer to a cold cookie sheet. Refrigerate immediately.
Once shrimp have chilled, arrange with cocktail sauce in a martini glass or as desired. Details... - Shrimp with Basil, Garlic, and Tomatoes
1 cup quartered cherry or grape tomatoes (about 12)
In a medium bowl, toss the tomatoes with the basil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside while you prepare the shrimp.
Divide the shrimp between 2 (8 or 9-inch) pie pans and pat them completely dry with a paper towel. Arrange the shrimp so they lay flat and are evenly spaced in the pans.
Heat 2 large skillets over medium heat, or do this in 2 batches if you only have 1 pan. Season 1 side of the shrimp with salt and pepper. Add enough oil to lightly film the bottom of the pan and turn the heat up to high. Invert the pan of shrimp so they all fall into the skillet(s) at once. Saute the shrimp, undisturbed, until they turn golden brown on the bottom, about 2 minutes. Add a bit more oil and 1/2 the garlic to each pan. Turn the heat off and turn the shrimp over with tongs. Cook the shrimp for 1 minute in the residual heat of the pans. Transfer the shrimp to the bowl with the tomato mixture and toss to combine. Divide the shrimp among 4 plates or a serving platter and serve hot or at room temperature. Details... - Sugar Cookies with Pistachio and Dried Cherries
1 (16-ounce) roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Open sugar cookie log and press into a rectangle on cutting board. Add pistachios and cherries, press into dough and then re-shape into a log. Slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Transfer cookies to a baking sheet.
Bake 7 to 11 minutes, until golden around the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
While cookies are baking, melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or bowl over simmering water.
When cookies are cool, dip bottom half of cookies into melted white chocolate and place on waxed or parchment paper to cool. Details... - Chocolate Pretzels
2 bags chocolate chips (dark or milk chocolate)
Melt chocolate in double boiler over medium heat on stove top. Using tongs, or your fingers, quickly dip pretzels in chocolate allowing the excess to run off. Place dipped pretzels on waxed paper lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle with chopped nuts, colored sugars or other toppings. Allow to harden. You may need to refrigerate for a while to help this along. Once hardened, remove from sheets and store in a cool location, with waxed paper between layers.
Tip: Package pretzels in clear cellophane bags or in vase for festive gift giving!
Details... - Strawberries in Syrup
This is my favorite way to prep strawberries for strawberry shortcake or just to serve with thick creamy Greek yogurt.
1 pint strawberries
1/4 cup sugar
Wash the strawberries and remove the green stems. Cut the strawberries and place them in a bowl. Toss them with the sugar and cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and even overnight. The sugar will draw moisture out of the berries and naturally make a sweet strawberry syrup.
Details... - Asian Grilled Salmon
1 side fresh salmon, boned but skin on (about 3 pounds)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons good soy sauce
6 tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
Light charcoal briquettes in a grill and brush the grilling rack with oil to keep the salmon from sticking. While the grill is heating, lay the salmon skin side down on a cutting board and cut it crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Whisk together the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic in a small bowl. Drizzle half of the marinade onto the salmon and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Place the salmon skin side down on the hot grill; discard the marinade the fish was sitting in. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Turn carefully with a wide spatula and grill for another 4 to 5 minutes. The salmon will be slightly raw in the center, but don't worry; it will keep cooking as it sits. Transfer the fish to a flat plate, skin side down, and spoon the reserved marinade on top. Allow the fish to rest for 10 minutes. Remove the skin and serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Details... - Marinated Mushroom and Arugula Salad
1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the mushroom caps and cook until brown and tender, about 8 minutes. Stir the remaining olive oil, vinegar, onion, water, garlic, coriander, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Add the oil mixture to the mushrooms and cook until tender and marinade has reduced, about 10 to 12 minutes.
Transfer to a bowl and cool. Serve now or refrigerate for up to a week.
Meanwhile, put the almonds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, toss until evenly toasted and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
Toss the arugula with the marinated mushrooms and marinade in a large bowl and divide among 4 plates. Shave the cheese and scatter the almonds over the top.
Copyright 2005 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved. Details... - Green Goddess Dip with Grilled Shrimp
Green Goddess Dip
Combine the anchovies, mayonnaise, sour cream, scallions, herbs, lime juice, and salt in a blender. Puree to make a smooth dressing. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.Grilled Shrimp:
2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails
Oil or melted butter, for grilling
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 limeToss the shrimp with just enough oil or butter to coat lightly, and then season with salt and pepper. Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the shrimp until they just curl and are translucent, about 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Squeeze the lime over the shrimp and serve warm or at room temperature with the dip.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutesPoached Shrimp:
6 cups cold water
2 cup white wine
4 strips lemon zest
2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 fresh bay leaf, sliced
2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined with tailsCombine all the ingredients in a large saucepan and heat over high heat until the shrimp turn pink and firm up, and the water just barely begins to simmer, about 6 minutes. Pull the pan from the heat and set aside for 3 minutes.
Drain the shrimp and put them in a bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and pierce the wrap a few times to let steam escapeotherwise water will collect on the wrap and drip onto the shrimp. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Inactive Prep Time: 33 minutes Details... - Shrimp, Ham, and Escarole Soup
2 medium ham hocks, about 2 pounds
Cover the ham hocks with cold water in a soup pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes. Drain the water, set the hocks aside.
Meanwhile, peel the shrimp, reserve the shells. Devein the shrimp and refrigerate.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a soup pot over medium heat; add the shrimp shells and tomato paste, and cook, stirring, until the shells turn pink, about 3 minutes. Add the ham hocks, halved garlic, thyme, lemon zest, and 3 quarts cold water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until the meat falls off the ham hock, about 1 1/2 hours.
Strain the broth into a bowl (you should have about 6 cups broth), and save the ham hocks. When the ham hocks are cool enough to handle, pull the meat from the bone; discard the rind, fat, and bone. (This can be done a day ahead.)
In a large soup pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add the onion, sliced garlic, and 1/2 of the jalapeno. Crush the tomatoes through your hands and add to the pot along with their juices and cook until onions soften and tomatoes dry, about 10 minutes. Add the broth, ham, black-eyed peas, and bring to a boil, adjust the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook, uncovered, until the peas soften, but hold their shape, about 20 minutes. Add the escarole, and the remaining jalapeno, and cook until the greens wilt, about 7 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and cook until the shrimp turn pink and curl, about 3 minutes. Divide the soup evenly into warmed bowls. Serve with a lemon wedge.
Copyright 2003 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - S'more Brownies
Crust:
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line an 8 by-8-inch square baking pan with foil so it hangs over the edges by about 1 inch.
For the crust: Lightly butter the foil with some of the melted butter. Stir the rest of the butter together with the crumbs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly over the bottom of the pan. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the brownie. Put the butter and chocolate in a medium microwave safe bowl. Melt in the microwave on 75 percent power for 2 minutes. Stir, and microwave again until completely melted, about 2 minutes more. Alternatively, put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl on the pan without touching the water. Stir occasionally until melted. Stir the light brown and white sugars, vanilla and salt into the melted chocolate. Add the eggs and beat vigorously to make a thick and glossy batter. Add the flour and stir until just incorporated.
Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top is crispy and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean, with a few crumbs, about 40 to 45 minutes.
Remove from the oven and carefully position a rack about 6 inches from the broiler and preheat on low. Layer marshmallows across the top and toast under the broiler until golden, (keep an eye on it, it can go quick), about 2 minutes. Cool on a rack, gently removing the brownies from the pan using the aluminum flaps. Carefully separate any marshmallow from the foil and fold away. Cut into 12 (2-inch) squares.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - Chocolate Truffles
1/2 pound quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 minute more.)
Meanwhile, bring the cream and honey to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat (or in the microwave). Gradually whisk the cream into the chocolate until smooth and shiny. Whisk in the butter until very smooth. If possible, switch to an immersion blender and blend for about 1 minute for a lovely satiny texture. Cover the surface of the chocolate with plastic wrap; set aside in a cool spot until slightly firm, about 1 hour.
Line a baking sheet or large plate very, very tightly with plastic wrap (the wrap will be slightly suspended over the surface of the pan). Transfer the truffle mixture to a piping bag fitted with a plain 1/4-inch tip. Holding the bag about 1/4-inch over the surface of the plastic wrap, pipe about 25 (3/4-inch) cones or truffles. Sprinkle the truffle tops lightly with sugar. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.
Once set, the truffles can be held in a cool spot, out of the refrigerator for up to 2 hours. Otherwise, refrigerate the truffles covered, for up to 5 days. Truffles taste best if served room temperature not straight from the refrigerator. Variations:
Citrus Truffles:
Choose one of these:
1 grapefruit
2 oranges
2 lemons
Finely grate the zest from the citrus with a fine holed grater, preferably a micro plane. Add half of the zest to the cream, (reserve the rest for decorating the truffles.) Bring the cream, zest and honey to a simmer, remove from the heat. Puree mixture with an immersion blender to combine the flavors. Proceed as above to form the truffles.
Gently rub the turbinado sugar and the reserved zest together with your fingers. Sprinkle citrus flavored sugar on top of truffles.Fennel Truffles:
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons sweetened ground cocoa
Pulse the fennel seed, confectioners' sugar, and cocoa in a spice grinder to a fine powder. Roll basic chocolate truffle in fennel-cocoa mixture. Malt:
1/4 cup, plus 2 tablespoons malt powder (recommended: Ovaltine)
Add 2 tablespoons malt powder to the cream and proceed with the basic recipe as above. Roll finished chocolate truffle in the 1/4 cup malt powder. Chili:
1 ancho chile
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Stem and seed the chile, then toast in a dry skillet over medium heat until small whiffs of smoke waft from the chile. Add the chile to the cream and honey mixture and bring to a simmer. Cover and let set for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how spicy you like your truffles. Strain and discard the chile. Proceed as above to form the truffles. Mix the turbinado sugar, chili powder, cinnamon, and sea salt together. Sprinkle seasoned sugar on top of the truffles. Ginger:
3 to 4 pieces crystallized ginger, plus more for garnish
Add the crystallized ginger to the cream. Bring cream, ginger and honey to a simmer, remove from the heat and puree with an immersion blender to combine the flavors. Proceed as above to form the truffles. Finely chop additional crystallized ginger to equal about a tablespoon and lightly press onto the top of truffles.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - Chocolate Pound Cake
Cake:
Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the bundt pan.
Sift the flour, cocoa, and salt into a medium bowl. Whisk the eggs, yolks, vanilla, and espresso powder together into a bowl and set aside.
In a heavy duty mixer, beat the butter with the paddle attachment, on medium speed for 1 minute, or until smooth. Gradually pour in the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, until the butter begins to lighten, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat, on medium-high, until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes more.
Adjust the mixer's speed to its lowest setting. Add 1/2 of the flour mixture and mix until completely absorbed before adding the rest. Scrape down the sides of the mixer then beat on medium-high for 30 seconds more.
Adjust again to low speed and add half the egg mixture, mix until blended and smooth. Add the remaining egg mixture and beat until almost blended. Remove the bowl from the mixer, and fold in the chocolate by hand. Take care not to over mix the batter.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Cool the cake in the pan, on a rack for 10 minutes. Turn the cake out of the pan, and cool right side up on a rack. If not serving the same day, wrap in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. Glaze just before serving. Cake can be frozen for 1 month.
For the glaze: Put all the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl or glass measuring cup. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 minute more. Remove from the microwave and whisk until fully combined, smooth and glossy. While warm, pour glaze over cooled cake and do not spread. Serve as desired.
Copyright (c) 2007 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved Details... - Chocolate Mousse
6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, or a mixture, finely chopped
Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
Whip the cream in a medium bowl until it holds soft peaks. Take care not to over whip the cream or the mousse will be dense. Cover and refrigerate while you cook the eggs.
Whisk the water and espresso powder together in a small bowl.
Put the eggs in another bowl that also sets over the water in the saucepan. Beat the egg yolks, pinch of salt, and sugar until foamy and light, about 30 seconds. Set the bowl over the water and whip with an electric mixer or whisk, moving in a circular motion around the bowl, until the eggs get very fluffy and hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue beating on high speed until the thick ribbons fall from the beater when lifted out of the bowl, about 5 minutes more. Fold in the espresso.
Fold about a quarter of the eggs into the chocolate to lighten it, then fold in the rest of the egg. Finally fold the whipped cream into the chocolate base to make a smooth light mousse. Pour the mousse into 4 serving dishes or wine glasses. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Serve.
For a dark, double-rich mousse, use all bittersweet chocolate instead of the semisweet, and decrease the cream to 3/4 cup.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved. Details... - Chocolate Souffles
7 ounces finely chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
Brush 6 (6-ounce) ramekins with soft butter, then coat with sugar. Put the prepared ramekins in the freezer. (This can be done a day ahead.)
Set an oven rack in lower third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
Put the chocolate and butter in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with an inch or so of water to a very slow simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
Combine the egg yolks and warm water in the bowl of a standing mixer or large bowl and beat until frothy. Gradually add 2 tablespoons sugar, and continue beating until ribbons form, about 5 minutes. Very lightly fold the yolks into the chocolate mixture. (Rinse the bowl well, if using for beating the egg whites.)
Remove prepared ramekins from freezer. Put the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer, or large non-reactive bowl, add the lemon juice. Beat on medium until frothy; then gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and increase speed to high. Beat until the whites hold a stiff but not dry peak.
Working quickly, fold about a third of the egg whites into the chocolate to lighten; then fold in remaining whites until blended. Gently ladle or spoon the souffle mixture into the ramekins, and place on a baking sheet. (Level off the surface with a straight edge, scraping any excess mixture back into the bowl.)
Immediately bake until the souffle rises about 1 1/2 inches from the ramekins, and the tops are touched with brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven, dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - Caramel-Fudge Sauce
1/2 cup sugar
Put the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, brushing down the sides of the pan as needed with water, until the sugar dissolves. Continue to cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until the sugar is amber in color, about 8 minutes. Pull pan from the heat and carefully add the cream and butter. Take care; it may spatter. Whisk until smooth.
Stir the chocolate, vanilla, and salt into the hot caramel until smooth. Serve sauce warm.
Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Reheat slowly, in a microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring, until warm and saucy. Be careful not to over heat or butter can separate from the caramel sauce.
Copyright 2007 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved Details... - Walnut Bread Crostini with Sauteed Pear, Prosciutto, Gorgonzola Cheese and a Balsamic-Port Reduction
1 loaf walnut bread, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices and then cut into bite size squares
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the bread on a cookie sheet, brush with olive oil and bake until lightly golden brown.
In a saute pan on medium heat, saute the pears in olive oil for 1 minute just to soften them. Season the pears with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a small saucepan or skillet on medium-high heat reduce the vinegar and port to 1/4 of its original volume. Pour into a small bowl and let cool. It will thicken as it cools.
Place a piece of prosciutto on the walnut toasts, then a small piece of cheese, top with pear and then drizzle the vinegar-port reduction over the top. Details... - Prosecco Digestif
1 bottle Prosecco
Place 2 berries and 1 peach slice in a Champagne flute. Top with Prosecco, serve. Details... - Butterscotch Pudding
2 1/4 cups whole, 2 percent fat, or 1 percent fat milk
In a large saucepan, combine the milk and cream and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Immediately turn off the heat and set aside. In a large, heavy skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Stir in the brown sugar, raise the heat to medium-high, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly, to caramelize the mixture. You'll smell a characteristic nutty-caramel odor when the butter browns, signaling that the mixture is ready.
Whisking constantly, gradually add the butter/brown sugar mixture to the hot milk/cream mixture. If the mixture isn't smooth, blend for 20 seconds with a hand blender or pour through a fine sieve. Put the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture. Whisk in the cornstarch and salt until dissolved. Whisk the cornstarch mixture back into the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Whisking constantly, cook over medium-high heat until thick and just boiling. When the mixture thickens, the whisk will leave trail marks on the bottom of the pot and the mixture will have a few large bubbles boiling up to the top. Turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract. Pour into 6 to 8 custard cups, ramekins, or mugs and chill, uncovered, at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve chilled. Details... - Paula Deen Special Panini
1 ciabatta loaf
Heat panini grill.
Slice ciabatta bread in half. Over a preheated hot grill or under broiler, using tongs, grill bread until grill marks appear about 2 to 4 minutes. Using a rubber spatula spread 4 tablespoons of white truffle butter on bread. Layer lettuce, sopressata, mozzarella, prosciutto, radicchio, sun-dried peppers, and basil leaves. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic vinegar and add salt and pepper, to taste. Cover sandwich with top piece of bread and cut into 4 equal pieces. Place sandwich on panini press until bread is toasted and cheese is melted about 5 minutes. Remove from grill and serve.
Details... - Philly-style Kielbasa with Fennel Kraut and Peppers
For the kraut:
Kraut:
Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven. Bring to a simmer, over medium-low heat, cover, and cook for 1 hour, stirring a couple times.
Kielbasa:
Combine water and beer in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Slip in sausages and cook 15 to 20 minutes.
Peppers:
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat. When oil is hot, add pepper slices, sprinkle generously with salt, and saute until wilted and lightly colored, about 8 minutes, stirring often.
Serve kielbasas with the kraut and peppers. Details... - Black and White Angel Food Cake
2 cups sifted superfine sugar (about 1 pound)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine 1/2 cup of the sugar with the flour and sift them together 4 times. Set aside.
Place the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the eggs form medium-firm peaks, about 1 minute. With the mixer on medium speed, add the remaining 1 1/2 cups of sugar by sprinkling it over the beaten egg whites. Beat on high speed for a few minutes until thick and shiny. Add the vanilla and continue to whisk until very thick, about 1 more minute. Scrape the beaten egg whites into a large bowl. Sift 1/4 of the flour mixture over the egg whites and fold it very carefully into the batter with a rubber spatula. Continue adding the flour in 3 equal additions, sifting and folding until it's all incorporated. Fold in the grated chocolate.
Pour the batter into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan, smooth the top, and bake it for 35 to 45 minutes, until it springs back to the touch. Remove the cake from the oven and invert the pan on a cooling rack. When cool, run a thin, flexible knife around the cake to remove it from the pan.
For the chocolate glaze, place the chocolate chips and the heavy cream in a heat-proof bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate melts. Pour the chocolate over the top of the cooled cake to cover the top completely and allow it to drizzle down the sides. If you have chocolate glaze left over, you can serve it on the side with the cake. Details... - Stuffed Mushrooms with Sausage
1/4 cup raisins
Prepare your wooden burning brick oven according to manufacturer's directions or preheat a conventional oven to 400 degrees F.
To make the stuffing, put the raisins, olives, pine nuts, parsley, and garlic on a cutting board and chop everything up; put into a mixing bowl. Add the sausage and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Drizzle the stuffing with about 1/4 cup of olive oil to moisten and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes; mix well with your hands to combine. Put the bread crumbs in another bowl, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and add 1/4 cup of the pecorino; season with salt and pepper.
Oil the bottom and sides of an earthenware or casserole dish, which is large enough to hold all the mushrooms in a single layer. Arrange the mushrooms snugly in the pan, cap-side down; season the insides with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Stuff each mushroom with a generous spoonful of the sausage stuffing and sprinkle the bread crumbs on top; drizzle with even more oil. Bake for 20 minutes until the stuffing is browned and the mushrooms soft, rotating the dish periodically for even cooking. Details... - Tomato Fromage
4 Roma tomatoes
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cut the tops and a very thin piece off the bottom of the tomatoes and stand them up close together on a small sheet pan or pie tin. Sprinkle liberally with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Carefully pile high the Parmesan cheese on top of each tomato. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until cheese starts to turn golden brown. Remove from oven and serve as a vegetable and a garnish.
Hint: Cook the tomato fromage in the oven with your entree for the last 10 to 12 minutes of cooking so that they are done together. Details... - Black Lollipops
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup dark corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1/4 tablespoon cream of tartar, optional
10 drops red food coloring
10 drops blue food coloring
8 drops green food coloring
3 teaspoons licorice flavoring
In a small saucepan combine sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar. Over medium-high heat, cook sugar mixture until it reaches a temperature of 300 degrees F. Remove from heat. When mixture has cooled to 260 to 270 degrees F, stir in colorings and flavoring. Cover the back of a baking pan with nonstick aluminum foil and arrange lollipop sticks 3 to 4 inches apart. Carefully spoon or pour sugar mixture over the end of lollipop sticks. If mixture becomes too thick, place pan over low heat and stir constantly until it loosens up. Let lollipops cool completely before touching. If you plan on keeping lollipops for more than a day, wrap individually in cellophane pouches. Cook's Notes: When making candy, melted sugar becomes very hot. Please use extreme caution when handling and pouring. Licorice flavoring can be found where candy making and cake decorating supplies are sold. Details... - Espresso Granita
3 cups strong coffee
Combine coffee and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a freezer safe container. Place in freezer and scrape with a fork every 30 minutes until completely frozen. In a mixing bowl whip cream until soft peaks.
Assemble in a tall champagne flute alternating granita and cream. Details... - Pineapple and Grapefruit Frappe
This recipe works with just about any fruit or combination of your choice because the principle is so basic. A frappe is basically a cross between a granita (like an icy Slush Puppy) and a smooth sorbet. As both pineapples and grapefruits can vary so much in natural sweetness, add the sugar to your own taste. 2 ripe pineapples, peeled and roughly chopped
3 grapefruits, halved and juiced
Sugar, to tasteWhizz up the pineapple in a liquidizer until smooth and pass through a course sieve. Add the grapefruit juice and stir in sugar to taste, remembering that the sweetness from the sugar will lessen slightly when frozen, so to use a touch more than you normally would. Place in the freezer for around 2 1/2 hours to set, stirring every 45 minutes. Details... - Cayenne-Candied Bacon
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a broiler pan with aluminum foil, and position broiler rack on top of pan. Lightly coat the rack with the vegetable oil.
Combine the brown sugar and cayenne in a shallow dish, stirring to mix well. Press 1 side of each slice of bacon firmly into the spiced sugar to coat well. Arrange the slices of bacon on top of the broiler rack in a single layer, sugared-side up. If there is any sugar remaining in the dish, sprinkle it on top of the bacon slices evenly. Bake until the bacon is crisp and the sugar is bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly, then to a plate or serving dish to cool. (Can be made several hours ahead) Serve warm or at room temperature. Details... - Lasagna
2 tablespoons olive oil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add leeks and garlic and saute until translucent, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add zucchini and the fennel and saute for another minute. Add artichoke hearts and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and then add oregano. Stir and remove from heat.
Cover the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch pan with 1 cup of the tomato mixture. Top with 2 lasagna noodles. Top with half of the remaining tomato mixture. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Add remaining 2 lasagna noodles and top with remaining tomato mixture.
Sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake for 35 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Details... - Baked Ziti with Cauliflower: Ziti Gratinati
Kosher salt
Bring 6-quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Place the cauliflower florets into the boiling water. Cook until the cauliflower is slightly resistant to a fork, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain, reserving the cooking water. Set aside. Pour 1/4 cup of the cauliflower cooking water into a small bowl. Add the saffron and let it dissolve. Set aside.
In a 12 to 14-inch saute pan over high heat, heat 4 tablespoons olive oil until almost smoking. Add the garlic, florets and anchovies, and saute for 2 minutes. Add the pine nuts and saute for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Bring the cauliflower water back to a boil and add the ziti. Cook until parboiled, about half-done. Drain well.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Pour the ziti into a large, deep, ovenproof casserole. Stir in the cauliflower mixture and 1/2 of the cheese. Sprinkle with the saffron water and mix gently. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Crumble the bread crumbs on top and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve immediately. Details... - White Bean Tuna Salad
2 (6-ounce) cans dark meat tuna, packed in olive oil
In a large bowl, add the tuna, reserving the olive oil in a separate small bowl. Break tuna into bite-size pieces with a large fork. Add the beans and capers. Into the bowl of olive oil, add the red wine vinegar. You should have 1 part vinegar to 2 parts oil - add more extra-virgin olive oil if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing on the tuna, bean and caper mixture and allow the flavors to infuse while slicing the vegetables. Add the onion and tomatoes to tuna mixture and toss gently.
Place the arugula on large decorative platter and top with tuna mixture. Tear fresh basil leaves over the top and serve immediately. Details... - Stuffed Calamari, Sicilian Style
12 large squid tubes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Clean the 12 large squid tubes; remove skin and cartilage inside the squid and rinse and clean. In a large pan saute onions in 2 tablespoons olive oil until soft. In a large bowl, combine the Sauteed onions, 1/2 cup of olive oil, garlic, 1 cup pecorino, 1/2 cup parsley, and the bread crumbs and mix well. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of oil to make the bread crumbs soft. Add the raisins last. Fill the squid tubes with the mixture and secure with a toothpick at the top opening. Lay the tubes in a baking pan with a little oil in the bottom of the pan, and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove from oven and top with tomato sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of pecorino and an additional 1/4 cup of parsley. Put pan back in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes.Tomato Sauce:
56 ounces canned, crushed tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sugarIn a large frying pan, mix crushed tomatoes, garlic, basil, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook for 5 minutes and set aside. Details... - Waterzooi de Poulet
2 tablespoons butter
In a deep pot over moderate heat melt butter and saute the vegetables for 5 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper. Tie together bay, parsley and thyme and add to the pot with stock or broth. Cover the pot and raise heat to bring liquid to a boil. Add chicken to the pot, cover and reduce heat to medium low. Poach the chicken 10 minutes. Uncover the pot. Remove chicken and slice. Whisk cream and egg together. Add a ladle of cooking broth to cream and egg to temper it. Stir cream and egg mixture into the waterzooi and stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Add chicken back to the pot along with chopped parsley. Adjust seasoning. Ladle waterzooi into warm shallow bowls and serve with crusty baguette for dipping. Details... - Barbecued Shrimp "Blt" Sandwich
1 teaspoon vegetable oil, plus 3 tablespoons
Preheat the barbecue or grill.
In a medium saucepan, heat 1-teaspoon oil. Sweat the shallots for about 2 minutes. Do not brown. Deglaze the pan with the wine and vinegar and reduce slightly. Pour in the cream and reduce the sauce by half. Whisk in the butter and strain into a clean pan. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, to taste. Keep warm.
Sprinkle the 3 tablespoons vegetable oil over the shrimp. Grill the shrimp, about 1-1/2 minutes on each side. Do not overcook. Drain and cut each shrimp in half lengthwise.
For each sandwich, spread a little mayonnaise on 1 slice of bread and arrange a little lettuce (or 1 piece) on the bread. Top with 3 slices of tomato, season lightly with salt and pepper, and arrange the bacon on the tomatoes. Top with the second slice of bread, a thin layer of mayonnaise, and a little lettuce. Heat the shrimp (10 halves) in the lemon butter and arrange on the lettuce. Top with the third slice of bread and cut in half. Serve immediately. Details... - Baked Meatballs
1/2 pound ground pork
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork, lamb, ground round, spinach, cheese, egg, basil, parsley, garlic powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 cup of the bread crumbs. Using your hands, mix all ingredients until well incorporated. Use immediately or place in refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Place the remaining 1/4 cup of bread crumbs into a small bowl. Using a scale, weigh meatballs into 1.5-ounce portions and place on a sheet pan. Using your hands, shape the meatballs into rounds, roll in the bread crumbs and place the meatballs in individual, miniature muffin tin cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Details... - Spicy and Crispy Broccoli
1 tablespoon olive oil
In a large skillet heat the oil over high heat until it is smoking. Add the broccoli, give it a quick stir and cook it covered, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. (It should look crispy and brown around the edges.) Turn the heat to a low and cook it for 2 minutes more or until it is just tender. Add the red pepper flakes, garlic and salt and pepper to taste and cook the mixture for 1 minute. Serve immediately. Details... - Butter Spritz Cookies
1 cup confectioners' sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixer with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and the butter. Mix until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla and almond extracts and mix to incorporate. Sift together the baking powder and the flour. Add the flour mixture. Mix until combined. Using a cookie press, press cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets. Top with the sprinkles of your choice. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, or until firm, but not yet browning.
Copyright © 2004 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved Details... - Mini Flourless Chocolate Cakes
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 2 tablespoons, softened
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Using 2 tablespoons of the softened butter, grease 6 (1/2 cup) ramekins. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the sugar into each ramekin and shake to coat the bottom and sides of each, evenly. Place the ramekins in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a simmer.
Combine the chocolate, remaining butter and amaretto in a metal bowl set over simmering water or in the top of a double boiler. Melt the chocolate, stirring constantly, until smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes; reserve.
Meanwhile, combine the eggs, remaining sugar, the vanilla and salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until frothy and almost doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. Fold 1/3 of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula. Repeat this process 2 more times-until all of the egg mixture has been folded into the chocolate.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared ramekins and add enough water to the baking dish to come halfway up the sides of each ramekin. Bake until the cakes have risen slightly and the edges are just beginning to set, about 20 minutes. Remove the ramekins from the baking dish and cool slightly. Use a dull knife or butter knife to gently loosen the cakes from the edges of the ramekin. Invert each cake onto a plate and invert the cakes again (so that the tops face upwards) onto a baking sheet or serving tray. Cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove the ramekins from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving. Spoon Raspberry Coulis onto individual dessert plates and carefully transfer the cakes to each plate. Garnish with confectioners' sugar, fresh raspberries, toasted almonds and fresh mint.Raspberry Coulis:
2 cups raspberries (about 12 ounces), rinsed
3/4 cup Simple Syrup, recipe follows
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 tablespoon cornstarchBring the raspberries, syrup, and lemon juice to a simmer in a heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the berries are very soft, about 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the cornstarch over 2 teaspoons cold water and stir to dissolve. Pour into the simmering raspberry mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 3 minutes.
Strain through a fine-mesh wire sieve into a medium bowl; discard the seeds. Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use. (Freeze any leftover coulis in a plastic container for up to 1 month.)
Yield: 2 cupsSimple Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup waterCombine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Pour the syrup into a container and refrigerate until completely cold, about 45 minutes. (The syrup can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.)
Yield: about 1/2 cup Details... - Homemade Ho-Hos
The cake is a classic French Biscuit au Beurre made with "Dutched" cocoa powder, drizzling in the clarified butter at the end for a unique delicious flavor. The filling used in the commercial version of this is probably made with whipped shortening rather than butter but I just can't bring myself to write a recipe with that ingredient as a filling. I did eat these for a year straight when I was about 12 and hung out at my friend Jenny Marshall's house. Her mom bought them but mine didn't. So I had to get my fill while playing at her house. Cake:
5 eggs
2 yolks
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup clarified butter, warm
Filling:
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons heavy cream
Glaze:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 ounces cocoa butter or 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Equipment: 2 half sheet pans with sidesPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
To make the Cake: Butter the jelly roll pan and line it with parchment paper; then butter the paper to assure release.
Bring a saucepan of water to a simmer.
In the bowl from a standing mixer, combine the eggs, yolks, sugar, vanilla in a bowl and whisk briefly. Set the bowl over the simmering water and stir until warm and the sugar looks dissolved. Attach the bowl to the standing mixer fitted with a whisk, and whip until light and fluffy, about 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder 3 times.
Remove the bowl from the mixer and, while folding the egg mixture, sift in the flour mixture, little by little, until incorporated. Drizzle in the clarified butter, while folding the batter.
Immediately pour the batter into the prepared pans dividing equally and smooth the tops with a spatula. Bake until lightly browned and it starts to pull away from the edges of the pan, about 14 to 16 minutes.
Remove the cakes from the oven and let sit in the pan for 1 minute. Run a knife along the edge to release the cake then flip it out onto parchment paper. Brush the paper (the one you lined the pan with) with water and let soak for 2 minutes. Peel it off the cake. Trim dry edges from the cake. Let cool covered with plastic wrap.
To make the Filling: In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the sugar and butter and mix on low speed until well blended; then increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream for spreading consistency, if needed.
Spread the sponge cakes with a thin layer of the filling, leaving a 1/4-inch space at the far edge. Roll the cake tightly on the long side until you have rolled a 1 1/2-inch thick log. Cut the log off from the remaining sheet of cake and place seam side-down. Repeat with remaining cake. Chill the logs for 30 minutes; then cut into 2 1/2-inch sections.
To make the Glaze: Melt the 2 ingredients together in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. One at a time, gently drop the cake rolls into the hot chocolate. Lift out with a fork and let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Place on the cookie sheet and let set at room temperature until the coating is firm, about 1 to 2 hours. Details... - Pistachio Biscotti
1 1/2 cups pistachios
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Lay the pistachios on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes or until the nuts are lightly toasted. Remove from the oven.
In an electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy. With the mixer running, gradually add the eggs, sugar, and vanilla; mix until creamed. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix the dough until smooth. Using a wooden spoon, mix in the pistachios until evenly distributed.
Put the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut in half. Roll each half into a log, each 12 inches long by 1-inch high. Place the logs on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 35 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly brown. Let the logs cool for 5 minutes and then place on a cutting board. Slice each log on a diagonal into 12 1-inch thick pieces. Put the cookies back on the cookie sheet and bake 5 minutes. Turn the cookies over and bake the other side for another 5 minutes. Store cookies in an airtight container. Details... - Thimble Cookies
8 ounces (2 sticks) cool unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer) until smooth. With the mixer running at low speed, add the remaining ingredients (except the colored sugars) and mix until smooth. Form the dough into 2 disks, wrap them separately in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour. The recipe can be made up to this point and kept refrigerated for up to 2 days.
When you're ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 disk of dough to a little less than 1/4 inch thick.
Using a thimble, and dipping it in flour often to keep the cookies from sticking, cut out tiny rounds of dough. Carefully transfer to cookie sheets. Reroll the scraps once and cut out more cookies, then discard the scraps (they will become tough if you keep rerolling them).
Sprinkle the tops with plain or colored sugars, then press the sugar lightly into the cookie with your thumbs. Bake until light golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
Repeat with the remaining cookie dough. Let the cookies cool on wire racks and store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Details... - Magical Peanut Butter Cookies
1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet.
In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, 1 cup sugar replacement, the egg, and vanilla, and stir well with a spoon. Roll the dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet. With a fork, dipped in sugar replacement to prevent sticking, press a crisscross design on each cookie. Bake for 12 minutes, remove from the oven, and sprinkle the cookies with some of the remaining sugar replacement. Cool slightly before removing from pan. Details... - Paula's Loaded Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease 1 or more cookie sheets. Using an electric mixer, cream together butter, shortening, and sugar in a bowl until fluffy. Add eggs and beat until mixture is light in color. Add buttermilk. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; stir into creamed mixture. Fold in oatmeal, raisins, walnuts, and vanilla, blending well. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto cookie sheet. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with Brown Butter Icing.Brown Butter Icing:
1/2 cup butter
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 4 tablespoons water
In a small saucepan heat the butter over medium heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in 3 cups sifted powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in enough water (3 to 4 tablespoons) to make an icing of drizzling consistency. Drizzle on warm cookies.
Yield: enough to ice 5 dozen cookies
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Ease of preparation: Easy Details... - Chocolate Walnut Torte
For the cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter a 10-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with waxed or parchment paper. Flour the sides of the pan with matzo cake meal.
In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, melt the butter and chocolate together, stirring frequently. Set aside to cool slightly.
In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar until very light and fluffy. Fold in the hot chocolate mixture.
In a small bowl, mix the matzo meal and ground walnuts. Fold into the chocolate-egg mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until firm and dry on the top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean (a few crumbs are OK), about 35 to 40 minutes.
Let cool 20 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a rack and let cool to room temperature. Transfer to a serving plate and refrigerate 1 hour.
Meanwhile, make the frosting: In the top of a double boiler set over barely simmering water, whisk the egg whites and sugar together until the mixture is very hot and the sugar has dissolved somewhat. Remove from the heat and whip the mixture in a mixer (or using a hand mixer) until cooled, smooth, and fluffy. Add the butter and whip until smooth; the mixture might look broken at this point, but keep whipping and it will smooth out.
Drizzle in the melted chocolate and coffee, and whip until smooth and fluffy. Using a flexible spatula, frost the chilled cake on the top and sides.
Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before serving. Details... - Chocolate Truffles
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
Place the 10 ounces of chocolate and butter in a medium size glass mixing bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Remove and stir, and repeat this process 1 more time. Set aside.
Heat the heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture over the melted chocolate mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir gently, starting in the middle of bowl and working in concentric circles until all chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth and creamy. Gently stir in the brandy. Pour the mixture into an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Using a melon baller, scoop chocolate onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and return to the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Place the cocoa powder, nuts, and/or toasted coconut each in its own pie pan and set aside.
In the meantime, place the 8 ounces of chocolate into a medium mixing bowl which is sitting on top of a heating pad lined bowl, with the heating pad set to medium. Depending on the heating pad, you may need to adjust the heat up or down. Stirring the chocolate occasionally, test the temperature of the chocolate and continue heating until it reaches 90 to 92 degrees F; do not allow the chocolate to go above 94 degrees F. If you do, the coating will not have a nice snap to it when you bite into the chocolate. Once you have reached the optimal temperature, adjust the heat to maintain it.
Remove the truffles from the refrigerator and shape into balls by rolling between the palms of your hands. Use powder-free vinyl or latex gloves, if desired.
Dip an ice cream scoop into the chocolate and turn upside down to remove excess chocolate. Place truffles 1 at time into the scoop and roll around until coated. Then place the truffle into the dish with either the cocoa powder, nuts or coconut. Move the truffle around to coat; leave truffle in the coating for 10 to 15 seconds before removing. In the meantime, continue placing the chocolate-coated truffles in the cocoa or other secondary coating. After 10 to 15 seconds, remove the truffle to a parchment lined sheet pan. Repeat until all truffles are coated. Allow to set in a cool dry place for at least 1 hour; or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Truffles are best when served at room temperature. Details... - Grilled Lamb Chops
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
In a food processor fitted with a metal blade add the garlic, rosemary, thyme, cayenne, and salt. Pulse until combined. Pour in olive oil and pulse into a paste. Rub the paste on both sides of the lamb chops and let them marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. Remove from refrigerator and allow the chops to come to room temperature; it will take about 20 minutes.
Heat a grill pan over high heat until almost smoking, add the chops and sear for about 2 minutes. Flip the chops over and cook for another 3 minutes for medium-rare and 3 1/2 minutes for medium. Details... - Peppermint Bark
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.) Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.) Details... - Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle
2 (14-ounce) packages gingerbread mix
Bake the gingerbread according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cardamom into the pudding. Crumble 1 batch of gingerbread into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl. Pour 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the gingerbread, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining gingerbread, pudding, and whipped topping. Sprinkle of the top with crushed gingersnaps, if desired. Refrigerate overnight. Trifle can be layered in a punch bowl. Details... - Three Chocolate Bark with Spiced Pecans and Dried Cherries
7 tablespoons butter
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large saute pan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter.
Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves and is bubbly. Add the pecans.
Season the pecans with salt, cayenne, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar starts to caramelize and coat the pecans evenly. Cook for about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and spread the pecans over a parchment lined baking sheet. Place the pan in the oven and roast the pecans for about 6 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool completely. Break the pecans into small pieces. Fill three small saucepans half way up the pan with water. Place the pans over medium heat and bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. In three separate mixing bowls, add each type of chips into the individual bowls. Place the bowls over the saucepans. After about 2 minutes over the heat the chocolate will start to melt. Stir each chocolate until totally melted. Remove the chocolate from heat and stir 1 tablespoon of butter into each bowl of chocolate. Pour each type of chocolate over the marble or a large parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the pecans and cherries over the chocolates. Using a metal spatula, spread the mixture out evenly back and forth to about 1/4-inch thick. Either place the marble in the refrigerator or allow to sit out until set, about a couple of hours. Break the bark into medium pieces and serve. Details... - Chocolate Mousse: Mousse au Chocolat
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
In the top of a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pot of hot water, melt the chocolate and butter, stirring. Remove from the heat and beat with a heavy wooden spoon until smooth. Return to the heat and 1 at a time, add the yolks, beating well after the addition of each. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large bowl.
In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks start to form. Add 2 tablespoons of the sugar and beat until stiff.
In a third bowl, beat the cream until it becomes frothy. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and the Grand Marnier and continue beating until it holds soft peaks.
Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture until no white speaks appear. Gradually fold in the whipped cream, reserving about 1/2 cup for garnish.
Transfer to a large decorative silver or glass bowl and refrigerate until well chilled.
To serve, spoon the reserved whipped cream on top and garnish with chocolate shavings. Details... - Almond Toffee Bark
3 cups (10 ounces) sliced almonds
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and oil a large baking sheet.
In a large baking pan spread almonds evenly and toast in the middle of the oven, stirring nuts halfway through toasting until golden, about 10 minutes.
In a 3-quart heavy saucepan bring butter, sugar, water, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt to a boil over moderate heat, stirring with a wooden spoon. Boil mixture, without stirring, swirling pan occasionally, until deep golden, about 12 minutes.
Remove pan from heat and stir in two-thirds of the almonds. Immediately pour toffee onto baking sheet and with an offset spatula spread into a thin layer. Carefully transfer baking sheet (it will be very hot) to a rack and cool toffee.
Chop chocolate. In a double boiler or small metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate, stirring until smooth. Pour chocolate over cooled toffee and evenly spread with offset spatula. Sprinkle toffee with remaining almonds. Chill toffee, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour.
Break toffee into 2-inch pieces of "bark." Bark keeps, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at cool room temperature or chilled, 1 week. Details... - Raspberry Souffle
1 tablespoon unsalted butter plus more for greasing
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 4 (8-ounce) ramekins or a 1 1/2-quart souffle dish by greasing with softened butter and coating with granulated sugar, pour out any excess. The butter and sugar will keep the souffles from sticking to the sides and will allow them to rise evenly. The sugar will also give the souffle a crunchy crust, which is a great contrast to the soft interior.
To make the fruit puree base, heat the raspberry puree, 3/4 cup sugar and butter in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook for 10 minutes to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, cool slightly, then strain to remove the raspberry seeds. Whisk in the egg yolks 1 at a time.
In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar just until they hold soft peaks. Fold 1/3 of the beaten whites into the raspberry mixture to lighten it. Then gently fold in the rest. Spoon into the prepared ramekins or souffle dish and place on a cookie sheet. Bake on the middle rack for about 20 minutes. The souffle is done when it has puffed over the rim, the outside is golden and the center giggles slightly. Take care not to over bake. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Details... - Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Cookies
1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Line 2 heavy large baking sheets with parchment paper. Finely chop the oats in a food processor. Transfer the oats to a medium bowl. Mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and stir just until blended. Stir in the toffee, hazelnuts, and chocolate chips.
For each cookie, drop 1 rounded tablespoonful of dough onto sheet, spacing 1-inch apart (do not flatten dough). Bake until the cookies are golden (cookies will flatten slightly), about 15 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. (The cookies can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.) Details... - Panettone Trifle
1 pound mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
Using an electric mixer, beat the mascarpone cheese, melted chocolate, powdered sugar, and espresso powder in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.
Divide half of the panettone cubes among 6 wine glasses or old-fashioned glasses. Sprinkle half of the liqueur over the panettone. Top with half of the mascarpone mixture. Repeat layering with the remaining panettone, liqueur, and mascarpone mixture. Sprinkle the chocolate shavings over the trifles and serve immediately. (The trifles can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let come to room temperature before serving.) Details... - Gingerbread Boys and Girls
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
Using an electric mixer at low speed, cream the sugar and butter until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs and molasses and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and combine with a spoon or spatula.
Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Take about 1/2 cup of dough at a time and roll onto a floured board until about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out with gingerbread boy and girl cookie cutters. You can re-roll the scraps. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies from the board to the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 10 minutes, until just beginning to brown at the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
To make the icing, combine the confectioners' sugar and milk. Divide the mixture into thirds; leave 1/3 white, and color 1/3 green and the final third red. Decorate piping eyes, mouths, buttons, and bow ties. Details... - Hidden Mint Cookies
18-ounce roll refrigerated sugar cookie dough, sliced 1/4-inch thin
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Slightly grease a cookie sheet. Place slices of sugar cookies on sheet, about 2 to 3 inches apart. Top each with a chocolate wafer. Cover wafer with another slice of cookie dough. Brush dough with a beaten egg. Press nuts into top of dough. Bake for about 10 minutes. Details... - Torrone
Edible wafer paper, enough for 2 layers in a 9 by 13-inch baking pan
Lightly grease just the sides of a 9 by 13-inch baking sheet. Piece together the wafer paper, without overlapping, to fit the bottom of the pan and set aside.
In a medium saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and honey over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the hard crack stage and a candy thermometer registers 315 degrees F. Remove from the heat and stir until the temperature drops to 300 degrees F, 1 to 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. With the mixer running, slowly pour the honey mixture into the meringue. This will cause the meringue to double in volume; let stand until the volume returns to normal. Continue beating the mixture until thick. Fold in the almonds and lemon zest.
Pour the mixture into prepared pan and cover with another layer of wafer paper. Let cool slightly on a wire rack. Remove from the pan and cut with scissors into rectangular bars. Let cool completely.
Serve 1/2-inch thick slices with coffee or tea. (Store in airtight container, with parchment paper between layers. Will keep for up to 2 weeks.) Details... - Chocolate Covered Turtles
4 tablespoons butter, cut up, plus more for pans
Generously butter 2 baking sheets.
On the baking sheets, arrange the pecan halves in snowflake-shaped clusters of 5 pecans each, overlapping the nuts in the center, leaving 2 inches of space between each.
In a medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the evaporated milk, the corn syrup, and sugar and bring to a boil. Add the remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk and the 4 tablespoons butter, and cook, stirring constantly, until it reaches the soft ball stage, 240 degrees F. Stir in the vanilla and remove from the heat. Let cool to 200 degrees F.
Using a tablespoon, spoon caramel on top of each nut cluster and let harden. (If the caramel becomes too stiff to pour, return to low heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until it returns to the proper consistency.)
To make the chocolate coating, in the top of a double boiler or in a metal bowl set over barely simmering water, combine 6 ounces of the chocolate and the shortening. Melt over low heat, stirring, until it reaches 116 to 118 degrees F, or feels fairly warm but not hot to the touch.
Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 ounces of chocolate. Continue stirring until the chocolate reaches 80 degrees F or feels cool to the touch. Return to low heat and cook, stirring, until the temperature rises to 85 to 87 degrees F, or feels barely cool. Remove from the heat.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon of tempered chocolate over each cluster. Set aside in a cool place to harden. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, with waxed paper separating the layers to prevent sticking. Details... - Magnolia Lace Trumpets
1/2 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Lightly grease the foil; set aside (if you don't grease the foil, the cookies will stick and be ruined).
In a medium saucepan combine sugar, butter, and syrup. Cook mixture over low heat until butter melts; remove from heat. Stir together flour and ginger; add dry mixture to butter mixture, mixing well. Stir in Irish Cream, if desired.
Drop batter by rounded teaspoons 3 to 4 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheet. Bake only 2 or 3 cookies at a time because you must work quickly to form the cones before they cool and become brittle.*
Bake in preheated oven for 9 to 10 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Quickly invert cookies onto another cookie sheet, and wrap each cookie around the greased handle of a wooden spoon or a metal cone. When cookie is set, slide cookie off spoon or cone; cool on a wire rack. Fill cookies with filling.
To store: Place unfilled cookies in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days or freeze unfilled cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw cookies and fill.
*If cookie gets too brittle to roll, run back in the oven for a minute to soften.Filling:
1 1/2 cups solid shortening (recommended: Crisco)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg white
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup hot milk
Cream together shortening and butter. Add sugar and beat well. Add egg white and vanilla; beat thoroughly. Add hot milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until creamy. Put into pastry tube with star tip and fill cookies.
Yield: frosting for 30 cookies
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes per 3 in batch
Ease of Preparation: Easy Details... - Pine Nut Cookies: Pinocatte
3 cups sugar
In a 3-quart saucepan, melt the sugar and the water together until the sugar dissolves and you have a clear liquid. Heat the liquid to 240 degrees F and then remove the pan to a cutting board. Whisk the solution until it cools and begins to turn opaque. Working quickly, add the citron, pine nuts and orange zest and stir through. Replace the pan over the heat if the mixture becomes too stiff. Using a small soup spoon, drop irregular shapes onto the prepared cookie sheets. Allow to harden before serving. Serve with Malvasia wine and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Details... - White Chocolate Mousse
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Two days before you plan to serve the dessert, in a small saucepan, heat the cream over medium heat just until it boils. Immediately turn off the heat. Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Strain into another bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, remove the mixture from the refrigerator and, using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a hand mixer, whip it into fluffy, soft peaks. Return to the refrigerator.
In a clean dry bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form, then add the sugar and continue whipping until glossy and stiff, about 30 seconds more. Fold into the white chocolate mixture, and then spoon the mixture (or pipe through a pastry bag) into glasses or chocolate bags.Chocolate Bag:
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
Mixed berries
Mint sprigsMelt chocolate over hot water. Using a thin small clear 4-sided cellophane bag cut the top off to desired height. Un-crease the bag so it stands up and open. Using a paintbrush, coat the inside of the bag well with chocolate. Put in the freezer to set up until very hard, about 30 minutes. Cut the bag a little and pull it away from the chocolate. Store chilled until ready to serve. To serve, fill it with white chocolate mousse then lay it on a plate on its side so it looks like it's spilling over. Garnish it with a cascade of mixed berries and a mint sprig. You can fill it with truffles, too.Notes about the recipe: Ganache is a word that we've been seeing on more and more dessert menus. It has a rich, fancy, very French sound, but ganache is essentially just a combination of chocolate and water or cream. Depending on the proportions, the mixture can be used in a variety of ways: as a glaze, a filling, or a candy center, to name just the ways we use it in this book. With enough cream added, it becomes whip-able, and that's the foundation of this white-chocolate mousse. White chocolate is devastatingly popular, but it's also not exactly chocolate. It's mostly cocoa butter, extracted from cocoa beans and enhanced with sugar and vanilla. White chocolate is not the same thing as the "confectionery coating" or "white coating" you see in the market; real white chocolate contains cocoa butter. Note that you'll need two days for making this dessert. Details... - Hot Vanilla Souffle
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Brush 4 to 6 individual souffle dishes (or a 7-cup souffle dish) well with melted butter. Put the sugar inside one dish and toss to coat, then tip the excess sugar into the next dish and repeat. Place the dishes in the refrigerator to chill.
Reserving 1/3 cup of the milk, place the remaining 1 cup in a large saucepan. Add the vanilla bean and heat just to a boil, then turn off the heat and set aside to let the vanilla bean infuse for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the flour, and the reserved 1/3 cup milk. Add a little of the hot milk and whisk to combine, then add the flour mixture to the hot milk mixture in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Simmer just until thickened, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, stir, cover, and set aside 15 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and whisk in the egg yolks.
In a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer), whip the egg whites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form. Add the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar and continue whipping until stiff and glossy. Fold into the milk mixture.
Pour the mixture into the prepared dishes, filling them 3/4 full. Run your thumb around the inside rim of each dish, making a shallow "moat" around the edge of the batter. This will help the souffles to rise straight up. Dust the surfaces with confectioners' sugar. (The souffles can stand at this point for up to 30 minutes.) Bake in the center of the oven until puffed and light golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Do not open the oven door unless absolutely necessary.
Satin Chocolate Sauce: Combine the 2 chocolates over simmering water in the top half of a double boiler. Stir constantly until melted, then whisk in the syrup and water without removing the double boiler from the heat. Whisk until smooth and shiny. (The sauce can be made up to 48 hours in advance and refrigerated. To rewarm, stir over low heat or heat in a microwave.) At the table, serve the hot souffles by poking a hole in each one and pouring chocolate sauce into the hole, then drizzling sauce over the tops. For a large souffle, spoon onto dessert plates and drizzle sauce on each serving. Details... - White Chocolate and Fresh Raspberry Terrine
2 1/4 cups milk
In a nonstick saucepan, over medium heat, combine 2 cups of the milk, sugar, and vanilla. Whisk to dissolve the sugar. When the mixture comes to a gentle boil, take 1 cup of the milk-sugar mixture and add it to the yolks. Whisk to blend well. Temper the egg mixture to the milk mixture. Cook over medium heat until it thickens slightly, 4 to 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Over medium heat, slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan, whisking constantly for 1 minute. Using a wooden spoon, continue stirring for about 2 minutes. Add the chopped white chocolate and continue stirring for 2 more minutes. Add the butter and stir until it is completely melted and mixture has thickened to a custard, about 2 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap down the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming. Cool completely, stirring occasionally. Soften the gelatin in the water. In a small saucepan, combine the gelatin and cream. Place over medium heat and cook until the gelatin dissolves, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat. In a large bowl, combine the pastry cream and gelatin. Mix well. Fold 1 1/2 cups of the sweetened cream into the mixture.
Combine the sugar syrup and liqueur together. Brush the tops of the sliced cake with the syrup. Let the syrup soak into the cake for 10 minutes. Line a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allow the wrap to overhang the pan. Place a piece of cake on the bottom of the pan. Place 1 pint of the raspberries over the cake. Spoon half of the cream mixture over the berries. Place the second piece of cake on top of the cream mixture. Repeat with the remaining berries, chocolate mixture and cake. Cover the top with the overhanging plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Remove from the refrigerator and invert onto a glass serving platter. Ice the sides and top of the terrine with the remaining 1 1/2 cups of whipped cream. Top the terrine with the shaved chocolate. Spoon the sauce in the center of each plate. Slice the terrine into individual servings. Place each slice in the center of the sauce. Garnish each with a sprig of mint. Details... - Caramel Souffle
Souffles are elegant and easy. As soon as you have made one flavor, you'll be ready to try another. Don't be intimidated by their mystique. Just be sure to serve them when they come out of the oven.
Traditionally, the waiter brings the souffle to the table, splits it open magically with two spoons held on one hand, and fills it with the sauce. I often serve sauce on the side of the souffle in a small cream pitcher. With this caramel souffle, I serve fresh peaches and more caramel sauce. For the dish(es):
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
Souffle:
1 cup Creamy Caramel sauce, recipe follows, at room temperature
3 large egg yolks, at room temperature
9 large egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch of cream of tartar (less than 1/8 teaspoon)
1/3 cup sugar
Special tools: 1 large souffle dish or 8 (8-ounce) ramekinsPreheat the oven to 425 degree F.
Adjust the rack to the lower third of the oven. Brush the inside of 8 (8-ounce) ramekins or 1 large souffle dish with melted butter and then lightly but completely dust the inside with sugar.
Whisk together the caramel sauce and egg yolks in a medium bowl. This mixture is the souffle base.
Using a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or a hand mixer, whip the egg whites for about 30 seconds or until soft foam appears. Add the cream of tartar and continue to whip the whites for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and beat until the egg whites reach the medium-stiff peak stage.
Using a rubber spatula, fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the caramel mixture to lighten the base. Fold in the remaining whites carefully so that the mixture is not deflated. The most efficient way to fold is to rotate the bowl and spatula simultaneously in opposite directions, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise.
Spoon the souffle into the dish or dishes, filling them to the rim. Flatten the top with a metal spatula. Gently run a paring knife around the inner wall of the ramekin. This created a small wall of air between the souffle and the ramekin, which helps the souffle rise up straight. Place the souffles on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes for individual souffles or 30 to 40 minutes for a large souffle. When finished, the souffles should be tall, golden brown, dry on the edges and a little creamy in the center. Serve immediately. Creamy Caramel Sauce:
Caramel sauce is perhaps the most versatile incarnation of caramel. Besides being both a hot and cold sauce, it makes a great filling for tarts and other pastries. It is also a major ingredient in some of my other recipes, such as truffles that I make with Caramel Ganache and Caramel Souffle. I always keep a variety of caramel blends refrigerated in my bakeshop. They last for weeks and are ready at a moment's notice to fulfill the inevitable special request.
When I make creamy and clear caramels that have liquid added to them, I take the caramel to a high temperature, because I want a more, intense flavor that won't be diluted when the caramel is stretched. For example, you'll be heating the sugar to 375 degrees F in this recipe and you'll want to watch it carefully so it doesn't burn.
Adding any liquid to hot caramel will cause it to bubble up like an eruption of molten lava. Using a pot that is at least twice the volume of the ingredients will prevent boil-over. Heating the liquid first reduces the volatility of this reaction but does not eliminate it, so be prepared. Oven mitts and a long-handled whisk are helpful, and don't stick your head or arms directly over the pot. It is important to remember that the steam rising out of a pot of hot caramel is as hot as the caramel inside, and nothing is as painful as a steam burn.
Creme fraiche adds the perfect balance to this sauce, taming the sweetness with a touch of acidity. If you can't find it, and don't have time to make it, sour cream is a good substitute. I also balance the flavor of this sauce with a second addition of sugar and a little lemon juice at the very end. This adds another subtle dimension of flavor. 1/4 cup water
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream, warmed to 100 degrees F
1/4 cup creme fraiche
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch salt (less than 1/8 teaspoon)Heat a saucepan of water and place a whisk in it.
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly. Combine the water, 1 cup of sugar, and the corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Stir them together with very clean fingers, making sure no lumps of dry sugar remain. Brush down the insides of the pan with a little water, using your hand to feel for any stray granules of sugar.
Cover the saucepan and place it over medium heat for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, remove the lid, increase the heat to high, and bring to a boil. Do not stir from this point on. Keep an eye on the pan. It will be very bubbly. When stray sugar crystals appear on the side of the pan, brush them down with a wet pastry brush.
As the sugar cooks, the bubbles will get larger. Insert a candy thermometer, and when the temperature reaches 300 degrees F, lower the heat to medium, which will slow the cooking. Continue to cook the sugar until it reaches 350 degrees F. It will be dark brown. Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit for 1 minute, or until the bubbles subside.
Add the cream to the caramel. It will bubble up vigorously, so be careful.
Vigorously whisk in the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, creme fraiche, lemon juice, and salt. This sauce is now ready to be served warm or cooled to room temperature. It will keep stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. When cold, it has the consistency of peanut butter.
Yield: 1 1/4 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ease of preparation: Easy - Moderate Details... - Pears Sabayon
4 egg yolks
In the top of a double boiler or in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, beat egg yolks with sugar, salt, and sherry. Beat until smooth. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool completely. In the bowl of a mixer, whip cream until it holds peaks. When sauce has cooled completely, gently fold in whipped cream. Serve over chilled, drained pears for a quick and easy cool dessert. Details... - Cranberry Up-Side Down Cake
3 tablespoons softened unsalted butter, plus 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch cake pan with 3 tablespoons butter, sprinkle 1/2 cup of the sugar evenly over the bottom, and arrange the cranberries in the pan.
In a bowl with the mixer cream together the remaining 6 tablespoons butter and 1/2 cup sugar. Add the egg, vanilla, and orange rind and beat the mixture until well combined.
Into another bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, alternately with the milk until it is combined. Pour the batter over the cranberries and smooth the top. Bake the cake on a baking sheet in the middle of the oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Transfer the cake to a rack and let it cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Run a thin knife around the inside of the pan and invert the cake stand.
In a small saucepan melt the currant jelly over low heat, stirring, and brush it over the cake. Serve the cake warm or at room temperature with the whipped cream, if desired. Details...
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