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< all recipes Lentil Soup Soup is one of my all-time favorite food groups. Especially on a cold and rainy day like today, there really is nothing better than coming home to a steamy bowl of hearty goodness. For this reason, I make sure to always have a stash of dried goods (black beans, split peas, lentils, etc), but more importantly I like to have soup at the ready in my freezer. The beauty of soup is that you do not have to eat the same darn leftovers for the rest of the week. Instead, freeze the remaining soup in pint and/or quart containers – the pints are a perfect single serving for a night in or to bring to work, the quarts are great for two. Lentil soup is also a great recipe for the beginner cook – it is simple and straightforward but teaches some very useful techniques. It is also a great base from which to add your own flair and flavor: instead of carrots, add a 28oz can of diced tomatoes, or if you don’t have fresh thyme add 1tbl ground cumin in with the onions. Lentil Soup Serves: 6 quarts Ingredients 2 lbs green lentils, dried 2 yellow onions 2 lg carrots 2 cloves garlic 2 tbl fresh thyme ½ cup white wine 8-9 quarts stock/water (I use water to lower the sodium) 2 tbl kosher salt 2 tsp pepper Print Preparation Dice the onion and carrots. Mince the garlic or put through garlic press. Get your largest pot (at least at 10 quart!) and heat up a tablespoon or two of oil. Once hot, toss in the onions and carrots, turn the heat to medium and sprinkle in a tbl of salt. Stirring often, cook until the onions are translucent (about 10 minutes). Add in the garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Pour in the wine and stir to get any bits stuck on the bottom. Add the lentils and water. Turn heat up until it reaches a boil, then reduce heat and let the soup simmer for about 45 minutes, until lentils are tender. To thicken the soup a bit, remove 2-3 cups of lentils and 1 cup of water – puree in a blender or with emersion blender and pour back into the pot. Taste and season with remaining salt and pepper to taste. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Brussels Sprout Stir-Fry This is such a simple and fast recipe that really goes with any protein. I also just love the look of the whole stalk (although it can yield quite a bit more than 2 pints!). I went into this recipe assuming I had the grating/slicing attachment for my food processor but was already fully committed when I realized I would have to do it the old fashion way. It turned out to be pretty painless and was a great way to work on sharpening my knife skills (sorry, pun intended). Brussels Sprout Stir-Fry Serves: 4 side servings Ingredients 2 pints (32oz) Brussels sprouts 3-4 tbl toasted sesame oil 3-4 tbl soy sauce salt & pepper Sriracha (optional) Print Preparation Rinse the Brussels sprouts and remove any excess or brown stem. Slice thinly: using your basic knife, a mandolin, or food processor if you have the proper attachment. Heat the sesame oil in a large sauté pan until almost smoking, then toss in the Brussels sprouts and about a 1 tsp of salt. Allow the sprouts to char a bit but stir often so they don’t burn, about 5 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the ponzu, making sure to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom, and continue to cook until all the liquid is gone, about 3-5 minutes. Serve with Sriracha if you like some kick! Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Sticky Toffee Pudding I am in charge of dessert at the potluck thanksgiving this year and since you all know my feelings towards the usual fare, I will definitely not be making pumpkin pie. Instead I will be making this. Honestly, who would choose pumpkin pie over this!!? The cake is so incredibly moist and only a hint of fruity sweetness, which is why the decadent addition of toffee sauce is perfect. This recipe comes from my days as a pastry chef at Locanda Verde so you know it will be incredible. It has an unusual step of adding the baking powder to the batter at the end, causing it to foam slightly. Trust the process and you will be richly rewarded i promise. Sticky Toffee Pudding Serves: 2 9in cakes Ingredients Cake Ingredients 1 lb medjool dates 2 tsp baking soda 8 oz unsalted butter ¾ cup granulated sugar 4 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 ½ cups flour 1 tsp salt 3 ¼ tbl baking powder For the Toffee Sauce 8 oz unsalted butter 8 oz (1 cup packed) brown sugar ½ cup heavy cream 1 tsp vanilla extract Print Preparation Preheat oven to 350˚F. Butter and flour two 9inch cake pans. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, add dates and cook about 5 minutes or until you see the skins start to peel. Drain and let the dates cool enough to handle. Meanwhile beat the butter and sugar in an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping sides. Combine the flour and salt, and add into the batter mixing just until you have a lumpy dough. Once the dates are cool, remove the skin and seeds, and roughly chop. In that same pot, combine dates with 3 ½ cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, stirring some to break up any sticky clumps, then let simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda (it will bubble up a bit). With the mixer on low, pour in the warm date mixture, scrape down the sides halfway through and after (make sure to scrape all the way to the bottom). The batter will be very liquid at this point. Finally, add the baking powder with the mixer on low. It will foam up a bit. Give the batter a quick turn with a spatula before dividing between the two cake pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes, to test insert a toothpick or small knife into the center and it should come out clean. For the Toffee Sauce: Combine butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla in a pot. Bring to a boil and immediately turn heat to low and cook for a minute or two until slightly thickened and completely blended. When the cakes are cool enough to handle, turn them out onto a cake stand or serving platter so that they are upside down. Poke cakes all over with a fork or knife and slowly pour toffee sauce over them, using an offset spatula or knife to spread evenly and to the edge so some of the sauce drips down the sides. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Butternut Squash Biscuits with a Maple-Chipotle Glaze Just before I left Locanda Verde, the pastry team was in the midst of helping Chef Carmellini test some of the recipes for his next cookbook. I know, tough life right? So when I bought the book I immediately turned to the back to see if I recognized any of the recipes. This biscuit recipe jumped out at me – I remember hearing rumors of a butternut biscuit but alas I never got to try it. Let me just say, they are incredible and it is taking every ounce of my self-control not to eat all twelve. Luckily I anticipated this and made them just in time for my brother’s visit home. Butternut Squash Biscuits with a Maple-Chipotle Glaze Serves: 12-16 biscuits Ingredients Biscuits: ⅓ cup butternut squash, mashed or pureed* 1 cup buttermilk 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup whole-wheat flour 1 tbl baking powder ½ tsp baking soda 2 tsp kosher salt ¼ tsp black pepper ½ tsp chipotle chili powder pepper 6 tbl unsalted butter, cold *if using a whole butternut squash, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, and roast in 400˚F oven for about 45 minutes, until fork tender. Once cooled, scoop out the meat. Glaze: 2 tbl water 4 tbl unsalted butter ½ cup maple syrup ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder Print Preparation To make the biscuits: Preheat oven to 400˚F. Place squash in a bowl, add the buttermilk and mash everything together until well combined. Set aside. Combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pepper, and chili powder in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Cut the cold butter into ¼ cubes and add to flour mixture. I like to use my hands to work the butter into the flour (if you have a pastry cutter that works too but isn’t as fun). You want the flour to be slightly damp and the average size of the butter chunks should be the size of a pea. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk squash mixture. With a spoon (or your hands!) gently mix everything together until there is no dry flour at the bottom of the bowl. Dust the counter with flour and turn the dough out onto the work surface. Make dough into a disc, dust the top with flour, and press out evenly to about 1 inch thick. Cut out biscuits – a 2in round will make about 12 but any size will work and if you do not have a cookie cutter you can either use the top of a glass or use a knife to cut into pie slices. Place biscuits on a parchment-lined baking sheet (if you don’t have parchment they will come out just as delicious). Bake for 7 minutes, rotate the pan, and bake for another 5-7 minutes. They should be pretty firm and golden brown on the bottom. Let cool while you make the glaze. To make the glaze: In a small pot, bring 2 tbl of water to a boil and whisk in the butter (keep whisking until totally melted) Add in the maple syrup, salt, and chipotle powder. Whisk until shiny and totally combined. Turn the heat to low and let bubble away until ready to use – 20 to 30 minutes – which will allow it to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Miso Mushroom Dumplings I recently got this fabulous little steamer and have been agonizing over what to make first...I'm sure you can all relate. I do not usually like dumplings all that much because I find (and this is a sweeping generalization) that they kinda all taste the same. Which leads me to my next point that something filled with shrimp should not taste like something filled with pork. Just sayin. So. Dumplings. Clearly I immediately ruled out a pork or shrimp filling, so vegetarian was next up. Mushrooms! The meatiest non-meat there is! The tofu binds everything together and makes the filling super velvety - and with no egg you don't have to worry about cooking anything to the right temperature. I thought the first use of my new steamer demanded home made dough which I certainly do not expect of everyone but I dare you to try. It is not any more difficult, it just adds to the time. But get a helper or two, entice them with some adult beverages, and get an assembly line going!! Instant party. The recipe makes a fair number of dumplings because I figure once you are at it, you might as well get your dumplings worth - meaning pop uncooked ones in the freezer for a rainy day. You can thank me when that day comes. Miso Mushroom Dumplings Serves: 25-30 dumplings Ingredients 12 oz shitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced 2 tbl toasted sesame oil (plus more for sautéing mushrooms) 2 tbl soy sauce 2 tbl miso paste 1/4 cup scallions 1/4 cup firm tofu 1/4 cup edamame 1 tsp sriracha (optional) 25-30 wonton wrappers or 1 dumpling dough recipe (below) soy sauce or ponzu for dipping dumpling dough ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 cup water Print Preparation Heat a few tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet and sauté mushrooms until they have released their moisture and gotten some color, about 7 minutes. Combine the rest of the ingredients (except wonton wrappers in a food processor and pulse to combine - you just want small pieces not a puree. Spoon a tablespoon of filling into each wrapper and use a finger to dab some water around the edges. Fold wrappers over filling and pinch to seal shut. If you are not going to cook immediately, place dumplings on parchment, under a nice damp towel and refrigerate until ready (I'd say up to 24 hours, anything more and you should freeze them - see note if so). Place dumplings in parchment-lined bamboo steamer with enough space between them so that they are not touching. Steam dumplings over simmering water for 10-12 minutes.* *If you do not have a bamboo steamer (and/or you want to pan fry your dumplings) you can heat up oil in a large skillet, once the dumplings have browned on the bottom pour enough water into the pan to cover dumplings about 1/4 inch - careful it will splatter - cover and cook 10-12 minutes. dumpling dough instructions Combine flours and salt in a food processor. Bring water to a boil then let sit 30 seconds. With the food processor running slowly pour water in. As soon as it is all in, stop to feel the dough - it should feel slightly damp but not wet and should stay clumped when you pinch it together. Process for another few seconds, until the dough forms into a rough ball. Knead on the counter into a ball and place in a ziploc bag to rest for 20 minutes. When ready to use, roll dough into a long rope about 1/2 thick. Cut into 1/4 - 1/2 inch segments and roll these into circles. Keep dough under a damp towel or paper towel while you are working on it so it does not dry out. *if you do not have a food processor, combine flours and salt in a bowl and make a well in the center. Use a wooden spoon or bamboo rice paddle to stir the flour while you add 3/4 cup boiled water in a steady stream. You want to evenly moisten the flour. When all the water has been added, you will have lots of lumpy bits. Knead the dough in the bowl to bring all the lumps into one mass; if the dough does not come together easily, add more water one teaspoon at a time. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Leek Bread Pudding I hate thanksgiving food. I know hate is a strong word but it is how I feel and I just had to get it out in the open. What I love about my family's tradition is that we go to a friend's house for a potluck feast where there are items for traditionalists like sweet potatoes with marshmallows and cranberry sauce as well as those for the non-traditionalist like cajun-spiced turducken and my Mom's incredible spicy broccoli. Three years ago, our potluck was canceled at the last minute. I seized the opportunity to try and make a stuffing I could actually stand the smell of and possibly even eat! I settled on Thomas Keller's Leek Bread Pudding, which was quite possibly the best thing I had ever eaten. Leek Bread Pudding Serves: 12 side portions Ingredients 4 large leeks – cut in ½ lengthwise and then into ½” thick slices 4 tbl butter 1/2 cup white wine 12 cups crusty bread – cut into 1” cubes 2 tbl fresh thyme 3 eggs 3 cups whole milk 3 cups heavy cream 8 oz gruyere, grated 4 oz parmesan, grated salt & pepper Print Preparation Preheat oven to 350˚F. Clean the sliced leeks and dry thoroughly. Heat butter in a large sauté pan. Add the leeks, season with salt and saute over med-hi heat for 5 minutes, until they start to stick to the bottom. Deglaze the pan with white wine and scrap up browned bits. Cover and cook over very low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in thyme and remove from heat. Meanwhile, lightly toast the bread cubes in the oven until pale golden (about 5-10 minutes) – toss in a large bowl with leeks. Whisk together eggs, milk, and cream – season this with salt and pepper. In a 9x13 casserole dish spread ½ the bread mixture, top with ½ the gruyere and parmesan, and then spread the rest of the bread. Pour egg/milk custard over everything, making sure to get all of bread nice and wet. Top with the remaining gruyere and parmesan. Bake for 1 hr - 1 ½ hrs, until it feels set in the center (springs back slightly) and is golden brown. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Strawberry & Basil Yogurt Popsicles I’ve had popsicles on the mind for a while now but my first few attempts at some adult pops were not what you might call successful. I have to give Chris kudos here (surprising I know since he is usually under a bus;) for not only being a taste tester but providing very necessary and very nice alcohols (usually unknowingly. sorry). I think his favorite was the sinus-blasting bloody mary attempt. So I have accepted the fact that I am not a mixed drink expert (for now) and will stop stealing from other peoples’ alcohol stashes (um yeah, sorry Dad). This popsicle recipe is simple, perfect for hot summer days, and will make you feel like kid. Or if you are a kid and need to be told that just because there are strawberries at the farmstand does not mean that you should buy a pound or more every time you go, this recipe will help you use them up before you turn into one. Strawberry & Basil Yogurt Popsicles Serves: 10 popsicles Ingredients Basil Simple Syrup 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1 bunch fresh basil, washed Popsicles 1½ cups puréed strawberries (from about 1lb) ¾ cup basil simple syrup juice of 1 lemon ¾ cup plain greek yogurt Print Preparation Make the simple syrup Combine the sugar and water in a small sauce pan, making sure all of the sugar is wet. Bring to a boil and once all of the sugar is dissolved turn off the heat and add the basil. Let steep a few hours while it cools in the fridge. Remove the basil before using. Make the popsicles Whisk the basil simple syrup and lemon juice into the greek yogurt. Stir in strawberry purée - you can mix it in fully or keep it swirled for a more marbled look. Pour into popsicle molds, insert sticks and freeze until solid, 4-5 hours. Notes You will need some sort of popsicle mold. I used this 10 pop mold (each pop being about 2½ oz) but you can really do this in whatever you have on hand (little plastic cups or i did a few tests in some go-gurt type of pouches). The simple syrup can be made well in advance, store in an airtight container up to 2 months in the fridge - just make sure to remove the basil after 24 hours. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Slow Cooked Chipotle Pork Tacos This past saturday was the last Duke basketball game of the season against our big rival UNC and so of course my first thought was about what food we should eat during the game. I also wanted something to amuse me since the game didn't start until 9 and I am a grandma. I did not think this through however, since this recipe takes very little time to prep - it just needs to do its thang on the stovetop or in the slow cooker. Now I had to find something to do waiting not only for the game to start but also for this deliciousness to be ready to eat! We ended up watching Big Hero 6 which I would highly recommend if large marshmallowy robots fighting evil and making fart jokes is your idea of a great saturday night...umm i mean sunday night after you know partying all weekend. Makes a pretty tasty open-faced sandy the next day too! Slow Cooked Chipotle Pork Tacos Serves: serves 6-8 Ingredients 2 tbl oil 1 lb lean, boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes 4 oz chorizo sausage, raw or cooked 1 yellow onion, diced 3-4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup white wine 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes 1-2 chipotle chiles en adobo, finely chopped and/or 1-2 tbl of just the adobo sauce 2 tbl dried oregano salt and pepper corn tortillas queso fresco, cotija, or other fresh farmers cheese (such as feta) avocado Print Preparation Remove chorizo from its casing and slice, if it is already cooked, or break up into pieces, if still raw. Season pork shoulder with salt, heat oil in a large cast iron pot, and add both meats to the pot. Do not stir for a minute or two to allow the meat to brown properly - once it has, stir and let brown again. Stir in onion and garlic, cook for a minute and then add the wine, scraping up all the tasty browned bits off the bottom. If using a slow cooker: transfer everything from the pot to slow cooker and continue with instructions. Add the tomatoes, chipotles (and or adobo sauce - depending on your heat tolerance) and oregano. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 2 1/2 - 3 hours in the pot or 5-6 hours in a slow cooker, until pork shreds easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with warm tortillas, avocado and crumbled cheese. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Fig & Mascarpone Scones I have to admit that I started out the year feeling uninspired to cook and grocery shopping was just not going to happen given the frigid temperatures outside. But after a few days in the Caribbean sun, I felt rejuvenated and ready to get back to work. I don't know what caught my attention with this recipe, I don't usually go out of my way for figs (I have even been known to make fun of those who pick fig newtons as their cookie of choice) but whatever the reason, I sure am glad I tried these. They are incredibly moist and flakey almost like a biscuit but with a little more hefty goodness to them. A perfect scone. If figs aren’t your thing, swap in whatever you like! Apricots? Blueberries? Raisins? Toasted pecans? You get the idea. I doubled this recipe and put half in the freezer just in case I hit another cooking slump. They freeze beautifully and if you are already putting in the work, why not stock up for a rainy day - or the next polar vortex. Fig & Mascarpone Scones Serves: 10-12 scones Ingredients For the Scones: 4 oz (1 stick) unsalted butter 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup whole wheat flour ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 tbl baking powder 1 tsp kosher salt ½ cup chopped dried figs ¾ cup half and half (plus more for brushing tops of scones) 2 eggs ¼ cup mascarpone 2 tbl fig preserves or jam sugar in the raw, for dusting (optional) For the glaze: ¼ cup fig preserves or jam 2 to 3 tbl water Print Preparation Preheat the oven to 425˚F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Cut butter into small cubes and put into fridge while preparing other ingredients. In a large bowl, mix flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter into dry ingredients: this can be done using the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, a pastry blender, or your fingers. If using your hands, pinch butter cubes between fingers, working flour into the butter until about the size of an almond. Stir in chopped figs. In a different bowl, whisk together cream, mascarpone, eggs and 2 tbl of fig preserves. Add this into the flour mixture, mixing just until combined Scoop dough out onto a floured countertop and form into a disc about 1 inch thick. Using a round cookie cutter (I used a 1½ inch cutter), cut out scones and place onto prepared baking sheet. Brush tops with half and half and sprinkle with sugar in the raw if desired.* Bake 15-20 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. While scones are cooking, make the glaze: in a small sauce pan over low heat, combine preserves and water. Cook, whisking often (to prevent the sugar in the jam from burning) until warmed through and the water has fully mixed into jam. Drizzle glaze over warm scones and serve immediately. *if you want to freeze scones, place on a parchment-lined flat surface (whatever will fit into your freezer) and place in freezer. Once frozen, scones can be put into a Ziploc bag and kept for up to [b]6 months[/b]. [br]There is no need to fully thaw before cooking, simply remove from freezer, place on parchment-lined baking sheet and continue with instructions. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Winter Squash & Kale Ragu This is a no frills no fuss kind of recipe that is delicious. Chris told me that was all I needed to say and not to overthink these things. Having forced him to eat this for a week straight at this point, I think he is allowed an opinion. Except I really need to share my latest discovery and obsession because they were the inspiration for the ragù recipe and will be making regular appearances this winter. Hudson Valley Harvest , founded in 2011, is a company dedicated to helping farmers expand their reach beyond the farmers market to large-scale buyers like restaurants, schools and other institutions. To do this they provide local farmers with the processing and packaging facilities to turn surplus produce into value-added and shelf-stable products which means a little extra (and often much needed) income for farmers and their families. The package labels even tell you exactly where the produce was grown and how many miles it traveled to be packaged (usually under 20). Oh and the BEST part of all this is that you can find these babies at Whole Foods and Fresh Direct! Winter Squash & Kale Ragu Serves: 4-6 servings Ingredients 2 tbl oil 8 oz spicy sausage or ground turkey* 1 yellow onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 8 oz (about 2 cups) kale, chopped (I like frozen because it is already steamed and chopped) 2-3 tbl fresh sage, minced 1 cup white wine (or ¼ cup vinegar ¾ cup water) 1 cup tomato puree 2 cups butternut squash or pumpkin puree 2-3 cups pasta water, stock or water 1 lb pasta (i like gemelli but use your favorite) salt and pepper Parmesan for serving Print Preparation Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Heat a tablespoon or two of oil in a large sauté pan and remove the sausage from its casing, breaking it up into pieces. Add the sausage to the hot pan, breaking up any big clumps and stirring occasionally. Once the meat has some color and it mostly cooked through (5 minutes or so) add the onion and garlic to the pan, seasoning everything with a generous amount of salt. Cook until the onions are translucent (another 5-7 minutes) then add the kale and sage. If you are using frozen kale, cook until totally thawed, if using fresh kale, cover the pan to help create some steam and cook until the kale is tender - both will take about 5 minutes. Season again with salt and some pepper. Deglaze the pan with wine, scraping the bottom to get any stubborn bits unstuck. Stir in the tomato and squash purees and turn the heat down while you cook the pasta. Season your pasta water and cook pasta according to package instructions. Ladle some pasta water into your ragù - as much or as little as you like depending on how thick you want the sauce (i like it nice and thick, a hearty stew consistency). Taste the sauce for seasoning, it will likely need salt and probably some pepper too. Drain the pasta and add it to the ragù. Serve hot with some freshly grated Parmesan. Notes *I like using a spicy pork or lamb sausage because they are more flavorful than ground turkey and they stay in bigger chunks which i can fish out later when picking at the leftovers - use less oil in the pan if using sausage as the fat in them renders out nicely coating the pan, ground turkey is usually quite lean so it will require more oil to start with. Also note that the meat is totally optional as this makes a deliciously hearty vegetarian/vegan dish as well. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Lamb w/ Mint Chimichurri My Sis and her hubs are on their honeymoon right now in South America - probably arriving in Argentina at this very moment. Despite generously offering the pleasure of my company (and services as a very good sherpa) for all or parts of their trip, I have had to make do with a shared photo stream. Argentina is known for its steaks - cooked very simply, usually on a grill, and served with an herb sauce called chimichurri. It is most often made with parsley and oregano but I am sure it has countless regional and seasonal variations - so I thought why not mint for Easter lamb!? So instead of just waiting for the next photo upload, I have been eating this and imagining I am also riding a horse down the beach or sipping wine by the infinity pool...or just not in another snowstorm. This sauce is perfect with any cut of lamb - I first tried a shoulder roast, which was tasty but for some in the ole peanut gallery it was not quite fatty enough so I went for the rack of lamb next. You really can't go wrong, it is just a matter of taste and how many people you are serving - I found this site very helpful in picking out the right cut. Assuming it ever gets warm enough to grill outside, I would recommend making the chimichurri for any grilling occasion - you can use this recipe as a guide, keeping the proportions but mixing up the herbs. Or go rogue! You do not really need a recipe for a sauce like this once you get the gist (hint: herbs + oil = chimichurri). Try adding some jalapeños or roasted poblanos. Get saucy with your fish or chicken. Go Wild! Lamb w/ Mint Chimichurri Serves: serves 6 Ingredients 2 racks of lamb, frenched* Chimichurri Ingredients 3 cups fresh mint leaves, about 2 bunches 1 cup fresh parsley leaves, about 3/4 of a bunch 3 cloves of garlic zest and juice of 1 lemon 2 tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp black pepper 1 cup olive oil * 1 rack has 8 chops and weighs about 2 lbs. "Frenched" means that the bones have been cleaned, making a nice handle as well as an elegant presentation - if you do not see this at the grocery store, just ask the butcher Print Preparation Make the chimichurri: combine all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor and pulse until everything is evenly minced. Turn processor on and slowly drizzle in the olive oil - you want to do this in a slow,steady stream so that the sauce emulsifies and won't separate later. Store in the fridge if not using immediately - the chimichurri can be made a day or two in advance, just bring to room temp before serving (do not microwave!!! just let it sit out). Preheat oven to 400˚F. Heat a large ovenproof sauté pan with a few tablespoons of oil and generously season the fatty side of the racks with salt and pepper. Once the pan is really hot (almost smoking), place the fatty sides down and let sear untouched for 2-3 minutes, or until a dark golden brown. Flip the racks and put pan into the oven to finish cooking, about 10 minutes.* Let meat rest 5-10 minutes before serving. *Insert a thermometer into one end of the rack (right in the center of the chop so you do not hit any bone). Medium Rare: 145˚F Medium: 160˚F Well-Done: 170˚F Click [b][url href=" http://www.americanlamb.com/lamb-cooking-temperature-chart/ " target="_blank"]here[/url][/b] for a full time/temperature chart. Previous Next hungry for more?

< all recipes Mint Chocolate Chip Cake As promised, Mint Chocolate Chip Cake! I hope you have all made your Fresh Mint Meringues and are ready to dive into making this tasty treat. When making a cake, or anything really, I try to visualize the recipe like the image above – I first read through the recipe so I know which ingredients go together and at what point they will be incorporated into the recipe. I usually write directly on my recipe, bracketing each group of ingredients, labeling it A,B,C, and writing “cream” or “alternate”. What makes this technique most effective is that it forces you to read through and really understand a recipe before you start, helping you work more efficiently and be more successful. Mint Chocolate Chip Cake Serves: 2 9" cakes Ingredients Cake 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temp 2¼ cups sugar 4 eggs ¾ cup cocoa powder ¾ cup hot water ¾ cup sour cream 1 tbl vanilla extract 3 cups cake flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt Mint Buttercream 16 oz unsalted butter, room temperature 2 lb (4cups) confectioner’s sugar pinch of salt 2 tsp mint extract green food gel color (optional) Chocolate Ganache 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup heavy cream Print Preparation Make Cake: Preheat oven to 350˚F. Grease 2 9in cake pans and line with parchment paper. Beat butter and sugar in electric mixer with paddle attachment until light and fluffy. While you are doing this crack eggs into a small bowl and add vanilla. In a separate bowl pour hot water over cocoa powder and whisk until smooth, whisk in sour cream. Finally combine the rest of the dry ingredients. With mixer on med-low add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition (about 30sec), scraping bowl halfway through and after last egg has been incorporated. Add dry ingredients in two parts, alternating with cocoa/sour cream mixture. Give a scrape with a spatula to incorporate anything on the bottom. Divide batter between pans and bake 45-50 minutes, until a cake tester (or toothpick or even a small knife) inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool cakes on a wire rack completely before icing. Make Icing: Beat butter in electric mixer with paddle until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Turn mixer to low and slowly add confectioners sugar and pinch of salt. Beat on high for 5-7 minutes until slightly glossy. Add mint extract and food color (add a little at a time until you get the color you want). Ice the cake and let set in the fridge while you make the ganache. Make Ganache: Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan just to a boil, immediately pour over chocolate chips, let sit a minutes then whisk until smooth. Pour ganache on top of cake, spreading gently so it just drips over the edges. Decorate with Fresh Mint Meringues and/or sprinkles. Previous Next hungry for more?