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January 4, 2012

Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce

A basic honey mustard adds the unexpected ginger and pepper notes of turmeric to make this dish different. Broiling leaves the salmon moist and tender and caramelizes the sauce slightly for additional flavor. Any kind of greens makes a great side―try kale cooked with hoisin sauce; chard sautéed with garlic, lemon juice, and pepper; or a spinach salad with red onions and vinaigrette. -Jason Horn and Cooking Light staff

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image: Beau Gustafson

Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce
Maureen Callahan, Cooking Light, August 2007

2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground red pepper
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Cooking spray

Preheat broiler.

Combine first 6 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well with a fork. Rub mustard mixture evenly over each fillet. Place fillets, skin side down, on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 8 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.

Serves 4.

January 3, 2012

Deviled Chicken Thighs

This is a high protein meal that is easy to prepare and full of wonderful flavor.
pic4UW2OD

Deviled Chicken Thighs
food.com

8 chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
Salt
Fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/3 cup minced shallots or 1/3 cup onions or 1/3 cup scallion
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (to taste) or 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (to taste)
Minced fresh parsley, for garnish

Preheat broiler to its maximum; set the rack about 4 inches from the heat. Season chicken on both sides and place it in a pan, skin side up.

Broil, watching carefully, until the skin is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the mustard, shallot, and cayenne (if you have a small food processor, just throw them in there and pulse the machine on and off a few times).

When the chicken has browned, remove it from the oven and turn it. Spread just a teaspoon or so of the mustard mixture on the underside of the chicken and broil for about 5 minutes.

Turn the chicken and spread the remaining mixture on the skin side. Broil until the mustard begins to brown, about 5 minutes. At this point, the chicken may be done, an instant read thermometer inserted into the meat will read 160°. If it is not, turn off the broiler and let the chicken remain in the oven for another 5 minutes or so.

Garnish with the parsley if you like and serve.

Serves 4.

January 2, 2012

Vietnamese Beef-Noodle Bowl

Marinating the beef for 4 to 24 hours ahead can save preparation time later and add extra flavor, if desired. Whole star anise imparts a licoricelike aroma and flavor to the broth, but the soup is very good without it.
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Vietnamese Beef-Noodle Bowl
myrecipes.com

8 cups water
2 (14¼-ounce) cans fat-free beef broth
3 whole star anise (optional)
2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 (1½-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, sliced
4 ounces uncooked rice stick noodles or vermicelli
1½ pounds boned sirloin steak, thinly sliced
2½ Tablespoons minced shallots
2 Tablespoons sake (rice wine) or rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2 cups fresh bean sprouts
1 cup sliced fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
¼ cup minced green onions
3 Tablespoons fish sauce
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon thinly sliced red chile (optional)
6 lime wedges (optional)

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes. Strain broth; discard solids. Return broth to pan.
Place rice noodles in a large bowl; cover with hot water. Let stand 15 minutes; drain. Cook noodles in boiling water 1 minute or until tender; drain.

Combine the beef, shallots, sake, and minced ginger in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator 10 minutes. Add beef mixture to broth in pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook 3 minutes. Stir in bean sprouts and next 6 ingredients (bean sprouts through black pepper); cook 1 minute.

Place the noodles into each of 6 large bowls; top with broth mixture. Garnish with sliced chile and lime wedges, if desired.

Serves 6.

January 1, 2012

Winter Fruit Salad

Serve dishes with both adult and kid appeal, like this simple and refreshing fruit salad of Asian pears, grapefruit, and pomegranate seeds.
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Winter Fruit Salad
recipe and image courtesy of wholeliving.com

3 pink grapefruits, peel and pith removed, cut into segments
1 pomegranate, seeded
2 Asian pears, quartered, cored, cut into thin wedges
1½ tablespoons raw honey
6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
Flaky sea salt

In a medium bowl, toss grapefruit, pomegranate seeds, pears, and honey.

Top with mint and salt.

Serves 4-6.

December 31, 2011

Frozen Peach Champagne Cocktail

Rachael Ray – Emmy Award-winning host, author, and energetic culinary guru — creates an easy-to-make slushy for grownups. An absolute must-have for New Year’s morning.

Frozen Peach Champagne Cocktail
Rachael Ray, abullseyeview.com

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What You’ll Need
¼ cup sugar, to rim glasses
1 pint peach sorbet
2 shots Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, or Cointreau
1/3 bottle chilled champagne or sparkling wine
Optional: raspberries and 4 sprigs mint

What You’ll Do

Place a shallow bowl of water alongside a shallow bowl with ¼ cup sugar in it. Dip 4 cocktail glasses in water, then sugar to rim glass.

Place 4 scoops peach sorbet in blender. Add 2 shots orange liqueur. Fill blender with champagne to maximum fill line or up to 1-inch from top of blending pitcher. Place cover on blender tightly.

Blend until smooth and pour into cocktail glasses. Careful! Don’t wreck the pretty sugar rims. Garnish with a few raspberries and a sprig of mint and serve.

Serves 4.

December 30, 2011

Champagne Ginger Cocktail

Ted Allen – the Emmy Award-winning host of Food Network’s “Chopped” – combines sugar and spice in this sweet cocktail. Perfect for a New Year’s Eve partygoer who appreciates a kick!

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What You’ll Need

Ginger-Infused Simple Syrup:
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
½ cup sliced ginger (about 2 ounces)
½ cup vodka

Cocktail and Garnish
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
3 Tablespoons candied ginger, cubed for garnish
1 bottle chilled sparkling wine

What You’ll Do

For the syrup: Simmer water, sugar, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan for 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vodka. Chill for 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, strain to remove the ginger pieces.

For the garnish: Spread the sugar into a thin layer on a plate. Coat the rim of the glass with the juice from the lemon wedge and immediately dredge in the plate of sugar. Add a few pieces of candied ginger to each glass.

Pour 1 Tablespoon of the ginger-infused simple syrup over the ginger pieces and top with the sparkling wine until the glass is 2/3 full.

Makes 8 servings.

Indulgent Oyster Spread

Can’t afford caviar? Try this oyster spread instead! This dip tastes like it’s loaded with fat and calories but actually weighs in at only 85 calories with 4 grams of fat and 4 grams carbohydrate per serving. Oysters do come with some natural saturated fat and cholesterol, however, so that’s why this decadant dip should be reserved for special occasions like New Year’s. Spread on crostini or pipe into Belgian endive cups for a gorgeous appetizer… It’s delish!
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Indulgent Oyster Spread
recipe and image courtesy of lunchbunchbistro.com

(1) 8-ounce can smoked or regular oysters, drained and rinsed well
8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, room temperature
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon crushed garlic
¼ teaspoon smoked or regular paprika
1 small shallot, chopped
The juice of one lemon
1 Tablespoon dry sherry (optional)
1 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients in a food processor and purée until smooth. Let chill overnight. Add a pinch more lemon juice, sea salt, or fresh cracked pepper to taste before serving. (Using fresh cracked pepper in this recipe is very important, as it brings out the flavor of the oysters). Serve with crostini, fresh vegetables, or spread on endive cups.

Serves 12.

December 29, 2011

Chili Lime Shrimp Pita Pocket

Top Chef Master Marcus Samuelsson answered our crustacean craving with a light pita pocket stuffed with marinated jumbo shrimp, drizzled in a creamy yogurt sauce and flavored to spicy satisfaction. The Swedish culinary connoisseur and owner of New York eatery Red Rooster Harlem routinely dishes up crisp, healthy recipes for the whole family to enjoy – these easy-to-make pockets are no different!

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Chili Lime Shrimp Pita Pocket
Marcus Samuelsson, abullseyeview.com

1 pound jumbo shrimp, cleaned and cut into large pieces (or may we suggest using sweet Maine shrimp here!)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
½ cup plain yogurt
¼ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 jalapeno, diced small
2 scallions, chopped
Juice of 2 limes
2 pita breads, each cut in half
2 cups shredded romaine

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Season shrimp with salt and pepper.

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Mix yogurt, chili powder, garlic powder, and jalapeno in small bowl.

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Heat olive oil in sauté pan on medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook about a minute on each side. Add the lime juice and remove from heat. Finish with scallions.

Stuff each piece of pita with ¼ of the shrimp and romaine. Drizzle on yogurt sauce, as desired.

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Squeeze on some extra lime juice and send a wave of shrimp to your senses!

Serves 4.

December 28, 2011

Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps

Planning your New Year’s Eve party menu? Here’s a sure winner to add to the lineup!

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Bacon Water Chestnut Wraps
allrecipes.com

1 pound sliced bacon
2 (8 ounce) cans whole water chestnuts, drained
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup chili sauce

Cut bacon strips in half. In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until almost crisp; drain. Wrap each bacon piece around a water chestnut and secure with a toothpick. Place in an ungreased 13-inch x 9-inch x 2-inch baking dish.

Combine the brown sugar, mayonnaise, and chili sauce; pour over water chestnuts. Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Yields 10 servings.

December 27, 2011

Peppermint Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

What are you going to do with all those candy canes that were never eaten during the holidays? Here’s a great suggestion…

Any time we can think of an excuse to try one of Giada’s recipes, we sprint into the kitchen and throw on an apron. And with the holidays in full swing, it’s not hard to find reasons to whip up seasonal sweets – holiday parties and hostess gifts to name a couple.

The celeb chef’s peppermint-chocolate sandwich cookies are the extremely delicious solution to all of the above situations. Gooey mint-infused chocolate is squeezed between two sugar cookies topped with crunchy candy cane flakes – they’re (almost) too pretty to eat!

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Peppermint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis, abullseyeview.com

1 (16.5 ounce) tube refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Decorating suggestion: crushed candy canes
Special equipment: a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, and a 1/2-ounce cookie scoop

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven.

In a medium bowl, knead together cookie dough and 1/4 cup flour until smooth. Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick. Using a 2 1/2-inch cookie cutter, cut out circles from the dough. Knead together any scraps of dough and roll out again. Continue to cut out pastry circles until there are 24 pieces in total.

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Place the dough circles on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookies are slightly golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Cool and transfer to a wire rack. Reserve 1 parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Combine 1 cup of chocolate chips and cream in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Whisk in the peppermint extract and refrigerate mixture for 1 hour.

Using a 1/2-ounce cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure, place the chocolate mixture in the center of the flat side of 12 of the cookies. Place the remaining cookies on top and gently squeeze to distribute filling evenly. Place on a baking sheet and freeze until filling has set, about 25 minutes.

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Combine the remaining chocolate chips and the vegetable oil in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Dip the top of each cookie in the melted chocolate and return to baking sheet. Sprinkle the tops with crushed candy canes. Refrigerate until firm and serve!

Yields 1 dozen sandwich cookies.

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December 26, 2011

Broiled Maine Scallops with Sweet Lime Sauce

Overindulge this holiday season? Try this healthy version of a seafood favorite. Rather than creating a fatty lime sauce, this modified recipe coats the scallops in honey and lime juice and gently broils them.

clearre11_broiledscallops

Broiled Maine Scallops with Sweet Lime Sauce
adapted from mayoclinic.com

4 Tablespoons honey
2 Tablespoons lime juice
1 Tablespoon olive or canola oil
1 pound Maine scallops, rinsed and patted dry
2 teaspoons grated lime peel
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

Preheat the broiler. Position the rack 4 inches from the heat source. Cover a broiler pan or cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spray generously with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the honey, lime juice, and oil. Add the scallops and toss gently to coat with the honey mixture.

Arrange the scallops in a single layer on the prepared broiler pan or baking sheet. Broil until opaque throughout when tested with a tip of a knife, about 5 minutes. Turn the scallops over and broil for another minute.

Divide the scallops onto 4 warmed plates. Pour any juices from the broiler pan or baking sheet over the scallops. Sprinkle with grated lime peel and serve with a lime wedge.

Serves 4.

Day-After-Christmas Soup

A great way to use leftover holiday turkey!

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Day-After-Christmas Soup
Aine McAteer, Oprah.com

Leftover turkey carcass
1 onion, peeled and quartered
3 cloves whole garlic
2 stalks fresh rosemary
Several thyme sprigs
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced small
1 clove garlic, minced
2 leaves fresh sage, minced
Grated zest of 1 lemon
2 sticks celery
2 carrots
1 sweet potato
1 cup red lentils
2 cups cooked turkey , chopped
Sea salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Big handful fresh flat-leaf parsley

To make the stock: Remove any meat you can from the turkey carcass and set aside. Break up the turkey bones and put into a large soup pot with 6 to 8 cups water, rosemary and thyme sprigs, onion and whole cloves of garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered for about an hour. Strain off the broth into a bowl.

Heat 1 Tablespoon olive oil and sauté the onion and garlic with a pinch of sea salt. Add the sage leaves, lemon zest, celery, carrot and sweet potato and continue to sauté for a minute or so. Add the red lentils, chopped turkey and the turkey stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add sea salt to taste and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve in big bowls sprinkled with fresh parsley and a twist of black pepper.

December 23, 2011

Christmas Eve Champagne Punch

A great traditional Holiday Champagne Punch to serve on Christmas Eve with the family!

Champagne Punch 051
image: betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Christmas Eve Champagne Punch
tastebook.com

1 container of Raspberry, Orange or Rainbow Sherbet (or whatever flavor you prefer)
1 two liter bottle of Ginger Ale
1 Magnum bottle of Asti Spumante Champagne (our favorite)
1 bag of frozen fruit (strawberries/peaches)
Freeze a pretty mold of ice

Empty one container of sherbet in a large punch bowl, add the fruit. Pour in the 2 liter bottle of Ginger Ale and one bottle of Champagne. Gently put in the ice mold.

Let the Holiday CHEERS begin!!!

December 22, 2011

Foolproof Standing Rib Roast

Divinely Delicious Foolproof Standing Rib Roast! A virtually stress-free recipe for a Christmas favorite!

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Foolproof Standing Rib Roast
Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

1 (5-pound) standing rib roast
1 Tablespoon House Seasoning, recipe follows

Allow roast to stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Rub roast with House Seasoning; place roast on a rack in the pan with the rib side down and the fatty side up. Roast for 1 hour. Turn off oven. Leave roast in oven but do not open oven door for 3 hours.

About 30 to 40 minutes before serving time, turn oven to 375° and reheat the roast. Important: Do not remove roast or re-open the oven door from time roast is put in until ready to serve.

House Seasoning
1 cup salt
¼ cup black pepper
¼ cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Serves 6-8. Great paired with a rich, intense wine like Cabernet Sauvignon.

December 18, 2011

Antipasto Kabobs

These do-ahead appetizers are always a hit. Great for holiday parties!

kabobs
Antipasto Kabobs
image and recipe courtesy of tasteofhome.com

1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
40 pimiento-stuffed olives

40 large pitted ripe olives

¾ cup
Italian salad dressing
40 thin slices pepperoni

20 thin slices hard salami, halved

Fresh parsley sprigs, optional

Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the tortellini, olives and salad dressing. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Drain and discard marinade. For each appetizer, thread a stuffed olive, folded pepperoni slice, tortellini, folded salami piece, ripe olive and parsley sprig if desired on a toothpick or short skewer.

Yields 40 appetizers.

December 16, 2011

Pistachio Cranberry Bark

For a lovely gift, fill a plate or cup with bark, gather up clear cellophane around it and tie with red and green satin ribbons. Friends and family will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

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Pistachio Cranberry Bark
recipe and image courtesy of tasteofhome.com

2 cups
(12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
5 ounces
white candy coating, chopped
1 cup chopped pistachios, toasted, divided

¾ cup dried cranberries, divided

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt semisweet chips; stir until smooth. Repeat with white candy coating.

Stir ¾ cup pistachios and half of the cranberries into semisweet chocolate. Thinly spread onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with candy coating.

Cut through with a knife to swirl. Sprinkle with remaining pistachios and cranberries. Chill until firm. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Yields about 1 pound.

December 15, 2011

Horseradish-Crusted Steak Roulade

This impressive dish will wow your friends and family. Roll peppers, herbs, and cheese into flank steak, then coat with breadcrumbs for a crisp crust. When you slice the roast, each piece shows off some of the red and green filling.

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image: Con Poulos

Horseradish-Crusted Steak Roulade
recipe and image courtesy of foodnetwork.com

For the Steak:

2 red bell peppers, stemmed, halved lengthwise and seeded
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 leek, white and light-green parts only, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1  2¼-to-2½-pound flank steak, trimmed
½ pound sliced provolone cheese (about 8 slices)

For the Crust:

¾ cup breadcrumbs
3 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 Tablespoons drained horseradish
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Prepare the stuffing for the steak: Preheat the broiler and place the peppers cut-side down on a foil-lined broiler pan. Broil until the skin is charred, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with a plate, and set aside until cool enough to handle. Peel the peppers with your fingers or a paring knife. If necessary, lightly rinse to remove any remaining skin and pat dry.

Preheat the oven to 425°. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leek and garlic and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Let cool.

Gently pound the steak with the flat side of a mallet or heavy skillet until ¼ inch thick. Lay out on a cutting board with the long side facing you and season with salt and pepper. Place the roasted peppers evenly over the meat, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with the cheese slices, then the leek mixture. Roll the meat away from you into a tight cylinder, tucking in the filling as you roll.

Make the crust: Mix the breadcrumbs, rosemary, parsley, horseradish, olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a medium bowl until moistened. Brush the steak roll with a bit of olive oil and press the breadcrumb mixture over the top and sides. Tie the roll with twine in three or four places, making sure it’s not too tight (you want the crust to stay intact).

Place the steak roll on a rack in a roasting pan and roast until the crust is golden and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 130° for medium-rare, about 45 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes. Carefully cut off the twine, then slice the roll crosswise into 1-inch pieces.

Serves 4.

December 14, 2011

Tom and Jerry

Invented in the early 1850s by “Professor” Jerry Thomas — the Bolívar of American drinking — at the Planters’ House hotel, St. Louis, the Tom and Jerry was a holiday favorite for a century.

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Tom and Jerry

image and recipe from esquire.com

12 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 bottle brandy
Pinch of ground allspice
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
1 bottle dark rum
Milk

Nutmeg

Separate the eggs. Beat the whites until they form a stiff froth, and the yolks — to which you have added the sugar — “until they are as thin as water,” as the professor advises, gradually adding 4 ounces brandy (spiceaholics will also add a pinch each of ground allspice, cinnamon, and cloves). Fold the whites into the yolks.

When ready to serve, give it another stir and then put 1 Tablespoon of this batter in a small mug or tumbler. Now add 1 ounce brandy (although some die-hard Dixiecrats prefer bourbon) and 1 ounce Jamaican rum, stirring constantly to avoid curdling. Fill to the top with hot milk and stir until you get foam. Sprinkle a little grated nutmeg on top. This one may require practice and a certain amount of fiddling, but it’s well worth the effort.

Note: Some people find the milk too rich and filling, so they use half hot milk, half boiling water.

December 13, 2011

Peppermint Semifreddo

For those of you without an ice-cream maker, this recipe is a way for you to make a sophisticated frozen-dairy dessert without having to make the appliance purchase.

peppermintsemifreddorecipePeppermint Semifreddo
recipe and image from 101cookbooks.com

1/2 cup peppermint candies (divided), I like the vintage looking ones, and buy the ones made with natural dyes when I can find them.
3 large organic eggs, separated
1/2 cup granulated sugar (divided)
1/3 cup peppermint liquor
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled

Start by putting the peppermint candies in a paper or plastic baggy – crush them into little chunks (not dust) with a rolling pin.

Now you are going to whip the cream. Pour all of the cream into a medium-sized bowl and whisk until soft, floppy peaks form – they should be lazy peaks, if they look pert and perky, you’ve gone too far. Place the whipped cream in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.

Prepare an ice bath by filling an extra-large bowl with water and ice cubes. I don’t like to sacrifice all those perfectly good ice cubes so I usually throw a couple bags of frozen corn (still in the bag) into the water instead. Set the ice bath aside.

Set a large heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. You need to move quickly here, so have everything right on hand. Add the egg yolks and 1/4 cup of the sugar, and quickly start whisking – whisk until the mixture starts to pale, 30 seconds or so. Add the peppermint liquor and whisk like you’ve never whisked before until the mixture starts to thicken (somewhere between 30 seconds and 2 minutes depending on the heat). Quickly move the bowl from the stove and set it in the ice bath. Whisk the mixture until it is cool to the touch. Keep the pot of water simmering.

Take another heatproof bowl (you can use the one from your electric mixer if you’ve got one) and set it over the simmering water, whisk the egg whites and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Start whisking, you want the sugar to dissolve and the egg whites to warm up a touch – the heat makes it easier to whip them. After a minute or so remove them from the heat and whisk the whites until they have glossy peaks – four or five minutes. They should be structured and stiff.

Time to put it all together: Gently fold the egg-whites into the egg yolk mixture. Pull the whipped cream from the refrigerator and fold that in as well. Add half the crushed peppermint candies, and fold in with as few strokes as possible. One of the reasons I add the peppermint candies in the end is because I don’t want them to stain everything pink. If you stir them too much you are going to get pink.

Spoon the mixture into serving glasses.

This dessert is rich in heavy cream, so I like to do tiny portions of it served in little vintage shot-shaped glasses. Just the right amount of sweet to end a meal without putting you over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining peppermint candies and place in the freezer until it firms up, an hour or so.

This recipe will make a dozen or so desserts, depending on the size of your glasses.

December 12, 2011

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Calorie-saving culinary connoisseur Ellie Krieger dishes up a seasonal snack solution that won’t result in those extra holiday pounds. Potato chips are full of grease, but these Zucchini Parmesan Crisps are light and healthy with just the right amount of salt. And, the zucchini almost turns sweet once baked – absolutely scrumptious! Try them out at home as a snack or side dish.

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Zucchini Parmesan Crisps
Ellie Krieger

Cooking spray
2 medium zucchini (about 1 pound total)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (3/4 ounce)
1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1/8 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450°. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch thick rounds. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with oil.

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In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, and a few turns of pepper. Dip each round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides, pressing the coating on to stick.

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Place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake the zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove with spatula, serve immediately, and snack away!

Serves 4.

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