Carnitas de Puerco (Mexican Pulled Pork with Citrus & Cumin)

Carnitas de Puerco (Mexican Pulled Pork with Citrus & Cumin)

Carnitas de Puerco1 (5-6 lb.) Pork Shoulder
2 tsp. Cumin
2 tsp. Mexican Oregano
3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
2 Oranges, halved
1 Lime, halved
2 Bay Leaves
1 White Onion, peeled and Quartered
2 T. Sweetened Condensed Milk
12oz. can Mexican Beer
4 C. Water
2 tsp. Salt

For serving: Tortillas, Fresh Avocado Guacamole, Salsa Mexicana

Rinse pork shoulder under cool running water and pat dry with a clean paper towel. Move to cutting board and cut into 2 inch pieces. Cut as uniform as possible. Don’t trim fat; it will render in cooking and crisp the pork in the final stages of cooking. Place pork in heavy bottomed stock pot or dutch oven and toss with cumin and oregano. Add garlic, 2 orange halves, lime halves, bay leaves, onion, and sweetened condensed milk and pour the beer on top. Cover with water and bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium high heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat to medium and continue simmering, stirring occasionally, for 90 minutes to 2 hours, until pork is fork tender and all liquid is evaporated. Stir more often as liquid evaporates to ensure pork does not stick to the pan. Preheat oven to 425. Once liquid has evaporated, transfer to oven safe dish (unless using Dutch oven) and discard bay leaves, onion, orange and lime. Sprinkle with salt and pour any pan drippings into roasting dish. Cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven and squeeze juice of remaining oranges on top. Serve with tortillas, guacamole and salsa.

Huarache con Setas Silvestres (Crisp Corn Masa Sandals with Fragrant Mushrooms)

Huarache con Setas Silvestres (Crisp Corn Masa Sandals with Fragrant Mushrooms)

Huarche con Setas Silvestres1 ½ C. dried Masa Harina
½ tsp. Salt
1 C. Warm Water

2 T. Butter
½ T. EVOO
¼ tsp. dried Oregano
12oz. Assorted Mushrooms, cut into ½’ slices
2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. Sherry Vinegar
½ tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Black Truffle Oil
4 T. Canola Oil

Optional, for Garnish: Salsa Mexicana, Queso Fresco, Watercress, Cilantro

In large mixing bowl, combine masa harina, salt and water and mix thoroughly. Knead 2-3 minutes until smooth. Divide into 4 equal size portions and roll to form a cigar shape. Place masa between to pieces of lightly oiled parchment paper. Using a tortilla press or rolling pin, press each into a sandal shape, about a quarter inch thick. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

Heat butter and evoo in large sauté pan over medium heat until very hot and oil begins to shimmer. Add oregano, mushrooms and garlic and sauté for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently to ensure the mushrooms do not stick and garlic does not burn. Stir in vinegar, salt and truffle oil and cook an additional 5 minutes, until mushrooms are soft. Taste and season with salt if needed. Set aside.

Heat 1 T. canola oil in large heavy bottomed pan or cast iron skillet over medium high heat until oil is hot. Place one hurache at a time in skillet and cook 2 minutes until it begins to blacken on the bottom. Flip and repeat with the other side an additional 1-2 minutes. Transfer to serving plate and repeat with remaining oil and huraches.

Spread a quarter cup of the mushroom mixture on top of each hurache, and sprinkle with garnish items, as desired.

Jalapenos Rellenos de Queso (Stuffed Jalapenos with Chihuahua Cheese)

Jalapenos Rellenos de Queso (Stuffed Jalapenos with Chihuahua Cheese)

12 Jalapeno Chiles, Dry Roasjalapeno rellenosted, Peeled and Seeded
¾ C. shredded Chihuahua or Jack Cheese
2 C. Canola Oil (for frying)
½ C. Flour
½ tsp. Salt
4 large Egg Whites
Avocado, Cilantro, Mexican Crema, for Garnish

Using the lengthwise slit in the jalapeno from de-seeding, gradually spoon in 1 T. of cheese into each pepper and tightly squeeze it to close the sides around the shredded cheese. Place prepared peppers on a waxed paper lined sheet tray and chill for 1-6 hours. In large sauté pan over medium high heat, heat the canola oil to 350. Meanwhile add flour to a shallow bowl and stir in the salt. Place egg whites in a medium size bowl and beat until soft peaks form. Dredge chilled peppers in flour, then dip into egg whites and carefully lay in hot oil Use a spatula or spoon to baste the peppers with hot oil. Once bottoms are golden, turn with slotted spoon or spatula and brown other side. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel lined plate to drain. Garnish with diced avocado, cilantro and a dollop or crema.

Mexican Pintos with Cactus

Mexican Pintos with Cactus

2 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed
3 T. salt, divided
3 slices bacon, chopped
2 large flat cactus leaves (nopales)
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
2 slices onion

Mexican Pintos with CactusPlace the pinto beans into a slow cooker, and fill to the top with hot water. Add the bacon, 2 T. of salt, jalapeno and onion. Cover, and cook on High for 3 to 4 hours, adding water as needed, until beans are tender. Remove any thorns from the cactus leaves, and slice into small pieces. Place in a saucepan with 1 T. of salt, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water for 1 minute. Add to the beans when they are soft, and cook for 15 more minutes on High.

Nopales con Cebolla Caramelizada, Chile Guajillo y Queso Fresco (Nopal Cactus with Caramelized Onion, Guajillo Chile and Fresh Cheese)

Nopales con Cebolla Caramelizada, Chile Guajillo y Queso Fresco (Nopal Cactus with Caramelized Onion, Guajillo Chile and Fresh Cheese)

Nopal Cactus with Caramelized Onion, Guajillo Chile and Fresh Cheese3 dried guajillo chiles, seeded and torn into flat pieces
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
1/214.5-ounce can diced tomato (preferably fire-roasted)
1 pound (8 medium) nopales cactus paddles
3T. olive or vegetable oil
1 large white onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Salt
A little sugar, if necessary
1 cup (4 oz.)crumbled Mexican queso fresco or other fresh cheese such as feta or goat cheese
A big handful of cilantro leaves

Prepare the guajillo chile base. Heat a medium (10-inch) skillet over medium. Toast the chiles by using a metal spatula to press them against the hot surface for a few seconds, until very aromatic, then flipping and pressing the other side. Roast the unpeeled garlic, turning from time to time, until soft and blotchy-black in spots, about 15 minutes. Cool and peel off the papery skin. Break the chiles into smaller pieces and combine in a blender jar with the garlic and the undrained can of tomatoes. Blend until smooth—this will take a minute or so because of the tough chile skins. Clean and cut the cactus. Holding a paddle with a pair of tongs, trim off the edge that outlines the paddle, including the blunt end where the paddle was severed from the plant. Slice or scrape off the spiny nodes from both sides of the paddle. When all paddles are cleaned, cut them into squares that are a little larger than ½ inch. Prepare the dish. In a large (4-quart) saucepan, heat the oil over medium. Add the onion and cook, stirring regularly, until richly browned, about 10 minutes. Add the cactus, cover the pan and cook 5 minutes. Uncover, raise the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring frequently, until all of the cactus’s sticky stuff has evaporated and you hear the cactus sizzling in the oil. Immediately, set a medium-mesh strainer over the pan, pour in the chile mixture and press it through. Stir everything together and let it cook until the chile mixture has thickened to the consistency of tomato paste. Stir in ½ cup water, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes. Taste and season with salt (usually about 1 tsp.) and a little sugar if necessary to balance the chile’s natural astringency. Serving. Serve the warm mixture with the fresh cheese, cilantro and warm tortillas if you want to enjoy the dish as a filling for soft tacos.

Grilled Panela Cheese & Green Sauce with Nopales

Grilled Panela Cheese & Green Sauce with Nopales

1 Panella Cheese Round (200-300grilled panela cheese and green sauce with nopalesg)
½ – 1 C. Green Sauce (Your Favorite)
2 Nopales Paddles, cleaned
Chopped Cilantro to taste
Toast or Corn Tortillas for Serving

Cut 2 slices parchment paper larger than the cheese. Grease the paper and place on your hot grill or skillet, and place cheese on top of the paper. Cook 5-6 minutes until cheese has been marked. Add the nopales to the grill and cook one side while the cheese grills. Flip Nopales at 3-4 minutes. Cover the top of the cheese with the second sheet of greased parchment paper and flip carefully. Cook an additional 4-6 minutes, until that side is marked and cheese is warmed through. Meanwhile, remove your nopales after 3-4 minutes on the second side, and set aside. Remove cheese to a plate, carefully removing parchment first. Slice cactus into thin strips. Place half sauce on the plate around the cheese, top the cheese with the cactus, then drizzle with remaining sauce and garnish with cilantro.

Cooking Nopales

Cooking Nopales

Cleaning cactus is no easy feat to accomplish. In fact, I was too scared to attempt it until I was older, for fear of getting pricked. That’s because even though the bigger needles are visible to the naked eye, there are also some tiny needles that are as clear as water and virtually invisible. You can blanch your cactus, boil it, saute it, or even cure it in salt for a different approach. Heck, some people blend cactus into their green smoothies. Note that the smaller the paddle, the more tender the cactus will be.

6 nopales (cactus pads)cactus

1 tomatillo husk (to reduce the viscosity effect)
1/4 white onion
1 garlic clove
1/2 tsp. of salt

VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Use kitchen tongs to hold the nopales or, better yet, wear gloves to protect your hands from the thorns. Once you are familiar working with cactus paddles then you can try to clean them without gloves. Place the cactus paddle on your cutting board and, using a sharp knife, trim off the edge. Scrape the spines, thorns or eyes, running your knife from back to front until completely clean. Turn the cactus paddles and do the same on the other side. Repeat the same steps with the rest of the cactus paddles. Finally rinse the cactus paddles and take them back to your clean cutting board. Place a medium size pot with 4 quarts of water to boil. Cut the cactus paddles in small strips. Once the water is boiling add the cactus, onion, garlic, 1/2 tsp. of salt and the tomatillo husk. Boil uncovered for about 8-10 minutes or until tender. The cactus will exude a sticky substance and most times will foam, so, pay special attention to this step to avoid the foam to spill over. Once cooked, drain and rinse the cactus. Let them drain completely or pat them dry with paper towels. Now, your nopales are ready to be prepared into salads, scrambled eggs, as an addition to your Mexican stews, etc. Note: Nopales also taste good grilled and topped with melted cheese. Just make 3-4 small cuts to each nopal after you cleaned the spines; brush them with oil and grill them for about 3 minutes on each side.

Tortilla de Maiz

Tortilla de Maiz

Tortilla de Maiz2 C. Masa Harina
½ tsp. Salt
1 ½ C. Warm Water

In a large mixing bowl, combine masa harina and salt. Slowly pour in warm water and mix with your hands until incorporated. Knead mixture until you have one large ball of dough. Pull a small bit of the dough off and roll into a ball to test the consistency. Squash the ball gently between the palms of your hands until about a quarter inch thick. The dough should squish easily in your hands without being too sticky and form a flat disc with rounded edges. If the disc has rough edges, it is too dry, and you need to add more water. If the dough sticks easily to your hands, it is too wet and you need more masa. Pull and equal size portion of dough from the larger piece and roll into a ball just larger than a golf ball. Place on sheet tray lined with parchment paper and repeat for all the dough. Keep the dough ball covered with a damp towel as you work to keep the dough from drying out. Heat comal over medium high heat. Put 2 6” round pieces of plastic (such as from a plastic shopping bag) and place one on the bottom of a tortilla press. Place a masa ball on the plastic and cover with the second plastic disc. Close cover and apply enough pressure to flatten the dough into a 5” tortilla. Lift lid of press, gently peel away the top layer of plastic, flip in your hand and peel away the other piece of plastic. Place tortilla on heated pan and cook 30 seconds, until bottom starts to brown and bubble. Turn tortilla over and cook 30 more seconds. Remove and set aside. Cover with a clean towel to keep warm. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking the tortillas on top of each other after cooking.

Authentic Homemade Mexican Chorizo

Authentic Homemade Mexican Chorizo

The key ingredient that gives Mexican chorizo its red color and spiciness is the Ancho chile powder.

1.10 lb. or 500 grams of ground pork
1 tbsp. cumin seed
1 tsp. coriander seed
5 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. oregano
½ tsp. thyme
1 tbsp. granulated garlic
1 tsp. sea salt
5 whole peppercorns (or ½ tsp. ground black pepper)
2 tbsp. Ancho chile powder OR substitute with a combination of 2 tbsp. paprika mixed with ½ tsp. cayenne powder OR 2 tbsp. paprika mixed with 1 tsp. red chili powder
3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (can substitute with red wine vinegar)

Handling chili powders can cause burning to your hands. I highly advice to use plastic gloves for handling the chili and chorizo. In a mortar and pestle grind the cumin seed, coriander seed and cloves. Break up the bay leaves with your hands as much as possible and add them to the spices in mortar and pestle, grind until you have a fine powder. Next add the remaining spices to the mortar and pestle and grind/mix until everything is well combined. In a large glass bowl using your hands break up the ground pork. Next you may want to put on some plastic gloves to prevent burning and staining to your hands. Pour in the vinegar and half the spices, spread them evenly on the pork, and start working it into the ground pork. Adding more of the spice mixture until it has all been used up. Keep working the meat until it turns red (from the chile) and all the spices have been well combined into the meat. It is best to let the chorizo sit overnight before cooking with it. This will allow all of the flavors to come together and make for a better tasting chorizo. Alternatively, you can freeze the chorizo until you are ready to use it. Since this chorizo does not have casings you can form or shape sausages or patties and keep their form by wrapping them in plastic kitchen wrap. Another way to store the chorizo in the freezer is by portioning out amounts and storing it inside plastic bags. This way you defrost what you need or want without having to use the whole large batch.
8.Now you are ready to use the chorizo in all of your favorite Mexican recipes like tacos, sopes, frijoles charros, chiles rellenos or any of your other favorite fusion recipes.

Salsa Mexicana

Salsa Mexicana

Salsa Mexicana½ medium white onion, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
Fresh Hot Green Chiles to Taste (usually 1 or 2 serranos or 1 small jalapeno), stemmed, seeded (if you wish) and finely chopped
12 oz. (about 2 medium-small round or 4 to 5 plum) red-ripe tomatoes, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
2 to 3 T. (loosely packed) chopped fresh cilantro (thick bottom stems cut off)
About 2 T. fresh lime juice

Scoop the onion into a strainer, rinse under cold tap water, shake off the excess and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the green chile, tomatoes, cilantro and lime. Stir well, taste and season with salt, usually about 1/2 tsp.. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.

Chorizo de Mexicana

Chorizo de Mexicana

Mexican Chorizo

5 whole black peppercorns
3 whole cloves
¼ tsp. ground Cinnamon
½ tsp. Oregano (Mexican)
½ tsp. dried Thyme
2 tsp. Paprika
2 tsp. Salt
2 dried Ancho Chiles, stemmed, seeded, dry roasted and rehydrated
1 dried Guajillo Chile, stemmed, seeded, dry roasted and rehydrated
1 dried Chipotle Chile, stemmed, seeded, dry roasted and rehydrated
1 Chile de arbol, stemmed, seeded, dry roasted and rehydrated
2 cloves Garlic
2 T. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 lb. Fatty Pork (such as pork shoulder), coarsely ground

Place peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, paprika and salt in a blender and blend until peppercorns and cloves are completely crushed. Add rehydrated chiles to blended spice mixture, along with garlic and apple sider vinegar. Blend for one minute. If necessary, feel free to add up to ½ cup of water to the mixture to ensure it is thoroughly blended. Place ground pork in large bowl and top with spice mixture. Using a large wooden spoon or your hands, mix the pork and spices. Cover and refrigerate for 12-24 hours to allow flavors to combine. Freeze or refrigerate until use. Note: Sausage must be fully cooked before eating.

Salsa Verde

Salsa Verde

8ounces (3 to 4 medium)tomatillos, husked and rinsed
Fresh hot green chiles to taste (1 or 2 serranos or 1 jalapeno), stemmed
2large garlic cloves, peeled
6 sprigs of fresh cilantro (thick bottom stems cut off), roughly chopped
1small white onion, finely chopped
Salt

Roast the tomatillos, chile(s) and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet 4 inches below a very hot broiler, until blotchy black and softening (they’ll be turning from lime green to olive), about 5 minutes. Flip them over and roast the other side. Cool, then transfer everything to a blender, including all the delicious juice the tomatillos have exuded during roasting. Add the cilantro and 1/4 cup water, then blend to a coarse puree. Scoop into a serving dish. Rinse the onion under cold water, then shake to remove excess moisture. Stir into the salsa and season with salt, usually 1/2 teaspoon.Salsa Verde

Recado Rojo

Recado Rojo

Recado Rojo5 T. Annato Seeds
1 C. Warm Water
1 tsp. Cumin, ground
1 tsp. dried Mexican Oregano
5 Cloves, whole
1 T. Black Peppercorns
6 Allspice Berries
1 T. Salt
8 Cloves Garlic, peeled
1 Habanero, seeded
¼ C. Orange Juice
¼ C. White Vinegar
2 Lemons, juiced
2 tsp. Herradura Silver Tequila

Place annatto seeds in warm water and soak for 15 minutes to allow seeds to soften slightly. Drain and place in spice grinder along with Cumin and next 5 ingredients (through salt). Grind to a fine powder. Place garlic, chile, citrus juices, vinegar and ground spice mixture in a blender and blend for 2 minutes and blend until you have a smooth paste, 2 minutes or so. Add tequila and blend on high another 30 seconds. Remove to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Fundamentals of Mexican Cooking

Fundamentals of Mexican Cooking

Fundamentals of Mexican Cooking

Achiote Paste (Recado Rojo)
Agave Nectar
Avocado
Beans, Black, Pinto
Canela (Mexican Cinnamon)
Cheeses: Queso Chihuahua, cojita, fresco, oaxca
Chiles, Dried: Ancho (poblano), Chile de Arbol, Chipotle (jalapeno), Guajillo (, Mulato, Pasila
Chiles, Fresh: Habanero, Jalapeno, Poblano, Serrano
Chiles, Canned: Chipotle in Adobo
Chorizo de Mexicana
Corn Husks
Herbs: Cilantro, Epazote, Flor de Jamaica (hibiscus flower), Hojo Santa, hojas de aguacate (Avocado Leaves), Mexican Oregano
Jicama
Limes
Manteca Pura (Rendered Pork Lard)
Masa
Mexican Chocolate
Mexican Crema
Nopales
Pepitas
Piloncillo (Panela)
Purslane
Sea Salt
Spices: Annatto, Cumin,
Tomatillos
Valentina (A tangy hot sauce)

Cazuelas (Glazed Ceramic Cooking Dish)
Comal (Flat griddle for roasting ingredients, toasting spices, and cooking tortillas)
Molcajete (Volcanic Rock Mortar & Pestle)
Tortilla Press

Traditional Techniques

Dried Chiles: Use a damp cloth to wipe the chile and remove any dust. With kitchen shears, cut off stem and make a slit on one side. Pry open and remove any seeds. Depending on recipe, you may need to reserve seeds. Heat cast iron pan or comal over medium low heat until hot. Working in batches, open chile and place it directly onto the pan, using tongs to push it down flat. Cook 30-50 seconds, flip, and repeat on the other side. Unless recipe states otherwise., remove toasted chiles to a glass bowl, cover with warm water, using a plate to weight down so they stay under water if necessary. Soak for 30 minutes, and discard soaking liquid.
Fresh Chiles: To dry roast fresh chiles (excluding poblanos), heat cast iron pan or comal over medium-high heat and place shiles in the pan to cook, turning often, until blackened on all sides. If chile needs to be peeled, place in a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow peppers to rest for 30 minutes until skin separates easily from the flesh and pepper is cool enough to handle. Using a paring knife, gently rub the skin off the pepper. To see, cut a slit from tip to base of the stem. Gently remove and discard seeds and ribs. Habanero and serrano chiles do not need to be peeled.

Garlic: Heat comal over medium high heat. Break garlic cloves away from head and place in pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes per side, until they are blackened in spots. Remove garlic, let cool and peel.

Onion: heat comal over medium high heat. Place a peeled and quartered onion in the pan and cook for 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until soft and blackened slightly.

Tomato: heat comal over medium high heat. Place whole tomato directly onto the hot pan. Cook, turning once or twice, until blackened on all sides.

Tomatilo: heat comal over medium high heat. Remove and discard husk. Rinse under cool water to remove sticky outer covering, pat dry, and place on hot pan. Cook, turning once or twice, until blackened on all sides but before it is about to burst.

Poblano Pepper: Turn flame of gas burner to medium high. Place chile carefully on open flame and cook, turning often until completely black. Place in a glass bowl, cover with plastic wrap and allow peppers to rest for 30 minutes until skin separates easily from the flesh and pepper is cool enough to handle. Using a paring knife, gently rub the skin off the pepper. To see, cut a slit from tip to base of the stem. Gently remove and discard seeds and ribs.

 

Mexican Sandwich Breads

Bolillos and teleras are right up there with tortillas when it comes to daily staples in the Mexican diet. Just as it is hard to find a small village, town, or city without its own tortilleria. it is almost impossible to find one without a panaderia (bakery). A panaderia begins its shifts long before the rooster has had its chance to crow at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning; the mariachis haven’t even finished their singing for the night. Its main products are bolillos and teleras, both descendants of the French baguette. Few things are as delicious a few minutes after they have been taken out of a smoldering-hot brick oven.

Like baguettes, bolillos and teleras are very crunchy and golden on the outside, but they are different in a few ways. They are rolls rather than long thin breads, ranging from 5 to 6 inches in length, and chubbier, either round or oval. Bolillos and teleras have a thinner crust and more soft bread inside than in baguettes. That bready interior is called migajon. and it is usually removed before assembling tortas {but most people don’t discard it. they munch on it right after they remove it). Cooks also use migajon for bread crumbs or stuffings, or as an ingredient in albondigas- meatballs—or meat loaf.

The difference between bolillos and teleras is just the shape. A telera is a bit flatter and rounder than a bolillo and has two vertical lines running down its top, dividing the
bread into thirds, which helps you cut it into pieces when you attempt to eat it. A bolillo has a fold down the middle and two knots at each end, which are tighter than the ends of a telera. I have found that the roll that I call a bolillo is called a Portuguese bun in many Latin grocery stores in the DC area. To keep your Mexican bread (as the rolls are also called in some stores) fresh, store the rolls well sealed in a paper bag inside a closed plastic bag. If you know you are
not going to eat all of the rolls within a couple of days, freeze them just as you would
bagels.

Bolillos and teleras are used for so many things! They are cut and placed in a
bread basket in restaurants and homes; they are dunked in coffee, hot chocolate, or
atoles (masa based beverages) in the mornings; and. of course, they are used to make
an infinite number of tortas. They are incredibly delicious spread with refried beans
with cheese melted on top {molletes)—and make great bread crumbs and
croutons. Can’t find bolillos or teleras {or Portuguese buns)? You can substitute
French rolls, baguettes cut into shorter lengths, or petite baguettes.

Spicy Avocado Aioli

Spicy Avocado Aioli

1 Avocado
1 T mayo
juice of 1 lime
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sugar
half of jalapeno (with seeds if spiciness is desired)
1/3 C. of milk

Add first 6 ingredients in the food processor and pulse a few times until smooth. Slowly add milk and puree until smooth and has reach the consistency that you want.

Vanilla Orange Sugared Cranberries

Vanilla Orange Sugared Cranberries

Vanilla Orange Scented Cranberries3 ¾ cups sugar, divided
1 ¾ cups water
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. orange extract or grand mariner
1- 12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries (about 3 cups)

Combine 2 ½ cups of sugar, water, vanilla, and orange extract in a sauce pan. Heat over medium until the sugar has completely dissolved—but not boiling. Pour in the cranberries and stir. The hot syrup will loosen the skin, saturate the berries and adhere to the berries over time. Cover the cranberries with a small plate to keep them mostly submerged. Then cover the pan and place it in the refrigerator overnight. Place the remaining 1 ¼ cup of sugar in a rimmed dish. Strain the cranberries and place them in the sugar. Shake until they are completely coated. Carefully transfer them to a baking sheet to dry—about an hour. Once the sugar coating is hard, place them in an air-tight container and keep in a cool spot for up to a week!

Herb-roasted beef with roasted fennel, leeks and carrots

Herb-roasted beef with roasted fennel, leeks and carrots

Herb-roasted beef with roasted fennel, leeks and carrots3 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 cloves garlic
1 T. Dijon mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
1 T. honey
1 tsp. lemon pepper
3 lb New York beef strip roast
4 oz bacon
1 leek
1 fennel bulb
6 carrots

Preheat oven to 350°F. Chop the rosemary and thyme leaves, discarding the stems. Finely chop the garlic. Mix the rosemary, thyme and garlic with the mustard, oil, honey and lemon pepper. Rub the beef with 2 T. of the marinade. Layer the bacon over the beef. Place beef in a roasting pan and fold the bacon under. Halve the leeks and wash thoroughly to remove dirt and grit. Cut into pieces. Trim the stems and fronds off the fennel and cut bulb into quarters. Peel the carrots and cut into large chunks. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the vegetables for 4 min. Drain and mix with the remaining the marinade. Roast beef 40 min. Add vegetables and continue roasting for 20 min., or until an instant read thermometer reaches 135°F. Transfer beef to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Let meat rest at least 10 min. before serving with roast vegetables.

Penne with Brussels Sprouts, Chile and Pancetta

Penne with Brussels Sprouts, Chile and Pancetta

Penne with Brussels Sprouts, Chile and PancettaSea salt
8 oz. penne
2 T. extra virgin olive oil, more for drizzling
3 oz. pancetta, diced
1 large rosemary sprig
6 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
1 jalapeño or Serrano chile, thinly sliced (or substitute 1 large pinch crushed red pepper flakes)
Freshly ground black pepper
8 oz. brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
2 tsp. butter
Fresh lemon juice, for serving

Bring large pot heavily salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until pasta is just al dente (do not overcook). Meanwhile, heat large sauté pan over high heat and add the olive oil. When oil is hot, add the pancetta and rosemary, and sauté until the fat on the pancetta starts to turn translucent and very lightly brown, about 1 minute. Add the garlic, chile and freshly ground black pepper to taste, and sauté until garlic and pancetta turn richly brown, about 3 minutes. Add the brussels sprouts, a large pinch of salt and a splash of water to pan, and sauté until sprouts just start to soften, about 2 minutes. Spread sprouts mixture in pan and press down to flatten. Let it sear for a minute, then stir it up and repeat. This helps brown the sprouts. Add the butter, and sauté for another minute. Drain penne and add it to pan with brussels sprouts mixture. Cook, tossing, until everything is well mixed. Spoon into pasta bowls and top with a drizzle of oil and lemon juice, and a little cheese if you like.

Make Your Own Panko

Make Your Own Panko

pankoPreheat oven to 300. Cut several pieces of bread into strips. Feed them into a food processor fitted with a shredder attachment. Spread on a sheet pan and bake for 6-8 minutes, tossing every two minutes or so. You don’t want them to brown, you just want them crispy.

Baked Raspberry Oatmeal with a Brown Butter Drizzle

Baked Raspberry Oatmeal with a Brown Butter Drizzle

Waking up to a warm breakfast isn’t hard to do when this baked raspberry oatmeal is on the menu! You can make it the night before and then reheat the next morning, served with a drizzle of brown butter.

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oatsBaked Raspberry Oatmeal with a Brown Butter Drizzle
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
1 cup canned light coconut milk
â…“ cup pumpkin puree
2 T. unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups frozen raspberries
2 T. unsalted butter, browned

Heat oven to 350F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with nonstick spray. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Pour the raspberries into the batter and stir to combine. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top of the oatmeal is set. Let cool for a few minutes and then serve with a drizzle of brown butter.

Pretty Prosciutto & Fig Toasts

Pretty Prosciutto & Fig Toasts

Pretty Prosciutto & Fig Toasts¼ C. Fig Preserves
2 T. Mascarpone Cheese
2 slices Bread, Toasted
¼ lb. Prosciutto, thinly sliced
1 T. chopped Fresh Basil

In small bowl, stir together fig preserves and mascarpone until creamy. Spread on toast and layer slices of prosciutto on top. Sprinkle with basil. If you have fresh figs, slice one and add on top.

Grilled Corn with Basil Butter & Smoked Paprika

Grilled Corn with Basil Butter & Smoked Paprika

6 earns corn, huskedGrilled Corn with Basil Butter & Smoked Paprika
8 T. Butter, room temperature
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Pepper
3 T. chopped Basil
¼ tsp. Salt
1-2 tsp. Smoked Paprika

Preheat grill to medium high heat. Rub each ear of corn with a tsp. or so of the butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap each in a small sheet of aluminum foil (2 layers of foil is all you want). Place directly on grill and cook for 20-25 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes. In small bowl, stir together remaining butter, basil and salt. Spread butter on hot corn and sprinkle with smoked paprika.

Drop Biscuits

Drop Biscuits

Sour-Cream-Drop-Biscuits-22 C. Flour
3 T. Sugar
1 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Baking Powder
¼ tsp. Baking Soda
1 ½ C. Heavy Cream
Butter, for Serving

Preheat oven to 400 with rack in center position. Line sheet pan with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and soda in bowl to remove any lumps. Pour in the cream and stir with rubber spatula until a sticky, shaggy dough comes together. Use large spoon or 2 inch ice cream scoop to drop the dough onto the prepared sheet pan in 12 even lumps, about 2 T. per scoop. Bake, rotating halfway through cooking, until biscuits are nicely golden brown, 18-20 minutes.

Sauteed Shrimp with Piquillos, Olives and Pork Belly

Sauteed Shrimp with Piquillos, Olives and Pork Belly

Sautéed Shrimp with Piquillos, Olives and Pork BellySalt
4 ounce slice of Pork Belly, about ½ inch thick
3 T. EVOO
12 oz. medium Shrimp, shelled and deveined
2 large cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
½ tsp. Smoked Spanish Paprika
¼ C. sliced Piquillo Peppers
¼ C. coarsely chopped green Spanish Olives
¼ C. dry White Wine, such as Albarino
Crusty Bread, for Serving

Bring medium saucepan of salted water to a boil Add pork belly and boil for 3 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and let cool. Slice pork belly into ¼ inch pieces. In large skillet, heat oil. Add pork belly and cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add shrimp, garlic and paprika to the pan. Season with salt and cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until shrimp are just pink, about 90 seconds. Add peppers, olives, and wine and simmer until liquid is reduced by half, about a minute longer. Add pork and simmer 1 minute. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Tortilla Espanola, Portlandia Style

Tortilla Espanola, Portlandia Style

tortilla española12 large Eggs
5oz Bag Flavored Potato Chips, lightly crushed (Salt & Pepper, Bacon, Thai, etc)
2 T. EVOO
3 Scalliosn, sliced
3 oz. Spanish Chorizo, chopped finely

Preheat broiler and position a rack 8 inches from heat. In large bowl, beat eggs. Add potato chips and let sock for 10 minutes. In large oven-proof skillet, heat oil until shimmering. Odd scallions and chorizo and cook over high heat, stirring, until chorizo has rendered its fat, about 2-3 minutes. Add egg mixture, stirring to combine with sausage and scallions. Cook over medium high heat until the bottom and sides are set, about 3 minutes. Place in oven and broil until the top is lightly browned and the eggs are set through, 3-4 minutes longer. Slide onto a plate, cut into wedges and serve hot, warm, or room temperature.

Sheet Pan Suppers Shakshuka

Sheet Pan Suppers Shakshuka

Sheet Pan Shakshuka2 Poblano Peppers, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
2 Jalapeno Peppers, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
1 lg. Shallot, finely chopped
6 cloves Garlic, sliced thinly
1 ½ tsp. Cumin
2 T. Smoked Paprika
Salt
3 T. EVOO
28oz. Can Crushed Tomatoes
12 Large Eggs
½ – 1 cup crumbled Feta Cheese (2-4 oz.)
½ C. roughly chopped Flat Leaf Parsley
Toast or Warm Pita Bread, for Serving

Preheat oven to 350 with a rack in center position. Toss together peppers, shallot, garlic, cumin, paprika, half tsp. salt and oil on sheet pan until vegetables are evenly coated. Bake until spices are fragrant and vegetables have softened and started to brown, 10-15 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Pour tomatoes with juice, over vegetables and stir to combine. Use a wooden spoon to make 12 evenly spaced divots in the sauce; sauce will be a bit runny but do your best. Crack the eggs into the divots and sprinkle with salt. Return pan to the oven and bake until eggs are cooked to your liking. It will take about 10-15 minutes for the whites to set but the yolks to remain runny. Remove from oven, sprinkle with feta cheese and fresh parsley. Serve hot with toast or pita on the side.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Big Dutch Baby with Meyer Lemon Sugar

Sheet Pan Suppers: Big Dutch Baby with Meyer Lemon Sugar

Big Dutch Baby with Meyer Lemon Sugar8 T. (1 stick) unsalted butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
8 large eggs
2 cups milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. grated Meyer Lemon Zest
Fresh Berries for Serving

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees with a rack in the center position. Place the butter on a sheet pan and put the pan in the oven until the butter melts and begins to bubble, just a few minutes. While the butter is melting, whisk together the flour, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl.  In a blender or food processor, whirl the eggs on high for 1 minute. Slowly pour in the milk and vanilla (with the motor running). Pour into a large bowl and whisk in the flour; the batter will be really thin. Pour the batter onto the sheet pan (make sure the melted butter is evenly coating the pan first), and then bake until the pancake is puffy and golden around the edges, about 15 to 20 minutes. While it bakes, mash together sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl until sugar is fragrant and yellow. When the pancake is done, remove it from the oven and sprinkle generously with sugar. Cut into squares and serve immediately with fresh berries and extra sugar on the side.

 

Sheet Pan Suppers: Green Eggs & Ham

Sheet Pan Suppers: Green Eggs & Ham

Sheet Pan Suppers Green Eggs & HamOlive oil cooking spray
1 boneless ham steak
4 to 5 c. chopped kale
1 tbsp. olive oil
kosher salt
8 to 12 large eggs
½ c. crumbled feta cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Crusty bread

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F with a rack in the center position. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and mist the foil with cooking spray. Spread out the ham on the prepared pan and bake, using a spatula to mix and turn the ham occasionally, until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the ham to a plate with a spatula or slotted spoon. Do not wipe up any grease from the bottom of the pan. Place the kale on the sheet pan, drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt, and toss to coat. Spread out the kale in an even layer. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven but leave the oven on. Use a wooden spoon to make divots in the kale to accommodate the eggs. Crack an egg into each divot. Sprinkle the feta, the reserved ham cubes, and some salt and pepper on top. Return the pan to the oven. Bake the eggs until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny, 10 to 15 minutes. Enjoy greens and eggs and ham immediately, with some crusty bread to soak up the warm, runny yolks.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Ham & Swiss Pastry Braid

Sheet Pan Suppers: Ham & Swiss Pastry Braid

sheet pan ham and swiss braid 1Flour, for rolling out pastry
14oz. box frozen Puff Pastry, thawed according to package directions
1 T. Dijon Mustard
5 oz. Swiss Cheese
5 oz. sliced Ham
1 Egg White, lightly beaten
Pinch Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 with rack in center position. Lightly flour a work surface and rolling pin. Roll out puff pastry to a 10 x 15 inch rectangle, about ¼” thick. Place on a sheet of parchment paper so that one of the short sides is facing you. Use a sharp knife to cut off the top corners of the rectangle at a 45 degree angle, leaving 4 inches of dough between them. Next cut out 2 triangular notches at the bottom of the rectangle, leaving 4 inches between them as well. It should look like a short stumped christmas tree missing its pointing top. Finally make 8 diagonal slits, about 1 inch apart and parallel to the notches, along each side of the pastry, leaving a 4 inch wide strips in the center intact.

braid1
Spread Dijon over the center strip of pastry (not flaps), and layer the cheese and ham over the mustard leaving a ¾” border on top and bottom. Fold bottom and top edges over the ham and cheese. Starting from top and alternating sides, fold the diagonal flaps of pastry over the filling, crisscrossing them over one another, until all strips are interwoven and filling is covered. Trim away any loose pieces of pastry at the bottom, pinch the openings to seal it, and transfer the parchment paper with braid on it to a sheet pan. Brush the top lightly with egg white and sprinkle with pepper. Bake until pastry is deeply browned and cheese is bubbling up through the slits, about 25-30 minutes. Let cool slightly before cutting it into thick slices and enjoying warm.

braid2

Crispy Filipino Fried Spareribs with Vinegar Dipping Sauce

Crispy Filipino Fried Spareribs with Vinegar Dipping Sauce

Crispy Filipino Fried Spareribs With Vinegar Dipping Sauce1/2 cup cane or rice vinegar, plus more for serving
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. freshly minced garlic (about 6 medium cloves)
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. oyster sauce
1 tsp. yellow mustard
1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1 rack St. Louis-cut pork spareribs, cut into 1-inch strips across the bone, then cut between each bone into individual portions
6 T. cornstarch
Canola or peanut oil, for deep frying

spare
In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, pepper, oyster sauce, mustard, and 1 tsp. salt. Place rib pieces in a large zipper-lock bag. Pour in marinade, seal tightly, and toss to distribute marinade evenly. Place in refrigerator and marinate for at least 4 hour or up to overnight, turning bag at least once during that time. Fill a wok or Dutch oven at least 4 inches deep with oil and heat to 375°F over high heat. Working in batches, transfer 1/3 of ribs to a medium bowl (they should be wet and dripping with marinade), add 2 T. cornstarch, and toss until ribs are evenly coated in a sticky, paste-like batter. Carefully lower ribs, one at a time, into hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally for even cooking. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season lightly with salt. Repeat with remaining ribs. Serve immediately with vinegar for dipping.

Tagliata with Artichoke Salad

Tagliata with Artichoke Salad

tagliata with artichoke salad8 Baby Artichokes
3 T. EVOO
Salt & Pepper
1 boneless Strip Steak, 3 inches thick (about 2 pounds)
4 cloves Garlic, halved
4 4” springs each of Rosemary & Thyme
Shaved Parmesan, for garnish

Pluck and discard the outer leaves of the artichokes, revealing yellow-green core. Using a serrated knife, trim off the top third. Cut each into quarters. Bring medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add artichokes and cook 2 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Transfer to a bowl and toss with 2 T. oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 400 and preheat a cast iron skillet until very hot. If your fire alarm is as sensitive as mine, get that oven vent on high! Season steak with salt and pepper. Add remaining 1 T. oil to pan and add steak, garlic and herbs. Cook over high heat until steak is brown and crusty on bottom and sides, about 10 minutes. Flip and set garlic and herbs on top. Add artichokes to skillet around the meat. Place in oven and roast until steak reaches 135 in the center, about 20 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes. Strip rosemary and thyme leaves from stems, discard stems and add leaves to artichokes. Thinly slice steak and arrange on platter, surround with the artichokes and garnish with shaved parmesan.

Cheesy Baked Polenta with Mixed Herbs

Cheesy Baked Polenta with Mixed Herbs

Olive oil cooking spray
1 tube precooked polenta, cut into 16 slices
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground cracked black pepper
1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 mixed fresh thyme and chives (or herbs of choice!)

Preheat oven to 400. Spray a sheet with the olive oil spray. Space out the polenta rounds evenly on the pan. With a brush, brush each slice with olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the polenta about halfway through. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and herbs. Return to oven for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Brown Sugar-Bacon Biscuits

Brown Sugar-Bacon Biscuits

Brown Sugar-Bacon Biscuits6 slices of bacon
1 T. brown sugar
coarse ground black pepper

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 T. brown sugar
2 T. granulated sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. coarse ground black pepper
3/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spread bacon across baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with brown sugar and black pepper. Bake until crisp and cooked through, about 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully use tongs to place the hot bacon on a cutting board. Don’t put the bacon on paper towels or they might stick. Ick! Allow to cool until you’re able to handle the slices and chop into medium chunks. Set aside. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper or foil, and set aside. In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and black pepper. Add cold butter and use your hands to quickly break the butter into the flour until mixture resembles coarse meal. In another bowl, combine egg and buttermilk and beat lightly with a fork. Add to flour mixture all at once, stirring to incorporate. Once batter is nearly incorporated, add bacon and mix in. You may want to dump the shaggy biscuit mixture onto a lightly floured board to knead together a few times. Don’t overwork the dough and melt the butter, Just make sure it comes together. Roll or pat dough into a 1-inch thickness. Cut into 2-inch rounds using a biscuit cutter or cut into 2×2-inch squares. Reshape and roll dough to create more biscuits with excess scraps. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Serve biscuits warm with jam or a fried egg. I love these biscuits the day they are made. They can be kept in the fridge and will last for two days. The shaped, uncooked biscuit can also be frozen. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake up in the morning.

Bacon, Egg & Avocado Corn Cakes

Bacon, Egg & Avocado Corn Cakes

Bacon, egg and Avocado COrn cakes1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup finely ground cornmeal
1 tsp. baking soda
1⁄2 tsp. salt
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
11⁄2 cups fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 large eggs
1 cup low-fat milk
2 T. olive or canola oil
4 large eggs, for serving
1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and sliced into 12 slices
4 pieces of Bacon, cooked
1 pint grape tomatoes, quartered

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, salt, and pepper. Add the corn, shallots, and garlic to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the 2 eggs and milk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a spoon until just combined. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Use a 1⁄3-cup measure and scoop the corn cake batter into the skillet, leaving about an inch in between each corn cake. Cook until the cakes begin to set and bubble on the top, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently flip and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the corn cakes with a spatula and place on a plate or baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining batter. Cook the 4 eggs to your liking: sunny side up, over easy, poached, scrambled, or your preferred style.  To assemble the corn cakes, add the avocado slices and tomatoes over the top, and add a slice of bacon, cut in half in a cross over them. Top each with a cooked egg.

Note: In my last few years of poaching eggs, I’ve learned that it really does work best if your eggs are fresh, your water is not boiling at all, and you are patient. These days, I can poach an egg with success almost every time. It just takes lots of practice.

Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon1 tablespoon good olive oil
8 ounces dry cured center cut applewood smoked bacon, diced
2 1/2 pounds chuck beef cut into 1-inch cubes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound carrots, sliced diagonally into 1-inch chunks
2 yellow onions, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped garlic (2 cloves)
1/2 cup Cognac
1 (750 ml.) bottle good dry red wine such as Cote du Rhone or Pinot Noir
1 can (2 cups) beef broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (1/2 teaspoon dried)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, divided
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pound frozen whole onions
1 pound fresh mushrooms stems discarded, caps thickly sliced
For serving:
Country bread or Sour Dough, toasted or grilled and rubbed with garlic clove
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, optional

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a large plate. Dry the beef cubes with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. In batches in single layers, sear the beef in the hot oil for 3 to 5 minutes, turning to brown on all sides. Remove the seared cubes to the plate with the bacon and continue searing until all the beef is browned. Set aside. Toss the carrots, and onions, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper in the fat in the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are lightly browned. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the Cognac, stand back, and ignite with a match to burn off the alcohol. Put the meat and bacon back into the pot with the juices. Add the bottle of wine plus enough beef broth to almost cover the meat. Add the tomato paste and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven for about 1 1/4 hours or until the meat and vegetables are very tender when pierced with a fork. Combine 2 tablespoons of butter and the flour with a fork and stir into the stew. Add the frozen onions. Sauté the mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of butter for 10 minutes until lightly browned and then add to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil on top of the stove, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Season to taste. To serve, toast the bread in the toaster or oven. Rub each slice on 1 side with a cut clove of garlic. For each serving, spoon the stew over a slice of bread and sprinkle with parsley.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Pork Tenderloin with Squash, Apples & Onions

Sheet Pan Suppers: Pork Tenderloin with Squash, Apples & Onions

Roasting a pair of lean pork tenderloins is one of the simplest ways to ease into a world beyond beef and chicken. Butternut squash, apples, red onion, and garlic are a sweet, savory, autumn-inspired backdrop for the rich, tender meat, but feel free to swap out the winter squash and apples for whatever’s in season (zucchini and tomatoes in summer, baby artichokes and ramps in spring, perhaps).

4 cups chopped, peeled butternut squash, cut into 3/4-inch chunks; about 1 large squash)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled cored, and cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1 large red onion, cut into 1/2-inch-thick chunks
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 pork tenderloins (1 pound each), trimmed of all visible fat
2 tsp. dried herbes de Provence
1 tsp. ground mustard (such as Colman’s)
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the center position. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Toss together the squash, apples, onion, garlic, olive oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, and the thyme on the prepared pan until well combined. Spread out the vegetables evenly. Place the pork tenderloins on a plate. Pat them dry with a paper towel, then rub them with the remaining 1 tsp. salt, the herbes de Provence, ground mustard, and pepper until coated on all sides. Place the tenderloins on top of the vegetables in the sheet pan, leaving some space between the two pieces of meat. Roast the pork and vegetables for 15 minutes, then use the kitchen tongs to flip the tenderloins over. Continue to roast until the vegetables are browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the pork registers 145°F, an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Allow the pork to rest, loosely covered with aluminum foil, for 10 minutes before transferring them to a cutting board to slice.

Sheet Pan Suppers: Baked Baby Back Ribs & Potatoes

Sheet Pan Suppers: Baked Baby Back Ribs & Potatoes

baked Baby Back Ribs & Potatoes

1 T. Dijon Mustard
1 tsp. Liquid Smoke (optional)
3 T. Dark Brown Sugar
1 ½ T. Garlic Powder
2 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Sweet or Smoked Paprika
2 tsp. dry Mustard
1 tsp. Cumin
¼ tsp. Cayenne
4 lb. Baby Back Ribs, trimmed of silverskin
1 lb. medium size Yukon Gold Potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed and quartered
1 T. EVOO
1 tsp. Old Bay
¾ C. BBQ Sauce, plus extra for serving

Preheat oven to 325 with one rack about 4 inches from broiler and another rack in center position. Place dijon in small bowl, add liquid smoke; stir to combine. In another small bowl, whisk together sugar, garlic powder, salt paprika, dry mustard, cumin, and cayenne. Brush both sides of the ribs with the Dijon, and sprinkle with the spice mixture to coat. Pat spices into the meat so it sticks. Wrap tightly in foil and place them in the center of a sheet pan. Combine potatoes, oil, and old bay in a bowl and toss to coat. Place potatoes around the packet of ribs. Bake for 90 minutes, gently flipping the package and stirring the potatoes halfway through cooking. Carefully transfer the package of ribs to a platter or another sheet pan and remove foil. Return ribs, without foil, to the center of the pan in a single layer, meaty side up. Brush them with BBQ sauce. Bake until knife slides easily into the thickest part of the meat, an additional 30 minutes. Keep an eye on the potatoes. If they are getting too dark, remove to a serving bowl and cover with foil to keep warm. When ribs are knife tender, remove potatoes to a bowl and cover with foil. Turn oven to broil and broil the ribs on the top rack until slightly charred in spots, about 3 minutes. Allow ribs to rest for 10 minutes before slicing between the bones. Serve with potatoes and extra BBQ sauce.

Beef Brisket with Onion-Lemon Marmalade

Beef Brisket with Onion-Lemon Marmalade

bisket1 beef brisket (6 to 8 lb.)
2 large onions, sliced
2 large lemons, peeled and thinly sliced
2 C. port
1/2 C. brown sugar
3 T. mixed herbs (optional – rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme)
4 cloves garlic, chopped coarsely
1-1/2 tsp. coarsely ground pepper

Trim excess fat from brisket. In a roasting pan, place onion slices, lemon slices and garlic. Lay brisket on top of vegetables. Mix together port, brown sugar, and herbs; stir until sugar dissolves, then pour evenly over brisket. Sprinkle brisket with pepper and cover roasting pan tightly with foil. Bake in a 300:F oven until brisket is very tender when pierced, about four hours. When brisket is tender, uncover pan and return it to the oven (raise temperature to 450:F to brown the meat slightly, about 20 minutes. Remove brisket from pan. Skim off fat from pan juices and put in sauce pan. Boil juices and vegetables, uncovered, stirring often. As mixture thickens, reduce heat to medium and stir constantly; cook until thick and shiny, and reduced to about 1-3/4 C. (20-30 minutes). Add salt to taste. To serve, slice across the grain. Spoon marmalade over brisket. Garnish with lemon “bows” and chopped parsley if desired. Serves 10-12.

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

2 lbs. Beef, top round steak
2 T. Butter
1 ea. Onion, chopped
3 ea. Garlic cloves, minced
8oz. Mushrooms, sliced
1 can Tomato Sauce (15 oz.)
2 T. Tomato Paste
1/4 C. Brown Sugar
1/4 C. Cider Vinegar
1 C. Water
2 tsp. Paprika
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
1 T. Dijon Mustard
¾ tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
16oz. Egg Noodles, wide
1/2 C. Sour Cream

Freeze beef slightly; remove from freezer and slice diagonally in thin slices; melt butter in large pot or pan over medium high heat. Add beef and cook until browned; drain liquid and add onions and cook for5-10 minutes; add garlic and mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, cider vinegar, water, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper and cook for 30-45 minutes. In large pot bring water to boil and add noodles; cook according to package directions; drain. Add sour cream to meat mixture and cook for a couple of minutes until thickened; add cooked noodles and combine thoroughly; serve.

Beef Tenderloins with Bleu Cheese & Rosemary Vinaigrette

Beef Tenderloins with Bleu Cheese & Rosemary Vinaigrette

4 (6-oz) beef tenderloins
6 oz. blue cheese
2 T. milk
4 slices pepper bacon
1 T. olive oil
Salt
Cracked black pepper

1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 T. chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp. dry mustard powder
2 T. white wine vinegar
1/2 C. extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Cracked black pepper

Cut a 1/2-inch horizontal slit in the side of the beef tenderloins. Place the cheese and milk in a small bowl and mix well with a fork. Put the mixture into a pastry bag without a tip in place (or put the mixture in a heavy freezer bag, work it down into one corner, and cut the end off). Using your fingers, open a pocket in one of the tenderloins. Pipe equal amounts of the cheese filling into the slits. Wrap the bacon slices around the sides of the tenderloins, tucking in the ends of the bacon to form a seal. Carefully place the tenderloins on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. To prepare the vinaigrette, place the shallot, garlic, mustard, rosemary, dry mustard, and vinegar in a medium bowl and whisk together. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until thickened and emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside. To cook the tenderloins, preheat the oven to 350°. Heat the olive oil over high heat in a very large ovenproof sauté pan until smoking hot. Remove the tenderloins from the refrigerator, season them generously with salt and pepper, and place them in the pan. Sear the tenderloins for about 2 minutes on each side. Put the pan in the oven and cook for 5 to 8 minutes for rare to medium-rare doneness. Remove from the oven and serve hot with the vinaigrette.