Violet Cardamom Soda

Violet Cardamom Soda

1 C. sugar
1 C. water
3-4 C. loosely packed violets
1 green cardamom pod, crushed
A few cranks of freshly ground black pepper
sparkling water

In a large pan, combine the sugar and water by stirring with a wooden spoon. Bring the mixture to a boil, and let it roll for one minute. Turn off the heat, and fold in the tiny purple flowers, black pepper, and cardamom. Cover, and let stand for a day. Bring the mixture back to a boil for one minute. Carefully strain out the solids, and reserve them for a future recipe (coming next week). Also with care (for Pete’s sake, don’t burn yourself!), pour the remaining lavender-hued syrup into a sterilized pint jar, and let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating. To make violet cardamom soda, combine 2 T. of violet cardamom syrup (or more, if it suits you) with 16 oz. of icy cold sparkling water.

Mussel Casino with Poblano and Gruyere Cream

Mussel Casino with Poblano and Gruyere Cream

Mussels in shell- 3 lb.(about 50 mussels) scrubbed clean with cold water and beards removed
2 Poblano peppers (1 C.) – roasted with skin, seeds and stems removed
8 oz. Gruyere cheese, grated
1 C. heavy cream
12 slices bacon, cooked crisp and diced

Mussel Preparation: Place cleaned mussels in an 8 quart pot. Pour in enough water to cover mussels. Place lid on pot and bring to boil cooking mussels until shells fully open. Turn heat off and pour mussels into colander and rinse with cold water. Separate mussels from shells. Pull mussel shells in half and place one mussel in each shell on cookie sheet (if mussels are big cut them in half and place 1/2 in each shell). Heat cream over low-medium heat in double boiler until hot. Whisk in shredded cheese until melted keep warm. Preheat oven to broil. Process bacon and pepper in food processor until minced. Place a dime size portion of bacon/pepper mix on each mussel and broil for 4-5 minutes until hot. Spoon a tsp. of cheese sauce over mussels and serve.

Dungeness Crab Cake with Tomatillo Relish and Baby White Navy Bean Sauce with Cumin Essence

Dungeness Crab Cake with Tomatillo Relish and Baby White Navy Bean Sauce with Cumin Essence

Crab Cakes:
1 lb. Dungeness crab meat, cooked and deshelled
2 egg whites
1 oz. red bell pepper, seeded and minced
1 oz. red onion, peeled and minced
1 T. fresh basil, chopped
2 oz. dried bread crumbs
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire
½ tsp. Tabasco
cracked black pepper to taste

Tomatillo Relish:
4 oz. tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1 T. cilantro, chopped
1 oz. red onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 oz. cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced
2 oz.d red peppers, cored, seeded and diced
Juice of 2 limes

Baby White Navy Bean Sauce:
¼ C. dried baby white navy beans
2 C. water
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 C. nonfat milk

Baby White Navy Bean Sauce: Soak beans overnight or until completely rehydrated and puffy. Discard water and fill up again to same level. Place in a saucepan and add cumin. Bring liquid to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes to an hour. At this time, make your crab cakes and tomatillo relish. When beans are fully cooked and tender, discard any excess water. Add milk and puree in a blender until creamy and smooth. If necessary, adjust consistency by adding additional milk. Sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Season with cracked black pepper. Pour back into saucepan and keep hot. Tomatillo Relish: In a medium hot skillet, lightly simmer tomatillos until not quite tender. Cool and quarter. In a mixing bowl, add the remaining relish ingredients and mix well. Crab Cakes: Squeeze all of the excess water out of the crab. In a mixing bowl, add all crab cake ingredients. Mix with hands until evenly distributed. Add bread crumbs or egg whites depending upon how dry or moist the mix is. They should be moist enough to stay together, but firm enough so they won’t break apart. Mold four crab cakes approximately large hamburger size. Pat both sides lightly in flour. In a nonstick sauté pan, sear both sides of the crab cakes until golden brown. Now place on a cookie sheet pan and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for approximately 7 to 9 minutes.
To Plate: Pour white bean sauce around the plates. Place crab cakes in the center and top with tomatillo relish. Enjoy.

Granny Smith Apple Phyllo Crisp with Infused Vanilla Bean Oil and Vanilla Yogurt

Granny Smith Apple Phyllo Crisp with Infused Vanilla Bean Oil and Vanilla Yogurt

4 sheets phyllo dough
1 T. walnut or almond oil
3 Granny Smith apples
¼ tsp. cinnamon powder
2 T. honey
1 oz. walnut or almond oil
1 vanilla bean
1 T. vanilla extract
½ C. plain nonfat yogurt

Preheat: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Phyllo Squares: Spread out phyllo dough one sheet at a time. Keep remaining phyllo sheets under a moist towel to avoid drying out. Brush walnut oil very lightly on the phyllo sheet to coat evenly. Top sheet with second sheet and repeat procedure. Top with third and final sheet and again, repeat procedure. Cut phyllo into four-inch squares and place on parchment paper and on a baking sheet pan. Place in oven and bake approximately 4 to 6 minutes or until the top is golden and crispy. Turn phyllo squares over and bake for an additional two minutes. While dough is baking, prepare the vanilla oil. Vanilla Oil: Using a sharp knife, cut the vanilla bean in half the long way. Flatten husks with beans facing up. Using the back of the knife, scrape all of the beans out of the husk. Place beans in a small saucepan and add one oz. walnut oil and place on stove. Heat until hot, but not boiling. Remove pan from stove. Apples: Peel and cut apples into quarter-inch slices. Heat a large nonstick pan and add apples and cinnamon. Sauté over a high heat until caramelized, golden brown and soft. Add honey and mix well. Remove from heat and keep warm. Vanilla Yogurt: In a mixing bowl, add vanilla extract and yogurt. Using a whisk, whip until creamy and well-distributed. To Serve: Place a phyllo square in the center of the plate. Top with one oz. sautéed apples and one T. vanilla yogurt. Top with another phyllo sheet, apples and yogurt. And finally, layer a top layer of all ingredients. Drizzle infused vanilla bean oil over the top of the natural apple crisp. Enjoy.

Ginger-Mango Smoothie

Ginger-Mango Smoothie

1 C. low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 C. peeled and chopped mango (about ½)
4 oz. ounces soft tofu
2 T. ground flaxseed
1 tsp. finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 tsp. flaxseed oil
Pinch of cardamom

Combine the yogurt, mango, tofu, flaxseed, ginger, oil, and cardamom in a blender. Puree until smooth.

Yield: 2 servings
Calories: 239
Fat: 9.1g
Fiber: 3g

Polenta with Fresh Corn

Polenta with Fresh Corn

1 C. white corn grits
2 C. reduced-fat (2 percent) or whole milk
2 C. water
1/4 tsp. sea salt
3 ears fresh corn, kernels removed
Butter (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

In a medium saucepan, combine grits, milk, water, and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until grits become soft and creamy, about 5 minutes. Add more water if the mixture becomes too thick. Remove from heat. Stir corn kernels into the cooked grits. Cover and let stand to allow heat to cook the fresh corn. Just before serving add butter, if desired, and sprinkle with parsley.

Strawberry Basil Jam

Strawberry Basil Jam

2 pounds of strawberries, some super ripe, some under ripe
½ C. water
2 tsp. lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 C. sugar
¼ C. roughly chopped basil leaves
2 tsp. vodka

Remove the stem from the strawberries and halve or quarter them if they are large. Place them in a large stockpot with the water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium and continue to boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the berries from sticking to the pot. Meanwhile, put the sugar and basil leaves into a food processor fitted with a steel-blade attachment. Pulse until the basil is finely minced and the sugar turns a pale green color. Set aside. Remove the lid from the pot and stir the lemon juice into the berries (after they have simmered for 10 minutes). Add the sugar, ½ C. at a time, waiting for the liquid to return to a boil before adding more. Continue to boil for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Skim any foam that rises to the surface, if desired. Cook only until the jam begins to stick on the bottom of the pot. You should be able to draw a trail through the jam with your spatula. Another sign that the jam is ready is that it will begin to sputter. Pour jam through a funnel into hot, sterilized jars to within ¼ inch of the lips. Wipe the rims clean with a paper towel that you’ve submerged in the vodka. Attach new lids, and screw caps tightly. Invert jars briefly to vacuum seal, or process in a boiling water bath, submerged by 1 inch, for 10 minutes.

Peach-Nectarine Jam

Peach-Nectarine Jam

3 C. peeled, chopped peaches
1 1/2 C. peeled, chopped nectarines
2 T. lemon juice
3 C. sugar
1 package powdered pectin
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp. butter (to reduce foam)

First you need to prepare your jars. There are tons of articles on the web that tell you how to do this, so I won’t go into it here. Just make sure that CLEANLINESS is a big priority in your canning process…this is how you avoid contaminating all of your beautiful fruit preserves. I recommend looking at the Ball website or Pick Your Own for basic, safe canning information. Now, get your extra large stockpot/canner filled with water and starting to heat. That much water takes a while to get going. The water level needs to be high enough to cover filled jars by 1-2 inches when submerged in their water bath. Once your supplies are all clean and sterilized, you can start preparing your fruit. Peel, pit, and chop the fruit and place in 6 or 8 qt. stockpot. Stir in lemon juice. Add cinnamon stick. Carefully measure out sugar into a separate bowl. In a small bowl, mix powdered pectin with about 1/4 C. the measured sugar and mix well. Add this mixture to the fruit in the stockpot. Also add optional butter at this point. Bring the fruit mixture to a rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in remaining sugar quickly. Return to a full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. **NOTE: A full rolling boil is such that when stirred, the boil does not go away. After 1 minute, remove from heat. Skim off any foam. Remove cinnamon stick. Ladle into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 – 1/8 inch of the top (called “head-space”). Wipe any spills on the jar or rim with a clean damp cloth. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands finger-tip tight (this just means screw on tight, but don’t over-do it). Put all of the filled jars into your large stockpot (canner) of boiling water, submerge either with a canning rack (very handy), canning jar grabber, or silicone oven mitts (don’t recommend). The canning rack is great because it keeps the jars off the bottom of the pot preventing etching, scratching, or cracking the glass. If you don’t have a rack, you need to put a tea towel in the bottom of the pot to cushion the jars and make sure there’s space between the jars themselves to allow water to circulate through. The water should cover the jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add more boiling water if necessary. Once the water starts boiling with the jars in the canner, put the lid on and start your timer for 10 minutes. Boil on medium…not a hard boil, but not too gentle. Carefully remove jars from canner–THEY WILL BE HOT! Place on a towel on the counter to cool. When you hear the pop and see that the flat lid is indented, you know you have a good seal. If any jars don’t seal after a couple hours, you can reprocess 10 more minutes, or simply store in the fridge to eat right away. It will keep there for up to a month. Let sealed jars stand at room temp on counter for 24 hours. Store the unopened, sealed jars in a cool, dry, dark place for up to 1 year. Once you open one, store in the fridge for up to a month (any longer and it will start to crystalize).

Citrus Salt

Citrus Salt

This is a delicate salt, good for seasoning roasted fish or a classic seafood stew. I also sprinkle it on roasted asparagus and artichokes. Beyond that? Try just a few flakes on top of bittersweet chocolate gelato.

1/2 C. (125 g) coarse sea salt
1 T. finely grated orange zest
1 T. finely grated lemon zest

Combine the salt and zests in a bowl and rub them together with your fingers to distribute the citrus throughout the salt crystals. line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the salt out on it. Let air-dry at room temperature until the fine shavings of citrus are completely dry and crumble when you roll them between your fingers, 2 to 3 hours or up to overnight. You can leave the salt coarse, if you like. Or, for a finer grind, pulse it in a food processor a few times to break down the salt crystals into smaller grains. Store at room temperature in a tightly lidded jar. It will keep indefinitely, though the citrus will lose its aroma over time.

Skillet Scramble with Beef, Eggs, and Greens

Skillet Scramble with Beef, Eggs, and Greens

1 C. chopped fresh collard greens
1 T. olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/2 clove minced garlic
10 oz. lean ground beef
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1/8 ground allspice
2 small eggs, at room temperature
2-3 drops hot-pepper sauce
2 T. (1/2 oz.) grated Parmesan cheese

Wash greens and wilt in microwave, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, beat together eggs and hot sauce. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and soft, 8 to 9 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the meat and cook, stirring to crumble, just until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the collard greens, salt, pepper, and allspice. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Stir eggs into the beef mixture. Cook, stirring, until the eggs are set but still creamy, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove to a platter and sprinkle with the cheese.

Uses for Nuts

Uses for Nuts

To add another dimension of flavor to a green salad, mix in some toasted nuts such as pecans, walnuts, or pine nuts. Toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until they smell fragrant, shaking the pan often.

For hamburgers with a deliciously crunchy crust, sprinkle 1/2 to 3/4 C. chopped, unsalted peanuts on a sheet of wax paper. Press one side of each burger into the chopped nuts and broil, grill, or pan-fry the burgers.

To give frittatas and omelets interesting crunch, add chopped nuts such as cashews or almonds to the egg mixture.

For a pie crust that’s amazingly tasty and healthy, use ground nuts and oil in place of shortening or butter. In a food processor, combine 1/2 C. toasted slivered almonds, 1/3 C. sugar, and 1/4 tsp. salt until finely ground. Add 1 C. plain dried bread crumbs and pulse until mixed. Drizzle in 1 beaten egg white and 2 tsp. olive oil. Pulse until just combined. Press into a 9-inch springform pan or pie plate. Pre-bake the crust on a baking sheet for 10 minutes before adding the filling.

To give sauces rich body, add finely ground nuts. For instance, ground walnuts, blue cheese, and half-and-half make a fabulous sauce for pasta. Finely ground pine nuts lend flavor and body to pesto sauce. Pureed chestnuts make a rich base for sauces and soups.

For a tropical crust on fish fillets, add ground macadamia nuts to the breading. Or coat the fillets in flour, then beaten eggs, then chopped macadamia nuts. Sauté and serve topped with a simple pineapple salsa of cubed pineapple, chopped cilantro, red onion, and fresh lime juice.

To make stuffing taste better, stir about 1 C. toasted and chopped pecans into 6 to 8 C. your favorite poultry stuffing.

If you overcooked your stir-fry, add crunch with crushed peanuts or cashews.

For a new twist on breaded chicken, stir finely ground nuts into the bread crumb mixture. Pecans, walnuts, almonds, cashews, and peanuts all work well.

For an effortless muffin topping, sprinkle chopped nuts onto the muffin batter in each muffin C. before baking.

To make more substantial rice pilafs, add chopped nuts such as pistachios, macadamias, or almonds.

To liven up egg salad or chicken salad sandwiches, add 1/2 C. toasted and chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, or cashews to every 2 to 3 C. salad.

Tomato Dandelion Salad

Tomato Dandelion Salad

½ medium sized onion cut in half and sliced thin
2 T. light vinegar, (apple cider, rice, or white wine)
1 C. hot water
2 large red ripe tomatoes
3 C. chopped young dandelion greens
2 T. fresh basil cut into large pieces

1½ T. balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. coarse cracked black pepper
extra virgin olive oil to taste
Optional 1 oz. crumpled Chèvre goat cheese

Thinly slice onion and place in a small bowl. Pour 2 T. light vinegar and 1 C. hot water over onions and marinate while making rest of salad. Whisk together dressing ingredients adding oil at end a little at a time. Rinse and chop dandelion greens. Slice tomatoes and place on greens. Chop dandelion greens, place in basket of a salad spinner, rinse and spin dry. Toss dandelion greens with 2/3 of the dressing. Cut tomatoes in half crosswise and squeeze out juice. Cut into quarters, remove inner pulp and slice. Place on greens. Squeeze dry marinated onions and lay on top of sliced tomatoes and greens. Drizzle the rest of the dressing over tomatoes, onion and top with basil and goat cheese if desired.

Green Onion Noodle Soup

Green Onion Noodle Soup

2 T. sesame seed
2 tsp. salad oil
1/2 lb. ground lean turkey or ground lean pork
1/4 C. finely chopped sour pickles (cornichons or dills)
Peanut sauce (recipe follows)
6 C. fat-skimmed chicken broth
1 package (8 to 9 oz.) fresh fettuccine
2 C. chopped green onions (including green tops)
1/4 C. finely chopped roasted, salted peanuts
Thin green onion slivers, including tops (optional)

In a 5- to 6-quart pan over medium-high heat, stir sesame seed until lightly toasted, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour into a small bowl and set aside. Add oil and ground turkey to pan; stir over high heat until meat is crumbled and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Mix pickles and peanut sauce with meat; add broth and cover pan. When mixture is boiling, uncover, add fettuccine, and stir to separate pasta; when boil resumes, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is tender to bite, about 3 minutes total. Stir in chopped green onions. Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle with sesame seed, peanuts, and green onion slivers. Eat with chopsticks or a fork and spoon.

Peanut sauce: In a bowl, stir to blend 3 T. each peanut butter, soy sauce, Asian (toasted) sesame oil, and sugar; 2 T. rice vinegar; and 1 tsp. (or to taste) hot chili flakes.

Toyoshimas’ Teriyaki Tri-Tip

Toyoshimas’ Teriyaki Tri-Tip

1 C. soy sauce
1 C. washed raw cane sugar or 1/2 C. granulated sugar plus 1/2 C. firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 C. thinly sliced onion
1/2 C. sake
1/2 C. mirin (sweet sake; or 1/2 C. additional regular sake plus 1 tsp. sugar)
1 T. minced garlic
1 T. thinly sliced fresh ginger
1/2 tsp. coarse-ground pepper
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 beef tri-tip (1 1/2 to 2 lb.), fat trimmed, rinsed, and patted dry

Stand a gallon-size zip-lock plastic bag in a bowl. Pour in soy sauce, sugar, onion, sake, mirin, garlic, ginger, pepper, and mustard. Hold bag closed and shake until sugar is dissolved. Add beef; seal bag. Chill at least two hours or up to 1 day, turning occasionally. Lay tri-tip on a lightly oiled barbecue grill over a solid bed of medium coals or medium heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 4 to 5 seconds); close lid on gas grill (discard marinade). Cook, turning every 5 minutes, until rare in center of thickest part (cut to test; 125° to 130° on a thermometer), about 25 minutes, or until as done as you like. Transfer tri-tip to a cutting board. Let rest about 5 minutes, then cut across the grain into thin, slanting slices.

Lavender Ice Cream II

Lavender Ice Cream II

3/4 C. honey
1 tsp. dried lavender placed in a tea ball or gauze
1 C. half and half
2 C. heavy cream
7 egg yolks

Pour the half and half and the cream into a heavy sauce pan. Add the lavender to this mixture and warm for about 5 minutes. Remove the lavender flowers. Wisk the egg yolks in a bowl until they are frothy. Slowly pour the about half of the warm cream into the mixture of egg yolks as you wisk continuously. Combine the remainder of the yolk and cream mixture into the saucepan and continue to heat on low (stiring constantly) for about 5 minutes. Strain the mixture into a bowl and whisk in the honey. Chill the mixture and then freeze according to the instructions on your ice cream maker.

Grilled Green-Onion Breads

Grilled Green-Onion Breads

1 loaf (1 lb.) frozen white or whole-wheat bread dough, thawed to room temperature
3 T. olive oil
3/4 C. sliced green onions
About 1/3 C. all-purpose flour

With your hands, flatten bread dough on a board. Top with olive oil and green onions and knead into dough until incorporated (dough will be sticky). Place dough in a bowl and cover. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, 50 to 60 minutes. On a floured board, knead dough briefly to expel air. Divide into 12 equal pieces. Shape each into a ball and coat with flour. Roll each ball into a 4- to 5-inch round, sprinkling with flour as needed to prevent sticking. Space rounds evenly on two floured 15- by 17-inch baking sheets. Cover loosely and let rise until puffy, 20 to 30 minutes. Lay rounds of dough on a lightly oiled barbecue grill over a solid bed of medium coals or medium heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 4 to 5 seconds); close lid (open vents for charcoal). Cook until rounds are browned on the bottom, about 2 minutes; turn, replace lid, and cook until browned on the other side, 1 to 2 minutes longer. Transfer breads to a bowl. Serve hot (cover with foil to keep warm up to 30 minutes) or cool.

Blackberry Limeade

Blackberry Limeade

1/2 C. sugar
4 1/2 C. cold filtered water
1 C. fresh lime juice, plus 24 very thin lime slices
1 pint fresh blackberries

Bring sugar and ½ C. water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir until sugar dissolves completely. Let cool to room temperature. Stir together lime juice, sugar syrup, and remaining 4 C. water in a pitcher. Serve in tall glasses over ice and garnish with lime slices and berries.

Focaccia of Forgiveness and Release

Focaccia of Forgiveness and Release

2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 1/2 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon coarse salt
2 tablespoon fresh rosemary

In your standing mixer bowl, combine yeast, warm water, and sugar. Let stand 10 minutes until foam appears. Mix the flour and salt together in a separate bowl. Turn mixer on with hook attachment and slowly add the flour mixture into the yeast mixture. Pour in 1/3 cup olive oil. Once the dough comes together, remove from the mixer and knead for another 10 minutes. Form the dough into a round and place in a oiled bowl. Turn to coat the entire ball with oil so it doesn’t form a skin. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour. Coat a sheet pan with a little olive oil. Once the dough has doubled, turn it out onto the counter and stretch the dough out on the sheet pan. It should be about 1/2 inch thick. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes. Uncover the dough and dimple with your fingertips. Brush the surface with more olive oil and then sprinkle your rosemary and sea salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Persimmon Jelly

Persimmon Jelly

1 C. water
1 tangerine
1 lemon
3 C. sugar
1 pkg. Sure Jell

Take wild persimmon, wash and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. During cooking, add water as needed to avoid burning. Remove from heat and strain through colander or cloth. To each cup of persimmon pulp add the above ingredients. Mix Sure Jell with pulp, water, juice of lemon and tangerine; bring to boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. At once, add sugar. Bring to rolling boil and cook 1 minute. Remove foam and fill glasses immediately.

Peach Jam

Peach Jam

6-7 half pint jars

4 pounds of fresh Peaches
3 C. Sugar
2 T. Lemon Juice
1/2 C. Water

Prepare the jars for canning. Wash jars and bands in hot, soapy water. Rinse. Place jars inside a canner filled with water, bring to boil. Boil jars for 15 minutes to sterilize. Place lids and bands in warm water, do not boil. Leave until ready to use.

Rinse the peaches under cool running water. Place whole fresh peaches in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove and place in a sink with cold ice water. Peel peaches, remove the pit, slice in half, then into quarters. Slice each quarter into 2 or 3 chunks. Place cut peaches in bowl and toss with lemon juice. Place in food processor and pulse into small bits but do not liquefy. Place a saucepot on stove, set to medium heat. Add water, then sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add peach pulp and continue to stir until it thickens. As it thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking and burning. When done, ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe rim, add lid and band. Finger tighten. Process 10 minutes in a boiling water canner or according to the time for your altitude. Remove from canner, and place on folded towel for 24 hours in a draft free location. May be stored

Pickled Garlic Scapes in Oil

Pickled Garlic Scapes in Oil

The city of Sulmona, in Abruzzo, is famous for its red garlic. The bulbs, with their gorgeous, fat, purple-red-clad cloves, grow in the surrounding Peligna Valley. The garlic is prized for its intense fragrance and for its keeping ability. It is a staple at the farmers’ market, where you will often find it hanging or stacked in braided lengths. The scapes from the plant—the long, swirly green stalks—are harvested in spring. This allows the plant to focus its energy on growing the bulb. The scapes, called zolle in the local dialect, are enjoyed fresh or turned into these delicious pickles. The garlic flavor in the scapes is mild and appetizing. Serve pickled scapes with cheese and salumi as part of an antipasto platter.

1 pound (454 g) garlic scapes
2 C. (473 g) white wine vinegar
1 tsp. fine sea salt
Extra-virgin olive oil

4 sterilized 1/2-pint jars and their lids

Cut the scapes into 11/2- to 2-inch lengths, removing any tough parts at the bottom and the thinnest part at the top above the small bulbous tip. In a saucepan large enough to hold all the scapes, bring the vinegar to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the salt and let it dissolve. Add the scapes to the pot and cover. Return the vinegar to a boil, cover, and boil, stirring once or twice, until the scapes have lost their bright green color and are just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain the scapes in a colander set in the sink. Spread on a clean kitchen towel and let dry for about 1 hour. Shuffle them around once or twice during this time to make sure they dry on all sides. Pack the scapes into the jars, leaving 1 inch headspace. Pour enough olive oil into the jars to cover the scapes completely. Use a bubble remover or a clean chopstick to dislodge any bubbles and press down on the scapes to submerge them. Screw the lids on tightly and let sit at room temperature for 24 hours. Let the scapes cure in the refrigerator for at least 1 week before using, then store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. To serve, remove from the jar only as much as you plan to use and let it come to room temperature. Top off the jar with more oil as necessary to keep the remaining scapes submerged.

Pickled Green Beans

Pickled Green Beans

5 lb. Green Beans
6 C. Water
6 C. Vinegar
10 cloves Garlic
5 tsp. Mustard Seeds
5 tsp. Dill Seeds
½ C. Salt

Clean and dry 10 mason jars with lids. Clean and cut the green beans to fit in the mason jars. Add garlic clove, 1/2 tsp. mustard seed, 1/2 dill seed into each jar. Boil the water, vinegar and salt in a pan. Pour in each jar while boiling. Put the lids on each jar securely. Place the closed jars in a canner on high for 10 minutes with the water level above the jar lid. Remove the jars using tongs and allow’ to cool for several hours before storing. Each jar will provide two servings and keep for up to a year.

Cinnamon Coffee

Cinnamon Coffee

1/2 C. whipping cream, chilled
1 T. sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 C. ground coffee
1 tsp. cinnamon
4-1/2 C. water
1/4 C. Kahlua or other coffee liqueur (optional)

Combine first 3 ingredients in a bowl. Beat to soft peaks. Chill until ready to serve. Combine ground coffee with cinnamon and brew by desired means. Serve coffee with Kahlua, if desired, and topped with whipped cream.

Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 143
Fat: 11.1g
Fiber: .3g

Five Fruit Salad

Five Fruit Salad

1 C. seedless grapes
1/2 C. each peeled, sliced and quartered orange, cubed cantaloupe, sliced banana and pineapple chunks
1/4 C. orange juice concentrate
1 tsp. lime juice
2 tsp. chopped mint leaves
1/4 tsp. lime zest

Mix all ingredients in medium bowl. Makes 4 (3/4 C. each) servings

Grapefruit-Cranberry Punch

Grapefruit-Cranberry Punch

2 C. cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
3/4 C. frozen grapefruit juice concentrate, thawed
1 12-oz. can lemon-lime carbonated beverage, chilled
Ice cubes

In a pitcher combine the cranberry juice and thawed concentrate. Gently stir in the carbonated beverage. Serve at once over ice cubes. Makes 8 (4-oz.) servings.

7-Minute Lemon Icing

7-Minute Lemon Icing

2 large egg whites
1-½ C. granulated sugar
3 T. cold water
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
1 tsp. lemon zest, grated

Combine all ingredients, except vanilla and lemon zest, in the top of a double boiler or bowl. Bring water in the bottom of the double boiler or saucepan (if using a bowl) to a simmer. Place top of the double boiler or the bowl over the simmering water. Immediately begin whipping mixture 3 minutes with an electric mixer on medium speed. Increase speed to high and beat another 3 minutes. Remove top of double boiler. Add vanilla and lemon zest. Beat 1 minute on high speed until mixture holds stiff peaks and is satiny. Makes enough to fill and frost a double layer 8- or 9-inch cake or the angel food cake.

Uses for Mustard

Uses for Mustard

To add spark to egg-based dishes, like souffles, quiches, and savory custards, add a tsp. Dijon mustard.

For a crispy catfish po’boy, coat catfish fillets with mustard then dip them in cornmeal. Sauté the catfish in oil and serve on a baguette or French bread with lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced onion, and a sauce made from mayonnaise, mustard, Tabasco sauce, parsley, and pickle relish.

To perk up grilled cheese sandwiches, spread a thin layer of mustard on the bread before assembling and grilling the sandwich.

To make a special sauce for burgers, mix together 1 tsp. ketchup, 1 tsp. mayonnaise, and 1 tsp. spicy brown mustard. A burger chain popularized this secret sauce, which is easily replicated at home.

To thicken and liven up a pan sauce for sautéed meats, use Dijon mustard. After pan-searing chicken, pork, or beef, swirl in some red wine, port, or sherry and a few tsp. unsalted butter to deglaze the pan, then reduce the liquid to half its volume. Stir in a tsp. Dijon mustard for kick.

For quick-and-easy homemade barbecue sauce, combine in a saucepan:

1 C. ketchup
1/4 C. white or red wine
1 tsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. red-wine vinegar or apple-cider vinegar
1 tsp. chili powder
1 garlic clove, minced

Simmer over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes to blend the flavors and reduce the volume slightly. Finally, stir in 1 tsp. prepared mustard.

When you need a fast sweet-and-sour dip or sauce, whisk together 1/2 C. currant jelly and 5 tsp. Dijon mustard. Let stand for 5 minutes and whisk again until smooth. Use as a dip for crudites or a sauce for broiled shrimp, pork, or chicken skewers.

For a brown-sugar glaze for ham, combine 3/4 C. firmly packed light brown sugar, 1/4 C. spicy brown mustard or Dijon mustard, and 2 tsp. apple-cider vinegar. Pat over the top of a baked ham 45 minutes before it is done.

To doctor up store-bought barbecue sauce, stir in 1 tsp. prepared mustard per C. sauce.

In my mind, pretzels are basically just an excuse to dip something in mustard. I like to dip the store-bought, crunchy bagged pretzels in a yellow mustard, while the grainy variety pairs well with homemade soft pretzels, fresh from the oven.

This is one of the easiest shake-and-pour dressing recipes ever. Mustard, honey, vegetable oil, vinegar, and a pinch of salt go into a mason jar, and in seconds you’ve got a deli classic, perfect for topping a salad of iceberg or romaine. Yellow mustard is the classic choice, but grainy mustard is great too.

Mustard glazes are great for more than just a Christmas or Easter ham! Baked chicken wings, thighs, or tenders are awesome when topped with a mustard-brown sugar glaze, too. Just brush it on in the last half hour of cooking.

After sautéing chicken breasts or searing steaks, you’ll have a pan of gorgeous fond (those tasty browned bits at the bottom of the pan). By all means, don’t waste that delicious, savory flavor! Instead, add a splash of wine (red wine if it’s red meat, white wine if it’s chicken) and a good dollop of mustard, then whisk to bring up all of that browned goodness from the pan to make a tasty sauce.

 

Small Batch Vanilla Rhubarb Jam

Small Batch Vanilla Rhubarb Jam

1 1/4 pounds rhubarb, diced
1 C. granulated sugar
1 tsp. powdered fruit pectin (I use Ball’s Flex Pectin)
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
juice of 1/2 lemon

Prepare a small boiling water bath canner and 2 half pint jars. Place the chopped rhubarb in a low, wide non-reactive pan. Whisk the pectin and vanilla bean seeds into the sugar and add it to the fruit. Drop the split vanilla bean into the pan and add the lemon juice. Stir well and let it sit until the sugar looks damp. Set the pan on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil. If the sugar begins to caramelize, reduce the heat. Cook, stirring regularly, until the rhubarb breaks down and the liquid looks thick and jammy. Remove the pan from the heat and divide the jam between the two prepared jars (depending on how much water the rhubarb contained, you may have a couple tsp. leftover. I recommend stirring the leftover into some plain yogurt). Wipe the rims, apply the lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath canner for 10 minutes. When the time is up, remove the jars from canner and set them on a folded kitchen towel to cool and seal.

Strawberry Kiwi Jam

Strawberry Kiwi Jam

2 C. chopped strawberries
1 C. peeled and chopped kiwi
1 1/4 C. granulated sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon

Combine the strawberries, kiwi, and sugar in a bowl and stir until the fruit begins to release its juice. Scrape the fruit and sugar combination into a 12 inch skillet and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and cook at a rapid bubble for 8-10 minutes, stirring regularly, until the jam is thick. You can tell it’s done when you can pull your spatula through the cooking fruit and the jam doesn’t immediately rush in to fill the space. When jam is done, you can do one of two things. Simply scrape it into a pint jar, let it cool, and put it in the fridge. Or funnel it into two clean, hot half pint jars and process them in a boiling water bath canner for ten minutes. As long as the seals are good, the processed jam is shelf stable for up to a year.

Rice & Bean Patties

Rice & Bean Patties

2 1/2 C. diced onion
1 T. minced garlic (or sub dehydrated garlic or even garlic powder)
Olive oil
3/4 tsp. cumin
1 T. tomato paste
1 1/2 C. cooked beans
1 C. cooked rice
Salt and pepper
Hot sauce
2 1/2 C. breadcrumbs

Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until soft. Stir in cumin, cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste, cook 30 seconds. Coarsely puree with beans and rice (a hand held potato masher works well; leave a little texture, you don’t want it to taste like baby food!). Season with salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Stir in breadcrumbs. Form into patties. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium. Add patties, cook until heated through and browned. In non-survival mode, these are really nice with brown rice, and served with some plain greek yogurt and a sprinkle of chopped mint.

Almond Energy Blast

Almond Energy Blast

1 C. low-fat, low-sugar vanilla soymilk
3/4 C. plain fat-free or low-fat yogurt
6 oz. firm silken tofu
1/4 C. dry-roasted almonds

Place soymilk, yogurt, tofu, and almonds in a blender. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Serve cold.

Soupe au Pistou

Soupe au Pistou

2 T. of olive oil
3 leeks (white and pale-green parts only), thinly sliced
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
Salt and black pepper
1 large can (48 oz.) reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (15.5 – 19 oz. size) white or cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, quatered length-wise and sliced
1 medium yellow squash, quartered
1 dried bay leaf
1/2 tsp. dried thyme or 1 tsp. fesh thyme
1/2 lb. green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 1/2 C.)

3 medium garlic cloves, halved
3 C. packed fresh basil leaves (2.5 oz. from 2 medium bunches)
1/2 tsp. of salt
5 T. olive oil
1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese

The pistou makes about 1/2 C., so you aren’t using the full 5 T. oil in the soup. Each serving only receives 1 T. of the mixture.

Warm oil in large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leeks; cook about 3 minutes, until softened, stirring. Add garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in next 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 20 minnutes; uncovered. Add green beans to pot; simmer 6 to 8 minutes longer, until tender. Meanwhile, make pistou: In blender or food processor, process garlic until finely chopped. Add basil and salt; process until basil is finely chopped. Scrape down sides of bowl. With machine running, gradually pour in oil. Add cheese; process to blend. Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Swirl 1 T. pistou into each bowl.

Meatballs with Tomato and Zucchini Medley

Meatballs with Tomato and Zucchini Medley

1/4 lb. extra-lean ground beef or ground turkey breast
2 T. whole wheat bread crumbs
2 T. liquid egg substitute or 1/2 egg
3/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
3 T. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1/2 yellow squash, halved lengthwise and sliced
1/2 can (8 oz.) Italian-style cut tomatoes
1/2 can (8 oz.) crushed tomatoes
2 T. chopped fresh basil
Sprig basil, for garnish

In a large bowl, combine the beef or turkey, bread crumbs, egg substitute or egg, 1/4 tsp. of the pepper, the Italian seasoning, and 2 T. of the cheese. Form into balls the size of walnuts. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Working in batches, add the meatballs and cook for 15 minutes, or until browned and no longer pink inside. Remove to a bowl, leaving drippings in the skillet. Repeat to cook the remaining meatballs. In the same skillet in warm drippings over medium-high heat, add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes, or until the onion is tender. Stir in the zucchini, yellow squash, cut tomatoes (with juice), crushed tomatoes, the remaining 1/8 tsp. pepper, the remaining 1 T. cheese, and the meatballs. Heat to boiling. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in the chopped basil. Garnish with the basil sprig.

Uses for Hot Pepper Sauce

Uses for Hot Pepper Sauce

To perk up scrambled eggs, use 1/2 tsp. hot-pepper sauce for every 8 eggs.

For a novel topping for corn muffins, mix together 1 C. honey and 3 tsp. hot-pepper sauce. Store at room temperature. Try it on grilled shrimp, too.

To make a spicy yogurt marinade, combine 1 C. plain yogurt, 1/4 C. fresh lemon juice, 2 tsp. hot-pepper sauce, and 2 tsp. cayenne pepper. Use to marinate 3 to 4 pounds of chicken parts for 1 hour. The chicken will be spicy but not unbearably hot.

For mahi-mahi tacos with a kick, simmer mahi-mahi fillets in picante sauce, then add lime juice and cilantro. Serve in warm flour tortillas or crispy corn tortillas with sour cream, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, and lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

To make nut brittle that will surprise your guests, mix a little hot-pepper sauce into the sugar mixture before spreading the mixture on a baking sheet.

To make a simple sauce for Buffalo-style chicken wings, merely combine equal parts melted unsalted butter and hot-pepper sauce. You can dip the entire wing into the sauce, or use it as a separate dipping sauce for fried or grilled chicken. Better yet, use as a baste on grilled chicken. Some people add ketchup to the butter and hot-sauce combo to reduce the heat and strong vinegar flavor.

Create a wicked wing sauce.

Add to ground pork to make your own breakfast sausage patties.

Melt with butter and douse over your movie popcorn–yum!

Stir into shepherd’s pie for a contemporary burn to an old classic.

Add to chutney for a little pep to the sweetness.

Caramelize onions, mix with hot sauce; top a burger.

Stir into mustard, pile onto a hot dog or use as a dip for pigs in a blanket.

Have a little extra pulled pork? Add a hefty dose of hot sauce; pile into a tortilla for a pulled pork taco.

Combine a few drops with simple syrup, then toss with a fruit salad.

Sweet Pickled Cherries

Sweet Pickled Cherries

A few notes on this recipe. You may choose whatever whole spices you like, but don’t change the amount or strength of the vinegar. I also increased the pickling liquid by half so that I would have a little more which is how I ended up with 4 pints rather than 3.

1 3/4 C. apple cider vinegar
1 3/4 C. sugar
3/4 C. water
3 cinnamon sticks
2 pounds sweet cherries with stems and pits intact

Prepare your jars and lids. Jars should be kept warm in the canner. Combine vinegar, sugar, and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer until sugar is dissolved. Remove hot jars from canner. Pack each jar with cherries, and add one cinnamon stick to each jar. Pour hot syrup over cherries leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and place lids and rings on each. Process 15 minutes in a boiling water bath. Remove jars from canner and cool.

Panisses

Panisses

I fried my panisses in olive oil in my cast iron skillet, although some might say you’ll get a better crust using a more fryer-friendly oil. Mine tasted perfect. I love the flavor that comes from frying them in olive oil, but you’re welcome to use whatever oil you prefer.

1 quart (1l) water
2 tsp. olive oil
3/4 tsp. coarse salt
2 1/4 C. (285g) chickpea flour

olive oil, for frying
coarse salt and freshly-cracked pepper, for serving

Lightly oil a 9-inch (23 cm) square cake pan, or similar sized vessel. Heat the water with the oil and salt in a saucepan. Once hot, but not boiling, whisk in the chickpea flour. Whisk over medium heat until the mixture thickens, about three minutes. Switch to a wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for 10 minutes until very thick and the batter holds its shape. Scrape into the oiled pan and let cool. To fry the panisses, unmold the solidified mixture on a cutting board and slice into batons about as wide as your fourth finger and as long as your middle one. In a heavy-duty skillet, heat 1/4-1/2 inch (1-2 cm) of olive oil. When shimmering hot, fry the panisses in batches, not crowding them in the pan. Once the bottom is nicely browned and crisp, turn with tongs, frying the panisses until they are deep-golden brown on each side. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels, sprinkling them very generously with salt and pepper. Don’t be stingy with either. Continue frying the rest, heating more oil in the pan as needed. Panisses are best served warm sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper.

David Lebovitz Counterfeit Duck Confit (Faux Confit de Canard)

David Lebovitz Counterfeit Duck Confit (Faux Confit de Canard)

The trick to this ridiculously easy technique is to use a dish that will hold the duck thighs snugly pressed together, which allows them to “confit” as they bake. If you only have a larger dish, increase the recipe and cook extra duck legs. Note that this has to chill in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

4 duck thighs (thigh and leg attached)
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. gin
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
2 cloves garlic, peeled and halved lengthwise
2 bay leaves

Prick the duck all over with a needle, piercing the skin. Mix the salt, gin, nutmeg and allspice in a baking dish that will fit the duck legs snugly, with no room around them. Rub the spice mixture all over the meat. Put the garlic (cut lengthwise) and bay leaves on the bottom of the baking dish and lay the duck legs, flesh-side down, on top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight. Put the duck in a cold oven. Turn the oven on to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the duck thighs for 2.5 hours, taking them out during baking once or twice and basting them with any duck fat pooling around. To finish the duck, increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the skin is deeply browned and very crispy. Once your duck is cooked, keep that fat pooling in your baking dish — it’s great for frying up potatoes, or even chicken.

Leeks with Mustard-Bacon Vinaigrette (poireaux vinaigrette a  la moutarde et aux lardons)

Leeks with Mustard-Bacon Vinaigrette (poireaux vinaigrette a  la moutarde et aux lardons)

Traditionally the leeks were cooked in a big pot of boiling water. However, it’s better to steam them, which prevents them from getting waterlogged. Smaller leeks, which appear in the springtime in Paris markets, are preferable for this dish because they’re quite tender, although larger leeks are just fine, too. Just make sure that you clean the leeks very well and cook them until they’re completely soft all the way through. When Romain and I made this together and we plated up the leeks, I got an unexpected lesson in the art of arranging the poireaux: I learned that it’s imperative you lay them with the queue (tail) alternating with the tête (head). So I recommend you follow those instructions, if you want don’t want to raise any Parisian eyebrows.

2 C. (200g) thick-cut smoked bacon cut into lardons (see here)
1 tsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
3 tsp. neutral-tasting vegetable oil
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
5 large or 10 small leeks, cleaned
2 hard-cooked eggs

To make the vinaigrette, cook the bacon over medium heat in a skillet until nearly crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain. When cool, chop the bacon into pieces about the size of tiny peas. Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, and salt. Whisk in the oils, 1 tsp. at a time (the sauce may emulsify, which is fine), then stir in 1 tsp. the parsley and two-thirds of the bacon. Set aside. To prepare the leeks, fill a large pot fitted with a steamer with a couple of inches of water. Bring it to a boil over high heat and add the leeks. Cook the leeks until tender; when you poke them with a sharp paring knife, it should meet no resistance at the root ends. (Smaller leeks will take about 15 minutes, and larger ones will take about 30 minutes.) Remove the leeks and let drain and cool on a plate lined with paper towels. Cut the leeks in half crosswise, and arrange on a serving platter, alternating them head to tail. Peel and dice the hard-cooked eggs and scatter them over the leeks. Pour the vinaigrette over the leeks and toss them and the pieces of egg in the dressing so they’re thoroughly coated, then scatter over the remaining bacon pieces and parsley.

Uses for Horseradish

Uses for Horseradish

To give potato salad more pizzazz, stir in a few tsp. prepared horseradish.

To liven up creamy salad dressings, stir in a tsp. prepared horseradish. This technique is perfect for creamy Italian, ranch, blue cheese, or other dressings with a base of sour cream or buttermilk.

For a delicious bacon dip, bring 2 C. sour cream to room temperature. Cook 8 to 10 slices of hickory-smoked bacon until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Drain and chop the bacon. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, the bacon, 2 tsp. drained prepared horseradish, 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper. Cover and chill for 24 hours. Stir and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with additional crumbled bacon, if you like.

To make zestier deviled eggs, hard cook 6 eggs. Halve the eggs lengthwise and cut a slice from the bottom of each half so that the eggs sit flat. Remove the yolks and mash them with:

1 tsp. mayonnaise
1 tsp. prepared horseradish
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Mound into the egg white halves and dust with paprika.

To give fish stews and soups a lift, prepared horseradish is the answer. It blends in perfectly and adds a sharp counterpoint to the mild-tasting fish. A dash of hot-pepper sauce doesn’t hurt either.

To whip up classic cocktail sauce for shrimp or other seafood, combine 2/3 C. bottled chili sauce, 1 tsp. prepared horseradish, 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 tsp. hot-pepper sauce.

For an even easier cocktail sauce, mix together equal parts horseradish and ketchup. If that’s too strong, add more ketchup to taste.

For a no-fail sauce for roast beef, prime rib, and filet mignon, whip 1/2 C. cold heavy cream in a chilled bowl until almost stiff. Fold in 3 tsp. drained prepared horseradish or 1 1/2 tsp. peeled and grated fresh horseradish, 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest, and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing

Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing

Crisp lettuces like iceberg and romaine are a perfect match for this creamy dressing. Shaved red onion, grape tomatoes, and crumbled bacon make excellent garnishes for greens tossed with this dressing. Use 1 to 2 tsp. this dressing per 4 C. greens, serving two.

1 avocado, halved and pitted
1 tsp. lime juice
½ tsp. hot sauce
½ C. buttermilk
¼ C. mayonnaise
1 tsp. minced red onion
1 tsp. minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced
½ tsp. sugar
¾ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

Puree avocado, lime juice, and hot sauce in food processor until avocado is broken down, about 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients and process until dressing is completely smooth. (Dressing can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.)