Potato Pierogis

I like to serve this alongside borscht garnished with fresh dill. Ingredients for pierogi dough: 4 pounds all purpose flour 1 T extra virgin olive oil 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 1/2 cups warm water (110 degrees F) nonstick cooking spray * * * * * * Ingredients for mashed potato filling: 2 pounds red potatoes kosher salt 1 stick butter 4 ounces cream cheese 3 ounces sour cream 1 T granulated garlic 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1 pound soft European farmer's cheese milk to thin, if necessary nonstick cooking spray To Serve: 4 ounces olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, julienned and sauteed sour cream 1 ounce clarified butter 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley Preparing the pierogi dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add the flour, olive oil, eggs, salt and 2 1/2 cups warm water. Start the mixer on slow for a minute, and then switch to high for another couple of minutes until the dough pulls away from the bowl. Then slow the mixer down to medium speed and slowly add the remaining 1 cup warm water. Once the water is absorbed, return the mixer to high and let the dough beat for 10 minutes. Remove from the bowl. Cut the dough into 4 pieces. Form into balls, spray with nonstick spray, wrap in plastic wrap and let rest in a warmer area for 20 minutes. Spray the counter or large cutting board with the nonstick spray and begin to roll the dough with a rolling pin. Roll until a consistent thickness of 1/4-inch. Then spray with nonstick spray. Use about a 3-inch circle cutter and press down hard and give a slight twist to completely separate from the rest of the dough, continue this throughout the entire piece. Remove the scraps and in-betweens, save, re-ball and re-roll. Then flip the circle cut-outs; they are ready to be stuffed. * * * * * Preparing the mashed potato filling: Boil the red potatoes, leaving the skin on, in a stock pot with 2 tablespoons kosher salt. Once the potatoes are soft, drain off the water and place in the mixer bowl with the dough hook or paddle attachment. Add the butter right away so it will start to melt. Then add the cream cheese, sour cream, granulated garlic, onion powder and black and white peppers into the bowl and mix on a medium speed. Mix until smooth and free of all lumps. Add the farmer's cheese and mix on high for a couple minutes until a little fluffy. Season with kosher salt. Loosen with milk, if necessary. Set aside to cool. * * * * * Assembling the pierogis: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray to prevent sticking. Place about 1 teaspoon of the potato and cheese filling in the center of all the cut-outs. Then pick up the dough with two hands and fold over the filling. Slightly pull out both sides at the base of the fold, then continue to pull, then pinch, and form and seal as you continue around the half moon. Double check for any areas that aren't smooth or completely sealed. Repeat. Place on the prepared baking sheet. In a large saucepan bring three-quarters of a gallon of water and 1 tablespoon kosher salt to a rapid boil. One by one, drop in the pierogis. Par-boil them until they float, about 5 minutes. Then place them back on the baking sheet to let cool. The pierogis can be made ahead to this point. They can be refrigerated or frozen, but bring to room temperature before continuing. * * * * * When ready to serve: Cover the bottom of a saute pan with olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, saute the pierogis; they should sizzle once they hit the oil. After a minute or so, flip them, looking for a golden brown color. Plate with the sauteed onions and a side of sour cream for dipping. Drizzle with the butter and sprinkle with the parsley. Serves 8 to 10

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Potato Chips with Brie Cream and Vanilla Olive Oil

Ingredients:
300 grams ripe, creamy Brie
100 grams milk
3 grams agar
2 cups olive or grapeseed oil
1 vanilla bean
potato Chips (Pringels brand, preferred)
ground coffee

Preparing the cream of brie:
Remove the rind from the Brie and cut into small cubes. Place the Brie cubes in a cup. Mix the milk with the agar and bring to a boil. Pour over the Brie and mix until smooth. Pour this mixture onto a plate and let gel. Cut into pieces and blend again until a fine cream is obtained. Put the cream in a piping bag

* * * * *

Preparing the vanilla oil:
Cut the vanilla bean in half. Scrape the seeds out and put it together with the bean in the oil. Let the vanilla oil marinate for 1 day.

* * * * *

Assembling:
Pipe some cream of Brie in the middle of a potato chip. Shake the vanilla oil before use. Place 3 drops of vanilla oil on top of the cream and sprinkle with a pinch of ground coffee.

Serve with a dry, fruity, lightly spiced beer, full and creamy beer, like Leffe Blonde (delicate and light, malty aroma and a subtle, sweet finish)

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Chocolate Panini

Ingredients:
1/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 1/2 T whipped sweet butter, softened
8 slices of Brother Juniper's Struan bread
3 T bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips

Optional: 2 T chopped toasted hazelnuts

Preparing the panini:
Heat evaporated milk just until boiling. Add chocolate, let stand for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.

Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Divide the chocolate mixture on the unbuttered side of 4 slices, leaving a little border. Press chocolate chips and nuts, if using, into the chocolate. Cover with the remaining slices of bread, buttered-side up, and press lightly.

Place the sandwiches in a panini press and grill at medium-high for 1 to 2 minutes or until nicely browned and the chocolate is barely melted.

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Fig and Goat Cheese Panini

Ingredients:
2 slices walnut or multigrain bread
3 ounces soft mild goat cheese, like Laura Chenel
3 T fig preserves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons aged balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil

Preparing the panini:
Spread cheese on both slices of bread. Top one slice with preserves, pepper, and balsamic. Lightly oil outside of bread.

Place in panini press and close. Cook over medium-low heat for 4 minutes. Flip press over and cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until bread is crisp and cheese has melted.

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Chocolate Parmesan Panini

Ingredients:
2 slices country bread or artisanal bread, like ciabatta
2 ounces dark chocolate (64%), coarsely chopped
6 thinly shaved slices parmesan cheese
cooking oil spray

Preparing the panini:
Layer one slice of bread with the chocolate and then with parmesan cheese and top with second slice of bread. Microwave for 30 seconds.

Heat a panini press, grill pan or skillet. Spray the surface and the outside of the bread with cooking oil spray. Grill until bread is golden brown and chocolate and cheese are oozing.

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Pork Belly Bao

Ingredients for the pork belly:
1 1/2 pounds fresh pork belly, with skin
1 T peanut oil
1 T dark soy sauce

* * * * * *

Ingredients for the sauce:
1/2 cup vegetable stock
4 T light soy sauce
1 heaping T brown sugar
1 T Shaohsing rice wine
1 T peanut oil
1-inch fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 T Sichuan peppercorns
2 star anise
1 T cornstarch blended with 2 tablespoons water (cornstarch slurry)
1 cup salted peanuts, ground or chopped
2 heaping T brown sugar

10 to 12 Chinese bao buns

2 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces, then julienned
4 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped

* * * * * *

Ingredients for the pickle:
1 hothouse or English cucumber, thinly sliced
1 large shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
1/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 T sugar

Preparing the pork belly:
Bring a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot of water to a boil. Add the pork belly and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from the pot, rinse under cold water and then dry with some paper towels. Slice the pork into 3 even pieces and set aside.

Heat a wok over high heat and add the peanut oil. When the oil begins to smoke, add the pork pieces and stir-fry for about 1 minute per side to brown. When the pork is browned, add the dark soy and stir-fry for another 2 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate that will fit inside a large bamboo steamer with at least a 1-inch margin between the plate and the steamer.

* * * * * * *

Preparing the sauce:
In a small bowl or measuring cup, stir to combine the vegetable stock, light soy sauce, brown sugar and rice wine; set aside. Reheat the wok and add the peanut oil. When the oil is hot, add the ginger, Sichuan peppercorns and star anise and then stir-fry for a few seconds. Add in the sauce and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour the sauce over the pork.

Place the plate of pork into a steamer over a wok or pot filled halfway with water and bring to a boil. Steam the pork over medium heat until the pork is tender, 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Check the pot occasionally to be sure that the water hasn't completely evaporated.

Remove the pork from the steamer and transfer all of the juices from the pork into a small wo k or pan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and stir in the cornstarch slurry. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken the sauce.

In a mortar and pestle, crush the peanuts, or finely chop them with your knife. Combine the peanuts and brown sugar; set aside until ready to serve.

Slice the pork belly. Fill each bao bun with a slice of pork and a few tablespoons of the thickened pork sauce, garnish with the sweetened peanut crumble, the ucumber and shallot pickle, scallions and fresh cilantro.

* * * * * *

Preparing the pickle:
Put the cucumbers and shallots in a medium bowl.

In a small saucepan, add the mirin, rice vinegar and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool. Pour the vinegar mixture over the vegetables and let marinate for 15 minutes or longer before serving.

Serves 4 to 6

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Flatbread With Yellow Split Pea Spread

Ingredients for flatbread:
1 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
1 T finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 teaspoon coarsely cracked pepper
1/2 cup non-fat buttermilk, at room temperature
1/2 to 3/4 cup warm water

* * * * * *

Ingredients for split pea spread:
1 T canola oil
1/2 cup yellow split peas
1/3 cup water
juice of 1 small lemon or lime
1 medium tomato, diced
4 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2 T fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 teaspoon black peppercorns

Preparing the flatbread:
Thoroughly combine whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, chopped rosemary, baking powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl.

Pour buttermilk over the flour mixture and quickly stir it in. Pour a few tablespoons warm water over the flour, stirring it in as you go. Repeat, adding more water a few tablespoons at a time, until the dough comes together to form a soft ball. The dough should be very soft, close to being slightly sticky (so if you add an extra tablespoon or so, it won’t hurt it).

Gather the ball, picking up any dry flour in the bottom of the bowl, and knead it in the bowl for a minute or two to form a smooth, soft ball of dough. If it’s a little too sticky to handle, dust your hand with flour, but do not add any more flour to the dough if possible.

Cut the dough into 4 equal portions. Lightly coat a large plate with cooking spray. Shape each portion of dough into a round the size of a hamburger bun and put it on the plate. Coat the tops with cooking spray or brush with oil, cover with plastic wrap or a slightly dampened cloth, and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Place a pizza stone or large cast iron skillet on the lowest oven rack; preheat to the highest bake setting (500 to 550 degrees F).

Lightly flour a small work area. Press a piece of dough down to form a patty. Roll out or pat the dough into a round roughly 6 to 8 inches in diameter, dusting with flour as needed. Make sure the round is evenly thin, with no tears on the surface. Place the round onto the hot pizza stone or skillet. Within seconds, it will start to bubble in spots. Close the oven door and cook until golden brown on the bottom and light brown patches appear on the top, 3 to 6 minutes. Remove and slide the flatbread between two pieces of foil to keep warm.

Repeat with the remaining dough rounds, stacking them in the foil to keep warm. Serve the spread alongside the flatbreads.


* * * * * *

Preparing the split pea spread:
Heat oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add yellow split peas and toast until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the peas and any remaining oil to a blender. Add 1/3 cup water, lemon or lime juice, tomato, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and puree, scraping down the sides as needed, to make a slightly gritty puree.

The spread can be prepared and refrigerated one day ahead, but serve at room temperature.

Serves 4

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Focaccia

Ingredients:
1 recipe pizza dough
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling and greasing
salt
toppings
* * * * * *

Ingredients for the dough:
4 cups all purpose flour
1 T fresh yeast, crumbled
3/4 cup white wine
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups lukewarm water

* * * * *

Toppings:
zucchinis, thinly sliced
onions, sliced

potatoes, thinly sliced
onions, sliced
fresh rosemary

radicchio, cut in 1/8 slices
smoked scamorza cheese, sliced, or mozzarella

Toppings for schiacciata alla fiorentina [sweet focaccia]:
red wine grapes, halved
Chianti wine, for drizzling
2 T white granulated sugar, for sprinkling
[* add 2 tablespoons of sugar when making the dough]

* * * * *



Preparing the dough:
Mound the flour on a smooth work surface, and create a well in the middle of the flour. Break up the cubes of yeast with your hands and add it to the well, along with the white wine, olive oil and a portion of salted lukewarm water. Work the flour slowly, adding the rest of the salted lukewarm water as needed until it turns into a uniform dough.

Cover the dough and let rest to rise for about 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.

* * * * *

Preparing the focaccia:
Preheat the oven at 450 degrees F. Oil the bottom of a pizza pan and stretch out the dough until the pizza covers the whole pan. Add as little or as much of your favorite toppings before baking it until the crust is golden brown and the toppings are bubbling, golden, or cooked through (depending on your ingredients), approximately 20 minutes.

Serves 4

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French Quarter Beignets

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups bread flour
1/4 cup shortening
nonstick spray
oil, for deep-frying
3 cups confectioners' sugar

Preparing the beignets:
Mix water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix egg mixture to the yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, measure out the bread flour. Add 3 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour. Remove dough from the bowl, place onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oil in a deep fryer to 350 degrees F.

Add the confectioners' sugar to a paper or plastic bag and set aside.

Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares.

Deep-fry, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. After beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels or paper bags, and then toss them into the bag of confectioners' sugar. Hold bag closed and shake to coat evenly.

Makes 3 dozen beignets

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Ham And Cheddar Biscuit Sandwiches With Tomato Preserves

This recipe calls for only 6 biscuits for the sandwiches, so serve the rest with soup, spread with butter and jam, or just freeze for another day.

Ingredients:
Tomato Jam
3/4 cup grated Cheddar
1/4 pound thinly sliced cooked country ham, such as Smithfield

* * * * * * *

Ingredients for the tomato jam:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 Spanish onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
leaves from 2 rosemary sprigs, finely chopped
a pinch of red pepper flakes
4 cups peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped plum tomatoes
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

* * * * * * *

Ingredients for the biscuits:
5 cups all purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 T plus 2 teaspoons baking powder
2 T sugar
1 T salt
1/2 cup plus 2 T vegetable shortening
8 T unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 cups buttermilk

Preparing the tomato jam:
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, rosemary and pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until soft and fragrant. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have given up most their water and turned a deep orange red, about 15 to 20 minutes. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

* * * * * *

Preparing the biscuits:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Repeat. Add the butter and shortening and, using your fingertips, mix until crumbly. Add the buttermilk and mix with a wooden spoon until the dough just comes together. Don't over mix.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and, using a rolling pin, roll out to 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick rectangle. Using a 3-inch to 4-inch round cutter, punch out biscuits and transfer them to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Gently press the dough scraps into another rectangle and punch out more biscuits. Discard any scraps. Lightly dust the tops of the biscuits with flour and bake until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let the biscuits cool slightly.

* * * * * * *

Assembling the sandwiches:
Preheat the broiler. Split 6 of the biscuits in half and spread the top halves with 1 tablespoon of tomato jam each.

Divide the ham among the bottom halves of the biscuits and sprinkle the cheese over the top.

Arrange the bottom halves a baking sheet and place under a broiler until the cheese melts. Cover with the biscuit tops and serve immediately.

Serves 6

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Parmesan Chicken Tenders With Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
4 T plus 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders (about 18)
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 T balsamic vinegar
freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups freshly grated parmesan
3/4 cup Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs

Preparing the chicken:
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Brush 1 tablespoon of oil over each of 2 heavy large lined baking sheets. Place the buttermilk in a large bowl. Add the chicken tenders and stir to coat. Let stand at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mash the garlic with the salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in the vinegar and then the remaining 1/2 cup of oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with pepper. Transfer the vinaigrette to a small serving bowl.

Stir the Parmesan and bread crumbs in a pie dish. Remove the chicken tenders from the buttermilk and dredge them in the bread crumb mixture to coat completely, pressing to adhere. Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil over the chicken tenders and bake until they are cooked through and golden brown, about 12 minutes. Serve the vinaigrette alongside for dipping.

Serves 6

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Pork And Teleme Panini

Ingredients:
8 slices Italian bread
1 pound ham or pork, sliced
1 pound teleme cheese
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1 cup roasted peppers

Preparing the panini:
Butter 1 side of each bread slice, then put 4 slices, buttered side down, on a work surface. Top the bread slices with the smoked ham, then the teleme cheese, distributing it evenly. Top each with a second slice of bread, buttered side up.

Heat a panini pan/sandwich griller until hot. Heat the sandwich in the griller, with a weight on top to keep as flat as possible. Cook until nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes.

Transfer the sandwiches to a work surface and remove the top slice of bread from each sandwich. Spread the underside of those slices with mustard, and add roasted peppers, if desired.

Replace the top slice of bread, cut the sandwiches in half, and serve immediately.

Makes 4 paninis

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Chocolate Brie Panini

Ingredients:
12 slices sourdough bread
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
12 ounces Brie cheese, thinly sliced
1 (12-ounce) bag of semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chiffonaded

Preparing the panini:
Preheat the panini grill.

Brush both sides of the bread with olive oil. Grill the bread slices until they begin to turn golden, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the panini grill and place 2 ounces of cheese on 1 slice of bread (the bottom half), top the cheese with 1/3 cup chocolate chips, and a sprinkle of basil. Top with another slice of bread. Continue with the remaining sandwiches. Return the sandwiches to the panini grill until the chocolate begins to melt, about another 2 minutes.

Cut the sandwiches into 2-inch wide rectangles or small triangles and transfer to a serving platter.

Serves 6

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Mozzarella and Olive Tapenade Panini

Ingredients:
1 loaf artisanal white bread, sliced thin, slices cut into 3-inch squares
olive tapenade
mozzarella cheese, sliced thin
softened butter

* * * * *

Ingredients for tapenade:
3 anchovies
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T fresh thyme leaves
1 cup pitted kalamata olives, plus additional as needed
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus additional as needed

Preparing the tapenade:
Put anchovies, garlic and thyme in a blender or food processor and puree. Add olives and olive oil, and pulse to a smooth paste. If it is too thin, add more pitted olives. If it is too thick, add more olive oil.

* * * * * *

Preparing the panini:
Spread bread pieces on a work surface. Spread 1/2 tablespoon olive tapenade on half the pieces, then cover with a slice of mozzarella, then cover with the remaining bread slices. Butter both sides of the sandwich and grill in batches in a panini press until browned on both sides. Put on a platter and cover with foil to keep warm until serving.

Makes 4 to 6 paninis

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Pork and Prawn Potstickers

Ingredients:
1 package gyoza or wonton wrappers
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup ground pork (not lean)
4 ounces shrimp meat, finely chopped
6 shelled and deveined prawns, finely chopped
5 water chestnuts, fresh or canned, finely chopped
4 T shredded carrot
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 T minced scallions
1 T minced ginger
1 T soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
freshly ground black or white pepper, to taste

Preparing the potstickers:
Lightly beat the egg with the salt, and combine with the pork, shrimp, prawns, water chestnuts, carrot, cilantro, green onion, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil and pepper.

Place a small bowl of water on the work area. Lay out one of the gyoza wrappers. Dip a finger in the water and moisten the edges of the wrapper.

Place a heaping teaspoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper.

Fold the gyoza wrapper over the filling and pinch the edges to seal it shut. (You may want to use a cornstarch/water mixture to make this easier).

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet or wok. When oil is hot, carefully add the dumplings and cook on high heat until golden brown (about 1 minute).

Without turning the dumplings over, add 1/2 cup of water and cover. Cook for about 1 minute to cook the raw filling and then uncover and continue cooking until most of the liquid is absobred.

Serve the potstickers with the browned side on top, with potsticker dipping sauce or soy sauce mixed with minced ginger for dipping.

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Baked Salami, Another Way

Ingredients:
1 Hebrew National salami
1/2 jar orange marmalade
1/2 jar apricot preserves
2 T honey dijon mustard

Preparing the baked salami:
Make diagonal cuts every 1/4 to 1/2-inch without cutting through the salami. Cover the salami and down into the cuts with a mixture of the mustard and preserves and marmalade. Bake at 350 degrees F for about an hour. The top of the salami should be caramelized.

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Baked Salami

Ingredients:
1 large Hebrew National salami
1 1/2 cups honey mustard
1 1/2 cups apricot or peach jam

Preparing the baked salami:

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, combine mustard and jam. Stir constantly until mixture is well combines and bubbly. Place salami on wire rack on a cookie sheet. Make diagonal slits every half-inch in the top of the salami to let the fat drip out and marinade drip in during baking. Brush mustard mixture onto salami. Bake for 4-5 hours, basting every 45 minutes to an hour.

Slice and serve with crackers and mustard on the side.

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Walnut Blue Cheese Crackers

Ingredients:
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
8 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled (about 12 ounces with rind), at room temperature
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 extra large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water for egg wash
1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts

Preparing the crackers:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and Stilton together for 1 minute, or until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour, salt and pepper and mix until it's in large crumbles, about 1 minute. Add 1 tablespoon of water and mix until combined.

Dump the dough onto a floured board, press it into a ball, and roll into a 12-inch long log. Brush the log completely with the egg wash. Spread the walnuts in a square on a cutting board and roll the log back and forth in the walnuts, pressing lightly, and distributing them evenly on the outside of the log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 4 days.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut the log 3/8ths-inch thick with a small, sharp knife and place the crackers on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 22 minutes until very lightly browned. Rotate the pan once during baking. Cool and serve at room temperature.

Makes 30 crackers

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Tempura Cauliflower

This recipe uses self-rising flour instead of the cornstarch used in traditional tempura. Any kind of vegetable can be used, as well as thin strips of chicken or fish fillets.

Ingredients:
1 cauliflower
self-rising flour, for dusting
vegetable oil, for frying
1 small piece potato, peeled, optional
A small bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked
sea salt
1 lemon

* * * * * *

Ingredients for tempura batter:
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons black mustard seeds
2 to 3 dried red chiles
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 3/4 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 cups cold beer or ice-cold soda water
sea salt

Preparing the batter:
Toast and grind the cumin and mustard seeds, chiles and peppercorns to a powder. Put the flour into a mixing bowl and stir in the ground spices and the turmeric. Pour in most of the beer and whisk gently. The consistency should be the thickness of heavy cream. If it's too thick, whisk in the rest of the beer. Don't worry too much about having little lumps in the batter, as they'll just become nice crunchy bits when you start frying. Season with sea salt and put aside.

Break the cauliflower into bite-sized florets. Slice up the stalk into 1-inch pieces so that it will all cook at the same rate. Wash the cauliflower, drain it and pat dry with kitchen towels. Place the cauliflower pieces in a bowl and dust with a little flour.

Pour the oil into a deep saucepan about 4 to 5 inches deep. Heat to 350 degrees F. If you don't have a thermometer don't worry, just drop a piece of potato into the oil. When it floats to the surface and starts to sizzle, the oil will be at the right temperature so remove the potato from the pan.

Shake any excess flour off the cauliflower. One by one, dip the pieces into the beer batter, then carefully place them in the hot oil, moving them away from you as you do so. Make sure you stand back so you don't get splashed. It's best to fry them in batches so you don't overcrowd the pan (but serve them as soon as each batch is ready). Each time a batch of cauliflower is nearly ready, add some battered parsley leaves to the pan and fry for 40 seconds (you want to serve them scattered over the fritters). Fry the pieces gently, turning them a couple of times with a slotted spoon. When they're browned and crisp, lift them out of the oil, allowing any excess to drip back into the pan, and drain on kitchen towels. Dust with sea salt and squeeze over a little lemon juice.

Serves 6

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Graham Crackers From Scratch

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus more for working
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup untoasted wheat germ
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 T honey

Preparing the crackers:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk flours, wheat germ, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.

Put butter, brown sugar, and honey into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Add the flour mixture, and mix until combined.

Turn out dough onto a floured surface, and divide into quarters. Roll out each piece between 2 sheets of floured parchment paper into rectangles a bit larger than 9 by 6 inches, about 1/8 inch thick.

Using a fluted pastry wheel, trim the outermost edges of each rectangle, and divide into three 6-by-3-inch rectangles. Pressing lightly, so as not to cut all the way through, score each piece in half lengthwise and crosswise, to form four 3-by-1 1/2-inch crackers. Stack parchment and dough on a baking sheet and chill in freezer until firm, about 20 minutes.

Remove two sheets of dough from freezer. Pierce crackers using the tines of a fork. Transfer to large baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake, rotating halfway through, until dark golden brown, 8 to 9 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough. Let cool on sheet 5 minutes; transfer crackers to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes 20 crackers

Variations:

• Substitute 1/2 cup of applesauce for one stick of the butter
• Substitute graham flour for the all purpose, wheat flours and wheat germ

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