Place the garlic in a microwave-safe bowl and add enough oil to cover (at least 3 tablespoons). Microwave for 1 minute, then stir. Repeat, stirring and microwaving in 30-second increments until the garlic begins to brown. Then repeat, stirring and microwaving in 15-second increments, until the garlic is deep gold. (This could take between 2 and 4 minutes total, depending on your microwave. In a sieve set over a bowl, drain the garlic, reserving the oil. Transfer the garlic to a plate lined with paper towels and season with a pinch each of salt and sugar. Set aside to cool.
1–2 canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce, finely chopped, plus 1–2 tsp sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
20 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Chopped scallions, for garnish
Melt butter in a big skillet over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking continuously, about 1 minute (don’t let mixture brown). Add ale very slowly, still whisking, then add mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chilies and sauce, brown sugar, and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, until mixture is thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cheese, whisking until melted. Top with scallions, if desired, and serve with tortilla chips or crusty bread.
These crispy oven-fried scallops are a lighter take on classic fried scallops, which involves baking them in a panko bread crumb topping. Don’t be alarmed by the full stick of butter in the ingredients list—you won’t use the entire thing.
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
20 medium sea scallops (20–30 per pound)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ¼ teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, melted
1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs
Tartar sauce and lemon slices, for serving
Preheat oven to 475° and set a rack to the middle position. Take two rimmed baking sheets and set a wire rack in each. Set aside.
Whisk eggs and lemon juice until thoroughly combined. Pat scallops dry. In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour melted butter and bread crumbs into additional (separate) shallow bowls.
Dip a scallop in the egg mixture, then dredge in the seasoned flour. Now dip it in the melted butter and gently roll in panko bread crumbs. Place on a wire rack. Repeat with remaining scallops. When all scallops are breaded, drizzle with some of the remaining butter and transfer to the oven. Bake until scallops are golden brown and cooked through (cut to check), 10 to 13 minutes. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon slices.
12 hard boiled eggs Make a brine: 3 c water 2 tbsp salt 1/2 tsp sugar add: 3 garlic cloves 1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes or a hot pepper 2 sprigs dill 2 bay leaves 3 tbsp sauerkraut juice (optional) 7/8 tsp coriander berries mashed 1/2 tsp sumac 1/4 tsp turmeric
Pulse all ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a food processor until well-mixed.
Add chocolate chips and pulse a few more times until they are in small pieces.
Scoop mixture and roll into balls. Freeze until solid and store in the freezer or refrigerator.
notes:
Cinnamon vs. Pumpkin Pie Spice: I actually prefer this with straight cinnamon because I’m not a huge fan of the nutmeg that is often found in pumpkin pie spice. Just do whatever your heart feels!
Almond Butter vs. Peanut Butter: Really I think any type of nut or seed butter would work here! It’s just about the flavor you want. I liked peanut butter the best and I didn’t feel like it was overly peanut buttery.
Honey vs. Maple Syrup: Both work really well. Maple syrup is great if you want to keep it vegan. My favorite was 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup maple syrup – best of both worlds.
Scrub, rinse and pat beets dry then rub with a small amount of olive oil and wrap tightly in foil (two beets per foil packet). Roast for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until beets are tender and easily pierced with a knife. Allow to slightly cool then carefully remove skin. (The beets will stain your hands and clothing! So I use rubber gloves.) Set aside.
In a small, dry frying pan toast walnuts until slightly browned. Set aside.
In a small owl, whisk together balsamic vinegar and walnut oil then season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Once skin is removed slice beets width-wise into three or four sections (depending on the size of the beet.)
In layers, alternate beet slices and crumbled goat cheese. Drizzle stacks with balsamic walnut oil vinaigrette, fresh thyme leaves and the toasted walnuts.
1tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
2 or 3garlic cloves, minced
½cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Large pinch of crushed red pepper
1tablespoon red wine vinegar
2tablespoons cold water
For the cheese
8ounces provolone cheese, sliced at least 1 inch thick
1tablespoon roughly chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
½teaspoon crushed red pepper
1baguette, sliced in 1/2-inch rounds, toasted, if desired
Make the chimichurri: In a small bowl, stir together the parsley, oregano, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, crushed red pepper, vinegar and water. Thin with a little more water, if necessary, to make a pourable sauce. Set aside to let flavors meld. Sauce may be prepared up to 1 hour in advance.
Set a small cast-iron pan over medium-high heat (or over hot coals). When pan is hot, put in the cheese. Sprinkle with half the oregano and crushed red pepper.
Cook for about 2 minutes, until the bottom begins to brown. Carefully flip the cheese with a spatula and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, until the second side is browned and the cheese is beginning to ooze. Transfer cheese to a plate and sprinkle with remaining oregano and crushed red pepper. Serve immediately, accompanied with bread and chimichurri. (Alternatively, finish the cheese by putting it under the broiler or in a hot oven.)
1 large seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into 3-inch lengths
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
36 slices of party rye or 18 slices of rye bread
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
Step 1 Using a box grater, coarsely grate the cucumber lengthwise, stopping when you get to the seedy center. Transfer the cucumber to a bowl and stir in the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and salt. Let stand for 15 minutes.
Step 2 If using rye bread slices, use a 2-inch-round cookie cutter to cut out 36 rounds from the bread. Cover with a slightly damp towel.
Step 3 Transfer the grated cucumber to a colander to drain; squeeze out the excess liquid. Return it to the bowl and stir in the cream cheese and scallion. Spread the cucumber cream cheese on the bread rounds, top each with a Persian cucumber slice and arrange on a platter. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.
1 pound (450g) special or lump crabmeat, picked over for shells
1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise
2 tablespoons (30ml) Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons (10ml) fresh juice from 1 lemon, plus grated zest of half a lemon
2 tbsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
1 small shallot, finely minced (about 2 tablespoons)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (1 ounce; 30g)
2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, melted
Baguette toasts, saltines, or other crackers, for serving (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a medium bowl, stir together crabmeat, mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice and zest, parsley, Old Bay, and shallot until evenly incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, stir bread crumbs with melted butter until evenly coated. Season with salt.
Pack crab mixture in a 1-quart baking or gratin dish, then layer buttered bread crumbs evenly on top. Set on top of a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crab mixture is heated through and bread crumbs are golden, about 20 minutes. Serve with toasts or crackers, if desired.
4 beets, small to medium sized
