Category Archives: recipes

Watermelon-Tequila Cocktails, Jennifer Kosco 

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1/4 cup water
1/4 cup granulated sugar
8 cups diced seedless watermelon (1 pound)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 3/4 cups blueberries
3/4 cup lightly packed fresh mint leaves, plus 8 sprigs for garnish
1 1/4 cups silver tequila
Ice

1. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a simmer with the sugar and stir over moderate heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute; let the sugar syrup cool.

2. In a blender, puree the watermelon until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the watermelon juice, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the pulp.

3. In a large pitcher, combine the sugar syrup with the lime juice, blueberries and mint leaves. Using a wooden spoon, lightly muddle the blueberries and mint. Add the watermelon juice and tequila. Refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.

4. Pour the cocktail into tall ice-filled glasses. Garnish with the mint sprigs and serve.

Cucumber Cream With Tomato Salsa from Weeknight Vegetarian

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  • 2 1/2 pounds cucumbers (6 to 8 large or 16 to 20 Kirbys), peeled
  • 3 scallions, trimmed
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar, plus more as needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more as needed
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1 tablespoon shredded fresh basil
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Peel the cucumbers and cut them in half lengthwise. Use a small spoon to scoop out/discard the seeds.

Cut enough of the cucumbers into 1/2-inch dice to yield 1/2 cup. Cover and refrigerate it for the salsa.

Cut the remaining cucumbers into 1-inch chunks. Chop 2 of the scallions.

Combine the larger cucumber chunks, chopped scallions, water, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Taste, and add vinegar, salt and/or pepper as needed. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.  4 servings; makes about 4 cups

Just before serving, cut the tomato in half through the stem end. Discard the core and squeeze the halves to discard some of the gel/seeds and juice. Cut the remaining tomato into 1/2-inch dice and transfer to a small bowl.

Thinly slice the remaining scallion and add to the bowl, along with the reserved, diced cucumber and the basil. Toss with the oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.

Taste the soup again for seasoning (it will be more muted when cold), and add vinegar, salt or pepper as needed. Divide among chilled bowls, top each portion with some of the salsa, and serve.

Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon Eric Ripert

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6 eggs
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons crème fraiche
2 ounces smoked salmon, diced
1 tablespoon sliced chives
– cayenne pepper
– fine sea salt and
   freshly ground pepper
1 lemon cut in half
– paprika to garnish

Place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil, cover and remove from the heat. Let the eggs sit, covered for 12-15 minutes; drain the hot water and run cold water over the boiled eggs until cool.

Peel the eggs and cut each egg in half lengthwise. Gently remove the yolks from the center into a small mixing bowl. Set aside the egg white halves.

Add the mustard, crème fraiche, shallot, smoked salmon and chives to the egg yolks and stir to combine. Season to taste with cayenne, salt, pepper and freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Spoon the mixture back into the egg whites. Garnish with paprika. Serves 4

Spicy Ramen from Terry

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spicy-ramen-bowlThis is nicely spicy. David liked it enough to ask me to make notes so I could make it again for him. I think you can add whatever you like to this soup. It’s the Lady Sauce that makes it yummy with the spice.

1 teaspoon Lady Sauce
2 cups water
1 package ramen noodles
spice packet or chicken base
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1 egg
drizzle of toasted sesame oil
chopped scallions

nn a small saucepan heat the Lady Sauce for a minute or so just to “cook” it a little. Add the water and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spice packet or the chicken base and stir to combine. Add the bean sprouts. Drain the excess white from an egg and add the egg careful to the hot soup. Bring the noodles over the egg and let sit for a minute. Drizzle with a bit of the sesame oil. Add some chopped scallions for a garnish and serve. Serving Size: 1

Notes:

The Lady Sauce is Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp Sauce which I bought from Amazon after reading about it on http://www.thewoksoflife.com blog. Her family called it Lady Sauce because of the women on the label. It seems the Chinese translation of this sauce is Godmother.

Crab Louie from food & wine

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DRESSING
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon Tabasco
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Salt and freshly ground pepper

SALAD
3/4 pound asparagus
Two 6-ounce romaine hearts, cut crosswise 1/2 inch thick
One 6-ounce seedless cucumber, thinly sliced or cut into spears
4 large radishes, thinly sliced
4 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges (optional)
4 hard-cooked eggs, cut into wedges
1 pound crabmeat, preferably Dungeness

In a bowl, whisk the mayonnaise with the ketchup, relish, lemon juice, garlic, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and chili powder and season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.

In a medium saucepan of boiling salted water, cook the asparagus until just tender, 3 minutes. Drain and cool.
Arrange the romaine, cucumber, radishes, tomatoes, eggs and asparagus on a platter. Top with large chunks of the crabmeat and serve, passing the dressing at the table.

Pickled Red Onions from Terry

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This is something you must have on hand in the summer. On the other hand these really pump up a sandwich anytime of the year.

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1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 medium red onion, peeled, halved and thinly sliced

Bring vinegar, water, sugar and salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Put the onions in a medium bowl, pour the vinegar over, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 48 hours before serving.

pan seared ahi tuna crusted

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tuna 1marinade
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
mix together in zip lock bag
add tuna and marinate 1-24 hours, turn several times
tuna

Season tuna with salt and pepper. Roll in sesame seed and pat seeds to tuna . Put grape seed oil in cast iron pan and heat to a high temp, add tuna, cook for 2 minutes on each side and ends. Turn off heat and let tuna sit in pan for 2-3 minutes.

Serve with wasabi sauce. Mix Cream or mayo with wasabi add fish sauce, maple syrup, sambal and soy sauce.

Roasted Potato Salad with Mustard-Walnut Vinaigrette, food 52

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Winner of Best Picnic Recipe food 52

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  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons roasted walnut oil
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425° F and line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

Wash and dry potatoes, then spread evenly between baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to evenly coat potatoes. Sprinkle with freshly-ground black pepper and sea salt, then roast, shaking the pans occasionally, until potatoes are tender and browning (about 45 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes).

Meanwhile, prepare vinaigrette. Place garlic cloves on a cutting board, sprinkle with a generous couple pinches of sea salt, and chop and mash with the side of your knife until the clove breaks down into a salty paste.

Add garlic paste to a small bowl along with mustards, lemon juice, and vinegar. Whisk to emulsify. Add olive and walnut oils and whisk vigorously to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional sea salt and pepper.

When potatoes are done, transfer to a large bowl. Add scallions and dressing, and toss to coat. Using the back of a mixing spoon or the end of a wooden spatula, roughly smash some of the potatoes to break the skins. You’re not making mashed potatoes, but breaking the potatoes down will allow them to soak up more of the vinaigrette.

Allow dressed potatoes to sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes to one hour. Just before serving, stir in walnuts and basil.

Super easy 3-minute buttermilk ranch dressing – Canadian Living

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buttermilk-ranch-dressing

Ranch dressing is so delicious on any crisp lettuce and it makes a fantastic dipping sauce for a vegetable platter, but did you know that you can whip it together in just a few minutes with stuff you probably have at home?

This dressing is so good, you’ll forget about buying anything in a bottle ever again. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, check out our tip to make a quick substitute using milk here.

The secret is to this recipe is the onion and garlic powder. I’ve tried this dressing with freshly grated garlic and it’s far too overpowering. Powdered garlic delivers a subtle garlic flavour that won’t have you digging through your pockets for a mint afterward.

For an extra twist, throw in some chopped dill, tarragon, basil or parsley.

Here’s what you’ll need:
2/3 cup sour cream (full fat)*
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp liquid honey next time start with 1/2 tsp.
1/4 tsp each garlic powder and onion powder
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

In bowl, whisk together sour cream, buttermilk, Dijon, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate for up to 5 days).  (makes about 1 cup)

*You can substitute with low fat or no fat sour cream, but the dressing won’t be as thick, or tasty.

Quick Buttermilk Substitute

Pour 1 tbsp of white vinegar into a 1-cup liquid measure. Top with enough milk to make 1 cup; stir. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.

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Basil Buttermilk Ranch Dressing from food52

  • 2 tablespoons minced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons teaspoons lemon juice or white wine vinegar
  • 1/2  cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons yogurt or sour cream
  • 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
  • Honey, as needed
  1. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the shallot, herbs, garlic, vinegar or lemon juice, mayonnaise, and yogurt or sour cream. Screw on the the lid and shake the jar to combine. Stir in most of the buttermilk. Check for consistency, and add more if needed. Taste, then season with salt, pepper and paprika. If the dressing is too sharp, drizzle in some honey to mellow the acidity. Taste again, and adjust if needed.
  2. Cover and refrigerate for an hour before using, to allow the flavours to blend and develop. Makes about 2 cups

Classic Macaroni Salad from Hellmann’s

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  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni (about 1-3/4 cups)
  • 1 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp. vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Dijonnaise™ Creamy Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1 cup thinly sliced celery
  • 1 cup chopped green or red bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  1. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water until completely cool.
  2. Combine Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, vinegar, Creamy Dijon Mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in large bowl. Stir in macaroni, celery, green pepper and onion. Serve chilled or at room temperature.