Salt and Pepper Shrimp Rolls from NYTimes

Salt and Pepper Shrimp Rolls
  • Vegetable oil, for frying (about 2½ cups)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ teaspoon grated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 hot dog buns, preferably top-split
  • 1 pound peeled and deveined jumbo shrimp (16 to 20 shrimp), tails removed
  • ¼ cup whole (or 2-percent) milk
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 Fresno chiles, thinly sliced
  • Tender cilantro sprigs, for garnish
  • Lime wedges, for serving’
  1. In a 12-inch cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat 1 inch of oil over medium-high until an instant-read thermometer registers 350 degrees.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and garlic; mix well. In a separate small bowl, combine pepper and salt.
  3. Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium. Using 1 teaspoon of garlic mayonnaise per bun, spread on outer sides of buns, then toast them until golden, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to plates.
  4. Season shrimp with about 1 teaspoon of the pepper-salt, dip in milk, then dredge in cornstarch, gently pressing so cornstarch adheres. Working in two batches, fry shrimp until crispy and cooked through, turning halfway, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season with more of the pepper-salt mixture.
  5. Smear some garlic mayonnaise on the inner center of buns, then divide shrimp among buns. Top with chiles, cilantro and more pepper salt. Serve with lime wedges.
    Yield: 4 servings

 Connecticut-style shrimp rolls from NYTimes

  • 6 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
  • 4 top-split hot dog buns
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 pound large peeled and deveined shrimp
  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • ¼ cup chopped chives
  • Lemon wedges, for serving
  1. In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium. Add buns and toast the two outer flat sides until golden, about 1 minute per side; transfer to a plate. Wipe out skillet.
  2. Add 2 tablespoons of water to the skillet and reduce heat to low. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and stir constantly until melted; repeat with the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until all of the butter is incorporated.
  3. Stir in garlic, then add shrimp in an even layer and season with salt. Increase heat to medium-low and cook, without stirring, until shrimp turn opaque around the edges, about 3 minutes; reduce heat to low if butter starts to bubble too vigorously. (It should stay at a very low simmer.) Flip shrimp and cook until opaque throughout and cooked through, about 2 minutes longer. Turn off heat and stir in chives.
  4. Divide shrimp among toasted buns and drizzle the butter sauce on top. Serve warm, with lemon wedges for squeezing over the shrimp.

Step 1In a 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium. Add buns and

California Roll Rice Noodle Bowl from chef john

For the Sushi Mayo Dressing Base:

  • ⅔ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon Sriracha

For the Bowl:

  • 6 ounces imitation crabmeat, chopped
  • ¼ cup sliced green onions
  • ½ teaspoon wasabi paste, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons prepared mayo dressing base
  • 4 ounces dried rice noodles
  • 1 avocado – peeled, pitted, and cubed
  • ½ cup sliced English cucumber
  • 2 tablespoons furikake (Japanese nori seasoning), or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sliced green onions, or to tast

For the Noodle Dressing:

  • 2 tablespoons prepared mayo dressing base
  • ¼ cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce 
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon wasabi paste, or to taste
  • Combine chopped imitation crab, green onions, wasabi paste, and 2 tablespoons of our prepared mayo dressing base in another bowl. Refrigerate until needed.
  • Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil; reserve a bowl of ice water nearby to add cooked noodles to after boiling. Stir noodles into the boiling water and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and transfer to cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Combine 2 tablespoons prepared mayo dressing base, seasoned rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and wasabi paste for noodle dressing in a bowl with a whisk. Drain noodles and toss in sauce until evenly coated.
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 to 2 hours, tossing occasionally.
  • Unwrap noodles and transfer to a serving bowl. Top with avocado, cucumber, and crab mixture; drizzle with more mayo sauce and garnish with furikake.

Tacos Gobernador by Rick Martinez

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound (453 grams) large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed
  • 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 medium white onion (154 grams), thinly sliced
  • medium chile poblano (125 grams), stemmed, seeded, and thinly sliced into strips
  • medium celery stalk (49 grams), thinly sliced crosswise on the diagonal
  • medium chile serrano (24 grams), stemmed and thinly sliced into rings
  • garlic cloves, finely grated
  • teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
  • 3/4 teaspoon (4 grams) Morton kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed or ground coriander seeds
  • medium Roma tomato (113 grams), cored and chopped
  • tortillas de harina
  • 6 ounces (170 grams) queso asadero, quesillo, or Monterey Jack cheese, grated
  • In a large skillet over high, heat the oil. Arrange the shrimp in an even layer in the skillet and cook, turning once, until just starting to brown, for about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter. Cook the onion, chile poblano, celery, chile serrano, garlic, oregano, salt, and coriander, tossing occasionally, until the onion and chile poblano are beginning to brown, for 6 to 8 minutes. 
  • Add the tomato and cook, tossing occasionally and scraping up any browned bits, until the tomato begins to break down, for about 5 minutes more. Transfer to the bowl with the shrimp and toss to combine. Taste and season with salt.
  • Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel. Working with 2 or more tortillas at a time (if you can fit 2 tortillas in your skillet), cook the tortillas until lightly toasted on one side, for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Flip and add a small mound of cheese in the center of the toasted side. Top with some of the shrimp filling and fold over like a taco. Cook the untoasted side until the cheese is beginning to melt and the tortilla is lightly toasted, for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip to toast the second half. Continue with the remaining tortillas, cheese, and shrimp.
  • Serve with a squeeze of lime and your favorite salsa.
  • For Serving
  • Lime wedges
  • Your favorite salsa

Kim Chee Dip From Sheldon Simeon

  • For the Kim Chee Dip:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 6 ounces cabbage kim chee, roughly chopped (about ¾ cup), with juice reserved
  • 1 teaspoon sugar, plus more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon kochugaru Korean chile flakes, plus more to taste
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon fried garlic
  • Wonton chips, crackers, Doritos (Cool Ranch preferred), Fritos, Tostitos, or any other available -ito, for serving
  • For the Microwave Fried Garlic:
  • 1 heaping tablespoon minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
  • Neutral oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Sugar
  1. For the Microwave Fried Garlic:
  2. 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.

Spiced Tea With Ginger and Cardamom-Sanjay Gupta

  • 1 teaspoon minced ginger 
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground cardamom
  • 3 teaspoons brown sugar (optional)
  • 3 tea bags, preferably strong black tea such as Assam
  • 1 cup of half-and-half

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan or small pot. As the water heats up, add the ginger, cardamom and, if using, brown sugar.2. Once water has reached a boil, reduce to medium-low heat so it simmers with gentle bubbles. Add the tea bags and half-and-half.

Using tea bags simplifies the process.

3. Let the liquid slowly come to a boil once again, then remove from heaGupta says making chai isn’t just about the drink but also the tradition surrounding it.4. Remove tea bags and carefully pour tea into teapot or cups.

Makes 4 servings

Crispy Tofu With Balsamic Tomatoes melissa clark

  • 1 (14- to 16-ounce) package extra-firm or firm tofu, cut crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more as needed
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved if large, kept whole if small
  • 1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch wedges (about 2 cups)
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar, plus more for finishing
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro or parsley leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped
  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange tofu slices on a clean kitchen towel or on paper towels. Cover with another kitchen towel (or paper towels) and place a flat cutting board or baking pan on top. If your cutting board or pan is lightweight, stack a few cans or a skillet on top to weigh it down. Let tofu drain for at least 15 minutes, and up to 45 minutes.
  3. Transfer tofu to a cutting board and cut slabs into 1-inch cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels and season both sides of the tofu with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon oil, cornstarch, garlic powder (if using) and 1/2 teaspoon of the oregano. Add tofu to cornstarch mixture and gently toss until tofu is evenly coated. Dump tofu onto one side of the prepared sheet pan.
  5. In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, remaining 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil, tossing to combine.
  6. Arrange vegetables on other side of the prepared sheet pan. Bake until tofu is crisp and golden brown, and tomatoes are condensed, 25 to 35 minutes. Halfway through baking, flip tofu and toss vegetables while keeping the tofu and veggies separate.
  7. To serve, sprinkle cilantro on top and drizzle with balsamic and oil, if you’d like.

Crispy Rosemary Sea Salt Flatbread Crackers from chef john

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 
  • 1 teaspoon white sugar 
    ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese  
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil  
  • ½ cup cold water 
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicon mat or parchment paper.
  2. Place flour, salt, sugar, and grated cheese in a mixing bowl. Stir together until well mixed. Add rosemary; drizzle with olive oil and add water. Mix with a fork until mixture comes together in a fairly sticky dough and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer dough onto floured surface and add flour as you knead the dough. Knead until it no longer sticks to work surface, 4 to 5 minutes. Divide dough in half.
  4. Dust work surface with flour. Roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness or less. Brush or mist surface of dough very lightly with water. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Prick the entire surface of dough with the tines of a fork to prevent crackers from puffing too much when baking.
  5. Cut each rolled out half into about 30 pieces with a pizza wheel. You can cut them out in squares, rectangles, or triangles–your choice. Transfer onto prepared baking sheet with a bench scraper or your floured fingers (dough will be very sticky).
  6. Bake in preheated oven until perfectly browned and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness.

Brownie in a Mug from celebrating sweets.com

3 tablespoons granulated sugar
 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 ½ tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch salt
 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, plus more for topping
 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil, melted coconut oil or melted butter
3 tablespoons milk
 ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
 Ice cream, whipped cream, powdered sugar, berries for garnish
Instructions
Place sugar, flour, cocoa powder and salt in a mug. Use a small whisk or fork, and stir until combined, and free of lumps. Stir in chocolate chips. Add oil, milk and vanilla, stir with a spoon or small rubber spatula until just combined (try not to over mix it). 

Sprinkle a few additional chocolate chips over the top and cook in the microwave for about 90 seconds (microwave times may vary). Eat immediately with ice cream, whipped cream, powdered sugar, or berries.

Notes
I have a used a 12oz and 16oz mug for this recipe.
Although this is a single serving dessert, you can easily split this between 2 adults.

Chinese-style button mushroom soup from thewoksoflife.com


8 ounces button mushrooms(the smaller the better)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
 4 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons light soy sauce
salt (to taste)
 2 tablespoons cornstarch (combined into a slurry with 2 tablespoons water, optional)
1/2 cup cilantro (finely chopped)
1 scallion (chopped)

Wash the mushrooms clean of any dirt, and dry them thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel. Detach the stems (you will add them to the soup also).

Place a medium soup pot over medium high heat. When the pan is very hot, add the oil and mushrooms cup-side up in a single layer. (Add the stems in too to avoid waste.)

Reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the mushroom caps are browned, and each cup fills with liquid (that’s the juices in the mushroom seeping out!). Also check the stems for browning. Avoid stirring during this pan-frying process as it’s the key step to developing flavor for this soup. (You also want to keep the mushroom juices in the caps.) 

When the mushrooms are nicely browned, add the water and light soy sauce. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes over medium low heat.

Add salt to taste, and stir in the cornstarch slurry (if using). Simmer the soup for 30 seconds until thickened.
Just before serving, add the cilantro and scallions. If you like cilantro (like me) this soup can take a lot of cilantro!