Caprese panino from Mario

1000x400-Q80_a35eac1e31c2186023e716a019a2f09fCAPRESE PANINO

  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or balsamic
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano (roughly chopped)
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 vine-ripe tomatoes (cores removed, thinly sliced into rounds)
  • 1 loaf ciabatta (cut lengthwise, cut into 6-inch pieces)
  • 2 balls buffalo mozzarella (about 8 ounces each, sliced)

BASIL PESTO

  • 2 1/2 cups basil leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic (peeled)
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts (raw)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
  • Preheat a grill pan or panini maker to medium heat.
  • In a large bowl, add red wine vinegar or basmalic, dried oregano, fresh oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper and mix to combine. Add the tomatoes and toss to coat. Set aside.
  • For the Pesto: in the bowl of a food processor, combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. Pulse and chop until almost blended. The resulting pesto will be a little chunky and not too wet. Pulse a few times to chop and combine. With the food processor running, drizzle in the olive oil until combined, The resulting pesto should be a little chunky and not too wet. Add the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and pulse a couple times just to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set the sauce aside so that the flavors meld.
  • To build the sandwiches, lay out a top and bottom piece of ciabatta with the insides facing up. Spread some pesto on both slices of bread. On the bottom piece, add some mozzarella and dressed tomato slices. Top with bread. Brush the outside of the sandwich with a little olive oil. Place on preheated panini maker and close. Cook until golden brown and the cheese has slightly melted, about 3-5 minutes. Continue building sandwiches with remaining ingredients.
  • Tip: alternatively, cook the panini stovetop in a skillet or grill pan and press with a weighted object.

Michael Ruhlman’s Pasta with Tomato Water, Basil, and Garlic

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  • 4 ripe tomatoes, large dice
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or any pasta you like
  • 10 cloves of garlic
  • 1cup basil, cut into ribbons
  • 3 ounces butter, cut into three chunks
  • Olive oil, as needed
  1. Season the tomatoes with the salt and toss them well.
  2. Put a big pot of water on to boil.
  3. Smash the garlic with the flat side of a knife, give it all a few rough chops with the knife and set them a side in a small bowl.
  4. Cut the basil into ribbons or roughly chop it. Take a pinch of this basil, chop it finely, and add it to the tomatoes to season the water.
  5. Cook your pasta, drain it, put it back in the pot, and oil the pasta to keep it from sticking to itself. (Meanwhile, even if your water isn’t boiling yet, you should still get your garlic cooking in the next step).
  6. Heat a teaspoon or two of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the garlic and cook it till it is just beginning to brown around the edges and soften, a couple minutes. Give it a pinch of salt if you wish.
  7. Pour the tomatoes into a strainer or colander over the garlic so that the tomato water will stream into the pan below. Set the strainer with the tomatoes into the bowl so they don’t drip on the counter, and swirl the sauce to bring it to a simmer. Add the butter while continuing to swirl or stir the sauce. Keep the sauce moving until all the butter is melted. Add the pasta and toss to coat the pasta evenly. Divide the pasta among four bowls and top with the tomatoes and basil.

 

Dina’s tossed mushrooms

Unstuffed-Mushrooms

All the deliciousness of stuffed mushrooms without all the work! An easy side dish you can serve any night of the week!

  • 1 pound white button mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1⁄4 cup dried Italian-style breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 2 tablespoons Italian parsley, minced
  • 1⁄4 teaspoon thyme (fresh or dried)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • black pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil to drizzle
  • olive oil spray
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Slice off the bottom of the stems; then, use a moist paper towel to gently remove any dirt from mushrooms.
  3. Quarter or halve the mushrooms, depending on the size.
  4. Sprinkle water in the bottom of a 13 x 9 baking dish then place mushrooms in a single layer on top of the water.
  5. In a small bowl combine next six ingredients: breadcrumbs through salt/pepper. Sprinkle mixture evenly on top of the mushrooms.
  6. Drizzle evenly with olive oil then spray the top with olive oil spray so it’s evenly coated. Bake uncovered until the mushrooms are golden, about 20 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

 

Oven “Fries” Ellie Krieger

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3 large baking potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick matchsticks
2 tablespoons canola oil
Salt
Cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with the oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and spread the potatoes in a single layer. Bake until golden and crisp, about 35 minutes. Remove the fries with a spatula and season with salt.

Patricia Wells’ Fake Frites

  • 368c4873-5ccc-4cd2-9708-f3f916104e19--2014-1220_fake-frites-0792 pounds baking potatoes, such as Idaho russets or Bintje, peeled and cut into thick fries, 3/4 inch by 3 inches
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Fine sea salt to taste
  1. Preheat the oven to 500° F. Bring 1 quart of water to a simmer in the bottom of a steamer. Place the potatoes on the steaming rack, place the rack in the steamer, cover, and steam just until a knife inserted in a potato comes away clean, 10 to 12 minutes. (The potatoes should not be cooked through, or they will tend to fall apart.)
  2. Transfer the steamed potatoes to a bowl and drizzle with oil. Carefully toss to coat evenly with oil. (The potatoes can be prepared to this point several hours in advance. Set aside at room temperature.)
  3. With a large slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes in a single layer to a nonstick baking sheet. Discard any excess oil or liquid. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake, turning so they brown evenly, until the potatoes are crisp and deep golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, season generously with salt, and serve immediately.

stir-fried eggplant, potatoes & peppers from thewoksoflife.com/

  • 3 cldi-san-xian-8oves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • 2 scallions, chopped
  • 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 long Chinese eggplants, cut on an angle into large bite-sized pieces
  • 1 large potato (about 8 ounces), peeled and cut on an angle into large bite-sized pieces
  • ½ red bell pepper, cut into large bite-sized pieces
  • ½ orange bell pepper, cut into large bite-sized pieces
  • 4 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • Salt, to taste

First let’s prepare the following: smash and peel the garlic, chop the scallions, and mix the cornstarch with the water in a small bowl. Set everything aside.

Now we’re ready to cook. Heat the oil in your wok over medium heat. Add the potato, and brown lightly for about 8 minutes until cooked through. Stir occasionally to avoid burning them.

10 minute broccoli tofu bowls from thewoksoflife.com/

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  • 16 oz. firm tofu
  • 1 cup vegetable stock
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry cooking wine
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 pound broccoli, cut into small florets
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

Cut your block of tofu into bite-sized cubes and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the stock, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, wine, sesame oil, and sugar, and set aside. dmv note:press tofu

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic. Cook for a minute, being careful not to let the garlic burn. Add the broccoli, and crank up the heat to high, stir-frying the broccoli for a minute or to, just until it starts to turn a bright green color.

 

General Tso’s sauce from purewow.com

purewow_general_tsos_12 teaspoons sesame oil
6 scallions, white part finely sliced, green part chopped into 1-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced ginger
5 small dried chiles (optional)
¼ cup vegetable broth
¼ cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons mirin
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

In a medium pot, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the finely-chopped white scallions, garlic, ginger and chiles, and cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar and mirin, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk the sugar and cornstarch to combine. Pour about ¼ cup of the hot sauce over the mixture, whisking constantly until the mixture is smooth and lump free. Return the mixture to the pot and bring to a simmer. Stir in the large pieces of green scallion.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and has good flavor, 7 to 9 minutes more.

Grilled Swordfish Steaks with Basil-Caper Butter from food & wine

  • download6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 2 teaspoons drained capers, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Four 8-ounce swordfish steaks, cut 1 inch thick
  1. Light a grill. In a small bowl, blend the butter with the basil, capers and 1 teaspoon of the lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, and refrigerate.
  2. In a large, shallow dish, mix the olive oil with the remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Season the swordfish with salt and pepper and turn the fish in the olive oil mixture. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  3. Grill the swordfish steaks over a hot fire until nicely charred on the outside and just cooked within, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the steaks to plates, top each with a dollop of basil-caper butter and serve right away.