Cheese pimento bisque from Sundays at Moosewood Cookbook

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2 celery stalks, chopped
1 cup chopped onion
2 Tbspns vegetable oil
1 medium sweet potato, diced (about 2 cups)
1 medium white potato, diced (about 2 cups)
4 cups vegetable stock, or water
1 cup extra sharp grated or chopped cheddar cheese
3 oz cream cheese, cubed
4 oz jar pimiento, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Saute celery and onions in vegetable oil, about 10 minutes.
Add potatoes and stock. Simmer until vegies are soft, about 20
minutes.

Remove soup from heat, add cheddar and cream cheeses, allow to sit
to soften cheese. In a blender, puree the soup with half the pimientos.
add salt and pepper.

If soup is too thick, thin with milk, water or vegetable stock. Stir in
remaining pimientos. Reheat, but do not boil.
Serves 4-6

Vermont Spice Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting from food52.com

Adapted from Land O’Lakes
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For the cake:

    • 3 cups flour
      1 teaspoon salt
      1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
      3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
      2 teaspoons cinnamon
      1 teaspoon ground ginger
      3 teaspoons baking powder
      1 teaspoon baking soda
      3/4 cup butter, at room temperature
      1 1/2 cups sugar
      3 eggs
      1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
      1/2 cup evaporated milk
      1/4 cup water
      2 teaspoons vanilla extract

      For the frosting:
      3 1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
      1/3 cup butter, softened
      11 ounces cream cheese, softened
      2 teaspoons maple syrup

      Preheat the oven to 325° F. Butter and flour two round 9-inch cake pans (I used a sheet cake pan and punched out my layers using a ring mold, hence the many layers in the photo).
      Whisk together the flour, salt, spices, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl and set aside.

      In a separate bowl or in a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

      Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.

      Add the pumpkin, evaporated milk, water, and vanilla, mixing after each addition. Add the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.

      Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the cake springs back to the touch and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool fully. It’s best to chill the cakes in the refrigerators before frosting them.

      For the frosting: Beat together all the ingredients in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy.

      If you want a cake with more layers, slice your two layers in half horizontally. Frost between each layer and top with more frosting. Leave the sides unfrosted if you like, or cover them with a thin layer of frosting.

      Makes two 9-inch layers

 

Texas Trash Dip from McCormick

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  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 cans (16 ounces each) refried beans
  • 1 can (4 1/2 ounces) chopped green chiles, drained
  • 1 package McCormick® Taco Seasoning Mix
  • 4 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave cream cheese and sour cream in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 minute or until cheese is softened. Remove from microwave. Mix with wire whisk until smooth. Add refried beans, green chiles, Seasoning Mix and 2 cups of the cheese; mix well.
  • Spread bean mixture into 13×9-inch baking dish sprayed with no stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 2 cups cheese.
  • Bake 25 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

 

7 Layer Fiesta Dip

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  • 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
  • 1 container (16 ounces) sour cream
  • 1 package taco Seasoning Mix
  • 1 package (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese, (2 cups)
  • 1 cup prepared guacamole
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup sliced green onions
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • Tortilla chips
  • Spread refried beans in shallow serving dish.
  • Mix sour cream and Seasoning Mix in small bowl until well blended. Spread over refried beans.
  • Top with layers of cheese, guacamole, tomatoes, onions and olives. Serve with tortilla chips.
Makes 8 cups or 64 (2-tablespoon) servings.

Best ever mushroom soup from pancakewarriors.com/

best-mushroom-soup-close 1 large white onion, diced
  • 1 package white button mushrooms (10 oz) sliced
  • 1 package baby portobello mushrooms (10 oz) sliced
  • 10 stalks fresh thyme, leaves removed
  • 1 cup organic vegetable broth
  • 1 tbs. tapioca flour
  • 1 cup almond or cashew milk (unsweetened)
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • ½ tbs. liquid aminos (GF) (or soy sauce)
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  1. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, add the diced onions. Allow to sweat while slicing the mushrooms. About 5-7 minutes.
  2. Move onions to the sides of the saucepan and add mushrooms, allow to cook 5 minutes uncovered.
  3. Stir the onions and mushrooms together. Add fresh thyme and allow to continue to cook, at least 10 minutes.
  4. You will notice a substantial amount of water has come out of the mushrooms, and they are reduced in volume by half.
  5. Add the bay leaf, the salt and the liquid aminos to the mushrooms.
  6. Stir the 1 tbs. of tapioca starch into the organic broth. Add to mushrooms and stir. Add almond milk.
  7. Allow to cook for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  8. This soup is amazing the next day as well and can easily be doubled.
  9. Add cashew cheese, Parmesan cheese or enjoy the soup just as it is

Smoked Oyster Pate from food52.com


download1 8 oz tub cream cheese
3 tablespoons milk
4 tablespoons green onions, finely chopped white and some green parts
3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce, or to taste
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 4 oz can smoked oysters, drained and chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 baguette, sliced into thin rounds
Butter, to taste

  1. COMBINE: In a medium bowl, pour the cream cheese, milk, green onions, Worcestershire, Tabasco, garlic, and parsley. Stir to combine. If the mixture seems too thick, thin it with a teaspoon or two more milk. ( It should be thick but everything should be evenly blended.) Fold in the oysters. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  2. TOAST: Spread butter, to taste, on one side of each round of baguette. Place in a 400 degree oven until lightly toasted.
  3. SERVE: Place the oyster pate and the toast on a serving tray. Each guest can place a dollop of the pate onto a round of toast.

 

 

Apple Sharlotka by Matt Dano

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  • 4 apples—peeled, cored, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
  • Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease the bottom and side of an 8-inch springform pan.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the apples with the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of the sugar and let stand for 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the flour with the cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the eggs with the almond extract and the remaining 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar at medium-high speed until thick and pale yellow and a ribbon forms when the beaters are lifted, 8 to 10 minutes. Gently fold in the dry ingredients just until incorporated.
  4. Spread the apples in the prepared pan in an even layer, then pour the batter evenly over them. Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the batter to sink in a little.
  5. Bake the sharlotka for about 1 hour, until it is golden and crisp on top and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer to a rack and let rest for 15 minutes. Unmold and transfer to a serving platter. Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm.

 

salmon bibimbap from http://thewoksoflife.com/

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2 cups raw white rice
light olive oil or canola oil
2 carrots, julienned
Salt and pepper
2 cups bean sprouts
2 bunches watercress
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
½ teaspoon sesame oil
1 salmon steak or filet
4 eggs, cooked sunny side up (over easy is fine too)
1 cup kimchi
Roasted seaweed flakes or sheets, cut into slivers (optional)
Gochujang paste, to taste (about 1-2 tablespoons per serving)

First, cook 2 cups of dry rice using your preferred method.

Next, heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Stir-fry the carrots for about 1 minute, sprinkling with a pinch of salt. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Next, stir fry the bean sprouts using the same method as with the carrots.

Next prep your watercress. Cut each bunch in half and wash thoroughly.

In the same pan you used for the carrots, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium high heat. Add the garlic and let fry gently for about 15-20 seconds. Add the watercress, followed by a ½ teaspoon of salt, and stir-fry until completely wilted. Remove from the heat and toss with the soy sauce, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Set aside.

Now for the salmon. Sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. Heat a pan over medium high heat with 3 tablespoons of oil. Add the salmon. Let brown for about 5 minutes. Flip, and let the other side cook for another 5 minutes. Our salmon steak was pretty thick, so cooking time may need to be adjusted depending on how big your piece of salmon is. When in doubt, just use a knife to gently cut into the center to check for doneness. Looks don’t matter with this dish, as we’ll be flaking the salmon anyway.

While the salmon is cooking, set aside the kimchi and seaweed flakes, cutting up the seaweed with kitchen shears if you’re using roasted sheets. Also, cook one egg for each person you’re serving.

When the salmon is finished cooking, you’re ready to assemble your bibimbap.

Spoon a nice bed of rice into a bowl and top with a small handful of flaked salmon and your egg. Add as much watercress, carrot, bean sprouts, kimchi, and seaweed as your heart desires. Finish off with gochujang to taste. Stir thoroughly and enjoy with a big spoon!

Beer-glazed salmon with roasted mushrooms from whole foods

  • 2 pounds mixed mushrooms (such as shiitake, cremini or oyster) , thickly sliced
  • 2 shallots , sliced4918-1 (1)
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt , divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper , divided
  • 3/4 cup stout beer
  • 2 tablespoons firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 4 skinless, boneless salmon fillets
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.In a large bowl, combine mushrooms, shallots and thyme sprigs. Drizzle with oil, season with 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper and toss to combine. Arrange mushrooms in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring 2 or 3 times, until nicely browned, about 45 minutes. Let cool slightly.

    Meanwhile, in a small heavy saucepan, stir together beer, brown sugar and mustard and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture just starts to thicken, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and set glaze aside. (Reserve all but 1/4 cup of the glaze for serving.)

    Pat fish dry and season with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place skin-side down in a large baking dish. Toss mushrooms with 2 tablespoons of the glaze and spoon them around fish. Brush fish with additional 2 tablespoons of the glaze. Roast until fish is just cooked through and flakes easily, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve each piece of fish with a generous portion of mushrooms and reserved glaze on the side.

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    Easiest berry crisp from whole foods

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    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter , at room temperature, plus more for the baking dish
    • 1 1/2 pound (about 5 cups) mixed berries , such as chopped strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or raspberries
    • 1/3 cup plus 1/4 cup dark brown sugar , divided
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour , divided
    • 1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats

    Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly butter an 8- or 9-inch-square baking dish or 9-inch pie plate.

    In a large bowl, combine fruit, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/4 cup of the flour and toss until evenly coated. Transfer to the buttered baking dish.

    To make topping, stir together oats, remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 cup flour. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut butter into oat mixture until well-combined. Spread topping over fruit, pressing down slightly.

    Bake until the top is golden brown and the fruit is tender and bubbly, about 40 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes and serve warm.