2 cups dried cranberry, borlotti,or pinto beans, soaked over night
a splash of extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cups berry beer
1/2 cup dried berries and/or cherries, loosely chopped
2 cups light vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (or more to taste)
fine-grain sea salt
Preheat oven to 350F degrees, and place rack in lower third.
In a large oven-proof casserole (I use my large Le Creuset Dutch oven), heat the olive oil and saute the red onion for a minute or so. Stir in the molasses, mustard, red pepper flakes, beans, beer, dried berries, and broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and place in oven for roughly 1 1/2 - 2 hours, or until beans are tender. Every batch of beans is different, and they'll decide for themselves when they're done. After an hour or so, (carefully) check every 25 minutes to see how the beans are doing. When the beans are tender remove the pot from the oven. In the off chance they need more liquid during the baking process, add more broth (or water) 1/2 cup at a time. More likely, if the beans finish cooking before the cooking broth really thickens up, pull the pot back up onto the stove top, uncover, and bring the pot to a boil until the liquid has more body - usually 5 - 10 minutes.
Now it's time to season the pot. Stir in the smoked paprika and a few big, generous pinches of salt. Wait a minute and then taste, you definitely need enough salt and to make the flavors pop and to counter-balance the sweetness of the molasses and fruit - the smoked paprika helps balance in this regard as well.
A big pot - serves 8 - 10.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Pumpkin spice syrup
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp ground cinammon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
Dissolve sugar in simmering water, add all spices and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain syrup to remove particulates and add vanilla.
Store the cooled syrup in a glass bottle or jar, away from direct sunlight, or in the fridge.
To make a latte, combine 2 shots of espresso with about 2 T spice syrup, then add steamed milk.
1 cup sugar
2 Tbsp ground cinammon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
Dissolve sugar in simmering water, add all spices and simmer for 5 minutes. Strain syrup to remove particulates and add vanilla.
Store the cooled syrup in a glass bottle or jar, away from direct sunlight, or in the fridge.
To make a latte, combine 2 shots of espresso with about 2 T spice syrup, then add steamed milk.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Baked Ziti
Ingredients
* 1 pound dried ziti pasta
* Kosher salt
* 3 1/2 cups Quick Tomato Sauce
* 1 pound fresh mozzarella, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
* 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, divided
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* Pinch red pepper flakes
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously, and boil the pasta until al dente, tender but still slightly firm. Drain.
Toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and pepper flakes. Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
* 1 pound dried ziti pasta
* Kosher salt
* 3 1/2 cups Quick Tomato Sauce
* 1 pound fresh mozzarella, half cut into 1/2-inch cubes and half thinly sliced
* 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, divided
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* Pinch red pepper flakes
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously, and boil the pasta until al dente, tender but still slightly firm. Drain.
Toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce, cubed mozzarella, half the Parmesan cheese, black pepper, and pepper flakes. Transfer the pasta to an oiled 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Cover the top of the pasta with the sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Bake until lightly browned and hot, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
Quick Tomato Sauce
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sweet and or spicy Italian sausages, casing removed and crumbled
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 1/2 cups whole, peeled, canned tomatoes in puree, (one 28-ounce can), roughly chopped
Sprig fresh thyme
Sprig fresh basil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper, to taste. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
1 pound sweet and or spicy Italian sausages, casing removed and crumbled
1/4 medium onion, diced (about 3 tablespoons)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
3 1/2 cups whole, peeled, canned tomatoes in puree, (one 28-ounce can), roughly chopped
Sprig fresh thyme
Sprig fresh basil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook the sausage until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add the onion and garlic, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.
Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the salt and season with pepper, to taste. Use now or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Lemonade Syrup
Ingredients:
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1/2 cup boiling water
* 1 lemon of zest
* 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
Preparation:
Dissolve sugar in hot water, and remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Let cool and keep refrigerated. To make instant lemonade, mix 1/4 cup of syrup with 3/4 cup cold water. Serve over ice.
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1/2 cup boiling water
* 1 lemon of zest
* 1 1/2 cups lemon juice
Preparation:
Dissolve sugar in hot water, and remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Let cool and keep refrigerated. To make instant lemonade, mix 1/4 cup of syrup with 3/4 cup cold water. Serve over ice.
Coconut Cake
2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
5 eggs
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup flaked coconut
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Mix flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time; beat well. Mix in coconut flavoring. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing well with each addition. Fold in coconut. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
The cake doesn't bake for an hour. It's more like 40 mins when you put it in 2 9-inch pans.
Frosting
INGREDIENTS:
1 (18.25 ounce) package
yellow cake mix
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant
vanilla pudding mix
1 1/3 cups water
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups flaked coconut
2 teaspoons milk
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) package cream
cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.
2. Blend the cake mix, pudding mix, water, eggs and oil in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for 4 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of the coconut and the chopped walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 15 minutes then remove and finish cooling on rack.
4. To Make Frosting: Melt the butter or margarine in a skillet. Add the 2 cups flaked coconut and stir constantly over low heat until golden brown. Spread coconut on absorbent paper to cool.
5. Cream the remaining 2 tablespoons butter or margarine with the cream cheese. Add the milk and confectioners' sugar alternately, beating well. Add the vanilla and stir in 1 3/4 cups of the toasted coconut.
6. To Assemble Cake: Spread tops of cooled cake layers with some of the frosting. Stack them and then frost the sides of the cake. Sprinkle Cake with the remaining toasted coconut.
1 cup butter
5 eggs
1 teaspoon coconut extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup flaked coconut
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan. Mix flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time; beat well. Mix in coconut flavoring. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing well with each addition. Fold in coconut. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
The cake doesn't bake for an hour. It's more like 40 mins when you put it in 2 9-inch pans.
Frosting
INGREDIENTS:
1 (18.25 ounce) package
yellow cake mix
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant
vanilla pudding mix
1 1/3 cups water
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups flaked coconut
2 teaspoons milk
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (8 ounce) package cream
cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.
2. Blend the cake mix, pudding mix, water, eggs and oil in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for 4 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of the coconut and the chopped walnuts. Pour the batter into the prepared pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 35 minutes. Let cakes cool in pans for 15 minutes then remove and finish cooling on rack.
4. To Make Frosting: Melt the butter or margarine in a skillet. Add the 2 cups flaked coconut and stir constantly over low heat until golden brown. Spread coconut on absorbent paper to cool.
5. Cream the remaining 2 tablespoons butter or margarine with the cream cheese. Add the milk and confectioners' sugar alternately, beating well. Add the vanilla and stir in 1 3/4 cups of the toasted coconut.
6. To Assemble Cake: Spread tops of cooled cake layers with some of the frosting. Stack them and then frost the sides of the cake. Sprinkle Cake with the remaining toasted coconut.
Grilled Jamaican Jerk Tilapia Packets
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
* 4 tilapia fillets, about 6 ounces
* 1 cup white onion, chopped
* 1 cup red or orange bell pepper, julienned
* 2 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
* 3 tablespoons Jerk Seasoning
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* salt and black pepper
* 4 large pieces of aluminum foil
Preparation:
Preheat grill medium high heat. Place one piece of tilapia in each piece of foil. Combine, garlic, olive oil, cilantro, lemon juice, and jerk seasoning in a small bowl. Brush well with mixture on both sides of fish. Place equal portions of onion, bell pepper, and poblano on each piece of fish. Season lightly with salt and black pepper. Crimp edges of foil over and seal packets well. Place on grill and cook for 10 minutes, turn, and cook for a remaining ten. When Fish no longer appears opaque and vegetables become tender, remove from heat. Allow packets to stand for 5 minutes before opening.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
* 4 tilapia fillets, about 6 ounces
* 1 cup white onion, chopped
* 1 cup red or orange bell pepper, julienned
* 2 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
* 3 tablespoons Jerk Seasoning
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
* salt and black pepper
* 4 large pieces of aluminum foil
Preparation:
Preheat grill medium high heat. Place one piece of tilapia in each piece of foil. Combine, garlic, olive oil, cilantro, lemon juice, and jerk seasoning in a small bowl. Brush well with mixture on both sides of fish. Place equal portions of onion, bell pepper, and poblano on each piece of fish. Season lightly with salt and black pepper. Crimp edges of foil over and seal packets well. Place on grill and cook for 10 minutes, turn, and cook for a remaining ten. When Fish no longer appears opaque and vegetables become tender, remove from heat. Allow packets to stand for 5 minutes before opening.
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