Serves: 12

2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups banana, mashed
2/3 cup walnuts, chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour baking pans, one (13-inch by 9-inch by 2-inch) or two 9-inch, or 3 8-inch round layer pans.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat 3 minutes scraping bowl occasionally.
Pour into pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes.
If desired, frost with cream cheese frosting.

Serves: 6

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled off
2 tablespoons sugar
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 small, over-ripe banana, peeled
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons low fat milk
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For Cooking

Vegetable oil
Unsalted butter

For Serving
Maple syrup
Sliced bananas
Confectioners' sugar (optional)

• preparation

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
In a small bowl, mash the banana with a fork until almost smooth. Whisk in the eggs, then add the milk and vanilla and whisk until well blended. Pour the banana mixture and the melted butter into the flour mixture. Fold the batter gently with a rubber spatula until just blended; do not over-mix. The batter will be thick and lumpy.
Set a griddle or non-stick pan over medium heat until hot. Put a pad of butter and one tablespoon vegetable oil onto the griddle, and swirl it around. Drop the batter by 1/4-cupfuls onto the griddle, spacing the pancakes about 2 inches apart. Cook until a few holes form on top of each pancake and the underside is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook until the bottom is golden brown and the top is puffed, 1 to 2 minutes more. Using the spatula, transfer the pancakes to a serving plate.
Wipe the griddle clean with paper towels, add more butter and oil, and repeat with the remaining batter. Serve the pancakes while still hot with maple syrup, sliced bananas and confectioners' sugar if desired.

Serves: 2

3/4 cup orzo, freshly cooked, rinsed and drained
2 medium Italian tomatoes, cored, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped black olives
1/2 cup red onion finely diced
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

• preparation

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Serve with toasted garlic bread

Serves: 8

8 ounces grated cheddar cheese
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
1/4 teaspoon Aromat seasoning
1 cup flour

• preparation

Preheat oven at 325 degrees. Process cheese with the flour. Add butter and spices and process until dough forms a ball. Scrape the side of bowl, and process for a few more seconds to blend.
Roll the dough into 2-inch thick cylinder. Wrap in wax paper. Chill. Slice into 1/4 -inch slices. Place on sheet pan lined with wax paper.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until wafers are crisp. Cool on rack.

Note: I also roll cylinder in ground almond.

Serves: 12

Streusel Ingredients
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter

Cupcake Ingredients
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
1 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt, room temperature
1 tsp almond or vanilla extract

Glaze Ingredients
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp melted butter

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Streusel
In a small mixing bowl, use a fork to mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Add the chopped pecans and melted butter. Continue mixing with the fork until the sugar and pecans are fully mixed and evenly moistened by the butter. Reserve; this is your streusel topping.
Muffins batter
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cut the butter into cubes and place them in a mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on low speed, then medium, to cream the butter for a minute till it becomes light and airy.
Slowly add sugar to the bowl and beat for 2-3 minutes more, increasing the speed gradually and scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula periodically, until the color becomes lighter and the sugar is fully integrated into the butter.
Beat in the eggs, then the sour cream, then the almond or vanilla extract.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet and stir till evenly moistened. Do not over-mix.
Line a cupcake tin with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Fill each tin halfway with batter. I've found the easiest way to do this is with a small ice cream scoop-- use one small (not heaping) scoop per tin.
Sprinkle 1 1/2 tsp of streusel onto the top of the batter in each tin.
Fill the tins the rest of the way with batter, all the way to the top of the tin (another small ice cream scoop of batter in each tin).
Sprinkle 1-2 tsp of streusel on the top of each cupcake.
Bake the cupcakes for 30-35 minutes till they test clean with a toothpick or skewer. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Glazing:
When ready to frost, make your vanilla glaze. In a small mixing bowl, sift the powdered sugar.
Add the rest of the glaze ingredients. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients till a creamy frosting forms. You want the consistency of thick honey; if you need a little more moisture, add milk a few drops at a time. Just a drop can take it from a thick honey to a runny texture, so add with care.
Line a glass with a plastic bag, wrapping the edge of the bag around the outer rim of the glass. This will help you fill it with frosting. Use a spatula to scoop the frosting into the bag.
Place cupcakes on top of a piece of parchment paper or paper towels to catch drips.
Work the frosting into the corner of the bag and snip off a small corner with scissors. Gently squeeze and drizzle the frosting in a zig-zag pattern across the top of the cupcakes.
Let the frosting dry for at least 30 minutes to set (it may take longer depending on the weather).

Serves: 4

1/4 pound kataifi dough, snipped into 4-inch lengths
1/3 cup basil leaves, finely shredded
1/3 cup chives, cut in 1-inch lengths
1 large egg
1 tablespoon water
All-purpose flour, for dredging
16 small bite-size cubes of salmon
Freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil, for frying
Dipping sauce

• preparation

In a large, shallow dish, separate the kataifi dough into individual threads using your fingers. Add the basil and chives and toss to distribute throughout the pastry.
In a shallow bowl, beat the egg with the water. Spread the flour in another shallow bowl. Season the salmon cubes with salt and pepper. Dredge them in the flour and shake off the excess, then dip them in the beaten egg and roll in the kataifi; press to help it adhere.
Set a rack over a baking sheet. In a large, deep skillet, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil to 350°. Fry 4 or 5 salmon pieces at a time until the kataifi is golden brown and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes minutes. Drain the salmon nuggets on the rack. Season with salt. Serve the nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce.

Serves: 8

GUACAMOLE:

2 ripe avocados
juice of one lemon
1/2 small red onion, diced
1 tomato, seeded and diced
salt to taste
hot pepper sauce to taste

Peel avocados, cut in halves, remove stones, and mash the avocados.
Add remaining ingredients, and mix.

BLUE CHEESE DIP:

1/2 pint sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons red onion, finely diced

In bowl, combine all the ingredients well. Serve chilled.

SALSA:

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large clove garlic, peeled and chopped
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 large tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped
1 cucumber, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
juice of one lemon or lime
salt and pepper to taste
cilantro or parsley for garnish.

In bowl, combine all the ingredients well. Garnish with parsley or cilantro.

• preparation

GUACAMOLE:

Peel avocados, cut in halves, remove stones, and mash the avocados.
Add remaining ingredients, and mix.

BLUE CHEESE DIP:

In bowl, combine all the ingredients well. Serve chilled.

SALSA:

In bowl, combine all the ingredients well. Garnish with parsley or cilantro.

Serves: 12

For Muffin Batter
1 cup milk (low-fat is fine)
2 teaspoons lemon juice
12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated nutmeg
For Muffin Topping
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2-1/4 teaspoons cinnamon

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a standard-size muffin pan generously with nonstick cooking spray.
Combine milk and lemon juice in a measuring cup and set aside.
In a stand mixer or large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just mixed in. Stir in the vanilla.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Stir with a whisk until well combined.
Using a rubber spatula, mix a quarter of the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Then mix in a third of the milk mixture. Continue mixing in the remaining dry and wet ingredients alternately, ending with the dry. Mix until well combined and smooth, but don't over-mix. The batter will be very thick.
Scoop enough batter into each tin so that the top of the batter is even with the rim of the cup. (I like to use an ice cream scoop with a wire scraper for this.) Bake the muffins until firm to the touch, 25-30 minutes. Set pan on rack to cool for a few minutes.
In the meantime, prepare the topping: melt the butter in a small dish and combine the cinnamon and sugar in another small dish.
When the muffins are cool enough to handle, use a pastry brush to paint the top of each muffin with butter, then sprinkle generously with cinnamon-sugar. If you have cinnamon-sugar left over, sprinkle muffins again. Serve warm, or cool on a rack and wrap airtight. Store at room temperature. Reheat muffins briefly in microwave for that fresh out of the oven taste.

Serves: 6

6 whole medium baking potatoes
6 tbsp butter
3 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp chopped chives
2 tbsp crumbled bacon, crisp
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
6 whole eggs
1 cup grated cheddar cheese

• preparation

Bake the potatoes using your favorite method and be sure to allow some time for them to cool down before the scooping.

Take the “top” of the potato to mean lengthwise and not the small end.
Scoop out the potatoes and blend well with the butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, and salt and pepper.

Beat lightly and spoon back into the shells. Make a hollow in the top of each potato and into this drop a raw egg.

Sprinkle lavishly with grated Cheddar cheese, and place in a 350°F oven long enough to cook the eggs and melt the cheese. Makes a delicious breakfast or supper dish.

Serves: 1

2 tablespoons (1 ounce) dry gin or vodka
2 tablespoons fresh Ruby Red grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) Campari
4 to 6 tablespoons (2 to 3 ounces) chilled dry sparkling rosé or Prosecco
Splash of club soda (optional)
Rosemary or thyme
sprig
Thin Ruby Red grapefruit slice

• preparation

Fill a large wine glass halfway with ice. Add gin or vodka, grapefruit juice, and Campari. Top with sparkling wine and, if desired, club soda, and stir gently. Add rosemary or thyme to cocktail with grapefruit slice.

Serves: 4

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
1 cup chopped leeks (white and pale green parts only)
½ lb fresh spinach, rinsed, dried and torn into roughly 1-inch pieces
1 cup sliced stemmed mushrooms
8 large eggs
1 cup diced Fontina cheese, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• preparation

Preheat broiler.
Melt butter in heavy broilerproof 10-inch-diameter nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add leeks and sauté 4 minutes. Add spinach and mushrooms, sprinkle lightly with salt, and sauté until tender, about 6 minutes.
In a medium bowl, Whisk eggs, 3/4 cup Fontina cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add egg mixture to skillet; fold gently to combine. Cook until almost set. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup Fontina cheese and Parmesan cheese over. Broil until frittata is puffed and cheese begins to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

Serves: 4

1 bunch washed watercress
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan
3 eggs, separated
6 ounces softened cream cheese
2 tomatoes
to taste salt and pepper
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons cold water

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan 8-inch by 12-inch with parchment paper.
Brush with butter. Remove stems from watercress. Chop and combine with parsley, Parmesan cheese, and egg yolks.
Whisk the whites, and fold in herb mixture. Spread over entire surface of pan, and bake 10-12 minutes. Cool.
Peel off the lining paper. Transfer to a sheet of transparent paper. Peel, seed, and chop tomatoes.
Add to cream cheese. Season. Dissolve gelatin in water. Melt and combine with cream cheese mixture.
Spread over surface of roulade. Roll up like a jelly roll. Chill. Unwrap, and slice into 20 rolls.

Serves: 2

2 English muffins, split and toasted
4 slices smoked salmon
2 poached eggs, see note below
1/2 cup Hollandaise sauce

• preparation

Make the hollandaise.
To assemble the eggs benedict, place the sliced smoked salmon on each English muffin. Top with poached egg, drizzling the tops with hollandaise sauce. Serve immediately.

The controversy surrounding the "Perfect Poached Egg" is endless. The "add vinegar to water", "add salt to water" or " putting the raw egg in a sieve to strain the liquid part" before poaching are methods that do not compare to the "always perfect poached eggs" when using this egg poacher.

Egg poacher

Serves: 2

3 large eggs
1 green onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp butter
4 oz smoked salmon
2 oz cream cheese, cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon chopped dill

• preparation

Heat skillet with a teaspoon vegetable oil. Cook green onion for a minute or so, until aroma is released.
In a mixing bowl, beat eggs by hand with dill and green onion for about a minute.
Pour one half of the mixture into a buttered hot skillet and cook over medium heat, lifting edges with spatula several times to allow uncooked egg to run to bottom of skillet.
When bottom of omelet is firm, turn gently with spatula. Crumble 2 oz of smoked salmon on cooked eggs, and top with 1 oz strips of cream cheese.
Fold the other half-circle over the top of the half with the ingredients, cover skillet with lid, and cook for a minute or two over low heat. Serve with buttered toast or toasted bagels.
Make the second omelet.

Serves: 2

6 oz. pasta (such as bucatini, or spaghetti)
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed, divided
1 tsp. freshly grated black pepper
¾ cup finely grated Grana Padano or Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano)
⅓ cup finely grated Pecorino
1/3 cup cream

• preparation

Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a 6-qt. pot. Season with salt; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente (2 minutes before tender). Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.


Meanwhile, melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a Dutch oven or other large pot or skillet over medium heat. Add pepper and cook, swirling pan, until toasted, about 1 minute.
In a blender, combine grated cheeses with reserved pasta cooking water and cream. Blend to a creamy consistensy.

Add pasta to pot or skillet. Reduce heat to low and add blender creamy cheese mixture, stirring and tossing with tongs until sauce coats the pasta. Transfer pasta to warm bowls and serve immediately.

It's about as creamy cacio e pepe gets.
When you're serving pasta,it's nice to use tongs and then give it a twist so it's got a little personality to it !.

Maybe a little bit more cheese, grate it over top with a grating of pepper.

Serves: 8

8 large chicken breasts
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon Aromat seasoning
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups flour
5 eggs
3 cups fresh breadcrumbs
oil for frying

• preparation

Skin chicken breasts. Remove breast bone. Cut breast meat into 1 inch wide by 2 to 4 inches long.
In a mixing bowl, combine lemon juice, seasoned salt, Aromat seasoning, Dijon mustard, poultry seasoning, and pepper. Blend seasonings with chicken.
Marinate for an hour or more. Roll chicken pieces in flour. Dip in beaten beaten eggs, and coat with bread crumbs.
Deep fry at 350 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown.

Serves: 4

1 3-pound chicken, cut into 8 serving pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 pound small mushrooms
1 cup peeled, seeded, chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken bouillon
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil

• preparation

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet and add the chicken, skin side down. Cook for 10 minute, or until golden brown. Turn the pieces. Add the garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme and mushrooms. Cook, stirring, for another 5 minutes.
Pour off the fat in the pan and add tomatoes, wine and bouillion. Scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Thicken the sauce by reducing it briefly over high heat. Add the parsley or basil and serve.

Serves: 4

For the salmon in potato crust:
4 7-ounce salmon fillets, boned and skinned
to taste, salt, freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon chopped thyme
2 extra large baking potatoes, peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup red wine sauce
4 small fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh chives, minced

• preparation

Make each fillet as rectangle as possible (about 5 inches by 2 inches) by trimming off uneven edges with a sharp knife. Season the fillets with salt and pepper, and sprinkle them with thyme.
Cut the potatoes lengthwise into paper thin, long slices with a vegetable slicer on or a mandoline. Do not rinse the potato slices as the starch will help the wrapped slices stick together.
Place the potato slices on the working surface, overlapping the slices until they can be wrapped all around the fish. Season the slices of potato with salt.
Center the salmon fillet in the middle of the potato wrap and fold the edges of the potatoes over the salmon to enclose it entirely.
Since the potato slices are not washed, the starch discolors the potato rapidly. To avoid any discoloration, cook the wrapped salmon fillets immediately.
To cook the wrapped salmon fillet, melt the butter and oil in a nonstick frying pan over high heat. Add the fillet, with the potato seam side down, and sautè until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes on each side.
While the first fillet is cooking proceed with more potato slices and wrap another fillet. Cook as soon as it is made. Continue with the remaining salmon fillets.
Transfer the wrapped salmon on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Just before serving place the potato wrapped salmon in the oven for 5 minutes. Heat the red wine sauce. PRESENTATION
Place the wrapped fillets of salmon in the middle of 4 warm plates, and ladle the sauce around. Garnish with the thyme sprigs. Sprinkle the plates with minced chives.

Serves: 6

4 ounces butter
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
12 2-ounces fillets of sole
1/2 cup wine
2 cups fish fumet
4 ounces cooked mussels
4 ounces cooked shrimp
6 medium fluted mushrooms
1 cup velouté sauce
1/4 cup heavy cream
12 fleurons

• preparation

Butter a baking dish. Sprinkle with chopped shallots.
Fold the fillets in half and arrange in the pan. Pour over the wine, fish fumet, and the mussel cooking juice.
Cover with parchment paper and bring to a boil on top of the stove. Bake at 350 degrees .F (180 C) for about 5 to 8 minutes.
Arrange the fish fillets on a serving platter.
Garnish with the mussels, shrimp, and fluted mushrooms.
Prepare the velouté sauce with the cooking liquid and fish stock.
Stir in the cream and simmer for 10 minutes or until sauce is medium thick. Pour over the fish. Garnish with fleurons and serve hot.

Serves: 4

1 large (3 pounds) whole chicken, cut into eight pieces
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
2 eggs
2 cups of milk
Canola oil for frying

• preparation

Thoroughly wash the chicken pieces and reserve on paper towel to dry.
Combine the flour with half (half a teaspoon) of the salt and place in a large bowl and reserve.
Combine all remaining dry spices and herbs in a small bowl. Season chicken pieces and mix well.
In a separate bowl combine the two eggs with the milk and whisk. Dip the chicken in the milk and egg mixture and then into the flour.
Repeat and reserve the chicken pieces.
Using a deep fryer or a large cast iron pan with high sides, fill the pan until it is almost half filled with the oil.
Heat the pan over medium high.
Place 4 pieces of the chicken into the pan and let them cook for 6 to 8 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook another 6 - 10 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove the chicken and reserve.
Fry the last four pieces of chicken in the same manner. Serve the chicken warm.

Serves: 8

2 medium eggplants
1 teaspoon salt
1 medium yellow squash
1 medium zucchini
2 medium tomatoes
for the dressing:
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon coarse chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon coarse chopped fresh basil
to taste salt and black ground pepper
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, or hot chile such as serrano

• preparation

Slice eggplants into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Sprinkle with salt, and layer in a colander. Set aside to drain for 20 minutes.
Press slices with paper towels to remove moisture. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill, (or place a stove-top grill pan over high heat). Slice squash and zucchini into 1/4-inch thick rounds, and slice tomatoes into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
Lightly brush all vegetables with oil, then grill turning once, until tender and slightly charred.
The dressing:
Whisk together oil, vinegar, parsley and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
To assemble: Place 1 eggplant round on a plate and stack on top a tomato round, a second eggplant round, and squash and zucchini rounds. Drizzle with dressing and top with diced red pepper.

Serves: 6

1/2 cup oil
8 ounces fresh fennel cut into small wedges
10 ounces tomatoes
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 teaspoon saffron
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
6 7-ounce cod fillets
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 cup dry white wine
Garnish with dill sprigs
6 lemon wedges

• preparation

Heat the oil in a saute pan. Stir in the fennel and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Peel tomatoes, remove seeds, and chop. Add the tomatoes, garlic and saffron to the fennel. Season with cumin and coriander. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Arrange the fish fillets in a buttered baking dish. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with breadcrumbs. Pour the wine over and cover with the sauce.
Bake for 10 minutes at 400 F (205 C). Transfer the fillets onto serving platter. Simmer sauce to reduce. Coat with the sauce.
Garnish with dill and lemon wedges.

Serves: 6

1/2 pound cooked lobster
1/2 pound cooked shrimp
6 fresh mussels
1/2 pound chorizo or garlic sausage
3 chicken breasts, cut in half across
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 ounces chopped onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 medium sliced sweet red or green peppers
2 peeled tomatoes
1 cup rice
1 teaspoon saffron
1 quart chicken stock
1/2 cup frozen peas

• preparation

Cut lobster meat into chunks.
Wash and scrub the live mussels, and remove beards. Cover sausage with water and simmer for 10 minutes.
Use kielbassa or other garlic smoked pork sausage.
Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Brown both sides in half of the oil.
In a heavy cast iron pot, heat the remaining oil. Stir in the onion, garlic, peppers, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Add chopped seeded tomatoes.
Stir in rice, saffron and stock. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add the browned chicken, all seafood and sliced sausage.
Bake 25 minutes at 375 degrees.
Steam peas for 5 minutes and sprinkle on top. Serve hot in serving dish.

Serves: 6

2 cups dried white bean
1 medium diced onion
1 large carrot, diced
2 celery ribs
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 quarts chicken stock
3/4 pound small orecchiette or small macaroni
Italian parsley,chopped

optional condiments:
2 cups stemmed arugala
4 plum tomatoes
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
French baguette, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

• preparation

Soak beans overnight.
In a saucepan sauté diced onion, carrot, and diced celery ribs in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft.
Add beans, chicken stock, and 3 quarts water. Simmer until beans are soft. 1-1/2 hours to 2 hours.
Season with salt and pepper. Add small orecchiette or small macaroni. Cook until al dente.
Before serving, add chopped Italian parsley.
Condiments :
Cut stemmed arugala into 1/4 inch wide strips, set aside in a bowl. Peel, seed, and dice plum tomatoes, set aside in a bowl.
Also pass extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and kosher salt with soup, and serve condiments with thin sliced of French baguette, brushed with olive oil and toasted, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves: 12

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
3 medium leeks
1 small fennel bulb
3 carrots
1 stick of celery
3 courgettes
2 sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 fresh bay leaves
250 g baby green beans
1 x 400 g tin of chopped tomatoes
1 x 400 g tin of cannellini beans
1 x 400 g tin of borlotti beans
70 g small macaroni

PISTOU SAUCE
5 cloves of garlic
6 sprigs of fresh basil
60 g Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• preparation

Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic, then trim and slice the leek. Chip and chop the fennel, carrots, celery and courgettes, then pick and roughly chop the parsley leaves.
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and sauté the onion, garlic and leek for 5 minutes.
Add the other chopped ingredients, the bay, green beans and chopped tomatoes. Drain and add the beans. Cover with water, season and simmer until the vegetables are tender.
Add the pasta and simmer until cooked, adding water if the soup is too thick.
For the pistou sauce, peel and add the garlic to a pestle and mortar, pick in the basil leaves and add some sea salt. Pound until puréed, then finely grate in the Parmesan and muddle in the extra virgin olive oil to make a paste.
Serve the soup with a dollop of pistou.

The pistou sauce can also be made in a food processor or blender,

Serves: 4

Salad:
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
4 cups mixed baby greens

Pancakes:
2 russet potatoes, peeled, grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces soft fresh goat cheese (Montrachet) crumbled
4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh chives

• preparation

For salad:
whisk vinegar and mustard. Gradually whisk in oil. Mix in chives, shallot and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
For pancakes:
Place potatoes in dry kitchen towel and squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible. Transfer potatoes to large bowl. Add salt and pepper and toss to combine.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy skillet over medium heat. Mound 1/3 cup potatoes in skillet. Using spatula, flatten to 3-inch round. Repeat 3 times, forming 4 pancakes.
Top each cake with 1/4 of goat cheese. Sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon chives.
Cover each with another 1/3 cup potatoes; press to adhere, enclosing cheese completely and flattening slightly. Cook until bottoms are golden. Add 1/2 tablespoon oil to skillet. Turn pancakes over; cook until golden. Toss green with enough dressing to coat.
Divide salad among plates. Arrange 1 pancake atop each salad.

Serves: 4

12 oz (340 g) spaghetti or your favorite pasta
1/4 cup (60 mL) minced fresh basil, approx
1/4 cup (60 mL) crumbled goat cheese
1/4 cup (60 mL) sliced pitted black olives

Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce:
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (about 1 lb/500 g)
4 cloves garlic, sliced
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
1 pinch hot pepper flakes

• preparation

Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce:
In 13- x 9-inch (3.5 L) metal cake pan, toss together tomatoes, garlic, oil, vinegar, rosemary, salt and hot pepper flakes. Roast in 400°F (200°C) oven until shriveled, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until tender but firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to large serving bowl.

Add tomato sauce and basil, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with goat cheese, olives, and more basil if desired.

Serves: 4

2 whole chicken breasts
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 medium chopped onion
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon butter
1 pound chopped spinach
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2 chopped basil leaves
1 cup yogurt
1 teaspoon wine vinegar
1 medium chopped tomato
4 large chopped basil

• preparation

For the stuffing:
Sauté onion in oil and butter over low heat. Add spinach and cook for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and add the ricotta, Parmesan and basil leaves.
Loosen the skin of each breast by slipping the finger between the flesh and the skin. Divide the stuffing among the breasts and neatly fill the pockets. Place the breasts skin side up in a baking dish. Sprinkle with olive oil and rub with thyme and salt.
Bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees or until skin is brown. Cool chicken then cut in half.
Serve with the yogurt sauce. To make the sauce: Combine the yogurt, vinegar, tomato and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves: 8

2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound ground turkey
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
2 teaspoons salt
2 medium zucchini
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (2 ounces)

• preparation

Slice the zucchini lengthwise into thin strips (about 1/8 inch thick). Make sure you salt the zucchini slices generously and then let them “sweat” for about 30 minutes. Zucchinis are made up of a lot of water! You can then run two fingers on either side of the slices, squeezing all the way down over a bowl or the sink, releasing even more water. Pat the slices dry using a clean towel to do this. Make sure the zucchini slices are dry.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.

In a large straight-sided skillet set over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the onion and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add the turkey and cook, breaking up any large pieces with the back of a spoon, until brown throughout, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until it thickens, about 20 minutes. Stir in the oregano and salt. Let cool.

Put 5 or 6 prepared zucchini slices, overlapping slightly, in the bottom of an 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Top with 1 cup of the sauce. Dot with 1/4 cup of the ricotta. Repeat the layers twice, alternating the direction of the zucchini. Top with the remaining zucchini and brush the top with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon oil. Dot with the remaining 1/4 cup ricotta and season with the black pepper. Top with the Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 50 minutes, until the lasagna is bubbling and the top is brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Serves: 8

2 lbs. tomatoes, preferably fleshy plum tomatoes (rather than a juicy heritage breed)
A good olive oil
A pinch of sugar
A pinch of saffron (optional)
4 medium-sized red bell peppers
3 large onions, peeled and roughly diced
3 medium-sized eggplants, peeled and roughly diced
2 cloves of garlic, peeled
Sprigs of rosemary and thyme, tied together into a bouquet garni, plus 1 tsp. of thyme leaves
A handful of basil leaves (optional)
3 medium-sized zucchini
1-3 Tbsp. red-wine vinegar, according to taste
A dozen pitted black Kalamata olives (optional)
Salt and pepper
Basil leaves

• preparation

1. Prepare tomatoes. Heat oven to 225 degrees. Drop the tomatoes into a pot of boiling water, and, if necessary, weigh them down with a heavy slotted spoon, to keep them from floating. After 2–3 minutes, test by pulling off a bit of skin with a paring knife. If it comes off easily, pull tomatoes out, one by one, and drop them into the ice bath. After a minute or two, retrieve them and peel off the skin.

2. Place a sieve over an empty bowl. Cut the peeled tomatoes into quarters, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon and place them into the sieve. Set aside.
3. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Brush the paper with olive oil and season it lightly with salt and sugar. Place tomatoes on the paper cut-side down and brush them, too, with the oil. Cook for about 40 minutes, until they are cooked but still firm. Cool and set aside.
4. While tomatoes roast, stir the tomato pulp and seeds in the sieve vigorously with a spatula or wooden spoon, to extract the maximum possible liquid. You should have between ½ cup and 1 cup. Pour the liquid into a saucepan, place over low heat, and simmer, gently, until the volume is reduced by half. Set aside.
5. If you are using saffron, hydrate in water and set aside.
6. Prepare peppers. Raise the oven temperature to 425 and insert a medium-sized tray. When hot, remove the tray and splash with olive oil, then add peppers and, with a pair of tongs, roll them in the oil to cover. Return the tray to the oven. Check after ten minutes. If the peppers have begun to brown, flip them with the tongs. Check after another 10 minutes and repeat, until peppers are nearly black on all sides. Remove the tray from the oven and, if needed, wrap peppers in a piece of aluminum foil (the trapped steam helps loosen the skin). When peppers are cool enough to touch, peel off the skin with a paring knife. Remove the stems and seeds and cut peppers into quarters.
7. Prepare onion. Heat a sauté pan over a low flame. Season onion with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and add 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil to the pan. Add onion and cook, tossing occasionally until soft but not browned. Drain in a colander to remove excess oil and set onion aside.
8. Prepare eggplant. Wipe out the sauté pan and place over a low flame. Season eggplant with salt and pepper. Increase the heat and add a little less than 1 Tbsp. of olive oil to the pan. Add eggplant—don’t move or shake until it begins to color slightly. Flip eggplant with a spatula and cook until tender. Drain in a colander and set aside.
9. Begin assembly. Place a medium pot on a low burner. Chop tomatoes into bite-size pieces and add to the pot, then add 2 Tbsp. of tomato water. Chop peppers into bite-size pieces, then add to pot and stir. Add onion, then eggplant. If the mixture seems dry, add more tomato water. Add garlic and bouquet garni. Add saffron, if using. Cover. Check after 5 minutes to insure that the mixture is not boiling. Stir gently. After another 5 minutes, remove lid, stir, and simmer.
10. Prepare zucchini. Cut zucchini into bite-size pieces and toss in a bowl with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, a few twists of black pepper, and reserved thyme leaves. (Do not salt: salt will liquify zucchini and prevent them from crisping up.) Heat a sauté pan over a high flame and add zucchini. Toss occasionally, until zucchini show color but are still crisp: that is, bright green with bite. Remove from the pan and drain in a colander, then salt to taste.
11. Finish assembly. Taste for seasoning and for moisture, and add more salt and pepper and tomato water as needed. Add vinegar, then mix in zucchini and let cook until heated through. Add olives if you’re using them . Remove bouquet garni and garlic. Dress with torn basil leaves. Serve with roasted chicken, French fries, toast, nothing at all, or just about anything.

Serves: 8

3 pounds fresh asparagus
extra virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash asparagus and trim. Cut to even lengths, about 7 inches. Brush asparagus with olive oil and arrange in a single layer in a shallow baking pan. Season well with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan.
Roast until tender, about 15 minutes. Serve very hot, sprinkled with more Parmesan.

Serves: 6

1 8-ounce package cracked freekeh (approx 1 cup)
3 sweet potatoes, scrubbed, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 bunch of fresh Lacinato kale, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, diced
1 12-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 12-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
2-3 garlic cloves, diced

• preparation

This is a real hit with the Freekeh Foods team!
Try using roasted pumpkin or butternut squash instead of sweet potato for a delicious twist.
Scrub the sweet potatoes and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place sweet potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet and drizzle a little olive oil on them. Bake in 375° oven for about 25 minutes or until tender. Remove from oven and set aside. While the potatoes are cooking, pour all ingredients into a large pot on top of the stove over high heat. Stir with a spoon and heat for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add roasted sweet potatoes. Cover partially and simmer for at least 30 minutes. Check occasionally and give a stir.
Continue to cook longer for richer flavor, adding water or more broth if desired.

options: Sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.

Serves: 10

3/4 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
For filling:
2 pints strawberries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon gelatin powder
1 tablespoon water
3 large egg whites
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Lightly oil a 9-inch springform pan. Dust pan with flour, tilting to coat evenly and tapping out the excess. Line bottom with parchment or wax paper. Lightly oil paper.
Spread almonds in a shallow pan and bake for 4 to 8 minutes, until light golden. Let cool.
In a food processor or blender, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and toasted almonds. Process until almonds are ground. Set aside.
In a measuring cup, combine buttermilk, oil and vanilla and almond extracts. Set aside
In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, egg whites and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until mixture is thick and pale, about 5 minutes. The beaters should leave a ribbon trail when lifted.
With a rubber spatula, alternately fold reserved dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture into egg mixture, making 3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of liquid.
Gently spread batter in prepared pan and tap the pan once on the counter to release air bubbles. Bake for 45 minutes, or until top springs back when lightly touched and cake shrinks away slightly from sides of pan.
Place on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Loosen edges of cake from pan, remove pan rim and invert cake onto rack. Remove pan bottom, peel off paper and let cool completely.
To prepare berries: In a large bowl, toss strawberries with sugar. Set aside.
To make vanilla cream: Chill a mixing bowl. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand for 1 minute.
In a large saucepan, bring about 1 inch of water to a simmer. Adjust heat so water barely simmers. In a heatproof mixing bowl large enough to fit over the saucepan, combine egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and softened gelatin. Set the bowl over the simmering water and beat with an electric mixer at low speed until an instant-read thermometer registers 140 degrees F. Increase mixer speed to high and continue beating over the heat for 3½ minutes. Remove bowl from heat and beat meringue until completely cooled, about 4 minutes more.
In the chilled bowl, combine cream and vanilla and beat with electric mixer at medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold one-fourth of the meringue into the cream. Gently fold in remaining meringue.
To assemble cake:
No more than 2 hours before serving, place the cake on a serving plate. Using a serrated knife, slice cake horizontally into 2 layers.
Carefully lift off top layer. Spoon half the berries and all the juices onto the bottom layer. Spread with half the vanilla cream. Cover with the top layer. Spoon remaining vanilla cream on top and arrange remaining strawberries over cream. Refrigerate until serving time.

Serves: 6

8 large baking apples
1/2 cup apricot jam
1/2 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup water
1 cup whipped cream
18 lady fingers
1 cup whipped cream
1/3 cup apricot jam for glaze

• preparation

Peel, quarter and core apples.
Melt apricot jam in a thick bottom saucepan.
Add apples and cook slowly until apples are melted into a thick sauce.
Dissolve unflavored gelatin in cold water. Set for 5 minutes.
Add to hot apple mix.
Cool mix. Fold in whipped half of the cream.
Line lady fingers on bottom and sides of a charlotte mold.
Spoon apple mixture in mold. Cover and chill.
Unmold apple charlotte unto a serving dish.
Melt the remaining 1/3 cup apricot jam. Strain and spread over charlotte.
Decorate with remaining whipped cream.

Serves: 6

8 large golden delicious
2 tablespoons sugar
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons Grand Marnier
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice

For custard cream:
1/2 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1 cup milk, scalded
1 teaspoon vanilla

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Peel, core, and slice apples. Cook in saucepan to make a purée. Add sugar.
Cook till dry and thick. Cool mixture.
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in an electric mixer.
When firm, add sugar and continue beating for 1 more minute at medium speed.
Fold in apple mixture. Add Grand Marnier.
Make a caramel with sugar, a little water and lemon juice.
Pour in a soufflé mold. Pour apple mix in mold.
Bake in waterbath for 30 minutes. Unmold mousse on a serving plate.
Serve with custard cream.
Custard:
Mix sugar and egg yolks till creamy. Gradually whisk in boiling milk.
Add vanilla. Heat in a saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over low heat till thick.
Do not allow to boil. Strain and cool.

Serves: 6

1 pound fresh pitted apricot halves
1 cup apricot jam or preserves
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon water or Kirsch
6 egg whites

• preparation

Cut apricots in halves. Remove pits.
Slice apricot halves in a heavy bottom saucepan. Add preserves and combine.
Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer apricots until they are tender and take the consistency of preserves. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water or Kirsch.
Whisk into the simmering apricot until thickened.
Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Cover with plastic wrap.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Butter and sugar the inside of the soufflé molds. Coat evenly with sugar.
Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until fluffy and smooth.
Fold about 1/3 of the egg whites into the apricot mixture. Add the rest of the egg whites to the mixture and fold in with a rubber spatula. Spoon the soufflé mixture in the prepared molds. Fill the molds until heaped.
Smooth the top with a spatula.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve.

Serves: 12

2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups banana, mashed
2/3 cup walnuts, chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour baking pans, one (13-inch by 9-inch by 2-inch) or two 9-inch, or 3 8-inch round layer pans.
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Beat 3 minutes scraping bowl occasionally.
Pour into pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes.
If desired, frost with cream cheese frosting.

Serves: 4

1 teaspoon instant espresso
1 teaspoon hot water
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon flour
6 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup whipped cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Butter and flour a 5 cup soufflé mold. Chill until ready to use. Combine espresso with hot water, stir until dissolved. Melt chocolate in on top of double boiler. Stir in the cream and coffee.
Beat egg yolks and flour. Stir this into the chocolate. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to a soft peak.
Gradually add the sugar, and beat egg whites to a stiff peak. Stir a 1/4 of the whites into chocolate mixture, then fold chocolate mixture into remaining egg whites, a little at a time.
Pour mixture into the prepared mold. Bake for 35 45 minutes. Serve hot with whipped cream .

Serves: 12

10 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
6 egg yolks
2 cups heavy cream
6 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup Cognac (optional)

• preparation

Melt semi sweet chocolate over a double boiler. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Boil to a temperature of 225 degrees. Beat egg yolks in an electric mixing bowl until creamy.
Gradually pour hot syrup over egg yolk mixture while whisking. Continue mixing until cool.
In a mixing bowl, whip heavy cream to a firm consistency. Fold cream and chocolate into the egg yolk mixture.
In a mixing bowl, whip egg whites with cream of tartar to a medium stiff consistency. Fold into chocolate mousse together with the cognac. spoon mousse into a clear glass serving bowl or into individual serving glasses. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls.

Serves: 6

For the molds:
1 tablespoon soft butter
1 tablespoon superfine sugar

For the soufflé mix:
3/4 stick (3 ounces) butter
1/3 cup flour
1 1/3 cups scalded milk
1/3 cup sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 tablespoon lemon peel, grated
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 recipe Macademia nut sauce (see recipe)

MACADEMIA NUT SAUCE

Recipe can be doubled or quadrupled if necessary.

serves 6 to 8
1/2 cup macadenia nuts
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier, or Cointreau
1/2 cup light cream

• preparation

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter six 6-oz individual soufflé molds. Sprinkle the bottom and sides of molds with superfine sugar; shake out excess. Place dishes on a baking sheet.
In a heavy bottom saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the flour until smooth. Pour in the milk, and whisk over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Mix in the egg yolks and sugar. Mix in the lemon peel and juice. (I first grate the lemons for the peel, then make the juice with the grated lemons.)
The mixture can be made 3 to 4 hours ahead. Cover with plastic wrap.
In an electric mixing bowl, combine egg whites with the cream of tartar. Beat at high speed until thick and firm. With a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the lemon mixture. Spoon the soufflé mixture into the prepared molds. Fill up to the rim, and level the mixture with a small spoon or spatula. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes. Sprinkle with icing sugar.
Serve with Macademia nut sauce.

MACADEMIA NUT SAUCE

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend at high speed until the sauce is smooth and medium thick. Transfer to a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Serve with lemon soufflés.

Serves: 6

Makes six 1-cup soufflés

1 teaspoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into small chunks
1/3 cup light cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon water
8 egg whites

• preparation

Brush the inside of the soufflé dishes with soft butter. Lightly sprinkle with sugar and rotate dishes so the sugar evenly coats the surface. Refrigerate until needed.
In a medium bowl, combine cocoa and chocolate. In a small pan, combine light cream with water, and bring to a boil. Pour into bowl of chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
In a small pan, combine sugar with water. Bring to a boil, and heat to the soft- ball stage, or 250 degrees on the candy thermometer. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk, whip egg whites until fluffy.
Slowly add hot sugar to the egg whites, pouring it down the side of the bowl as the whites whip. Whisk egg whites to soft peaks; do not overbeat. Add warm chocolate mixture to beaten egg whites.
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in until thoroughly combined. Spoon or pipe into soufflé molds.
Refrigerate, uncovered, up to 24 hours ahead of serving.
To serve, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Allow soufflés to come to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Place on a baking sheet, and bake until risen, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving. Serve immediately.

Serves: 12

2 cups all cakeflour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
5 egg yolks
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange rind, grated
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

ORANGE FLUFF ICING

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup egg whites
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, blend flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Add oil, egg yolks, water, orange juice, rind, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar. Gradually add sugar, and beat to form soft peaks. Fold egg whites into batter.
Pour into a 10-inch ungreased tube pan. Bake for about 1 hour. Test with a cake tester. Invert until cold. Loosen cake with knife. Unmold. Cover with orange fluff icing.

ORANGE FLUFF ICING

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Beat with a whisk over adouble boiler until peaks start to form.
Remove from heat, beat for 2 to 3 more minutes or icing is at a spreadable consistency.
Cover chiffon cake.

Serves: 10

1 recipe Grand Marnier orange mousse
1 recipe almond genoise cake
2 large seedless oranges
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1/4 cup apricot jam
1 ounce sweet chocolate

• preparation

Slice oranges thinly.
Boil water and sugar. Steep oranges in cold syrup for an hour.
Make Grand Marnier syrup with remaining sugar, water, and Grand marnier. Cool.
Slice genoise into 2 layers.
Line a 9 inch springform pan with wax paper and arrange sliced oranges on paper. Save a few slices. Spoon 1/2 mousse into pan.
Top with a genoise half. Brush with 1/2 of syrup. Press orange slices into sides of pan, rounded sides down.
Spread remaining mousse over cake.
Top with other genoise. Brush with syrup. Refrigerate 4 hours.
Invert cake on platter. Heat and release pan sides. Peel off wax paper. Brush with top with melted apricot, and decorate with chocolate.

Serves: 10

Pastry:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup ground almonds
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Filling:
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 egg
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon ground almonds
1 tablespoon Brandy, Grand Marnier or rum
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup raspberries
1 1/2 cups rhubarb, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

• preparation

For Pastry:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine flour with sugar, almonds, brown sugar and salt in a large bowl or food processor. Add butter and vanilla. Cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly.
Set aside 2/3 cup of this mixture.
Press remaining flour mixture evenly over bottom of an ungreased 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom or a springform pan, pressing about 1 inch up sides to form a shell if you like.
Bake on bottom rack of oven until pale golden, from 20 to 25 minutes.
Cool on a rack. Turn oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, whisk cream with egg, sugar, flour, almonds, brandy and vanilla.
In another bowl, toss raspberries with rhubarb. Scatter evenly over baked crust.
Drizzle cream mixture over top. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over top. Bake until custard is just set, from 35 to 40 minutes.
For a golden finish on crumble, turn on broiler and broil until topping is golden, from 1 to 2 minutes.
Serve warm or room temperature.

Serves: 8

2 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup sugar

FOR CAKE BATTER:
1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

• preparation

For Rhubarb:
In a small saucepan, combine rhubarb and sugar. Cover and cook over very low heat until rhubarb is tender.
Stir occasionally to prevent burning. Drain, discarding liquid. Let cool to room temperature.
For Cake Batter:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Sift flour, salt and baking powder together.
Beat butter until creamy. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Whisk eggs and vanilla together and add to butter mixture. On low speed, add flour mixture. Using a rubber spatula, fold in rhubarb. Pour batter into prepared pan. Smooth with a spatula and make a lengthwise split i inch deep to minimize splitting.
Bake until cake is browned and a tester comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Unmold and let cool right side up on a wire rack.
(Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Taste)

Serves: 10

3 cups rhubarb, cleaned and diced
3 cups strawberries, sliced
1 cup sugar

Combine rhubarb, strawberries and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until medium thick, about 15 minutes.

A 10" sponge cake or angel cake cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 cups whipped cream

CUSTARD CREAM
6 large egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups hot milk
2 tablespoons dark rum or Grand Marnier (optional)

• preparation

In mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch and whisk with a wire whisk until the mixture turns into a lemon color. Add the vanilla and blend well.
In a saucepan, bring the milk to a boil. Gradually pour over egg mixture while whisking. Transfer to a saucepan, heat and whisk until thick. The custard should not boil. Pour the custard through a fine strainer into a mixing bowl. Cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally to maintain smoothness. Top with wax paper to prevent skin formation and let cool completely.


ASSEMBLY
Arrange one half of the sponge cake cubes into a trifle bowl. Add 1/3 of the custard. Top that with 1/3 of the rhubarb. Do this again: cake, custard, rhubarb. Finally end with custard, rhubarb. Top the whole thing with whipped cream.

Serves: 4

2 egg whites - aged at room temperature for 3 days (measure 57 g after aging - I’m using 55 g eggs)
70 g ground almond powder
113 g icing / confectioners’ sugar
21 g super fine sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp rose water essence

Rose water buttercream filling:
90 g unsalted butter – room temperature
3/4 cup (100 g) icing / confectioners’ sugar
28 g (1 oz) white chocolate – melted
1 1/2 tbsp. rose water essence

• preparation

1. In a food processor, add in icing sugar, ground almond powder and pulse for 30 secs into fine powder.
2. Put the mixture through a sieve and remove any lumps. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, add in egg whites, cream of tartar. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, whisk until foamy.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add in the sugar slowly and whisk until soft peaks.
5. Drizzle in rose water essence and turn up the mixer to high speed. Continue to whisk the meringue until stiff peaks.
6. Add in pink color gel by using a stick or skewer.
7. Turn on the mixer and mix until the color is well combined.
8. In 3 batches, fold the meringue with a spatula into the icing sugar and almond powder.
9. It should resemble a lava-like texture. When you raise the spatula, the batter should flow down slowly and perfectly okay if it breaks in between.
10. Pipe the meringue onto a baking tray lined with non-stick baking sheet.
11. Rap the tray a few times on the counter to remove air bubbles. Use a skewer to break up large air bubbles.
12. Set it to dry at room temperature for 45 – 60 mins or in an oven preheated at 40C for 15 mins.
13. While waiting, prepare the buttercream filling by creaming the butter and icing sugar together till light and fluffy.
14. Add in melted chocolate and rose water essence. Continue to whisk for another 1 min.
15. Fill the buttercream in a piping bag.
16. Check the meringue by gently touching the skin of the meringue. It should be dry to the touch.
17. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 305F (150C) for 15 minutes.
18. Cool them on a wire rack completely before piping the buttercream filling.
19. If making ahead, store the cooled macaron shells in an air-tight container.
20. Macarons always taste better the next day so you could make them a day in advance and store them in air-tight containers before serving.
21. If you are staying in humid environment, store them in the fridge.

Serves: 10

For the Pastry base
1 sheet of puff pastry or a recipe of Pâte Sucrée
•
For the Pate a Choux
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs

For the Creme Patissiere (pastry cream)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla bean paste, or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk

For the Creme
Chantilly (whipped cream)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

For the Salted Caramel
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp salt, or more to taste

• preparation

CREAM PUFF DOUGH known as pâte á choux
For cream puff dough:
Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat water and butter to a rolling boil in a saucepan. Stir in flour all at once. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture no longer sticks to pan and forms into a ball. Remove from heat. Beat eggs in thoroughly, one by one. Beat mixture until smooth.
The pastry base and pastry puffs
1. Cut out a 7" round from the puff pastry or Pâte Sucrée. Use a pan, plate pot lid - whatever you have that will help you cut out a 7" circle. Place this pastry circle on a baking sheet fitted with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Spoon cream puff mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tube and pipe a circle of cream puff dough around the edge of pastry.
Pipe a second circle inside and touching the first. Then pipe a 1-inch mound of the cream puff in the center of the base. Bake about 20 minutes until puffed, golden brown and dry. Let cool on rack.
On a second sheet pan, pipe the remaining cream puff dough into 1-inch mounds about 2 inches apart. Brush with egg glaze. Bake for 10 minutes at 425°F, then bake the pastry puffs for another 18 minutes at 375°F, until they're a deep golden color.
Create the Creme Patissiere
1. Meanwhile, heat the milk in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, flour, egg, and egg yolk together.
2. Once the milk is hot and steam is beginning to rise from it, stir in the vanilla bean paste (if using extract, hold off for now). Then, pour half of the milk into the egg mixture, whisking the egg mixture vigorously as you do. Pour the rest of the milk in, and continue to whisk vigorously.
3. Transfer the entire batter back into the saucepan and whisk over medium heat. It will take about 5 minutes for the cream to thicken up into a pudding-like consistency. Just keep whisking the whole time.
4. Once the cream is starting to look like pudding, quickly remove the cream from the heat. If you're using vanilla extract, stir the extract in now. If there are any lumps in your cream, just whisk the cream really vigorously to smooth them out.
5. Transfer the cream to a clean bowl and cover the cream with a sheet of plastic wrap placed directly onto the cream (this will prevent a filmy layer from forming). Chill the pastry cream in the refrigerator.
Create the Creme Chantilly
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the heavy cream on high speed until indentations begin to appear. Pour in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar, then whisk on high speed until a frosting-like consistency is formed.
Create the caramel
1. In a medium saucepan, add the sugar + 1/4 cup of water. Do NOT stir the two together. Simply place the saucepan over medium-high heat, and allow the mixture to come to a simmer. Watch the sugar-water bubble for approximately 7 to 8 minutes, watching it go from white-ish/clear to a dark amber color. Do NOT step away from the caramel as it can burn in a matter of seconds.
2. Once the caramel has reached a dark amber color and is JUST beginning to smoke, quickly remove the caramel from the heat. Carefully pour the heavy cream into the caramel (it will bubble), then stir to combine. Add the salt, and again stir to combine.
To assemble
1. Fit a pastry bag with a long, narrow filling tip. Fill the pastry bag with the creme patisserie and then pipe this into the pastry puffs. Flip the pastry puff upside down so that the flat side is facing you, then dip the top in the salted caramel. Gently give it a shake to pour off excess caramel, then carefully dip the bottom of the pastry puff in caramel too.
2. Place the pastry puff onto the pate a choux wall that you created on top of the puff pastry circle. The caramel will act like a glue. Continue until you've got a ring of pastry puffs.
3. Scoop the remaining creme patisserie onto the center of the puff pastry. Fill a new pastry bag fitted with whatever tip you like (plain, star, st. honore) with the creme chantilly, and pipe the creme on top of the pastry cream.
4. Stick one final pastry puff in the center of the dessert, then drizzle caramel all over. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Refrigerate extra salted caramel for later use, and a few extra pastry puffs.

Serves: 8

3/4 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
4 tablespoons milk, warm
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

For the filling:
1 cup strawberry jam
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 teaspoon instant vanilla pudding
2 cups cleaned strawberries, hulled and sliced

• preparation

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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In bowl of an electric mixer, beat sugar, egg yolks, milk and vanilla until light and creamy. Set aside in a separate bowl.
In bowl of the electric mixer, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until medium firm.
Combine flour and baking powder. Fold and sift flour in egg yolk mix alternately with egg whites.
Cover the bottom of a 9-inch round pan with parchment paper. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of pan. Spread cake mixture over the bottom of pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cake should be springy and seet in center.
Unmold cake over a wire rack. Cool.
Garnish the cake:
Slice into two layers.
Whip the cream with icing sugar and vanilla pudding until thick.
Spread strawberry jam over cakes. Top with sliced strawberries and whipped cream.
Stack layers together. Decorate top with berries.