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Easy beef stew
The national dish of Argentina is asados (a variety of barbecued meat) grilled on a parillo (a large grill) that is packed with steaks; ribs; chorizo; mollejas (sweetbread), chinchulines (chitterlings) and morcilla (blood sausage).
Empanadas are Argentina's favorite street food; these stuffed dough pockets are similar to Puerto Rico's empanadilla or a Cornish pasty.

In South America, one of the most important grains is quinoa or quinua in Spanish.

Quinoa originated in South America and in particular the Andes region. This includes the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru.

More than 5,000 years ago, quinoa was the daily diet of the Inca people. It was known as the “Golden Grain of The Andes.”

Widely known around the world as a superfood, today quinoa is recognized for being a nutritionally dense food source and supergrain of the future.

Argentina and Peru produce several different types of quinoa.

Main
Braised beef short ribs  Print Recipe

Serve with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Pan-Roasted Root Vegetables. " From The Balthazar Cookbook by Keith McNally, Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson.
Serves: 6
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:3 hours
6 short rib of beef (5 to 7 pounds)
2 sprigs rosemary
6 sprigs thyme
1 bay leaf
1 stalk celery, halved
3 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
4 shallots, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick
5 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1⁄2 cup ruby port
4 cups full-bodied wine, such as cabernet sauvignon
6 cups veal stock (veal stock is really best but you can substitute good homemade beef stock)
Preheat the oven to 325°F
Bind each rib with cotton kitchen twine. Place the rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf between the two celery halves and bind with kitchen twine.
Season the short ribs with 2 teaspoons of the salt and the pepper.
Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over a high flame until it smokes.
In two batches, brown the short ribs well on both sides, about 3 minutes per side, pouring off all but 3 tablespoons of oil between batches.
Remove the ribs and set aside when done.
Lower the flame to medium, and add the carrots, onion, shallots, and garlic to the pot and saute for 5 minutes, until the onion is soft and light brown.
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the flour and stir well to combine. Add the port, red wine, and the celery-herb bundle.
Raise the flame to high and cook until the liquid is reduced by a third, about 20 minutes.
Return the ribs to the pot (they will stack into two layers).
Add the stock and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt; if the stock doesn’t cover the ribs by at least 1 inch, add water up to that level.
Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, transfer to the preheated oven, and cook for 3 hours. Visit the pot occasionally and stir the ribs, bringing the ones on the bottom up to the top -- they’re done when the meat is fork tender and falling off the bone.
Transfer the ribs to a large platter and remove the strings.
Skim any fat from the surface of the sauce, and then strain through a sieve into a medium saucepan.
Discard the solids.
Over medium heat, bring the sauce to a strong simmer and reduce the liquid until slightly less then half (4 cups) remains, about 1 hour.
Return the ribs to the pot, simmer for 10 minutes to reheat, and serve.

Main
Cannellonis  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
10 ounces spinach, cooked
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound ground beef, lean
2 tablespoons parmesan, grated
2 eggs
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground
12 crêpes (see recipe)
2 cups cream sauce (see recipe)
1 cup marinara sauce
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a sauté pan. Add onion, garlic and parsley and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Do not brown. Add chopped cooked spinach.
In a skillet, brown ground beef in remaining olive oil. Chop in a processor. Add grated Parmesan, eggs, oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Blend in the spinach mixture.
Divide filling in crêpes. Roll to enclose filling.
Coat the bottom of a baking dish with marinara sauce. Arrange stuffed crêpes in baking dish.
Spoon the cream sauce and tomato sauce over crêpes.
Sprinkle with parmesan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until brown.

Main
Chili  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour
1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 to 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
2 (14 oz.) cans kidney beans
1 (19 oz.) can stewed tomatoes
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
Heat oil in a frying pan. Saute onion for 2 minutes; add ground beef and cook and stir until beef is well done.
Wash and drain kidney beans. Drain some of the juice from the tomatoes.
In a large pot, combine beef, kidney beans, tomatoes, chili powder, salt and oregano. Bring to a boil; reduce and cook slowly for an hour. Stir regularly.
Recipe can be doubled. Freezes well.

Main
Curried quinoa with chickpeas  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1 1/2 cups quinoa
1 teaspoon canola oil
3 cups chopped plum tomatoes
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1-19 ounce can chick-peas drained and rinsed
3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley or coriander
1/2 cup chopped green onions
salt and pepper
Bring 2 cups of the stock to boil.
Stir in quinoa, cover and remove from heat; let stand for 5 minutes. In large nonstick saucepan over medium high heat, heat oil. Stir in tomatoes, stock, curry powder and garlic. Cook, stirring, until tomatoes begin to break up.
Stir in chick-peas; cook until heated through. Combine Quinoa, chick-pea mixture, parsley and green onions.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Main
Easy beef stew  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:3 hours
1/4 cup (60 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
1 lb (454 g) stewing beef cubes
1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp (5 mL) dried thyme
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried oregano
1 bay leaf
4 large carrots
2 stalks celery
1/2 small rutabaga, peeled
2 cups (500 mL) beef stock
1 can (19 oz/540 mL) tomatoes
4 potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup (250 mL) frozen peas or beans
1 tbsp (15 mL) red wine vinegar
1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh parsley, chopped
In heavy plastic bag, shake together flour, salt and pepper. In batches, add beef and shake to coat, reserving any remaining flour. In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown meat all over, in batches and adding up to1 tbsp (15 mL) more oil if necessary. Transfer to plate.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Add onions, garlic, thyme, oregano, bay leaf and remaining flour; cook, scraping up brown bits from bottom of pan, until softened, about 5 minutes. Return beef and any accumulated juices to pan.

Meanwhile, cut carrots, celery and rutabaga into 2-inch (5 cm) chunks. Add to pan along with stock and tomatoes; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer over medium-low heat or in 325°F (160°C) oven, stirring once or twice, for 1-1/2 hours. Add potatoes; cook for 1 hour or until tender. Add peas and vinegar; cook for 2 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Stir in parsley.

Main
Empanadas  Print Recipe

The origins of the empanada are not entirely clear, but it seems most likely that they first appeared in Argentina in the kitchens of immigrants from northern Spain, where the dish’s forebear was a larger, double-crusted pie cut into slices.
Once in South America, the empanada — meaning bread-wrapped — continued to evolve from a pie made with dough to individual pockets of pastry crust, often made with animal fat in beef-loving Argentina. The hand-held pies were baked or fried after being filled with whatever was available in the region at the time.
Unbaked empanadas can be made 3 months ahead and kept frozen
Serves: 8
Preparation time:40 minutes
Cooking time:35 minutes
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divide
1 lb. ground beef (25% fat)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
Salt, freshly ground pepper
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. sweet paprika
1/2 Tbsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
3/4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock
1 tsp. sugar
½ cup raisins
1 recipe PIE CRUST (Recipe included)
½ cup pitted green olives (Picholine or Spanish), rinsed well, cut in half lengthwise, divided
Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over high. Cook ground beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.
Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, chopped, red bell peppers, seeded, chopped, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, stirring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add ground cumin, sweet paprika, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add low-sodium chicken stock or broth and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in sugar, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15–20 minutes; taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed. Stir in raisins. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and chill at least 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Roll the pie crust to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into 5-inch circles. Place 2 Tbsp. filling in the center of each round.
Top with 2 olive halves. Brush water around half of outer edge of each round. Pinch edges to seal.
Using a fork, crimp edges. Transfer empanada to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spacing 1" apart. Repeat with remaining rounds.
Bake empanadas until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.


Pie crust:

1 pound (3 1/4 cups) all purpose flour
1/2 pound (11/2 cups) shortening
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 beaten egg
4 tablespoons cold water
In a large bowl, mix together flour, and shortening.
In a small bowl, combine the sugar, salt, vinegar, egg, and water.
Blend all ingredients to form a ball. Add more water if necessary.
Chill dough and use as needed.

Main
Individual beef wellington  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 50 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
3- 1-pound packages frozen puff pastry
Flour for rolling

For the mushrooms:
2 large Portobello mushrooms
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
salt and pepper

For the onions:
3 tablespoons butter
3 medium onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup red wine
salt and pepper

For the spinach and cheese:
1 cup cooked chopped spinach
6 ounces blue cheese
For the beef:
6- 5 to 6 ounce center-cut beef tenderloins
salt and pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Prepare the pastry and fillings:
The frozen puff pastry usually comes in sheets.
Two in each 1-pound package. Thaw pastry. Unwrap each sheet. Sit a 10-inch round cake pan on pastry.
With a sharp knife, cut out pastry sheets into 10-inch rounds. Lightly score a 4 by 3-inch rectangle in the center of each pastry round. Do not cut through the pastry.
Extend the lines of the rectangle and cut out the corners as shown in sketch.
Use scraps to cut out 12 leaves or other shapes to use as decoration. Layer the pastry rounds between sheets of wax paper.
For the mushrooms:
Slice the portobello into strips. Heat a heavy skillet over high heat. Add oil, garlic, mushrooms, thyme and rosemary.
Stir until mushrooms are brown. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl.
For the onions:
Melt butter in a heavy skillet. Add onion and cook over low heat until onion are caramelized, stirring occasionally. Add Sherry wine and cook until pan is dry. Season with salt and pepper.
Set aside to cool.
For the fillets:
Heat a heavy skillet over high heat. Add oil and sear fillets 3 minutes on each side.
Season with salt and pepper. Transfer fillets to a plate. Refrigerate until ready to use.
For the sauce:
Pour 1 cup red wine in skillet. Cook for 5 minutes. Stir a package of brown sauce mix in cold water. Pour in skillet with wine. Whisk until thickened. Set sauce aside.
Assemble the wellingtons:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line the prepared pastries on a work surface.
Spread half of the well drained spinach over center of pastries. Divide blue cheese and well drained onions into six equal portions and spread over spinach.
Top with fillet, mushrooms and remaining spinach. Fold each side panel onto top to seal the content of pastry.
Turn the packages and arrange on a baking sheet seam side down. Decorate with pastry cut outs Brush pastries with a beaten egg.
Bake in for about 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is at 110 degrees. Be sure that the tip of the thermometer is inserted in the center of the package.
Set cooked wellingtons aside no longer than 10 minutes. The sealed fillets continue to cook out of the oven.
Cut each wellington in half. Arrange on warm plates and serve immediately.

Main
Jellied beef  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:4 hours
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 4-5- pound round or shoulder beef roast, trimmed of excess fat
2 yellow onions, coarsely chopped
3 carrots, coarsely chopped
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
5 whole cloves
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
to taste salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup red wine

1 1/2 quarts boiling beef stock
3 tablespoons unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons carrots, peeled and cut into very small dice
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
lemon slices for garnish
shredded lettuce for garnish
Heat the oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven over high heat, add the meat, and turn to brown well on all sides.
Remove the meat and add the onions, chopped carrots, chopped garlic, parsley, cloves, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the vegetables are soft and lightly colored , 10 to 15 minutes.
Return the meat to the pot and add the wine and just enough of the simmering stock to barely cover the beef.
Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the beef is very tender but not falling apart, about 3 hours. Remove from heat and cool the beef in the stock.
Remove the meat from the stock and shred or cut it into strips that are about 1/4 inch wide and 2 inches long; reserve.
Strain the stock into a bowl through several layers of cheesecloth; add to a pot and simmer for 10 minutes with the diced carrots, minced parsle and minced garlic.
In a large bowl, combine the shredded beef with 1 1/2 quarts of the stock and vegetables, the dissolved gelatin, Worcestershire, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste; mix well.
Dip the lemon slices into the mixture to coat with liquid, then arrange them on the bottom of a loaf pan 9 by 5 by 3 inches or a 2- quart mold. Pour in the beef mixture.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least 12 hours and as long as 2 days.
Before unmolding, scrape off any congealed fat that has formed on top.
Run a thin knife blade around the inside of the pan and briefly dip the bottom of the pan in a container of hot water for a few seconds to loosen the beef. Cover with a serving platter, invert and tap the pan all around to unmold.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Surround with the shredded lettuce just before serving. To serve, divide into inch-thick slices.

Main
Old fashion beef stew  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:2 hours 30 minutes
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons canola oil
2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 chopped shallots
2 tablespoons flour
1 quart beef stock
1 1/2 cups dry red wine
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried savory
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 sliced carrots
20 small white onions, peeled
1/4 cup canola oil
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, cut into quarters
chopped parsley for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees In a heavy casserole, heat butter and oil. Brown beef with shallots.
Add flour, cook to brown, then mix in beef stock and wine. Bring to a boil.
Season with salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste, garlic, savory and thyme.
Cover casserole and bake for 2 hours.
Add carrots and potatoes to stew 1/2 hour before meat is cooked. Blanch white onions in boiling water. Drain.
Heat oil in a frying pan.
Fry onions and mushrooms until brown and tender.
Add to stew when meat is tender. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Main
Pancetta-wrapped beef tenderloin  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:25 minutes
2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
2 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large shallots, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 scallions, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
One 3-pound center-cut trimmed beef tenderloin in 1 piece
3 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
7 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, chilled
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Soak the porcini in the boiling water for 20 minutes. Rub the porcini in the soaking liquid to remove any grit; pat dry and coarsely chop. Transfer the porcini to a mini food processor and puree.

Melt the butter in a medium skillet. Add the shallots and cook over moderately low heat until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the scallions and cook until softened, 2 minutes. Stir in the porcini puree. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.

Season the roast with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet. Sear the roast over moderately high heat until browned all over; let cool.

On a work surface, slightly overlap three 16-inch pieces of wax paper. Arrange the pancetta on the paper in 4 overlapping rows to form a rectangle the length of the tenderloin. Spread the porcini puree over the pancetta. Set the tenderloin on the bottom edge of the pancetta. Using the wax paper as a guide, tightly roll up the roast in the pancetta. Carefully peel off the wax paper.

Tie the roast with kitchen string at 1-inch intervals. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and brush with the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil. Roast the beef for 25 minutes, or until the pancetta is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat registers 120 degrees.

Let rest for 10 minutes. Cut off the strings and remove. Thickly slice the roast with a serrated knife and serve.

Main
Pot roast  Print Recipe

A flavorful and delicious pot roast
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:2 hours
FOR BROWNING MEAT

3 to 4 pounds chuck roast, tied
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Olive oil

FOR AROMATICS
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1 medium carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
1 rib celery, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
1 dried bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
3 sprigs fresh thyme

FOR BRAISING MEAT
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/4 cups water

FOR GARNISH VEGETABLES
3/4 pounds turnips, about 3, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch wedges
3/4 pound small new potatoes
3/4 pound carrots, 4 to 5 medium, peeled and cut into 3-inch lengths. Halve thick ends lengthwise, then cut into 3-inch lengths
Pat meat dry with paper towels, then season on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat a Dutch oven over high heat for 2 minutes. Then add enough oil to barely coat bottom of pot and heat until shimmering. Sear the meat until golden brown, turning to cook all sides evenly, about 8 minutes. Don't be tempted to turn the meat too soon or it will tear; instead wait until it easily releases from the pot. Once it is nicely browned all over, remove it from the pot. If there are lots of blackened bits on the bottom of the pot, wipe it clean with a paper towel, or deglaze with a little water then discard.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the olive oil and all of the aromatics, and cook, stirring fairly often, until the onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. You may need to increase the heat after a minute or two if the onion isn't softening, but only slightly. If the garlic or onion begins to burn, add a little water and stir up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle the flour into the pot, and stir to coat everything evenly; cook the flour just long enough to remove the starchy taste without taking on any color, about 30 seconds. Add vinegar, tomato paste and water, and bring to a boil. Deglaze pot, scraping up browned bits from the bottom. Put the roast in the pot; the water should come only about 1 inch up the sides of the meat. Reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering, not boiling, and cover the pot tightly with the lid. While the meat is braising, turn it every 30 minutes; the meat should be almost tender (a sharp knife inserted in the center should meet little resistance) after 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove the meat from the pot. Strain braising liquid through a fine sieve, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible (discard solids).
Return the roast and the strained liquid to the pot. Nestle the garnish vegetables around the roast, submerging them a bit in the liquid (the liquid should almost reach top of vegetables). Bring the liquid to a boil, then simmer until the vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. The meat should be very tender by now and give no resistance when pierced with a knife (The meat will be firm enough to slice; if you want it be falling-apart tender, cook 30 minutes more).
Transfer the meat and vegetables to a serving platter, leaving the sauce behind (there should be about 1 cup). Cover and keep warm near the stove. If the sauce is too thin, heat until reduced (but be mindful of the saltiness, since the more sauce is reduced the saltier it will taste) or thicken it with a bit more flour, whisking until smooth. Add a small amount of vinegar if necessary to balance the flavors. Let roast stand for about 20 minutes, then slice to desired thickness. Spoon some sauce over pot roast and vegetables to moisten and serve with remaining sauce on the side.

Main
Provencale braised beef casserole  Print Recipe

Can be prepared 2 days ahead. The leftover meat is also delicious served cold the next day with a green salad.
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Cooking time:3 hours 30 minutes
5 ounces pork, back fat sliced 1/8 inch thick
2 1/2 pounds braising beef such as top round or top sirloin
MARINADE:
2 medium onions, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 tomato, quartered
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bouquet Garni
20 peppercorns, crushed
3 cups dry red wine
3 tablespoons Cognac

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 ounces bacon, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1 pound tomatoes, skinned, seeded and chopped
salt
6 ounces black olives, preferably Niçoise or Kalamata, stoned .

.
Cut the back fat into small strips 3 mm (1/8 inch) wide and 2.5 cm (1 inch) long.
Make deep incisions all over the surface of the beef and insert the back fat.
Prepare the marinade:
combine all of the ingredients except the olive oil in a non-aluminium container.
Immerse the beef in the liquid and drizzle the olive oil over the surface. Leave to marinate for at least 12 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Remove the beef from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Strain the marinade reserving the vegetables and bouquet garni; drain well. Reserve the marinade.
Heat the vegetable oil in a cast iron casserole over high heat. Add the meat and brown on all sides.
Remove the meat from the pan; set aside. Add the diced bacon to the pan and brown it.
Then add the reserved vegetables and cook until golden. Sprinkle with the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
Add the marinade and stir to blend. Return the meat to the pan, along with the tomatoes, the bouquet garni and a pinch of salt. Add a little water if necessary to cover the meat.
Bring to the boil, reduce the heat, cover and place in the oven for about 3 hours, turning the meat every hour, until it is very tender when pierced with the point of a knife.
Do not allow the liquid to boil. If the olives are salty, simmer in water for 2 minutes.
Drain and refresh under cold water. When the meat is tender, remove it from the pan and cover with a warm damp tea towel, to prevent it from drying out.
Discard the bouquet garni. Skim the fat from the cooking liquid. Add the olives to the pan and cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens slightly. Adjust the seasoning.
To serve, carve the beef into thin slices. Arrange overlapping slices on a deep serving platter.
Spoon the vegetables and sauce over the beef

Main
Roast tenderloin with mushroom onion and red wine sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:1 hour 30 minutes
2 cups dry red wine
1 cup Tawny port wine
2 cups canned beef broth
3 tablespoons butter
12 ounces onions, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound mushrooms (shitake and crimini) thickly sliced
1 tablespoon flour
2 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin, trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
In a large pot, Boil wine, Port and broth until reduced to 4 cups. Melt butter in skillet.
Add onions and sauté until tender. Mix in thyme and sauté until onions are deep brown.
Transfer onions to bowl. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in same skillet. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender.
Return onions to skillet. Add flour and stir 3 minutes. Stir mushroom mixture into reduced wine mixture.
Simmer until thickened and reduced to 3 cups, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 400degrees. Rub meat with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Place beef in a large roasting pan. Brown evenly on top of stove. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center of beef registers 125 degrees F. for rare , about 25 minutes.
Remove from oven and cover with foil, let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Slice beef on a cutting board.
Arrange on serving platter.
Pour juices from roasts into sauce. Heat sauce and serve with beef.

Main
Roast tenderloin with red wine shallot sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 8
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
For the sauce:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups sliced shallots
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
4 cups beef broth
2 cups dry red wine
1/4 cup brandy

For tenderloin:
2 2-pounds beef tenderloin pieces, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
4 cloves minced garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce:
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic; sauté until golden, about 15 minutes. Add flour and herbs, and stir one minute. Pour in broth, wine and brandy. Mix well and boil the sauce until it is reduced to 2 cups, about 20 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Refrigerate.)
Tenderloins:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a mixing bowl, combine oil, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Spread mixture evenly over all sides of tenderloins.
Place beef in a large roasting pan. Brown evenly on top of stove. Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center of beef registers 125 degrees F. for rare, about 25 minutes. Remove roasts from oven and cover with foil, let stand for 10 to 15 minutes.
Slice beef on a cutting board. Arrange on serving platter. Pour juices from roasts into sauce. Heat sauce and serve with beef.

Main
Sautéed beef médaillons with artichokes and tomatoes  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
3 large artichoke bottoms, cooked
6 medium tomatoes, peeled and seeded
12 médaillons of beef tenderloin, 2 1/2 ounces each
to taste salt and ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
3 ounces scallions, cut diagonally into 1 1/2-inch length
3 cloves minced garlic
18 ripe olives, pitted
3 hot red chili peppers, thinly sliced
6 tablespoons brown gravy
1/4 cup shredded basil
1/4 cup shredded mint leaves
Cut the precooked artichokes into halves, then into small wedges.
Cut tomatoes into small wedges. Season the beef médaillons with salt and pepper.
Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil over high heat in a skillet, and sauté the beef to the desired degree of doneness.
Remove from pan and keep warm.
Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet and briskly sauté the scallions, garlic, artichokes, and tomatoes for 3 to 4 minutes. Add olives, chili peppers, and meat gravy.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Arrange 2 sautéed médaillons on each heated serving plate.
Arrange the vegetables around the meat, and sprinkle the vegetables with the shredded basil and shredded mint leaves.

Main
Steaks au poivre  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
4 6-ounce sirloin steaks, trimmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon dry basil
1/4 cup dry red wine
2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/3 cup Cognac
1/2 cup brown sauce
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Arrange steaks in a shallow dish. Combine oil, soy sauce, basil and red wine. Pour over steaks and marinate for an hour. Sprinkle pepper over both sides of steaks.
Press peppers to adhere meat.
Heat canola oil in a cast iron frying pan over high heat. Brown steaks on both sides to the desired doneness.
Pour Cognac over steaks. Ignite.
Transfer steaks to a serving platter. Add marinade liquid, brown sauce and cream to pan.
Reduce sauce to medium thickness. Season to taste and pour sauce over steaks. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with potatoes and vegetables.

Dessert
Buñuelos  Print Recipe

A buñuelo is fried dough. It is a popular snack in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Turkey, Greece, and Morocco, and is a tradition at Christmas, Ramadan, and among Sephardic Jews at Hanukkah. Ref: Wikipedia
This recipe can be made the day before and placed in the refrigerator to rise covered overnight.
Serves: 8
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:15 minutes
1/4 cup warm water (105 to 110 degrees F.)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 package active dry yeast
7 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons shortening
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil for frying.
In a small bowl, stir together the warm water and the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over this and let it set for about 10 minutes
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the milk, shortening, and salt just until the shortening melts. Remove from heat and let the mixture cool down to lukewarm
Place the flour into a large mixing bowl and begin to mix in both the yeast and the milk mixtures, stirring briskly to mix in all the ingredients. When the dough becomes to thick to mix with the spoon, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for a minimum of 5 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic when pulled and not sticky. It should spring back slightly when you poke a finger into it.

Roll the dough ball in a lightly oiled large bowl. Cover the bowl loosely with a tea towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in size, approximately 1 to 2 hours.
When dough has risen, punch down the dough, cut it into four (4) equal sections, and allow it to rest for another 10 minutes.
While the dough is resting heat your oil to 375 degrees F. (a skillet or electric fryer works best).
Divide each dough quarter into three (3) pieces. Pat them into a 4-inch circle, stretching and pressing until a round shape is formed.
Carefully place the dough pieces into the hot oil and fry until they puff up and are browned, approimately 1 minute. With a slotted spoon, flip the Buñuelo over and cook for another 1 minute to brown the second side. Remove from the hot oil and drain well.
Buñuelos can be kept warm in a 200 degree F. oven for up to 1 hour. They refrigerate well and can be reheated in a 350 degree F. oven for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
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Measures of non liquid ingredients



Non-liquid ingredients in volume converted
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Weight of specific 'ingredients in grams

Ingredient

1 cup

3/4 cup

2/3 cup

1/2 cup

1/3 cup

1/4 cup

2 tablespoons

All-purpose wheat flour 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
All-purpose sifted wheat flour 110 g 80 g 70 g 55 g 35 g 27 g 13 g
White sugar 200 g 150 g 130 g 100 g 65 g 50 g 25 g
Powdered sugar/Icing sugar 100 g 75 g 70 g 50 g 35 g 25 g 13 g
Brown sugar normally packed 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 23 g
Corn flour 160 g 120 g 100 g 80 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Cornstarch 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Rice (not-cooked) 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Macaroni (uncooked) 140 g 100 g 90 g 70 g 45 g 35 g 17 g
Couscous (uncooked) 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 22 g
Quick oatmeal (uncooked) 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Table salt 300 g 230 g 200 g 150 g 100 g 75 g 40 g
Butter / Margarine 240 g 180 g 160 g 120 g 80 g 60 g 30 g
Shortening 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Fruits and légumes chopped 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
chopped walnuts 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Nuts /ground almonds 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Fresh bread crumbs (not packed) 60 g 45 g 40 g 30 g 20 g 15 g 8 g
Dry bread crumbs 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Parmesan grated 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Chocolate chips 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 38 g  19 g
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