• preparation

Soak the black-eyed peas overnight in cold water to cover. Drain. Rub off and discard the skins. Soak the shrimp in cold water to cover for 30 minutes. Puree the peas, onion, shrimp, garlic and cayenne in a food processor. Season to taste with salt, if necessary. Form mixture into tablespoon size balls.
Meanwhile in a 5-quart pot or Dutch oven, fitted with a candy or deep-frying thermometer, or in an electric deep fryer, heat oil over medium-low heat until the thermometer registers 365 degrees F. Make sure you have at least 3 inches of space between the top of the oil and the top of the pan, as oil will bubble up when fritters are added.
Fry the fritters in small batches until golden brown all over, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve at room temperature with Black-eyed Pea Fritter Sauce.
Black-eyed Pea Fritter Sauce-Molho de Acaraje:
Soak the shrimp in cold water, to cover, for 30 minutes. Drain the shrimp and puree in a food processor or blender with the onion, ginger and red pepper. Heat the oil in a skillet and saute the shrimp mixture for about 5 minutes. Season with salt, to taste. Transfer to a bowl and serve with fritters.

• preparation

Mix mayo and annatto paste. Add half to chicken in large bowl; toss to coat.

Cook chicken in large deep skillet or Dutch oven on medium-high heat 5 min. or until evenly browned, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from skillet; discard drippings. Cover chicken to keep warm.

Add rice, onions, peppers, garlic and remaining mayo mixture to skillet; cook on medium-low heat 3 min., stirring constantly. Add water and bouillon; stir. Top with chicken. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 22 to 25 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF) and liquid is absorbed.

Top with olives and cilantro.

• preparation

1. In a medium bowl, stir 1/3 cup (75 mL) sour cream with juice, garlic, mint, salt and hot sauce. (If making ahead, this mixture can be covered and refrigerated for up to a day.)

2. Cut avocados in 2; remove stones. Using a knife without a sharp point, score flesh into ¼-inch (5-mm) dice right down to leathery skin. Scoop flesh out into sour cream mixture. Mix, breaking up avocado dice as little as possible. Add more sour cream, tablespoonful by tablespoonful, as needed to achieve a thick yet creamy consistency.

3. This keeps well for up to half a day if plastic wrap is pressed directly onto dip surface and refrigerated. Pile mixture into a serving dish; garnish with sprigs of mint. Serve with tortilla chips.

• preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Gently fit 1 wonton skin into each of 36 small muffin cups, 1 3/4x1 inch, pressing against bottom and side. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
Remove from pan; cool on wire rack. Mix remaining ingredients except sour cream.
Just before serving, spoon bean mixture into wonton cups. Top each with 1/2 teaspoon sour cream.

• preparation

Heat a non stick pan until very hot. Add oil. Saute onion until it begins to soften. Add jalapeño. Mix well. Rinse beans, and strain. Stir beans and mangoes into the onion mixture. Heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add coriander, cumin, and vinegar. Heat through. Stir in cilantro.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190°C). Grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper and set aside.
Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Spread beans evenly onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes until slightly dried out.
Meanwhile, sauté olive oil, chopped pepper, onion, and garlic over medium heat until peppers and onions are soft,and no moisture left about 5-6 minutes. Place in a large bowl or in a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Stir or pulse everything together, then add the black beans. Mash with a fork or pulse the mixture, leaving some larger chunks of beans.
Form into patties– about 1/3 cup of mixture in each.
To bake: Place patties on a lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F (191°C) for 10 minutes on each side, 20 minutes total. To grill: Place patties on greased aluminum foil and grill 8 minutes on each side. Heat temperature is personal preference as all grills differ. Generally, black bean burgers should grill on medium-high heat about 350°F (177°C) – 400°F (204°C).
Serve with your favorite toppings.

Make ahead tip: Cooked or uncooked black bean burgers freeze wonderfully! Stack between parchment paper in a freezer container or zipped-top bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat to your liking or, if uncooked, cook according to instructions.

• preparation

Combine the cornstarch with the sherry.
Pour the oil into a wok. Heat over high heat. Add the minced black beans and ginger. Stir fry for 10 seconds then add the chicken stock, oyster sauce and soy sauce.
Bring to a boil and reduce for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix the cornstarch and sherry and add to the sauce, stirring until thickened.
Allow the sauce to cool, then refrigerate in a closed container. Add the garlic and scallion when using the sauce.
Serve warm over vegetables such as kale, carrots, vegetables, steamed rice or thin noodles.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a skillet melt half of the butter. Add onion and sauté over medium heat until golden. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Add chicken ,salt , tarragon, and garlic. Cook until chicken is brown.
Mix in cheese, Prosciutto, and egg.
Brush 1/2 filo sheet with melted butter.
Spoon 1/3 cup chicken mixture on narrow edge and fold in sides.
Roll up and place, seam side down on a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining sheets of dough.
Brush the rolls with remaining butter. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Coat 6 ramekins or custard cups ( about 1 1/4 cup capacity) lightly oil and set on baking sheet.
Spread nuts in pie plate and bake about 10 minutes, until fragrant. Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
In measuring cup, stir together milk, egg,oil and vanilla. Add to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
Divide the batter among ramekins. Mix together coffee and brown sugar.. pour about 1/6 of the coffee over each dessert.
Sprinkle with reserved toasted nuts.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tops spring back when touched lightly. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

• preparation

Cook corn kernels in lightly salted water for 1 minute. Drain, transfer to large bowl and cool. Add the chili peppers, garlic, bell pepper and green onions, mix well and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and the lime juice. Add the milk and mix well to form a smooth batter.
Add to the corn mixture and stir to mix. Season to taste with more salt if needed, and pepper. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
To make the tomato salsa, stir together the tomatoes, red onion, chili pepper, lime juice, cilantro and salt and pepper to taste.
In a large frying over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons of the oil.
Working in batches, spoon the batter into the pan to form pancakes 3 inches in diameter; do not crowd the pan. Cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.
Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding oil as needed to prevent sticking.
Place the pancakes on a platter or individual plates and top with the sour cream and salsa.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Butter two 9-inch by 5-inch by 3-inch inch loaf pans. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add cornmeal and blend well. In a separate bowl, combine and beat milk, egg, and butter. Pour the wet ingredients over dry mixture. Stir to blend. Pour batter into pans. Bake for about 50 minutes. Cool corn bread on rack for 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack to cool completely. Refrigerate wrapped for 2 days, or freeze for 2 weeks.

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Butter two 9 1/2-inch diameter deep dish pie dishes. Combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, sage, pepper, salt, baking powder and baking soda in large bowl and whisk to blend.
Combine buttermilk, sun dried tomatoes, reserved oil, butter, eggs and whisk to blend. Stir buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients.
Divide corn bread batter between prepared dishes. Bake corn breads until tops begin to brown and tester inserted in center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly.
Cut corn breads into wedges; serve warm.
Note: Corn breads can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Cool completely.
Cover with aluminum foil. Reheat covered in 350 degree oven about 10 minutes.

• preparation

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.

• preparation

Using a serrated knife, chop tomatoes. If using plum tomatoes, add 2 tablespoons water. In a medium bowl, toss together the tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cilantro.
Squeeze lime juice over the mixture and sprinkle on the salt. Allow to rest 30 minutes before serving to allow salt to draw juice from the tomatoes. Stir again just before serving.

• preparation

Combine cream, prepared mascarpone, sugar, lime peel and juice in a medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat to soft peaks.
(Can be made 4 hours ahead. )

Arrange in individual dishes and top with cut fruit

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter the soufflé molds. Sprinkle the bottom and sides of molds with sugar; shake out excess. Place dishes on a baking sheet. Do not touch the inside.
Choose ripe mangos, full of flavor. Peel and slice all the pulp into a mixing bowl. discard the pits.
Puree the mango pulp in a food processor. Whisk in the sugar and lemon juice. Pour the mixture in a saucepan, and stew over medium heat until thick. Cool the mango and transfer to a mixing bowl. Cool for 10 minutes Stir in the egg yolks.
In an electric mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar. When they reach a soft peaks, gradually add the confectioners sugar, and continue beating until the whites are firm and fluffy.
Fold the egg whites into the mango mixture.
Fill the mold with the soufflé mixture. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake 12 to 15 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve at once. Serve with a coconut custard cream.

• preparation

In a mixing bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream and lime juice.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add corn kernels, season to taste with salt, toss once or twice, and cook without moving until charred on one side, about 2 minutes. Toss corn, stir, and repeat until charred on second side, about 2 minutes longer. Continue tossing and charring until corn is well charred all over, about 10 minutes total. Transfer to a large bowl.k
Add mayonnaise mixture, cheese, scallions, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, and chili powder and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and more chili powder to taste. Serve immediately.

• preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees (375 degrees
In a food processor, combine cilantro, scallions, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with spinach ; pulse until coarsely chopped.
2. Coat an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Lay 4 tortillas in bottom of dish (they will overlap slightly). Layer with half of beans, salsa, spinach mixture, and cheese; repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with cheese and pressing in gently.
3. Cover dish with foil; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes; remove foil, and continue baking until golden, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

• preparation

For pesto:
Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Wrap in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed peppers. Process roasted peppers, spinach, cheese, nuts, garlic, and chipotle chilies in food processor.
Add oil to blend and process. Season with salt and pepper.

For garlic Sauce:
Bring stock and cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Add garlic and basil; simmer until sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper. Can be made a day ahead.

For chicken:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface. Brush with melted butter. Fold in half crosswise. Brush with butter. Place 1 chicken breast in center of phyllo. Season with salt and pepper.
Spoon 1 teaspoon pesto over chicken. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese. Insert chicken in phyllo by folding dough over chicken. Brush with butter. Repeat with remaining chicken.
Refrigerate remaining pesto for other use.
Bake chicken about 25 minutes.
Transfer to plates. Bring garlic sauce to simmer. Spoon over chicken.

• preparation

Heat the oil in a 12″ skillet over high heat. Add the onions and cook until just soft, about 2 minutes. Add the cumin, oregano, peppers, allspice, peppercorns, and bay leaves; cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers soften slightly, about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and salt; bring to a simmer.
Transfer the pepper mixture to a 1 1⁄2 -qt. sterilized glass jar and allow to cool to room temperature; cover and refrigerate for 1 week before serving.

• preparation

Adjust oven rack to 6 inches from the top and preheat
broiler on HIGH.
Add tomatillos, poblano, jalapeno, onion and garlic to a
large sheet pan, spreading them out a bit.
Broil for 10 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through
broiling.
Add tomatillos, poblano, jalapeno and onion to food
processor. Peel garlic and add it food processor as well.
Add salt, lime juice, and cilantro and process until
everything is coarsely chopped. Add water, starting with 2
Tbsp and process until desired consistency is reached.
Add more water, to your liking.

• preparation

In a large nonstick skillet, saute turkey in oil for 2 minutes.
Add the peppers, onion, garlic, salt, cumin, pepper and cayenne. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink and peppers are crisp-tender.
Stir in cilantro and lime juice; cook 1 minute longer. Serve in tortillas.

• preparation

Pour 1/2 cup boiling water over bulgur in a bowl. Cover and let stand until softened, about 15 minutes.
Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, carrots and garlic and sauté until tender.
Add tomato paste, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper and stir until spices are fragrant.
Add wine and 2 cups of water. Bring to boil. Add peppers, zucchini and tomatoes to saucepan.
Reduce heat and simmer until all vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Add bulgur, garbanzo and kidney beans, basil and oregano to chili. Simmer until chili is thick, stirring frequently. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

• preparation

Combine sugar, water and syrup in a saucepan. Stir until it boils. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool. Refrigerate.
Remove meat from the watermelon and discard seeds. Puree in a blender. Measure and add 3 cups of watermelon and lemon juice to the cold sugar, water, syrup mixture.
Freeze the mixture in an ice cream machine for 20 to 30 minutes, according to the manufacturer's instructions.