Broth

• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 chicken cut into pieces
• 1 onion
• 3 large carrots cut into thirds
• 3 stalks celery cut into thirds
• salt & pepper to taste
• bay leaf or a pinch of poultry seasoning optional

Dumplings

• 1 ¾ cups flour plus extra for dusting
• ⅓ cup shortening
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon salt

Broth Instructions

Combine chicken, onion, carrots and celery in a large pot. Season to taste.

This Kitchn recipe was a nice way to use up some leftover summer produce, and tasty to boot. We don't usually grill our pizzas, and this turned out just fine using our standard Neapolitan pizza cooking process.

Ingredients
1 ball pizza dough (about 1 pound), store-bought or homemade
2 to 3 tablespoons tomato sauce, store-bought or homemade
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, or to taste

4 cups vegetable/canola or peanut oil, for deep frying
1 pound cod, cut into 3-inch pieces
1 cup rice flour, divided
½ cup AP flour
2t fine sea salt, divided
1¼t baking powder
¼t cayenne pepper
1 cup cold lager beer
lemon wedges, tartar sauce, and malt vinegar for serving

In advance:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until 365ºF.
• Prepare a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
• Place 1/3 cup of the rice flour in a pie plate.

Fast and easy weeknight meal from New York Times.

Serves 3-4

Ingredients
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 packed cups baby spinach
1 lime, halved
1 fresno, jalapeño or serrano chile, thinly sliced

This Bon Appetit recipe would be a great side to bring to a summer BBQ or to have as a light weeknight meal. It's also easy to prep in advance.

1 cup almonds
1 cup fregola, Israeli couscous, or whole grain of your choice
3 ears of corn, husked
2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup olive oil, divided
16 ounces Halloumi cheese, sliced lengthwise ¾-inch thick
3 scallions, thinly sliced
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup basil leaves
¼ cup mint leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

This New York Times Cooking recipe was surprisingly easy and delicious... and it makes great leftovers. Winner!

Ingredients
2 cups plain Greek yogurt
9 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 teaspoon dried oregano or mint
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken (your choice thighs or breasts)
3-4 mini cucumbers
1 large tomato
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
4 ounces feta, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved

This New York Times cooking recipe was very easy (as promised), and seems easily adaptable. Want SW flavors? Replace herbs with peppers and lemons with limes. Looking for Levantine? Try oranges, cloves, and cinnamon! (Disclaimer: we used fresh herbs; I'm not sure which dried spices would be okay if you decide to mix it up.)

3-4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 8 ounces each)
½ cup olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds, seeds discarded

The free-wheeling cousin of sushi, a good poke bowl can be a make-your-own adventure meal with whatever you have on-hand. The fish can be sauced or un-sauced, depending on your preference. Here are some ideas:

To season your fish, mix together the following to taste:
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Rice vinegar
Ginger
Garlic
Green onion
Sriracha

To make your poke bowl, compose many or few of the following together in a bowl:
Sushi rice flavored with rice vinegar and sugar and/or mirin
Tuna or salmon, seasoned (or not) as above

Courtesy of Washington Post.

Serves 4

2 celery stalks, finely chopped
1/4 cup mayonnaise, or more as desired
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
2 tablespoons horseradish
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste
A few dashes of hot sauce
1 pound medium shrimp, boiled, peeled, deveined and roughly chopped (see NOTE)

Courtesy of The New York Times

Serves 4

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
2 (12- to 18-ounce) packages shelf-stable or refrigerated potato gnocchi
¼ cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
¼ teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 pints small tomatoes, such as cherry, grape or Sungold
¼ cup thinly sliced or torn basil leaves (optional), plus more for serving

Billed as Cajun-Chinese fusion, we found this recipe to fit more with Chinese than the American south.  But, tasty either way.

Ingredients

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This is a delightfully easy and delicious rendition of a creamy (vice baked casserole style) macaroni and cheese. I will admit that it is reminiscent of boxed mac n' cheese, but it is one of the few hot dishes our toddler will share with us. And although I have included ham here, it is entirely optional (and frankly just a great way to use up leftover Christmas ham). A tweaked version of this Southern Living recipe.

A tasty summer pasta recipe, courtesy of The New York Times.

Fine sea salt
6 ounces dry orecchiette or farfalle
1/2 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/2 bunch scallions (about 4), trimmed and thinly sliced (keep the whites and greens separate)
2 large ears corn, shucked and kernels removed (2 cups kernels)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, more for serving
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, more to taste
1/4 cup torn basil or mint, more for garnish

A very tasty and very easy recipe from The New York Times. Especially easy if you use peeled and deveined shrimp.

3 ounces lime juice (from about 3 limes)
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 ½ tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons nam prik pao (Thai chile paste in oil -- we used our supermarket's sweet thai chili sauce)
2 finely chopped Thai bird chiles, or to taste
1 pound large shrimp
2 stalks lemongrass, outer layers removed and white parts finely sliced
1 large shallot, thinly sliced

A tasty and easy (if somewhat time-consuming) Bon Appetit recipe. Bonus - our toddler loved it!

Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 pounds assorted summer squashes and zucchini, quartered lengthwise, sliced
Kosher salt
1 teaspoon Aleppo-style pepper, plus more for serving
8 ounces paccheri, fusili, or other non-noodle pasta
2 ounces Parmesan, grated (about ½ cup), plus more for serving
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ cup basil leaves, divided

This Bon Appetit recipe was good, but I've posted it here with a few tweaks we'd recommend for next time.

An easy way to use miscellaneous southeast asian ingredients at the end of the week. We took our cues from the kitchn.

• Rolls
• Protein of choice
• Crunchy veg - cucumber, jicama
• Pickled veg - carrots
• Spicy veg - jalapeno
• Herbs - cilantro, mint
• Mayo
• Other sauces of choice

1 pound small Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed
1 small onion, chopped
2 serrano chile, seeds removed if desired, chopped
1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled, chopped
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 can chickpeas, rinsed, patted dry
Freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chaat masala
2 tablespoons prepared tamarind chutney, divided
pinch of sugar

1 cup raita yogurt

¼ cup sev or similar/fried noodles

Adapted from Bon Apetit, ~4 servings

Leche De Tigre

• ⅔ cup fresh lime juice
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 1 tablespoon (packed) chopped fresh cilantro leaves

• ½ ají limo or habanero chile, seeded, halved lengthwise

• ½ small red onion, chopped

• ½ cup bottled clam juice (optional)
• Kosher salt

Purée first 4 ingredients and 4 large ice cubes in a blender until smooth. Add onion; pulse 3–4 times. Strain liquid into a medium bowl. Stir in clam juice, if desired; season with salt. Cover and chill.

A recipe not yet tried from Cook's Illustrated.

An untried recipe from Cook's Illustrated.

Serves 4

• 1 lb cod, haddock, or halibut filet
• 1 lb waxy potatoes, boiled (or microwaved) and roughly chopped
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 12 oz milk
• 3 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp flour
• salt and pepper
• (mustard? Curry? thyme? )
• ½ cup of breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated cheese (edam or mild, easy-melting cheddar)
• 2 tablespoons chives
• White wine (optional)

Serve with plenty of rye bread and butter!

Salt fish and turn on broiler to low

In a (very) large skillet, saute fish in half of the butter (and white wine if available) until cooked through and flaking, flipping halfway through and covering to heat through

Remove fish and set aside, reserving liquids.

Add the remaining butter to the pan and saute onions over medium heat until translucent [Add any additional desired spices, such as mustard powder.]

Sprinkle flour on and stir to coat, then add the reserved liquids and deglaze the pan if needed

Gradually add milk, slowly heat until steaming. (This would be another option to add additional seasoning, such as thyme or other herbs, to allow their flavors to infuse the milk.)
Simmer for 3-4 min, stirring often, until the mixture becomes creamy.

Add potatoes and stir briskly to break up the potatoes a bit.

Add fish & stir gently. Adjust seasoning / salt and pepper.

DO AHEAD:
Fish stew base can be made up to this point and reserved for serving at a later time.

DAY OF:
Spoon into ramekins or another baking dish.
Add bread crumbs and cheese.
If fish stew base is still hot, broil for 5 minutes until cheese is bubbling and golden brown
If fish stew base is cold, heat through in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, then broil briefly to brown cheese.

Sprinkle ea serving with 1/2 tbsp chives. Serve hot w/dark rye bread & butter.

1 ~4lp spatchcocked chicken
Salt
dry rub

2 hours before grilling, rinse and dust the chicken with salt, let sit uncovered in fridge.

When ready to start, rub on the dry rub of choice - we used a rosemary/thyme/HdP/sage/pepper/smoked salt rub for a classic roast-chicken flavor.

Prepare the grill for 2-zone cooking, raising the ambient temperature to ~325-350°F

Add smoking chips; Place chicken off-heat, with the dark meat towards the fire, and roast until the breast reaches 135°F

Garlic Yogurt
½ cup plain yogurt (not Greek)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon honey
1 garlic clove, finely grated
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fritters And Assembly
2 small zucchini, ends trimmed
1 small russet potato, peeled
½ medium onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
1 garlic clove, finely grated
½ teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint, plus more for serving

Bon Appetit called this recipe Tunisian-style eggs, but we instantly recognized it as a close cousin to the Berber Eggs we had for breakfast in Morocco. We tweaked the recipe slightly, and it was delicious!

Serves 2

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 red bell peppers, cored, chopped or thinly sliced into strips
1/2 large tomato, finely diced
3+ tablespoon harissa paste and/or dried spice mix

Based on this recipe.

• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt (ideally use ½ kosher, ½ smoked salt)

• 1-2 lbs Salmon, center/thick cut is best

• Cedar plank(s) to put salmon on

• Wood chunks (Alder or other mild wood - apple, cherry)
• Leave-in thermometer

Via http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/carrot-tart-with-ricotta-and-herbs

2 cups ricotta
¼ cup heavy cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 small onion, thinly sliced
4 large carrots (about 8 ounces), scrubbed, thinly sliced into coins
1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 large egg, beaten to blend (optional)
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons small dill sprigs

Preheat oven to 425°. Whisk ricotta and cream in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper.

This is a modified recipe of "Mussels à la Buzara", trying to replicate a dish from http://www.dubravka1836.hr/

2 lbs mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded; dispose of any mussels with shells that stay open.
2 medium tomatoes, diced
¼ cup breadcrumbs
4 garlic cloves, minced or sliced
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup dry white wine
½ cup parsley, chopped
olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

For Crust (enough for two crusts - note, Jon finds this recipe difficult to work with, especially when doubled, and would consider using a different crust recipe next time)
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

For Quiche:
5 large eggs
3 heads of garlic, cloves peeled
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
dash nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper

4 chicken thighs
2 T fresh lemon juice
2 tsp salt
2 onions, finely chopped
¼ C nit'r qibe (spiced butter, or just unsalted butter)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1" grated ginger

2 tsp ginger
¼ tsp ground fenugreek
¼ tsp ground cardamom

¼ C Berbere
2 T paprika
¼ C dry red wine
2 C water water

1 hard-boiled egg per person
Salt and pepper to taste

Break down, rinse, and dry the chicken pieces. Rub with lemon juice and salt.

In a heavy enamel stew pot, cook the onions, dry, over moderate heat for about 5 minutes. Do not let brown or burn.

Sauce:
3T sake
2T soy sauce
1T chile sesame seed oil
1T sesame seed oil
Juice of one lemon
1T rice vinegar
1t fish sauce
2T minced ginger
1T minced garlic
Salt to taste
Whisk until emulsified

Sauteed Greens:
1T sesame seed oil
1" ginger, coarsely chopped or finely sliced
1 shallot, finely sliced
1-2 cups spinach or other hearty green
1T sesame seeds

Fish:
⅔lb Flounder, with salt and pepper (Serves two)

Prepare the sauce.

Batter

1 cup rice flour
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Assembly

5 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil, divided
4 oz. small shrimp, peeled, deveined
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 scallions, thinly sliced
4 oz. mung bean sprouts (about 1 cup)
Large green-leaf or Bibb lettuce leaves and mixed tender herbs (such as mint, cilantro, and Thai basil; for serving)
Nuoc Cham (recipe below)

½ pound ground lamb, preferably shoulder
¼ medium onion, very finely chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
¼ cup crumbled feta
1 tsp ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch ground cinnamon
½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp cup olive oil, plus more for grilling

2-4 thick medium pita breads with pockets

Using a fork, mix lamb, feta, onion, parsley, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and oil in a large bowl. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (preferably Spanish), divided
1 pound uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined, butterflied
1 pound skinless boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 pound oyster mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 cups paella rice (short-grain white rice)
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 dried California chile or New Mexico chile, stemmed, seeded, finely ground in spice mill
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
2 cups low-salt chicken broth, divided
1 cup mushroom broth

Courtesy of Cook's Illustrated. Easy and delicious!

Beef
4 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 Tbsp packed dark brown sugar
2 Tbsp fish sauce
1 (1.5-1.75 lb) hangar or flank steak, cut against the grain into pieces that are approximately 4"x2"x1/4"

Basting Sauce
3/4 cup coconut milk
3 Tbsp packed dark brown sugar
3 Tbsp fish sauce
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3 shallots, minced
2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed to bottom 6 inches and minced
2 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1.5 tsp ground coriander

For some reason, Bon Appetit recommends using a whole butterflied fish, but that just presents you with many small bones to deal with. This dish will be equally good with filets. Serves 2 and can easily be doubled.

2 branzini/ Mediterranean sea bass filets
1/8 cup olive oil
1 tablespoons whole grain mustard
1 small garlic clove, finely grated
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs (or fresh coarsely chopped breadcrumbs, preferably sourdough)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

This Yotam Ottolenghi recipe was amazing. The balance of the sweet currants with the curry-spiced chickpeas was surprising and delightful and the fried onions sealed the deal. Yes, it's got a lot of components, but it is totally worth it. I have halved the proportions to serve 8 as a side or 4 as a main.

1 lb shrimp
2 Cups shrimp or seafood stock (you can make it from the shells of the shrimp)
4 Tbsp lard/fat/unsalted butter
1/4 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Onion, Finely Chopped
1/4 Cup Celery, Finely Chopped
1/4 Cup Bell Pepper, Finely Chopped
1 Cup fresh Tomatoes, diced
1/2 Cup Green Onions, thinly sliced
3 Tbsp minced Italian Parsley
2 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 bundle of Fresh Thyme
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
4 T Creole seasoning (I added extra cayenne, Herbs De P, oregano, and smoked salt)
salt and pepper to taste

This Bon Appetit recipe was a bit too umami for Audrey's taste, but a nice recipe nonetheless.

Serves 6

3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
4 pounds beef short ribs (optionally cut cross-wise (flanken style) into 2-bone pieces), about 1 1/2-inch-thick
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems chopped, caps sliced, divided
1 bunch scallions, whites chopped, greens thinly sliced, divided
1 1-inch piece peeled ginger, thinly sliced

I've had versions of this dish in various restaurants, but never attempted it at home before. I found a lot of recipes online and cobbled together a best of breed. This recipe isn't difficult, but it does take about 4 hours from start to finish.

Courtesy of Cook's Illustrated.

Courtesy of Cook's Illustrated.

Courtesy of Cook's Illustrated.

1.5 lbs flap meat (skirt steak or hangar steak can be used as substitutes)
3 tbsp soy sauce, divided
6 tbsp cornstarch
2 oranges
3 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp sherry
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1.5 tsp sesame oil
1 jalapeño, inner seeds and ribs removed, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp freshly grated ginger
1 habañero, inner seeds and ribs removed, minced
2 scallions, thinly sliced
3 cups vegetable oil, for frying

Cut beef along grain into 3" lengths.

This is tasty recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit

1/2 cup pomegranate molasses
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds lamb shoulder blade chops, cut into 3/4-inch square pieces, bones reserved

1 1/4 cups water, divided
2 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 10-ounce box plain couscous

This original recipe (attached) came from a cooking class we took at Lebanese Taverna for a friend's birthday. We finally made this at home, and frankly, the original recipe was way too complicated. I post here a simplified, notional recipe that I may refine in the future.

The basic thing you're making is a layering of chickpeas, chicken, pita chips, yogurt, and garnishes - "Lebanese nachos," if you will. To make this an easy weeknight meal, you're ideally using leftover chickpeas and chicken, buying pre-made pita chips, and doing only minimal preparation on the day of. It does require some pre-planning but makes the final "cooking" really easy. Yes, it's tastier if all of these things are freshly made and still warm, but whatever. I'm a working woman.

Courtesy of Cook's Illustrated.

Ingredients
1 (10 ounce) bag curly-leaf spinach, rinsed (roughly 6 cups)
3/4 lb mustard greens, stemmed and rinsed (sub: turnip greens, arugula) (roughly 4-5 cups)
1 package store-bought Paneer (or make your own, recipe below)
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 onion, chopped finely
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
1 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced

Via WhatIHaventCookedYet, a recipe for corn fritters (not unlike Venezuelan cachapas):

This is a slightly modified, and halved, version of the recipe.

1/4 Tbsp salt
1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup corn meal
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cups buttermilk
1/8 cup melted butter
1 Tbsp honey
2 ears corn, kernels removed
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
Olive oil for frying

Mix together dry ingredients – salt, baking powder, flour and corn meal – in a large bowl.

We made a really great cold noodle salad, courtesy of Bon Appetit. It was made extra-delicious and protein-rich by topping it with leftover cold sliced grilled Malaysian steak skewers. Grill the skewers on the weekend and you have an easy weeknight meal almost ready to go!

1/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1/2 pound pappardelle or fettuccine
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks, white and pale greens only, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest plus more for serving
1 bunch arugula, thick stems trimmed, leaves torn (about 4 cups)
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan plus more for serving
Freshly ground black pepper
3 ounces prosciutto, torn into 1-inch pieces

This makes 4 servings

This tasty and relatively easy recipe came from this fantastic cookbook centered on one of my favorite cuisines. The recipe calls for a mix of lamb and veal, but lamb alone would probably be good too.

Makes 24 kofta.

1 lb ground lamb
1 lb ground veal
1 medium onion, roughly chopped
3-4 large cloves garlic
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley
1 large medium-hot red chile, seeded
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1.5 tsp ground allspice
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

We originally intended to make this Bon Appetit recipe, but we morphed it to save some time. In the proportions here, this recipe will make two easy week-night meals. The rice and beans can be made the first night and reheated the second. A rotisserie chicken bought on the first night can be reheated in the oven or shredded and "fried" on the stovetop with a bit of olive oil.

Rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 medium onion, chopped

Another meal from our farmers market expedition in Venice.

• 1/4 lb mushrooms
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic
• Fresh Rosemary, Sage, basil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup cream
• salt to taste
• Fresh pasta

Sautee onion, garlic and herbs until tender

Add 1/3 of mushrooms, sautee, add 1/2 cup water and salt, reduce.

Add 1/3 more of mushrooms, soften.

Add 1/2 cup white wine, reduce, add 1/3 of best mushrooms and 1/2 cup cream, reduce

Serve with pasta

This recipe yielded our best ham results yet: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a58445/best-... :

• 1 (10-lb.) fully cooked whole ham (boneless or bone-in)
• ½ c. packed brown sugar
• ¼ c. Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1½ c. apple cider

Preheat oven to 325º. Place ham cut side down on a roasting rack set in a roasting pan and score diagonally.

Cover with foil and bake until warmed throughout, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

So, not really a true recipe, but pretty good and pretty easy. Maybe next time we'll get fancy and make our own empanada dough, but for the first try this turned out pretty good.

On our vacation to Thailand a few years ago, we spent one of our days in Chiang Mai at the Thai Farm Cooking School. Some of the dishes we made were really delicious and frankly quite easy (if somewhat challenging to find all of the ingredients in the DC metro area).

We had a butternut squash and some mascarpone in the fridge, and I was feeling like pasta. We've done ravioli before, so I thought we should try something new.  So I googled "butternut squash and mascarpone agnolotti" and came up with this recipe. We shamelessly copied it, and it turned out great. You absolutely must go to their site to watch the videos showing how to create the agnolotti.

We hosted family for Thanksgiving this year and found ourselves innovating to accommodate a gluten-free family member. We very easily modified David Lebovitz's original recipe to create a delicious dish that everyone loved.

​1 1/2-pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded
1 large onion, peeled and minced
1 cup quinoa (alternatively, for a gluten dish, use 1 3/4 cup Israeli couscous, or Italian pepe-style pasta)
1 small cinnamon stick
1 large or 2 small preserved lemons

Dad tells the story of his first experience with Chiles Rellenos, with tears running down his face from the heat of the peppers, but loving every bite.  He worked long and hard to re-create that moment, and settled upon this recipe.

• 12 Anaheim peppers, skin removed (see note)
• 3 whole eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 1 Tbsp Flour
• 1 dash salt
• Queso Chihuahua (or Monterrey Jack) cheese cut in long "fingers"

In 2010, we attended a Oaxacan dinner as part of the annual Literary Feast on Capitol Hill. One of the dishes we ate was goat cheese, corn, and bean enchiladas with mole sauce. It was really delicious, and I finally got around to recreating it.

A delicious and easy Bon Appetit recipe.

Serves 2

1/4 cup olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling
1 tablespoon finely chopped preserved lemon peel (optional)
1 garlic clove, smashed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more

1 medium eggplant (9–10 ounces), halved lengthwise

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (skin removed and cut into 1 1/2" cubes)

Marinade:
1 scallion (white part only, cut into very thin slices)
1 tbsp miso paste
2 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp sake (or dry vermouth)
1 slice bacon

Yakiniku no tare (for basting and dipping)
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
3/4 cup mirin (sweet Japanese rice wine)
1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup sake (or more mirin and some vermouth)
3/4 teaspoon (packed) light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 scallions, chopped

Blue Marlin steaks, salted and with lemon pepper. Spritz with lime juice a few minutes before grilling.

Lime caper butter sauce, per steak:

3 T butter
1/4 red onion or 1/2 shallot, chopped. Sub in garlic scapes for part of this.
1/4 cup white wine
2 limes, juiced
1 T capers, drained

Chili/lime powder for serving.

Sautee the onions/shallots in the butter while grilling the marlin. When soft, add the lime juice and wine, reduce by half and add in the capers, continue reducing until no liquid remains. Serve on top of the marlin with chili/lime powder.

This recipe, modified from a Bon Appetit recipe, was an instant spring hit.

2 6–8-ounce center-cut wild king salmon fillets (each about 1 1/2-inch thick)
1 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons kosher salt plus more for seasoning
2 tablespoons (¼ stick) unsalted butter
4 ounces fresh morels; sliced, or oyster or shiitake
½ cup shelled fresh peas
⅓-⅔ cup heavy cream
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh chives or finely chopped garlic scapes

This recipe is a mash-up of several recipes.

2 cups corn kernels (cut from 2 large ears of corn)
4 oz (1 stick) butter, cut into 1/2" pieces and softened slightly
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp sugar
1 3/4 cup masa harina
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup milk, warmed

From Bon Appetit halved (still serves four) and with some modifications:

Ingredients
3 T olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
2 jalapeños, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained (or 1 can chickpeas)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 14-ounce can tomatoes (diced or whole+hand-crushed), juices reserved
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
salt to taste
3/4 cup coarsely crumbled feta

We had some leftover pre-shucked oysters and used them to make this Bon Appetit recipe. The recipe here originally used an entire 16-oz jar of pre-shucked oysters, but we halved it; serves two.

Ingredients
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 cup whipping cream

2 slices thick bacon (preferably applewood-smoked), chopped
1 tablespoons grated Pecorino Romano cheese

2 cups thinly sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only; from 2 large leeks)

I tweaked a Bon Appetit recipe and it was pretty good!

Ingredients

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... with just a little tweaking.

Serves 8.

Ingredients:
2 medium-large eggplants
1.5 cups breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
1/2 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese
Spices from your pantry (such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper)
2 eggs
1/2 cup or more of all purpose flour
Vegetable oil
[Note: halve these proportions for a medium-sized eggplant]

Pre-prep:

Audrey whipped this up to go with grilled or pan-seared salmon. It was easy and delicious!

For the salsa fresca:
2 parts cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 part rough chopped kalamata olives
1 part diced red onions
1 part feta, crumbled
lemon juice
olive oil (if possible, from a jar of sundried tomatoes)
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the salmon:
Wash and thoroughly dry the fillet.
Season the flesh side with salt and pepper, a dash of smoke salt, garlic powder, lemon pepper, and a dash of herbs de Provence

Heat grapeseed (or other, high-heat) oil in a skillet

This recipe was awesome. Delicious and super easy. Made by simplifying a slightly (but not much) more complex recipe from Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cooking.

Serves 6.

Ingredients
Vegetable oil
2 medium onions, peeled and sliced into thin half-rings
1-inch cube of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 small, whole head of garlic, with all the cloves separated and peeled
5 Tbsp white wine vinegar
1 Tbsp ground coriander

I had a hankering for Thai food since we're currently planning a trip to Thailand. I did a quick search, and voila! I modified the curry recipe from here. I have to admit this isn't the most authentic or even delicious green curry recipe, but frankly it's pretty easy to make and can be made mostly without often hard to find ingredients.

I personally prefer this recipe with extra firm tofu, but it could theoretically go with any protein. Fish or seafood would be best, followed by chicken.

Serves 4.

This was in response to our taking advantage of a recent livinggrouponsocial deal with Arganica, and opting for one of their more CSA-like "give me a box of random local, organic goodies." We're already, honestly, pretty damned tired of kale and brussel sprouts, and hoped this would provide something slightly different. We got... chard and turnips. Well, OK. The dinner turned out quite good, and is somewhere between classic French and New American. We made the chard into a warm salad by wilting it and steaming it with a bit of apple cider, then tossing it with vinegar and adding pecans.

Having just returned from Mexico, we were craving Mexican food. We decided to take on the ultimate: Mole. We headed up to our local latin-american superstore market to pick up the necessary ingredients. Because we couldn't exactly get everything we needed, here's the record of what we actually did (and how it turned out). Our recipe is basically the ingredients list from Fonda San Miguel, a delicious Mexican restaurant in Austin, with the process taken from Nuevo Mexican guru Rick Bayless.

While the entire recipe is far too insanely complicated to repost here, it comes from the Momofuku cookbook.

The components are:

• steamed buns
• roasted pork belly (start with 3lbs skinless pork belly)
• scallions
• sweet pickles
• hoisin and siracha sauces

The candied crispies from the roasting of the pork make a fantastic condiment to the buns

Pork Belly

• 3lbs skinless pork belly
• ¼ cup kosher salt
• ¼ cup suger

• 1 rack of Pork Spare Ribs (not the "country style" which are thicker and harder to cook thouroughly)
• Salt and pepper
• Sauce (recipe follows)

Salt and pepper (with smoked salt, if available) a rack of ribs as it comes up to room temperature, 30 minutes to an hour ahead of BBQing.

Over a medium flame, sear the ribs on both sides. Move away from direct heat, add wood chips, and let cook via smoke and indirect heat at 250° for ~4 hours (2-3 for baby back ribs, more if you're smoking multiple racks). This brings in the smoke flavor and slowly cooks the rack.

This is a basic recipe for dashi, or seaweed stock (as I would describe it). It is the basis for many Japanese soup recipes. I consider the American equivalent (not in flavor, but in use) to be chicken stock.

• 4 large strips of Dried Kombu (dried kelp), cut into roughly 4x4 inch squares
• 1 Tbsp mushroom buillon base
• 6 cups of cold water
• 6 dried shiitake mushrooms

When I was in high school, I dated a Persian (Iranian) guy for a few months. I don't remember much about our relationship, but I do remember his mother's cooking! After we'd been dating for while, his family invited mine over for a Friday night dinner. All I remember is a chicken/rice/currant/nut casserole that was absolutely delicious.

4 (6 ounce) fillets red snapper
1 cup butter, melted
4 Tablespoons cajun seasoning

Heat a large cast iron skillet over high heat for 10 minutes, or until extremely hot.

Dip fish into melted butter, and crust each fillet generously with the seasoning mixture. Place the fish fillets in the hot skillet.

This recipe eventually turned in to the Shahi Paneer recipe, and the sauce is the same. We broke them out separately to make them both easier to follow.

We generally followed this recipe, except we used a whole chicken and only cut up the breasts and thighs. We left the wings and drumsticks in tact, and just ate them. It being winter, we just broiled the whole thing for about 10-15 minutes, though traditionally this recipe would be skewered and BBQ'd.

Ingredients:

1 chicken, cut into piece parts; breasts and thighs cut into pieces

SATAY MARINADE:
1/4 cup minced lemongrass, fresh or frozen (if using fresh, use only the soft inner part)

Garides (Shrimp) Saganaki is one of Audrey's favorite dishes (though no longer on the menu) at Zaytinya, one of her favorite restaurants in DC. This recipe is a surprisingly easy replica of that dish. It's fast and can be made mostly with ingredients we already have in our kitchen.

An adaptation of the recipe from The Food Network. We've used marina di chioggia and speckled hen pumpkins from our favorite farmer at Eastern Market. A butternut squash can also be used.

This is an abomination, mixing in Guinness into a cottage pie.

The Guinness stew recipe parts are pulled from this recipe; the Shepherd's (lamb) and Cottage pie ingredients have been pulled from here and Epicurious. Cooking for Engineers has a nice pictoral guide.