Ingredients

for the carnitas:

• 1 (4-5 pound) lean boneless pork roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 2-inch chunks
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

for the sauce:

• 1 cup beer (or chicken stock)
• 1 head of garlic, cloves separated, peeled and minced
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper

Preparation

In a medium mixing bowl, mix all sauce ingredients together.

Season pork chunks on all sides with salt and pepper.

Click the “Saute” setting on the Instant Pot. Add oil and half of the pork, and sear — turning every 45-60 seconds or so — until the pork is browned on all sides. Transfer pork to a separate clean plate, and repeat with the other half of the pork, searing until browned on all sides. Press “Cancel” to turn off the heat. Pour in the mojo sauce, and toss briefly to combine. Close lid securely and set vent to “Sealing”. Press “Meat”, then press “Pressure” until the light on “High Pressure” lights up, then adjust the up/down arrows until time reads 30 minutes. Cook. Then let the pressure release naturally, about 15 minutes. Carefully turn the vent to “Venting”, just to release any extra pressure that might still be in there. Then remove the lid.

Shred the pork with two forks. Then transfer it with a slotted spoon to a large baking sheet. Spoon about a third of the leftover juices evenly on top of the pork. Then broil for 4-5 minutes, or until the edges of the pork begin browning and crisping up. Remove the sheet from the oven, then ladle a remaining third of the juices from the Instant Pot evenly over the pork, and then give it a good toss with some tongs. Broil for an additional 5 minutes to get the meat even more crispy. Then remove and ladle the final third of the juices over the pork, and toss to combine.

Gimme Some Oven

Ingredients

• One 3-pound boneless beef chuck roast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 medium yellow onions, halved and then thinly sliced into half-moons
• 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons finely diced orange zest
• 2 tablespoons finely diced peeled fresh ginger root (from a 3-inch piece)
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 1/2 cups strongly brewed lapsang souchong tea

Preparation

Season the meat on both sides with the salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in the electric pressure cooker turned to its sauteing function.

Add the onions and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, stirring often, until they begin to brown just a bit at the edges.

Push the onions to line the inside perimeter of the pot; set the meat in the cleared space. Brown well on both sides, turning once and stirring the onions a couple of times, 8 to 10 minutes. The onions will brown deeply and may even blacken in parts.

Sprinkle the vinegar over the onions; use a wooden spoon to dislodge any browned bits.

Sprinkle the orange zest, ginger and allspice over the meat and onions. Pour 1 1/2 cups of the tea over everything.

Lock the lid onto the pot and set it for high pressure (9 to 11 psi). Cook at high pressure for 75 minutes. Unplug the machine or turn it off to bring the pressure back to normal naturally, about 20 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid.

Transfer the chuck roast to a cutting board. Skim as much surface fat as you can from the sauce in the pot. Carve the meat into chunks, transfer to serving bowls, and pour the sauce on top.

Washington Post

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 thick slices of applewood-smoked bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 small shallot, minced
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 sage sprig
• 1 tablespoon minced chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• Salt and freshly ground white pepper

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the almonds in a pie plate and toast in the oven until golden brown, 4 minutes; let cool.

In a medium saucepan, heat the oil. Add the bacon and cook over moderately high heat until the fat has rendered, about 2 minutes. Add the shallot and cook, stirring a few times, until softened but not browned, about 1 minute. Add the quinoa, stock and sage and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until the stock has been absorbed, about 17 minutes. Remove the quinoa from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Discard the sage and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Stir in the chives, parsley and toasted almonds. Season the quinoa with salt and pepper and serve.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 4 acorn squash (about 1 pound each), halved lengthwise and seeded
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups diced celery
• 2 leeks, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick
• 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped thyme
• 10 ounces day-old rustic rye bread—crusts removed, bread cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 6 cups)
• 7 ounces vacuum-packed cooked chestnuts
• 1/2 cup chopped parsley
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup vegetable stock or low-sodium broth

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°. Brush the cut sides of the squash with olive oil and season the cavities with salt and pepper. Place the squash cut side down on two baking sheets and roast for about 25 minutes, until just tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter in the 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the celery, leeks and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the apples and thyme and cook over moderately high heat until the apples just start to soften, about 5 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a large bowl. Add the bread, chestnuts, parsley, cream and stock and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.

Turn the squash cut side up. Spoon the stuffing into the cavities and bake until the squash are tender and the stuffing is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to plates and serve.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 1 small butternut squash (2 1/4 pounds)
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup Italian pine nuts (3 1/2 ounces)
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• Pinch of saffron threads
• Finely grated orange zest
• 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350°. Peel and slice the butternut squash 1/2 inch thick; spread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and roast until tender but not browned, 45 minutes. Meanwhile, spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast until golden, 4 minutes.

Transfer the squash to a food processor and puree until smooth. Set aside 1 cup of the puree and reserve the rest for another use.

Heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pressure cooker. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 4 minutes. Add the pine nuts and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the wine and boil until reduced to 2 tablespoons, 5 minutes. Add the broth. Cover and cook at 15 PSI (see Note) for 7 minutes. Place the pressure cooker in the sink and run cold water over the lid to depressurize it rapidly; remove the lid once it can be released without force.

Return the pressure cooker to medium heat, uncovered, and bring the contents to a boil. Allow the liquid to reduce until the pine nuts are suspended in a thick sauce, about 4 minutes. Stir in the reserved squash puree and saffron and cook until heated through. Stir in a tablespoon of water if the puree is too thick. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the mixture into bowls, garnish with orange zest and the cheese shavings and serve.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
• 1 ½ tablespoons minced thyme leaves
• 1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons grated ginger
• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, more as needed
• ¾ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• Ground black pepper, to taste
• 4 (6-ounce) blackfish, flounder or hake fillets
• Fresh lemon juice, for serving
• Dill fronds or fresh parsley, for serving

Preparation

Heat the broiler. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in garlic, thyme, curry powder, ginger and 1/4 teaspoon salt; heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in lemon zest.

Season fish with salt and pepper and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour sauce over fish and broil until fish is flaky and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Top with a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh dill, and serve.

New York Times

Ingredients

For dough:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 1 stick unsalted butter, frozen
• Ice water

For filling:

• 1 pound butternut squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 pound kabocha squash—peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 1 red onion, cut through the core into 1/2-inch wedges
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
• Kosher salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup shredded Manchego, plus more for serving

Preparation

In a large bowl, whisk the flour with 3/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Working over the bowl, grate the frozen butter on the large holes of a box grater. Gently toss the grated butter in the flour. Stir in 1/3 cup of ice water until the dough is evenly moistened. Scrape out onto a work surface, gather up any crumbs and knead gently just until the dough comes together. Pat into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the butternut and kabocha squash and the onion with the olive oil and curry powder. Season generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until the squash is tender but not falling apart. Let cool.

Increase the oven temperature to 450°. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a 14-inch round. Carefully transfer to a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Spread the sour cream over the dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cheese on top. Arrange the squash and onion over the sour cream and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese on top. Fold the pastry edge up and over the vegetables to create a 1 1/2-inch border.

Bake the squash galette for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is browned; let cool slightly. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, cut into wedges and serve warm.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing and brushing
• 3 medium zucchini (1 1/2 pounds), sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
• 2 long, narrow eggplants (1 1/2 pounds), peeled and sliced lengthwise 1/3 inch thick
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 1 pound plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (3/4 cup)
• 1/4 cup chopped basil
• 1/3 cup panko or coarse dry bread crumbs

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 425°. Oil 2 large rimmed baking sheets. Put the zucchini slices on one sheet and the eggplant on the other. Brush the slices all over with oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the slices on each sheet in a slightly overlapping layer. Bake for 15 minutes, until tender.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the shallot and cook over moderate heat until softened, 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook over high heat until slightly softened and bubbling, 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.

Oil a large, shallow baking dish (about 10 by 15 inches). Lay half of the eggplant in the dish and spread one-fourth of the tomatoes on top. Scatter with half of the feta and basil. Layer half of the zucchini on top, followed by another one-fourth of the tomato and the remaining basil, eggplant and zucchini. Top with the remaining tomato and feta. Mix the panko with the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and sprinkle over the casserole. Bake in the upper third of the oven for 20 minutes, until bubbling and crisp. Let stand for 5 minutes, then serve hot or warm.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2 ounces ancho chiles (about 4) stemmed and seeded
• 1 tablespoon smoked sweet paprika
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 large garlic cloves, 1 clove mashed to a paste
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• One 3-pound lamb shoulder roast on the bone
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Freshly ground pepper
• Lettuce leaves and warm naan, for serving

Preparation

In a spice grinder, finely grind the caraway, coriander and cumin seeds. In a microwave-safe bowl, cover the ancho chiles with water and microwave at high power for 2 minutes. Let cool slightly, then transfer the softened chiles and 2 tablespoons of the soaking liquid to a blender. Add the ground spices, paprika, lemon juice, the 2 whole garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of salt. Puree the harissa until smooth.

Set the lamb in a medium roasting pan and rub 1/2 cup of the harissa all over the meat; let stand at room temperature for 2 hours or refrigerate overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325°. Add 1/2 cup of water to the roasting pan and cover the pan loosely with foil. Roast the lamb for 2 1/2 hours, adding water to the pan a few times to prevent scorching. Remove the foil and roast for about 2 1/2 hours longer, until the lamb is very brown and tender; occasionally spoon the pan juices on top. Let stand for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt with the cilantro, mashed garlic clove and the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Using forks or tongs, pull the lamb off the bone in large chunks. Using your fingers, pull the meat into smaller shreds and serve with the yogurt sauce, lettuce leaves, naan and the remaining harissa.

Food & Wine

Ingredients

• 2 or 3 large cloves garlic
• 2-inch piece fresh ginger root
• 3 scallions
• 1 pound sweet potato
• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• 6 ounces ground pork
• 1 tablespoon canola or grapeseed oil
• Pinch crushed red pepper flakes

Preparation

Mince enough of the garlic to yield 1 tablespoon. Peel and mince the ginger to yield 1 tablespoon. Separate the scallion whites and greens; chop each. Peel the sweet potato, and either grate it in a food processor (cut into chunks first), cut it into matchsticks or use a spiralizer.

Whisk together the wine or dry sherry, the soy sauce or tamari, the Worcestershire sauce and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the pork and stir with a fork to incorporate.

Heat a wok or large, well­-seasoned cast-iron skillet over high heat. Drizzle in the oil so that it coats the sides of the wok. Working quickly, add the garlic, ginger and scallion whites; stir-fry for 5 seconds, then add the pork mixture and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until the pork is cooked through.

Add the sweet potato; stir-fry for about 6 minutes and try to create some crisped edges on it, if possible. Some of the sweet potato pieces will still be somewhat firm. Remove from the heat.

Divide among individual bowls. Garnish each portion with the scallion greens. Serve hot.

Washington Post