Ingredients

For the cookies:

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup sugar
• Zest of one orange
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 7 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup walnuts, ground coarsely
• Ground cinnamon for sprinkling

For the syrup:

• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3-4 whole cloves
• 1-2-inch piece lemon rind
• 1 tsp. lemon juice

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, using your fingers, combine the orange zest with the sugar – rubbing the grains as if you were playing with sand to release the orange oils into the sugar.

Using an electric mixer, beat the oil with the orange sugar until well mixed. In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the orange juice and brandy to mixer and mix well.

Slowly incorporate the flour cup by cup until the mixture forms a dough that is not too loose but not quite firm either. It will be dense and wet but not sticky. Once the flour is incorporated fully stop mixing.

To roll cookies, pinch a portion of dough off about the size of a walnut. Shape in your palms into a smooth oblong shape, almost like a small egg. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Shape and roll cookies until the sheet is filled.

Press the tines of a large fork in a crosshatch pattern in the center of each cookie. This will flatten them slightly in the center. The cookies should resemble lightly flattened ovals when they go in the oven.

Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes until lightly browned. (The cookies will darken when submerged in syrup.)

While the cookies are baking, prepare the syrup.

In a saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, water, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon rind. Bring the mixture to a boil then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon, cloves, and lemon rind and stir in lemon juice.

Place the ground walnuts in a shallow plate or bowl next to the stove top. When the cookies come out of the oven and while they are still very warm, carefully float the cookies in the syrup and allow the cookies to absorb syrup on both sides.

Using a fork or small spatula, remove the cookie from the syrup and place on a platter or plate. Press ground walnuts lightly into the tops of the cookies (syrup will help it adhere) and sprinkle lightly with ground cinnamon.

Do not refrigerate Melomakarona as they will harden. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Lynn Livanos Athan, About.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons hot smoked Spanish paprika (Pimentón de la Vera)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon (packed) minced fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 1-pound pork tenderloins, trimmed of fat and silver skin membrane

Preparation

Combine oil and paprika in heavy small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes to infuse oil, whisking occasionally. Cool to room temperature.

Pour oil mixture into blender. Add garlic, thyme leaves, rosemary, salt, and pepper; blend marinade until herbs are finely chopped.

Cut each pork tenderloin lengthwise into 4 strips. Place each strip between sheets of waxed paper and pound to 1/3-inch thickness. Arrange pork strips in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Pour marinade over and turn to coat pork evenly. Cover and chill at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Scrape off most of marinade from pork strips. Grill pork until just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side.

Arrange 2 pork strips on each of 4 plates. Spoon pineapple salsa atop pork.

Bon Appetit, September 2003

Ingredients

• 250g dried Puy lentils
• 1 410g (15 0z, small) tin chickpeas
• 150ml red wine
• 100g chorizo (optional)
• 6 shallots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red pepper
• Handful chopped fresh coriander
• Handful chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 litre vegetable stock
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Finely chop the shallots, chop and deseed the pepper and mince the garlic cloves. Slice the chorizo.

2. Bring the stock to a simmer and then add the lentils and simmer for twenty minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat half of the oil to a frying pan and fry the chorizo for five minutes. Once it has released some of its oil, add the shallots, garlic and pepper and fry for another 6-8 minutes until the pepper and shallots begin to soften.

4. Add the paprika and fry for one minute, then add the cooked drained lentils. Drain the chickpeas and add these, and then stir in the rest of the olive oil.

5. Add the wine and simmer until it has almost all evaporated. Once it is at this stage, season the dish well with salt and pepper and then stir in the freshly chopped herbs.

Food Recipes Online

Ingredients

• 1 small bunch of young, tender greens (kale, collards, or turnip greens)
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
• kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of hot red pepper flakes or 1/2 teaspoon of pimentón de La Vera
• a splash of wine vinegar

Preparation

First wash the greens in several changes of water. Remove the harder, tougher parts of the stem. (With really tender greens, much of the stem can be eaten: it has a nice crunch). Chop the greens very coarsely in ribbons.

In a heavy bottom pot or pan, fry the garlic in the olive oil until fragrant, but not browned. Remove the pan from the heat and let the oil cool some. Add a pinch of salt, the pepper flakes, or the pimentón de La Vera. Stir. Add the chopped greens, stir them until well coated with oil, and return the pot to the burner. It’s usually not necessary to add any liquid. The water clinging to the leaves is enough.

Cook the greens on medium, stirring until they wilt. Cover the pot and let them steam on low heat until tender. This usually takes 10 minutes but it may take more or less time, depending on the tenderness of the greens.

When they’re done, toss them with a splash of vinegar, if you like.

Simple Spanish Food

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup dried Great Northern or other white bean, picked over
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, crushed coarse

For dressing:

• 2 garlic cloves if desired

• 2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, or to taste

• 1 cup thinly sliced red onion

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander sprigs or parsley leaves

Preparation

In a large saucepan combine beans with water to cover by 2 inches and add salt, bay leaves, and coriander seeds. Simmer beans, uncovered, stirring occasionally and adding more hot water if necessary to keep beans covered, 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until beans are just tender but not mushy.

Make dressing while beans are cooking: Mince garlic fine and in a large bowl stir together well with lemon juice and oil.

In a colander drain beans, discarding bay leaves, and add to dressing. Toss salad and season with salt and pepper. Cool salad and stir in onion and herbs. Salad may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Serve salad at room temperature, thinning if necessary with 1 to 2 tablespoons water.

Gourmet, July 1995

Ingredients

• 3/4 c. clarified butter
• 3 lb. potatoes
• salt
• pepper

Preparation

Layer thinly sliced potatoes in a circle pattern, brushing with butter and seasoning with salt and pepper as you go. Drizzle the extra butter over the top when you’re done. Cover w/ foil and bake at 425 for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and press with a spatula. Bake uncovered for 30 more minutes. Drain off the extra butter, invert out of the pan, and serve.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 parts gin
• 3/4 part St. Germain
• 1/4 part simple syrup
• 3/4 part fresh lemon juice

Preparation

Shake all ingredients with ice, serve.

St. Germain

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup warm water (110°F to 115°F)
• 1 package dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 3 3/4 cups (about) all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg, beaten to blend (for glaze)
• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds, toasted

Preparation

Scald milk in heavy medium saucepan. Cool to 105°F.

Meanwhile, mix 1/4 cup warm water, yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in small bowl. Let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.

Pour milk into large bowl. Add 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons butter and salt. Stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Add yeast mixture and 2 eggs; whisk to blend. Mix in 1 1/2 cups flour. Gradually mix in enough remaining flour to form stiff dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.

Lightly oil large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat. Cover; chill overnight. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)

Remove dough from refrigerator and let stand 2 hours at room temperature.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly butter twenty-four 1/3-cup muffin cups. Punch dough down. Divide in half. Cut each half into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into ball. Dip ball into melted butter. Pull and stretch ball into 6- to 8-inch-long rope. Tie into knot. Place in muffin cup. Repeat with remaining dough and butter. Brush rolls with egg glaze. Sprinkle with cumin. Let rise 30 minutes at room temperature.

Bake until light brown, about 14 minutes. Remove from muffin cups and serve.

Bon Appetit, November 1997

Ingredients

• 3 parts gin
• 1/2 part St. Germain
• dash bitters

Preparation

Stir in a shaker, pour into an ice-filled cocktail glass. Garnish w/ a twist (pref. grapefruit).

St. Germain

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 parts gin
• 3/4 part St. Germain
• splash Pernod / Absinthe
• 1/2 part lime juice

Preparation

Shake over ice, strain, serve in cocktail glass.

St. Germain, adapted via The Mark