Ingredients

• 1/3 c mayonnaise
• 1/4 tsp five-spice powder
• 2 tbl Asian fish sauce
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• dash of sugar
• 4 mini french bread loaves or hoagie buns
• 8 strips cucumber–6"x1/4"
• 8 oz thin strips deli or leftover roast pork or Asian barbecue pork
• 1/2 c julienned carrots
• 8 strips seeded deveined jalapeno chili
• 12 sprigs cilantro (leaves and thin stems)

Preparation

Combine mayonnaise and five-spice powder in a small bowl. Combine fish sauce, soy sauce, 1 tsp water and sugar in another bowl.

Slice bread horizontally without cutting all the way through. Spread about 1 tbs mayonnaise mixture on the inside of each loaf. Top each side with 1 cucumber slice, fill with pork. Top with carrots, chile and cilantro; drizzle lightly with fish sauce mixture.

Ingredients

• 3 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 oz. pancetta, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled and minced
• 2 small celery ribs, minced
• 1/2 med. onion, minced
• 1 1/3 lb. coarsely ground beef skirt steak or ground chuck
• 3/4 c. chicken or beef stock
• 2/3 c. dry white wine
• 2 tbl. tomato paste
• 1 1/2 c whole milk

Preparation

Heat olive oil and pancetta in a large saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until pancetta releases its fat but is not browned, about 8 minutes. Increase the heat to medium and add carrot, celery and onion. Cook, stirring until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add ground beef and brown. Stir in stock, wine, and tomato paste. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, partially covered and skimming occasionally and add milk 2 tbl. at a time from time to time as the sauce simmers. Cook until the sauce is the consistency of a thick soup, about 2 hours. Remove from the heat and let cool. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 h. Skim the fat off the top before reheating. Serve over wide noodles.

Ingredients

• 3 thick slices applewood smoked bacon, cut crosswise into matchstick-size strips
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or crushed
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger root
• 5 cups chicken broth or stock
• 1/2 cup dry white wine or broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 cups arborio rice
• 2 cups shredded roasted duck, chicken or turkey, optional
• 1/2 cup finely grated aged cheese, such as manchego, smoked aged gouda, Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley or a combination

Preparation

1. Place bacon in a Dutch oven; cook until the fat is rendered and the strips are crisp, 7 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Add the onion and squash to the bacon fat; cook, stirring often, until tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and ginger; cook 1 minute.

2. Meanwhile, heat the broth, wine, salt and pepper in a saucepan to a simmer. Stir rice into squash mixture; cook, stirring, over medium heat to coat the grains of rice with the fat, 1 minute. Stir in 2 cups of the broth mixture; cook over medium-high heat until the broth comes to a simmer. Reduce heat to keep the broth at a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 8 minutes. Add another 1/2 cup of the broth. Simmer gently, stirring until it is absorbed, 5 minutes. Continue simmering and adding broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until the rice is just tender but not hard in the interior, 12-15 minutes.

3. Stir in the shredded duck or chicken, cheese and chives. Serve in wide bowls; sprinkle each serving with the bacon and more cheese, if desired.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Ingredients

• 2 large onions, thinly sliced
• 1 beef rump roast, about 3 pounds, or 1 chuck roast, about 4 pounds
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) chicken broth
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• Freshly ground pepper

Preparation

1. Place half of the onions in a slow cooker; top with roast. Top roast with remaining onions, broth, garlic, bay leaves, coffee, soy sauce, oregano and pepper to taste.

2. Cover; cook on low until beef is tender, 6-8 hours, turning roast once or twice. Slice beef; serve with broth and onions.

Chicago Tribune

Ingredients

• 4 apples, Granny Smith, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• Pinch salt
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar or maple syrup
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)
• Pie crust
• Whipped cream, for serving
• Caramel ice cream, for serving

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl combine the apples with the lemon juice, cornstarch, and salt and toss to combine. Add 1/2 cup sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon and stir well. Toss with the orange liqueur. Transfer to a heated, large skillet.

On a lightly floured surface, roll the pie crust to a thickness of 1/8-inch and transfer to the top of the fruit mixture. Trim the edges flush with the edges of the skillet. Using the tip of a sharp knife, cut several steam vents in the top of the pie crust. Bake the pandowdy uncovered for 30 minutes.

Remove the pandowdy from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Use the edge of a metal spatula to cut the crust into 1-inch squares, then press the crust down into the filling. Return the pandowdy to the oven and bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes longer. Let cool 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Serve the pandowdy warm, with a dollop of whipped cream and a scoop of caramel ice cream.

Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1 1/8 c sugar
• 1/2 c vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3 ripe medium-large bananas, mashed
• 1/2 + 1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 325º. Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan and dust with flour. Blend together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. Mix together the egg, sugar and vegetable oil until combined. Add the flour mixture and when blended add the buttermilk, vanilla and mashed bananas and mix until combined. Fold in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Top batter with remaining 1/3 cup chopped nuts. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire reack before removing from pan.

Starbucks

Ingredients

Crust:

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted, cooled
• 7 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Filling:

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 6 1/4 teaspoons instant coffee crystals
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 6 tablespoons cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez)
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

• 3/4 cup chilled whipping cream
• 1/4 cup cream of coconut (such as Coco Lopez)
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• Sweetened shredded coconut, toasted

Preparation

For crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all ingredients in processor. Process until moist clumps form, about 1 minute. Press dough onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Freeze crust until firm, about 10 minutes.

Place crust on baking sheet. Pierce all over with toothpick. Bake crust until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool.

For filling: Whisk sugar, coffee crystals and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan until no cornstarch lumps remain. Gradually whisk in cream, then cream of coconut (coffee crystals will not dissolve completely). Mix in yolks. Whisk over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils, about 8 minutes. Cool in pan, whisking occasionally. Whisk in vanilla. Spread filling in crust. Chill until cold, about 2 hours. (Can be made 1 day ahead; cover and keep chilled.)

For topping: Beat whipping cream, cream of coconut and powdered sugar in medium bowl until firm peaks form. Spoon into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe decoratively over filling.

Sprinkle with shredded coconut. Refrigerate until cold about 1 hour

Bon Appetit, October 1995

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp mace
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, lightly toasted
• 1/4 cup dried apricots, diced
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oatmeal

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350º. Cream together the sugars and butter. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture a bit at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix together the pecans, apricots and cranberries in the bowl that used to hold the flour. Alternate adding the oatmeal and the fruit/nut mix to the batter, mixing well after each addition. Form walnut-sized balls of dough and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten the cookies slightly with your hands. Bake for 6 minutes and the flip the cookie sheets from front to back and top to bottom if baking with two sheets at once. Bake and additional 6 minutes. Let cool on a tray. Keep the dough in the refrigerator between batches.

Penzeys

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup ground toasted almonds
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 egg, plus 4 eggs, separated
• Pinch salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 lemons, zested, plus 3 lemons, juiced

Preparation

Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan with butter and set aside.

Toss together the flour, almonds, and sugar. Cut the butter into the dry mixture until it is the consistency of fine bread crumbs. Add 1 egg and salt and mix well, kneading slightly. Form the pastry into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the 4 egg yolks with the sugar until very thick, then beat in the lemon zest and juice. Transfer the mixture to the top of a double boiler and set over barely simmering water. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture becomes thick, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Roll the dough, if you can, between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Place in a pan and prick the dough with a fork all over the bottom, line with waxed paper, and fill with dried beans or rice to keep the bottom from puffing. Place in the oven and bake 10 minutes, then remove the paper and beans, and cook an additional 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat the 4 egg whites until very stiff and fold them into the cooled lemon mixture.

Remove the pie casing from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F. Spread the lemon filling over the pie shell and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the filling is thoroughly set.

Mario Batali

Ingredients

• 3 tomatoes, halved
• 10 garlic cloves
• 2 slices crusty bread
• 1/2 cup whole almonds, with skin
• 1/2 cup hazelnuts or pine nuts
• 1 pimento or roasted red pepper
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pounds prawns, shelled, tails removed, heads on

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Arrange the tomatoes, garlic, bread, and nuts on a baking sheet; roast for 10 to 15 minutes.

Transfer to a food processor and pulse to roughly break up. Add the pimentos, vinegar, oil, and paprika. Pulse again until well combined, add salt. This sauce is best if allowed to rest so the flavors can meld (may be made a day in advance).

Heat oil to almost smoking in a large skillet or roasting pan. Toss the prawns in half the romesco sauce to coat, and pan sear the shrimp quickly in the oil just until barely opaque. Then roast for 10 to 12 minutes in a 450 degree F oven. Serve the remaining sauce on the side for dipping.

Tyler Florence