Buttermilk Pancakes

Yield:

• 4 generous servings

Time:

• 10 minutes

Difficulty:

• Easy

Ingredients

• 2  cups flour (all-purpose or white whole wheat)
• 3  tablespoons sugar
• 1 ½  teaspoons baking powder
• 1 ½  teaspoons baking soda
• 1 ¼  teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 ½  cups buttermilk or yogurt
• 2  large eggs
• 3  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted [or substitute oil]
•  Vegetable, canola or coconut oil for the pan
• ¼ t vanilla extract [optional]

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 200°F. 
2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt together in a bowl. Using the whisk, make a well in the center. 
3. Pour the buttermilk into the well and crack eggs into buttermilk. Pour the oil or melted butter into the mixture. Starting in the center, whisk everything together, moving towards the outside of the bowl, until all ingredients are incorporated. Do not overbeat (lumps are fine). The batter can be refrigerated for up to one hour.
4. Heat a large nonstick griddle or skillet, preferably cast-iron, over low heat for about 5 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Turn heat up to medium–low and using a measuring cup, ladle 1/3 cup batter into the skillet. If you are using a large skillet or a griddle, repeat once or twice, taking care not to crowd the cooking surface.
5. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, about 2 to 4 minutes. Cook until the other sides are lightly browned. 
6. Remove pancakes to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet, and keep in heated oven until all the batter is cooked and you are ready to serve.

Notes:

• Works best if you let the batter sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. 
• No problem beating eggs separately; cracking eggs into mixing bowl saves cleaning an extra dish.
• Mix the dry ingredients together ahead of time and keep in pantry for a quick breakfast.
• Leftover batter keeps nicely in fridge, though won't rise as much the next day.

Variations:

• Substitute white whole wheat flour for all-purpose [our favorite]

Source: New York Times

Lobiani [Georgian Red Bean Soup]

Yield:

• 3 quarts

Time:

• 2 hours

Difficulty:

• Moderate

Ingredients

• 1 pound red beans,  soaked and drained
• 7 cups stock or broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 5 cups water
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped (optional)
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 T powdered dried red chiles or 1 teaspoon cayenne 
• 2 T chmeli suneli (Georgian spice mix) 
• 2 T tomato paste 
• 2 T pomegranate molasses 
• ¼ cup dry red wine (optional)
    
•  1/2 cup walnuts, chopped to desired consistency
•  1/2 cup chopped cilantro
•  1/4 cup chopped parsley

Instructions

1.  Add beans  and bay leaves to stock, and cook until tender.
2.  While beans are cooking,  saute  savory vegetables and olive oil until soft. Add spices, tomato paste,  Pomegranate molasses,and red wine, and cook another 10 minutes.
3.  Puree half of cooked beans with sautéed vegetables and water. Add back into bean pot  and simmer another 15-20 minutes until flavors are blended.
4.  Stir in walnuts, coriander, and up to 2 minced cloves additional garlic, and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
5.  Garnish with herbs and additional walnuts to  taste.

Notes:

• Very nice served with mamaliga (Balkan polenta)  topped with cheese,  yogurt, and herbs.
• Like all bean soups, tastes better the second day.

Variations:

• 1 t cayenne is a little hot, and overshadows other spices. Use less to taste.
• For a smooth texture, grind walnuts before adding.

Source:  combined recipes from Please to the Table: The Russian Cookbook and Taste of Persia: A Cook's Travels Through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Kurdistan

Khmeli Suneli (Georgian Spice Blend)

Yield:

• About ½ cup (without the optional ingredients) 

Time:

Difficulty:

• Easy, except finding the ingredients

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons ground blue fenugreek (or if unavailable, 2 tablespoons powdered dried fenugreek leaves plus 1 tablespoon ground fenugreek)
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander 
• 1 teaspoon powdered dried red chiles
  
  Optional or to taste:
  
• 3 tablespoons powdered dried marigold or safflower petals (Georgian saffron)
• 2 teaspoons dried dill
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried mint 
• 1 teaspoon dried summer savory 
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
• ½ teaspoon ground celery seeds

Instructions

1. Combine the fenugreek, coriander, dried flowers, if using, chiles, and optional spices and herbs as you like in a bowl. 
2. Store in a widemouthed glass jar.

Source: Naomi Duguid, Taste of Persia: A Cook's Travels Through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Kurdistan

Sonnenblumenbrot [German Sunflower Seed Bread]

Yield:

• 1 large loaf or 2 small loaves

Time:

• 16-20 hours including overnight ferment

Difficulty:

• Moderate

Ingredients

• 130 g rye flour 
• 130 g water (50 ° C)
• 26 g rye sourdough 
• 2.6 g salt
• 100 g whole wheat flour
• 100 g of water (50 ° C)
• 26 g wheat sourdough starter
• 260 g sunflower seeds (roasted)
• 100 g of water
• 100 g wheat flour 1050
• 310 g rye flour 1370
• 10 g sunflower seed flour (roasted)
• 260 g of water (70 ° C)
• 10 g salt
• Sunflower seeds for rolling

Instructions

1. Mix the rye meal with half the amount of water and knead it vigorously in the kneading machine or by hand until the dough has sufficient binding.  Then add the remaining water, the salt and rye starter and mix to a homogeneous mass. Ripen for 12-16 hours at room temperature.
2. Mix the wheat sourdough ingredients and let it mature at room temperature for 10-14 hours.
3. Roast sunflower seeds at 180 ° C for a few minutes, allow to cool and mix with water into old dough, if using. Let it swell for 4-12 hours.
4. Knead all ingredients except old dough for 5 minutes at the lowest level and a further 5 minutes at the second stage. Then incorporate old dough (bring to room temperature first).
5. Let rest for 45 minutes at room temperature.
6. Work the dough round and long, roll into sunflower seeds and put it in a greased box shape with the bottom end down.
7. Ripen for 80-90 minutes at room temperature.
8. Bake at 350° with steam for approx. 70-80 minutes.

Notes:

• I tried mixed rye and wheat ferment together; better results to ferment separately.
• Resting dough in refrigerator for a day before forming and baking makes for a better flavor.
• 2 small loaves make a more pleasing size for this dense bread, and bake more quickly.
• Pan of hot water in the oven makes for the right amount of steam.
  

Source:  Modified from a recipe found on Plötzblog.de.

Naan

Yield:

• 6 servings

Time:

• Prep time 2 hours 30 minutes, cook time 10 minutes

Difficulty:

• Easy

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup warm water
• 1 tsp active yeast (if using fast acting, cut rise time in half)
• 1 tsp organic cane sugar
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 
• 1 tsp fine sea salt
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 3 Tbsp plain yogurt [either dairy or vegan]
• 2 Tbsp oil
• Fresh cilantro 
• Additional salt, oil, garlic, and herbs for garnishing as desired
  

Instructions

1. Combine warm water, yeast and sugar. Stir and set aside about 10 minutes.
2. In the meantime, add flour(s), salt, and baking powder to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
3. Add yogurt and oil to yeast mixture, and stir to combine. Add to dry ingredients and use a fork to mix - the dough will be sticky.
4. Turn onto a floured surface and add just enough flour to gently knead for 5 turns and form into a loose ball. Place back in mixing bowl, cover and let rise for  and rub with a bit more oil and turn to coat. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place for 2-4 hours. 
5. Remove dough from bowl and turn onto a floured surface. Knead for 30 seconds  and divide into 6 pieces.  Form each piece into a loose ball, cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
6. In the meantime, begin heating a cast-iron pan and prepare any garnishes for topping (i.e. melted vegan butter or coconut oil, sea salt, minced garlic, or cilantro).
7. Once the dough has rested, roll each piece into a circle or oval, dusting with flour as needed.  Working one piece at a time, brush with water and place wet-side down on the hot pan.
8. Cook for 1 minute or until the edges of the dough look dry and it’s beginning to bubble. Flip the dough with a spatula and cook until the underside is dark brown. 
9. Repeat until all naan is cooked. Then brush with melted butter, margarine, or coconut oil, and sprinkle with herbs and sea salt (optional). Serve immediately.
10. Cover leftovers and store at room temperature for about 2 days or in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

Notes:

• I mixed all ingredients together without bothering to foam the yeast; it was fine. 
• For even cooking on bottom side, press down lightly with spatula after flipping.

Variations:

• Whole-grain: instead of all-purpose, substitute 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup bread flour
• For garlic naan, press in minced garlic immediately after brushing with water.
• Optional flavorings to add when making dough: ¼ tsp ground cumin or curry powder, ½ tsp fenugreek leaves, 2-3 cloves of garlic, grated. 

Source: The Minimalist Baker.

Hot and Sour Soup (酸辣汤)

Yield:

• 4 servings

Time:

• 30 minutes

Difficulty:

• Moderate

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1/4 cup dried woodear mushrooms
• 1/4 cup dried lily flowers
   
• 1/2 lbs (230 g) pork loin or chicken breast, cut into thin strips [optional]
• 1/2 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
   
• 2 teaspoons minced ginger
• 2 green onions chopped, or more to taste
• 2 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar, or more to taste
• 1 teaspoon white pepper powder (or 1/2 teaspoon for a less spicy dish)
• 6 cups water, vegetable stock, or chicken stock
• 1/2 block (8 oz / 227 g) firm tofu, cubed
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Instructions

1. Gently rinse dried shiitake mushrooms, dried wood ear mushrooms, and lily flowers with tap water. Soak each of them with 1.5 to 2 cups warm water in three big bowls. Rehydrate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until tender. 
2. Slice shiitake mushrooms into strips. Snip off the tough ends of lily flowers and discard. Remove tough ends of wood ear mushrooms, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. Combine pork or chicken (if using), Shaoxing wine, salt and cornstarch in a bowl. Mix well by hand. Marinate for 10 - 15 minutes.
4. Add Chinkiang vinegar and white pepper into a small bowl. Mix well until the white pepper is completely dissolved.
5. Add water or stock, ginger, and green onion into a pot and heat over medium-high heat. 
6. Add rehydrated mushrooms and lily flowers, with their soaking water, to the pot. Add tofu and bring to a simmer. 
7. Add soy sauce and turn to medium-low heat.
8. Mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water in a bowl until cornstarch is fully dissolved. Slowly swirl the cornstarch slurry into the soup. Stir to thicken the soup.
9. Add the pork from step one into the soup, stirring several times to prevent the pork strips from sticking together. Add the salt. 
10. Slowly swirl in the beaten egg and stir well to create threads. .
11. Remove the pot from stove. Add the vinegar and pepper mixture and stir to mix well.
12. Garnish with cilantro and drizzle with sesame oil. Give it a final stir.
13. Serve hot.

Notes:

• To my taste, needs more vinegar.  Spiced chili oil is also a nice garnish.  
• Chinkiang vinegar is essential.  Do not try to substitute another vinegar.  Similarly, use white pepper, not Szechuan pepper.
• Add vinegar and pepper only after removing from heat – else the vinegar flavor diminishes and the pepper can become bitter..

Variations:

• Skip the meat if you want to create a vegetarian dish.
• Use chicken stock or vegetable stock instead of water if you are not using the dry ingredients (shiitake mushrooms, lily flowers, and wood ear mushrooms) in this recipe.
• Other nice additions include julienned bamboo shoots, napa cabbage cut into ribbons, and bok choy. 

Source: Omnivore's Cookbook.

Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

Yield:

• Serves 4, enough for 12-16 oz fettucine

Time:

• 30 minutes

Difficulty:

• Easy, if you have a good blender.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (355ml) unsweetened, unflavored almond or cashew milk or vegetable broth
• 1 pound (455g) cauliflower, cored and cut into medium florets (12 ounces/340g florets)
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces/55g) raw cashews
• 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
• Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon (optional)
• Kosher salt
• 1 to 2 large cloves garlic
• Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, bring nut milk or broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add cauliflower and cashews and stir to coat with the liquid. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and cook until the cauliflower is very tender when pierced with a knife, about 10 minutes. (If the liquid seems to be evaporating out from under the lid, reduce the heat to low; you want to cook the cauliflower while retaining as much of the liquid as possible.)
2. Transfer cauliflower, cashews, and liquid to a blender or food processor and let cool until warm.
3. Purée cauliflower and cashews until very smooth. (A high-powered blender will give you the best texture, but you can achieve a smooth purée if you let a food processor run for a solid minute or more, scraping down the sides occasionally.) Add nutritional yeast, lemon zest (if using), and a few large pinches of salt. Finely grate as much garlic as you want over the sauce and pulse just to combine.
4. Boil salted water and cook fettuccine until just al dente, then reserve about 1 cup (235ml) of the cooking water and drain.
5. Return the hot pasta to the pot. Add the vegan Alfredo sauce and about 1/4 cup (60ml) of cooking liquid and toss, adding more liquid as necessary to loosen the sauce to a creamy consistency. Put the pan over the heat for a few seconds to heat the pasta as necessary. Taste and season with salt. 
6. Transfer the fettuccine Alfredo to a large bowl, hit it with a few grinds of black pepper, and serve.

Notes:

• Lemon a nice addition.  Don't overcook the cauliflower or it will take on a cabbage smell.

Variations:

• Next time I'm going to try adding pumpkin.

Source: Serious Eats.

Thanksgiving shopping list

Produce

• 2 bunches of parsley 
• 2 bags onions
• 2 bags carrots 
• celery
• Soup greens
• 5 lbs russets potatoes 
• 2 lbs sweet potatoes
• 2.5 pounds brussels sprouts
• cranberries
• lemons
• limes
• clementines

Groceries

• maraschino cherries
• cider
• beer
• red horseradish
• sparkling pear cider
• Pumpkin pie

Traditional English Muffins

Yield:  9 muffins

Ingredients

• 3 c King Arthur unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¾ t instant yeast
• 1 ¼ t salt
• 1 t sugar
• 1½ T unsalted butter, melted
• ¾ c milk, warm
• ½ c water, warm

Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients in a large bowl, and stir vigorously for about one minute. Fold in from sides of bowl with plastic scraper. The dough will be too soft for kneading.
2. Cover and rise at room temperature for about one hour. Preserve the rise by cutting and pulling from underneath.
3. Turn the dough out onto a well floured surface. Divide into 9 pieces. 
4. Gently shape into rounds, and place in greased and cornmeal-dusted rings if baking. If cooking on griddle, use semolina or cream of wheat.
5. Dust tops with cornmeal or semolina, cover, and let rise for 35 to 45 minutes, until puffy.
6. Cook at 300 degrees on a non-stick or lightly greased griddle for 8-10 minutes per side. Alternately, bake in a 425 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
7. Allow to cool, and then split and toast before serving.

Notes:

• When dividing dough, triangles are best.  Fold corners in and make a kind of dumpling.
• For flatter tops, place an additional sheet of parchment and pan on top of muffins for first 10 minutes of the bake.

Source:  King Arthur Flour via Susan Karcz.

Panforte

Yield:

• 8" round, about 20 servings

Time:

• 1 hrs 20 mins. to 1 hrs 35 mins.

Difficulty:

• Moderate

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups skinned hazelnuts
• 1 1/4 cups whole blanched almonds
• 3 cups candied mixed peel (or a mixture of candied orange peel and candied lemon peel)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons butter or oil
• confectioners' sugar, for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 300°F. Line an 8" round cake pan (springform if you have it) with parchment or foil, and grease the parchment.
2. Toast the hazelnuts and almonds till light golden brown. It's best to do this in separate pans, as they toast at slightly different rates, and you may want to take one pan out of the oven before the other. Remove the nuts from the oven, set them aside to cool a bit, and then chop coarsely.
3. Put the nuts, candied peel, spices, salt, and flour in a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
4. Combine the sugar, honey, and butter in a saucepan. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil. Using an instant-read or candy thermometer, boil the syrup, stirring frequently, till it reaches a temperature of about 245°F. 
5. Immediately pour the boiling syrup over the fruit and nuts in the bowl. Stir to combine, and pour into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula or wet fingers.  You need to work fast, as the mixture will start to stiffen up. Place the cake pan on a baking sheet, to catch any potential spills.
6. Bake the cake for 40 to 45 minutes; it won't seem firm, but will set as it cools. Remove from oven, and after 45 minutes, loosen edges with a table knife or heat-proof spatula. Turn the warm panforte out of the pan onto a piece of parchment or foil. 
7. Sprinkle the top of the panforte heavily with confectioners' sugar, gently rubbing it in, if desired. Let cool completely before wrapping airtight.
8. Store at room temperature for up to 2 months. Serve
   in thin wedges.

Notes:

• To skin hazelnuts, roast and then rub in a kitchen towel,  Doesn't have to be perfect.
• Key step is to get syrup to exactly 245°F.  Don't overcook or you will have brittle candy, not chewy fudge,

Variations:

• Add whatever additional spices to taste (e.g., ¼ t coriander, mace instead of nutmeg)
• Substitute any dried fruit [melon is especially nice] but keep it at least 50% citrus peel
• Add 1-2 t unsweetened cocoa to taste.

Source: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/panforte-recipe

Vegan macaroons

Yield  24-36 macaroons

Time: 90 minutes

Difficulty:  Easy.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups dried unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 tbsp potato starch
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 4 large egg whites or 8T aquafaba
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 13 oz. dark chocolate, divided [½ cup if omitting decoration]

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to stir together the shredded coconut, potato starch, sugar and salt till well blended. Break up any chunks of potato starch with the fork.
2. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the egg whites and vanilla till frothy.
3. Pour the egg white mixture into the dried coconut mixture. Use the fork to stir the batter together, making sure the coconut is fully and evenly moistened by the egg whites. Let the mixture sit for 20-30 minutes while the coconut rehydrates.
4.  Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Stir the batter again with a fork. Line a baking sheet with parchment or with a Silpat. Scoop up the batter in tablespoonfuls and drop them onto the baking sheet, evenly spaced. They won’t spread, so you can bake them fairly close together.
5. The batter will be delicate… it won’t “hold” together the way a cookie dough does, but as they bake they’ll stick together and solidify. When you’ve dropped all of the batter onto your baking sheets, use wet fingers to gently shape the macaroons into rough domes or haystacks. Don’t worry, they’re not supposed to be perfect.
6. Bake the macaroons for 20-25 minutes till the bottom edges turn golden and the tips of the coconut shreds start to brown. Remove from the oven. Don’t over-bake or they will become dry.
7. Let the macaroons cool directly on the baking sheet before moving them. Trying to move them too soon will cause them to crumble.
8. When the macaroons have cooled completely, you can dip and decorate them. First, place them on a flat surface lined with parchment paper. Melt 9 oz dark chocolate, either in the microwave or in a double boiler. I melt mine in the microwave at 50% power for 1 minute, stir, then continue to melt in 15 second bursts at 50% power till the chocolate becomes smooth.
9. Grasp each macaroon at the top and dip the wider base into the melted chocolate, twisting it into the chocolate and coating it about 1/4 inch up the sides.
10. Pull macaroon up and let excess chocolate drip back into the bowl (you may need to "help" the excess off with your finger), then place the dipped macaroon onto the flat parchment. Repeat for remaining macaroons.
11. When all the macaroons have been dipped, melt the remaining 4 oz dark chocolate and scoop it into a plastic zipper bag (Ziploc). Gently squeeze all of the chocolate to one lower corner of thebag, then close the top of the bag, leaving a small gap so it's not completely sealed shut and air can escape. In the corner where you've pushed the melted chocolate, use scissors to snip a very small corner off of the bag. You'll be able to squeeze a small, thin stream of chocolate through this whole. Drizzle the tops of the macaroons with the chocolate, making a zig-zag motion to decorate
12. Once the macaroons have been decorated, allow them to dry. Depending on the weather or temperature in your home, this can take several hours up to overnight. To speed the process, decorate macaroons on a parchment-lined tray and place them in the refrigerator; the chocolate will firm up faster that way
13. .Once the macaroons are completely dry, store them in a sealed Tupperware container in single lyers divided by parchment or wax paper. A sealed container is very important, it will keep the macaroons moist and stop them from drying out. Store at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for 7 days or longer.
    

Source: http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2013/03/dark-chocolate-dipped-macaroons

1. 
   

Vegan Challah

 

Yield:  2 large loaves

Time: 1 ½ hours, not counting time to rise

Ingredients

• 2 cups warm water, plus additional as needed
• 2 packets (4 ½ t) instant yeast
• ½ c sugar
• ½ c oil
• 2 t kosher salt [1½ t if using table salt]
• 2 lbs bread flour 
• ⅛ cup soy milk
• poppy or sesame seeds 

Instructions

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water.  Combine with flour, salt, and oil in electric mixer, and mix until combined, adding additional tablespoons of water until dough gathers into a ball. Add two more tablespoons of water and continue to mix until well kneaded.
2. Cover mixing bowl with damp dishtowel and let rise until doubled in bulk. 
3. Punch down, divide into six parts and form into one large or two small braided loaves.  Set on baking sheets or parchment and let rise a second time. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Brush risen loaves with soy milk, and sprinkle with seeds.  Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown and baked through.

Notes:

• OK to refrigerate overnight after 1st rise, even do the rise in the refrigerator. This is now my standard Thursday night routine.
• You can also make with 50% bread flour and 50% all-purpose. (Or even 100% all-purpose if you have no bread flour.)  The dough is a little easier to handle, and the crumb is firmer.
• Adjust salt and sugar to your family's taste.
• One large loaf will take a little longer to bake than two small.
• 
  

Variations:

• Add golden raisins and form into round loaf or braided ring for Rosh Hashanah, or for a sweet bread at any time of year. 

Source: Adapted from a recipe found in various places on the Internet and attributed to a Rebbetzin Batsheva Esther Kanievsky [who used an egg wash instead of soy milk].

Eggplant with Red Potatoes

Yield:  4 to 6 servings

Time: under 45 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons peanut oil or melted ghee (page 41)
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 2 tablespoons ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1 large oval eggplant (about 1 pound), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 2 large red potatoes (or any kind), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 to 3 fresh green chile peppers, such as serrano, minced with seeds
• 1 teaspoon amchur (mango powder - see notes)
• ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, including soft stems
• ½ teaspoon garam masala

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large cast iron or nonstick wok or saucepan over medium-high heat and add the cumin seeds; they should sizzle upon contact with the hot oil. Quickly add the coriander, turmeric, and salt, then add the eggplant, potatoes, and green chile peppers. Cover the pan and cook over high heat, stirring, until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and the eggplant is very soft, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir every 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add the mango powder and cilantro during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle the garam masala on top, and serve.

Notes:

• Use any kind of eggplant - especially nice with the small egg-sized ones found in Indian groceries, which can simply be quartered.
• Mango powder (amchur) is available at Indian groceries or online at Penzeys – you can leave it out, but the sour-savory flavor gives this dish [and others] an extra kick.  Maybe one could use tamarind instead - I haven't tried. 
• Potatoes take longer to cook than eggplant, so unless you like very soft eggplant, add the potatoes and cook for about ten minutes before you add the eggplant.

Variations:

Source: Neelam Batra, 1000 Indian Recipes

Saag Paneer

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 8 ounces paneer cheese 
• 2 small bunches (about 1 pound) fresh spinach, trimmed of roots only, washed well and
• coarsely chopped
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 quarter-size slices peeled fresh ginger + 1 (1-inch) piece peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
• 4 large garlic cloves, 2 peeled + 1 minced
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon melted ghee
   
• 2 1-inch sticks cinnamon
• 5 green cardamom pods, crushed lightly
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (methi)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt, whisk until smooth
• 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or ghee
• 4 whole dried small red chili peppers, such as chile de arbol

Instructions

1. Cut paneer into 1-by-½ inch squares. Lightly fry if you like [see notes below].
2. Place spinach, onion, ginger slices, whole garlic, and water in a large nonstick saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. 
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and simmer until the spinach is wilted and the onion tender, about 10 minutes. 
4. Let cool, then pulse lightly in a food processor until just minced (do not make a smooth puree) and return to the pan.  [An immersion blender works nicely here.]
5. Heat the oil and ghee in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook the cinnamon, cardamom pods, and ginger matchsticks, stirring until the ginger is golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the minced garlic, coriander, garam masala, fenugreek leaves, and salt and stir a few seconds. Then add the yogurt, a little at a time, stirring constantly to prevent curdling. Immediately transfer to the spinach, cover, and simmer over medium heat, 10 to 15 minutes.
6.  Add the paneer cheese to the pan and stir gently to mix, trying not to break the pieces. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes to blend the flavors.Transfer to a serving dish.
7. Heat the butter in a small saucepan, add the dried chile peppers, and cook, stirring, until golden, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat, add the paprika, then immediately add to the spinach dish and swirl lightly to mix, with parts of the chile peppers visible as a garnish. Serve hot.

Notes:

• The proportion of spinach to paneer cheese varies according to the cook's taste.  Also, the authentic recipe calls for the paneer pieces to be deep-fried: if you wish, lightly fry the paneer pieces until they are just golden. This firms up the pieces, so you don't have to be as careful when stirring.
• If you like more of a ginger flavor, use all the ginger in the sauté instead of boiling some with the greens.

Variations:

• Substitute tofu and soy yogurt to make a vegan dish.

Source: Neelam Batra, 1,000 Indian Recipes.

Vegan Black Bean Burgers

Yield: 6 patties

Ingredients

• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1/3 c cashews
• ⅓ c cooked sweet potato
• 3 scallions
• ½ poblano pepper
• ½ c bulgur, soaked in boiling water and drained
• 1 t chipotle salsa
• 3 T aquafaba or other egg substitute
• Additional cornmeal as needed

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spread black beans in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Place in oven and roast until beans are mostly split open and outer skins are beginning to get crunchy, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
2. While beans roast, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add scallions and poblano and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes.  and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 
3. Place cashews in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until chopped into pieces no larger than 1/4-inch, about 12 short pulses. Add to bowl with egg replacer and chipotle sauce.
4. When beans are slightly cooled, transfer to food processor.  Add sweet potato and pulse until beans are roughly chopped (the largest pieces should be about 1/3 of a full bean in size). Transfer to bowl and season with salt and pepper, and cornmeal as needed. Fold together gently but thoroughly with hands. Patty mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days at this stage.
5. Form bean mixture into 6 to 8 patties as wide as your burger buns. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 4 patties and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until well browned and crisp on first side, about 5 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until second side is browned, about 5 minutes longer, adding cheese if desired. If cooking more than 4 burgers, cook in batches, keeping cooked burgers on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet in a 200°F oven while second batch cooks.
6. Spread top and bottom buns with chipotle mayonnaise or other condiments as desired. Add toppings to top or bottom bun as desired. Place patties on bottom buns, close burgers, and serve immediately.

Notes: Variations:

• Add ⅓ c crumbled tofu when processing beans.

Source: Modified from non-vegan recipe published in Serious Eats,

Chicken Lo Mein

Yield: Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless/skinless chicken thighs
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons rice wine (or dry sherry)
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 8 ounces cooked linguine
• 4 ounces mushrooms
• 2 carrots
• 1 zucchini
• ½ onion
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• oil for sauteeing

Instructions

1. Trim the excess fat off of the chicken, slice thinly and toss with 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of rice wine or dry sherry and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Set aside to marinade.
2. Prep all of your ingredients:Boil your linguine, drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside. Peel and julienne carrots, julienne zucchini, slice onion and thinly slice mushrooms. Set each aside in separate bowls. Make your 3-2-1 Sauce, adding 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil together in a bowl, mixing thoroughly. Set everything aside right near where you will cook for easy access.
3. Heat a wok over high heat until it is almost smoking. Add in a little vegetable oil, tilting the wok to evenly coat, and add in the chicken. Stir and toss for 1-3 minutes continuously until fully cooked, depending on how thick the pieces are. Remove and set aside for later.
4. Immediately add in a little more oil, then the carrots and onions. Stir fry together for 2 minutes.
5. Add in the mushrooms, and stir fry for 2 additional minutes.
6. Add in the zucchini and stir fry for 1 minute.
7. Add in the cooked noodles and chicken, stir and toss for 1 minute to heat through and create a little separation with the noodles.
8. Make a well in the middle by pushing everything out to the edges, or just push everything to one side and add in the 3-2-1 sauce. Stir and toss for 1 minute to evenly coat and incorporate the sauce with all of the ingredients.
9. Remove and serve!

Notes: Variations:

Source: http://www.thekitchenconfessional.com/

Classic Sourdough Waffles Or Pancakes

Yield: 1 dozen 8" waffles or about 2 dozen medium pancakes.

Ingredients

Overnight Sponge

• 2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 cup sourdough starter, unfed
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Waffle or Pancake Batter

• all of the overnight sponge
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil or melted butter
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

1. To make the overnight sponge, stir down your refrigerated starter, and remove 1 cup.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the 1 cup starter, flour, sugar, and buttermilk.
3. Cover and let rest at room temperature overnight.
4. In a small bowl or mixing cup, beat together the eggs, and oil or butter. Add to the overnight sponge.
5. Add the salt and baking soda, stirring to combine. The batter will bubble.
6. Pour batter onto your preheated, greased waffle iron, and bake according to the manufacturer's instructions.
7. Serve waffles immediately, to ensure crispness. Or hold in a warm oven till ready to serve.

Notes:   For pancakes, batter is very thick; add additional milk or water to thin.

Source: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/classic-sourdough-waffles-or-pancakes-recipe

Buckwheat Soba Noodles with with French Lentils, Carrots and Chard

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup French lentils
• 1 bay leaf 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Few spoonfuls virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
  
• 1 bunch red or green chard 
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
• 2 medium carrots, cut into 1/4-inch squares
• 1 celery stalk, cut into 1/4-inch squares 
• 1 or 2 leeks, white parts only, finely chopped
  
• 8 ounces soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles) 
• 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• Parmesan and ground pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Sort and rinse lentils; then cover them generously with water and bring them to a boil with the bay leaf and the salt. Cook at a slow boil until they are tender, 15 to 20 minutes, being careful not to overcook.  Drain, saving the liquid for stock, and toss with a little olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and set aside.
   
2. Cut the chard leaves away from the stems, wash them well, and slice the leaves into strips about 1-inch wide. Save the stems to cook by themselves or to use in stock.
   
3. Warm 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a sauté pan with garlic and cook for about 1 minute, taking care that the garlic doesn’t color.
   
4. Add the lentils, carrots, celery, and leeks, and stir to coat. Cook for 1 minute over medium heat with a sprinkling of salt; then pour in 3/4 cup water or stock and add the chard. Stew until the vegetables are tender, adding liquid as needed to maintain sauce.
   
5. Cook noodles in salted boiling water until just short of al dente;  then scoop them out and add them to the vegetables and cook for 1 minute.
   
6. Add parsley and ground pepper, toss, and serve with olive oil, Parmesan, and pepper to taste.

Notes:

• Buckwheat noodles are important; you can use regular linguini but it won't be the same. 

Variations:

• Crumble 5 oz goat cheese into sauced pasta before garnishing with Parmesan and pepper.

Source:  The Greens Cookbook by Deborah Madison

Pear Charoset

Yield: 4 cups charoset

Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup toasted pecans
• 1 cup dried figs
• 1 ½ just-ripe finely chopped pears, about 2 cups
• 1/2 medium apple (of a crisp, slightly tart variety), peeled and finely chopped, about ½ cup
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons Passover sweet wine
• The grated zest and juice from 1/2 lemon

Instructions

1. Finely chop the pecans and the figs with a hand chopper or knife in a wooden bowl.
2. Stir them in with the pears and apple. Add the cinnamon, honey, sweet wine, and the grated lemon zest and juice.  
3. Toss together and store in a glass or ceramic bowl. Refrigerate at least 1 hour to mesh flavors.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/27/chosen-food-celebration-jewish-food-and-culture

Classic Eggnog

Yield:  About 2 quarts (12 to 14 servings)

Ingredients

• 8 large eggs, separated
• Pinch salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup brandy
• 1 cup dark rum
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks, brown sugar and salt until thickened and pale brown in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk in cream and milk, followed by the brandy, rum and vanilla.
2. In a separate large, clean bowl, whip egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Gradually add granulated sugar and continue whipping until firm, glossy peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes longer.
3. Transfer cream mixture to a punch or serving bowl. Fold in egg whites with a rubber spatula and ladle portions into cups. Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg and serve.

Notes:   If you're concerned about bacteria, wash the eggs before using them because any bacteria would come from the shell.

Variations:

• Nice when made with spiced rum.
• Eggs are more easily beaten and incorporated into recipes when they are at room temperature. Either let them sit at room temperature for at least an hour or soak them in warm tap water for about 10 minutes.
• May be made without alcohol, but reduce cream to keep the correct thickness.

Source:  NPR.  http://www.npr.org/2013/12/23/256582141/dont-knock-the-nog-until-youve-tried-this-one