Shredded Beef Tacos - Serves 4 - 6

Adapted from: KatherineMartinelli.com

Difficulty: 2

EQUIPMENT
Heavy pot or Dutch oven
Tongs

INGREDIENTS

• 2 lb chuck roast, beef brisket, or stew meat
• 3 cups warm water
• 1 chile chipotle, roughly chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Put the beef in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the water with the rest of the ingredients until dissolved. Pour over the beef. Bring to a boil, cover and lower the heat.
3. Simmer for 2-3 hours, until beef can be easily shredded with two forks. Remove beef from pot with a slotted spoon and shred with two forks.
4. Meanwhile, set the pot with the braising liquid over medium-high heat and simmer until reduced to about 1 cup. Pour over the shredded beef and mix.
5. Serve the shredded beef in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or whatever else you want.

Pasta with Creme Fraiche & Gremolata - Serves 4

Adapted from: PureWow

Difficulty: 2

EQUIPMENT
Large pot
Tongs

GREMOLATA INGREDIENTS (Gremolata is optional)

• 1 cup loosely packed flat-leaf parsley* leaves, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Zest of 1/2 lemon

PASTA & SAUCE INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lb dried fettuccine or papardelle
• 1/2 cup creme fraiche
• 2 Tbsp EVOO, plus more for garnish
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 2 oz grated Parmesan Cheese (about 1 cup), plus more for garnish
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground Pepper to taste
• Garnish: More flat-leaf parsley

*If you don't have parsley in the house, fresh basil, oregano, or thyme could work

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the gremolata by combining parsley, garlic, and lemon zest in a small bowl (you will have about 1/4 cup.  Mix with a small spoon.  Set aside.
2. Bring large pot of water to a boil.  Salt generously.  Add the pasta and cook until al dente, usually 8 to 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the creme fraiche with olive oil and lemon juice until combined. Add the parmesan, pepper flakes, and gremolata.  Mix until combined.
4. When the pasta is cooked, transfer it directly to the bowl with the sauce (tongs are best).  Toss the pasta until coated evenly.  If sauce is too thick, add pasta water 1 Tbsp at a time to thin it as needed.  Season with salt and pepper.
5. Transfer to a large serving bowl or divide among 4 plates.  Garnish with additional Parmesan, drizzle of olive oil, and parsley.  Serve immediately.

Creme Fraiche Dressing - Serves 4

Difficulty: 1

INGREDIENTS

• 3 Tbsp whole grain or Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup creme fraiche
• Juice from 1/2 lemon 

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, combine mustard, creme fraiche, and lemon juice (taste as you go).  Stir well to combine.
2. Best drizzled over grilled or roast asparagus 

Idea: Drape prosciutto over a platter, top with grilled asparagus, top with a fried egg, and drizzle the sauc over the whole thing.

Vietnamese Congee (Chao Ga) - Serves 8

Adapted from: theWorkTop and Chowhound




  Difficulty: 3 (time-consuming)

Approximately 2 to 3 hours, depending on how flavorful you want the stock

Equipment: Stock pot or other large pot

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 - 2 lb bone-in chicken parts, like whole thighs, drums, etc.
• 1 cup Jasmine (or white) rice 
• 4 cups OR 1 x 14oz box/can Chicken Broth (broth is optional)
• 6 cups Water (if no broth above, increase to 8 cups water)
• Ginger, peeled and chopped into at least three 1" knobs
• 2 tsp Kosher Salt if using low sodium broth, or to taste
• 1 stalk Lemongrass (optional, use leftover)
• Optional Garnishes: 6 Scallions, sliced into rounds; handful of fresh Cilantro, chopped; fresh lime; freshly cracked Black Pepper; dried fried Shallots

DIRECTIONS

1. Rinse and drain the rice; add to a heavy stock pot.  Add water, broth, ginger, and chicken.
2. Bring to a boil but immediately reduce heat to Medium Low.  Simmer, covered or uncovered (play with it) for about 40 minutes (no more than 1 hr)
3. Stir occasionally and skim off the scum and fat buildup with a large flat spoon (discard the scum)
4. Remove chicken from the pot and allow the pieces to cool. Shred the meat and discard the bones.
5. Remove the ginger from the pot.
6. Add the shredded chicken back into the congee and mix well. Add salt.
7. To serve, ladle into individual bowls.  Top with scallions and cilantro.  Add freshly ground pepper, lime juice, and fried shallots as desired.

Stuffed Figs with Prosciutto - Serves 4

From: GardenBetty.com

INGREDIENTS

• 12 large figs
• 2 oz creamy goat cheese 
• 4 oz prosciutto 
• 1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp honey

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 400.  
2. Wash and de-stem the figs, then make an X-cut from the top of each fig to about three-quarters of the way down (do NOT cut through the figs completely).  Slightly pull the X apart to prepare for stuffing.
3. Fill each fig with a spoonful or knife-swipe of goat cheese.
4. Wrap a strip of prosciutto around each fig.  Arrange the figs in a shallow baking dish.
5. In a small cup, whisk together olive oil and honey until well blended.  Dribble the sauce evenly over the stuffed wrapped figs.
6. Bake for 10 minutes.  The cheese should be oozy and the figs juicy.
7. Top with freshly cracked pepper and serve!