Vietnamese Grilled Meat (Thit Nuong) Marinade - Serves 4

Adapted from the Ravenous Couple

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup minced or thinly sliced lemongrass
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 shallots, minced.
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbs ground pepper
2 tbs fish sauce

3 tbs sesame oil

1 tbs thick or sweet soy sauce (use caramel sauce if unavailable)
1.5 lb pork butt or shoulder (NOT lean), OR beef sirloin or cheaper cut.

EQUIPMENT
8-10 Bamboo skewers

DIRECTIONS

Thinly slice the meat just under 1/4 inch or so (not too thin as you do not want it to dry out when grilled; do not use lean pork as it could dry.)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the lemongrass, shallots, garlic, sugar, fish sauce, pepper, dark soy sauce, and sesame oil.  Mix in the meat and coat well.  Marinate for at least 1.5 hours (up to overnight).

Soak the bamboo skewers for about 30 minutes.  When ready, thread the meat on the skewers.

Grill the meat until cooked (some charring is okay), about 7-9 minutes total.

Cocktail - Bee's Sneeze with Egg White - Serves 2

Adapted from: Jojotastic.com and Coohills Denver

Difficulty: 1

EQUIPMENT
Saucepan
Shaker

HONEY SIMPLE SYRUP INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup water 
• 4 to 8 Whole peppercorns
• Optional: A lavender sprigs or a few buds

1. Heat water, honey, and peppercorns (and lavendar if used) in a saucepan until the honey has basically thinned and dissolved, almost to a boil. 
2. Take off the heat and cool.
3. Strain out the peppercorns and sprigs.

COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS

• 4 oz gin (Aviation or Lee Spirits preferred)
• 2 oz honey simple syrup
• 2 oz lemon juice
• Optional: 1 oz fresh egg whites 
• Ice
• Freshly cracked pepper

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker EXCEPT ice and pepper. Shake hard for one minute.
2. Add ice to the shaker and shake for 30 more seconds.
3. Pour into a glass, and grate some pepper on top.

Matcha Green Tea Pound Cake

Adapted From: The Vintage Mixer

Ingredients (adj. for high altitude)

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 cup (less 1 tbs) C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tbsp matcha green tea powder
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees. Spray/grease loaf plan well.
2. Using a mixer, cream together the coconut oil and sugar.
3. Add almond milk and eggs, beat until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl mix the flour (sifted), match powder, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture and blend until smooth.
5. Pour batter into prepared load pan and bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown on the outside and a toothpick comes out clean.

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!

Limeade

INGREDIENTS

• Simple Syrup
• Zest 1 lime
• 1 tbsp ginger (freshly minced - Optional)
• 3/4 cup C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁
• 1 cup  H₂O

• Limeade Base
• 2 cups H₂O
• 1 cup Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

DIRECTIONS

1. Make Simple Syrup: mix zest, 1 cup water, sugar, and ginger in a pot over medium heat. Allow to comes to a quick boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Siphon off the ginger and zest.

2. Mix the lime juice, 2 cups water, and add simple syrup solution. Shake well and refrigerate.

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts (serves 4)

From: Mark Bittman for the NYTimes

INGREDIENTS

• 3 large or 6 medium beets
• ¾ cup walnuts
• 6 cups torn greens, one type or an assortment (arugula is great)
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
•  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces goat cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat the oven to 400.  Wash the beets, and while they are still wet, wrap them individually or together in foil.  Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil (optional).
2. Put them on a rimmed baking sheet and cook, undisturbed, until you can pierce them easily with a thin-bladed knife, 60 to 90 minutes.  Once the beets have cooled, peel them (I like to rub the skin off under running water), and cut them into chunks.
3. Put the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat and cook, shaking the pan frequently, until fragrant and beginning to darken, 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Rinse and dry the greens and put them in a large bowl; add the walnuts. 
5. Combine the oil, vinegar, shallot and Dijon in a jar with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Screw the lid on tightly and shake vigorously until the dressing becomes thick and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
6. Pour some of the dressing onto the greens and toss to coat; pile the greens on 4 plates. Put the beets in the bowl, toss with some of the dressing and arrange them on top of or around the greens. Crumble the goat cheese on top, and serve.

Roasted Carrot Soup with Carrot Top Pesto - Serving 4 - 6

Adapted From: America's Heartland


Difficulty: 2

INGREDIENTS

• Soup Ingredients:
• 5 large carrots, peal and the cut into 1" slices
• 1 sweet and tart apple (e.g., gala), cut into wedges
• 1 small onion (yellow), thick slices
• 2 celery stalks, cut into 1" slices
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced
• 2 kung pao peppers (or jalapeno/serrano)
• 2 tbs olive oil
• pinch chile powder
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• heavy cream (optional)

• Pesto Ingredients:
• 2 carrot top bunches, washed
• 1 cup fresh basil
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• 1 garlic clove, pealed
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup pecorino romano cheese
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS

• Prepare mise en place
• Soup Preparation:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Place carrots, apple, onion, celery, garlic, pepper, chile powder,and olive oil on a baking sheet. Season with the salt and pepper. Roast for 25 minutes or until veggies begin to brown.
• Place all ingredients plus the vegetable broth into food processor and puree. Place pureed contents into a stock pot to keep warm.
• Pesto Preparation:
• Place all ingredients into the food processor and blend until smooth. 
• Presentation:
• Place a dollop of pesto on top in each bowl of soup, Lightly drizzle