02-17-10
Ranch Dipper
Makes 1 1/2 cups
Ingredients:
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup sour cream
1 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped, then mashed into paste with salt
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon hot sauce
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons chopped dill
2 tablespoons chopped chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Stir together all ingredients in a small serving bowl. Adjust seasonings and serve.
Originally paired with Rachael Ray’s Fresh Oven Baked Chili (Pepper) Fries.
02-02-10
Sausage Pizza Dip
Makes 6 Servings
Ingredients:
Directions:
02-02-10
Buffalo Potato Wedges with Warm Blue-Cheese Dip
Makes 6 Servings
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 450°. In a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon each hot sauce and butter with the seasoned salt. Cut each potato into 8 wedges, add to the bowl and toss.
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Arrange the potatoes on top and roast, turning once, until golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss with the remaining 2 tablespoons each hot sauce and butter.
- In a small saucepan, stir together the blue cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise and pepper and heat until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Serve with the potatoes and celery sticks.
02-02-10
Crab Cocktail Dip
Makes enough for 1 5×9 Dish
Ingredients:
Directions:
Spread 1 pound of softened cream cheese in a 5-by-9-inch baking dish. Layer with 1 cup of cocktail sauce and 1 pound of lump crab meat. Sprinkle chopped chives on top and serve with crackers.
01-10-10
Gruyere Cheese Fondue with Roasted Potato Spears
Makes 6 Servings
Ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds baking potatoes, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
12 ounces gruyère cheese, shredded (3 cups)
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 clove garlic, halved
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry white wine
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 pinch ground nutmeg
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 450°. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes and oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and arrange in a single layer on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Roast, turning once, until browned.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together the cheese and cornstarch. Rub the cut sides of the garlic on the inside of a fondue pot or heavy 2-quart saucepan; discard the garlic. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the cheese mixture, then cook for 1 minute. Stir in the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with the roasted potatoes for dipping.
10-21-09
Guacamole
Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients:
2 avocados, halved
2 plum tomatoes (or 1 large regular tomato), coarsely chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
1 lime, halved
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt & pepper, to taste
Directions:
Scoop out the avocados and place in a medium sized bowl. Juice the lime halves over the avocado. Add the jalapeno, garlic and tomato. Mix with a fork to desired amount of chunkiness. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with tortilla chips.
08-30-09
Celery with Creamy White Beans
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
1/4 cup basil flavored olive oil, plus more as needed
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, chopped
1 (14.5-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and liquid reserved
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
6 to 8 celery stalks cut lengthwise into thin strips, about 1/4-inch by 6-inches long
Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until very soft, but not brown, about 10 minutes. Add the beans and 1/4 cup reserved liquid from the can and season well with salt and pepper. Raise heat to medium-high and continue cooking until beans begin to bread down, about 5 minutes. Cool slightly and transfer the mixture to a food processor and puree, drizzling in more reserved liquid, if needed, until it is the consistency of thick hummus. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Transfer to a wide, tall glass and drizzle with additional basil oil before serving.
To serve, stand the celery stalks upright in the dip. (Choose a container that’s small enough with high sides to allow the celery to stand upright).
08-11-09
Tex-Mex Peperonata
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 red onion, thinly sliced
2 jalapenos, seeded and thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup beer or chicken stock
Handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped, for garnish
Directions:
Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, the hot and sweet peppers, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Saute the onion mixture until crisp-tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, cook 2 minutes. Add the beer or stock and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a serving bowl or platter, garnish with cilantro and serve.
05-20-09
Baked Brie with Mushrooms and Thyme
6 to 8 Servings
Ingredients:
1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms*
2/3 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
6 ounces crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, halved or quartered if large
6 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, sliced
2 tablespoons minced shallot (about 1 large)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 13- to 14-ounce Brie (about 5 inches in diameter; preferably in wooden box)
1 baguette, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
Directions:
Rinse dried porcini to remove any grit. Place porcini and wine in small saucepan. Bring to simmer over low heat; remove from heat. Let soak until soft, about 20 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer porcini to work surface and coarsely chop. Line strainer with damp paper towel; strain wine into small bowl and reserve.
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add crimini and shiitakes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook until brown, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add shallot and stir until soft, about 1 minute. Add chopped porcini and strained wine. Boil until almost dry, about 1 minute. Stir in thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool.
Remove Brie from box, discarding lid and paper. Using sharp knife, cut top rind from Brie; discard. Return Brie to box. (Alternatively, stack two 12-inch rounds of foil and fold up around bottom and sides of Brie, crimping foil at edges, leaving top exposed.) Mound mushroom mixture atop Brie. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place Brie with mushrooms on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until cheese begins to melt and mushrooms are warmed through, about 15 minutes. Transfer Brie in box to plate. Serve hot with baguette slices.
11-18-08
Eggplant Hummus
Makes 2 cups.
Ingredients:
1 large eggplant (about 1 1/4 pounds)
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1/2 cup drained canned garbanzo beans
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons (generous) tahini (sesame seed paste)*
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut eggplant in half lengthwise, then score flesh in crisscross pattern at 1-inch intervals, 1/2 inch deep. Rub cut sides with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with salt. Place eggplant on rimmed baking sheet, cut side down; bake until tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool slightly, then scoop flesh into processor (discard skins). Add garbanzo beans, remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, tahini, and garlic; puree until mixture is almost smooth. Transfer to bowl; stir in parsley. Season hummus to taste with salt and pepper.