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Sara’s Weeknight Meals Season 2

Grilled Salmon, Arugula & Grilled Corn Salad, Sweet Pea & Avocado Crostini

Makes 4 servings Suggested Accompaniment Serve with a Chardonnay Ingredients Four 6-ounce boneless, skinless filets of salmon seasoned with extra virgin olive oil to coat and a liberal sprinkling of salt and pepper Sweet Pea Hummus (recipe below) Crostini (recipe below) 2 ears of fresh corn shucked, grilled and cut…

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Sparkling Watermelon Lemonade

Makes 6 drinks Ingredients 4 cups cubed fresh watermelon (seeds removed) 5 to 6 tablespoons superfine sugar or to taste 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice seltzer, well chilled Fresh mint sprigs for garnish Directions In a blender combine the watermelon, sugar and lemon juice. Puree until very smooth. Taste and…

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Warm Chocolate Cheesecake

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 15 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 35 to 40 Minutes Ingredients One 3.5 oz bar bittersweet chocolate 8 oz full-fat or 1/3 less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel) 1 t pure vanilla extract 1/4 c plus 2 T sugar 2 t unbleached all-purpose flour 1 large egg Directions…

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Eggs Baked in Red Wine

Makes 2 servings Hands-on time: 20 minutes Total Preparation time: 40 minutes Suggested Accompaniment steamed asparagus tossed with a little butter Ingredients 2 slices homemade-style white bread 2 garlic cloves, one halved and one minced 3 strips bacon 1 shallots minced ¾ c dry red wine ¾ c chicken stock,…

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Chicken Saltimbocca with Artichoke Sauce

Note: Halve the recipe if you want to make just enough for 2 people or make the whole recipe and freeze the extra chicken and sauce for a meal later in the month Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 35 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 45 Minutes Suggested Accompaniments spinach sautéed with…

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Cuban Okra and Chicken Stew with Green Plantain Dumplings

(Quimbombó Guisado con Pollo y Bolas de Plátano) Copyright @Maricel E. Presilla Makes 4 servings Hands-On Time: 40 minutes Suggested Accompaniment rice The Chicken Ingredients 8 large cloves of garlic, peeled 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin Pinch of ground allspice 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt Juice of 2 large bitter Seville…

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Zucchini in Cuban Style Cherry Tomato Sofrito

(Calabacin del Patio con Sofrito de Tomate Cereza y Picada de Almendras, Cacao y Perejil) Copyright @Maricel E. Presilla Makes 4 servings Hands-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Suggested Accompaniments Rice or shredded Napa cabbage seasoned with just a bit of olive oil and salt.…

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Polenta Lasagne

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 35 minutes Total Preparation Time: 50 Minutes Suggested Accompaniments arugula and cherry tomato salad and a nice glass of Pinot Noir Ingredients 1 medium onion 3 T extra virgin olive oil 1/2 pound sweet or hot Italian sausage 2 garlic cloves One 14 1/2 oz…

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Buttermilk “Fried” Pork Chops

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 Hour (Add 30 minutes if freezing before cutting.) Suggested Accompaniments sautéed apples and cabbage and butternut squash or sweet potato puree Ingredients Four 1/2 –inch-thick boneless pork chops (about 1 pound) 1 c buttermilk 1 t Tabasco Kosher Salt…

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Korean Burgers

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 15 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 25 Minutes Suggested Accompaniment steamed baby potatoes with parsley Ingredients Quick Kimchi (recipe below) or store bought kimchi 4 medium scallions One 3/4 inch piece fresh ginger 3 T soy sauce (low sodium if you prefer) 1 1/2 T unseasoned…

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Ginger-Orange Duck "Cassoulet"

Serves 4 Ingredients 8 duck legs (legs plus thighs) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil 2 slices thick-cut bacon 2 medium onions, sliced thick Six 1/2-inch-thick slices peeled ginger, cut lengthwise from a 2- to 4-inch piece 1 serrano chile, halved lengthwise 3…

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Black-Bean Scallops and Zucchini

Serves 4 Ingredients 2 tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil 2 tablespoons minced fermented black beans 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 pound medium (U-20) scallops, muscles removed, halved 2 cups 1/4-inch sliced zucchini 2…

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Lemongrass-Coconut Chicken Soup

Serves 4 Ingredients 1 tablespoon grapeseed or canola oil 4 lemongrass stalks, pale parts only, crushed with the flat side of a knife 1 head celery, stalks rinsed and roughly chopped 2 large carrots, peeled and shredded 2 medium onions, thinly sliced 2 Thai or serrano chiles, stemmed and minced…

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Mushroom Enchiladas

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 40 Minutes Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds portobello mushrooms (about 6 medium to large) 3 T fresh lime juice 2 t ground cumin Kosher salt 1/4 c plus 1 T vegetable oil 3 garlic cloves, 2 unpeeled 3/4 pound plum tomatoes…

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Mu Shu Vegetables with Pancakes

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 35 Minutes Ingredients 8 thin pancakes (see recipe below for Basic Crêpes) 4 medium scallions One 3-inch piece fresh ginger 3 garlic cloves 1/2 pound baby bok shoy (2 or 3) or napa cabbage (about 1/3 head) 1 medium red…

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Rustic Potato and Greens Pie

Makes 4 to 6 Servings Hands-On Time: 40 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes Accompaniment Tomato salad with sprouts Ingredients ½ recipe Basic Butter Pastry (see recipe below) or store-bought pastry for a single crust pie 3/4 pound small boiling potatoes, such as Yukon gold or Red Bliss…

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Bruschetta al Tonno

Makes 4 servings Ingredients 4 slices Italian bread 1 garlic clove, cut in half 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 6 oz Italian tuna in oil (drained) 2 T capers 1 small red onion, sliced thin 6 oz cannellini beans, drained the juice of two lemons salt and pepper to…

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Agnello Scottadito with Heirloom Tomato Salad

Makes 6 Servings Ingredients 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 12 individual lamb chops 2 sprigs rosemary cracked black pepper to taste 2 pounds ripe heirloom tomatoes salt and pepper to taste 3 T sherry vinegar 6 large fresh basil leaves 5 fresh mint leaves Directions Brush some oil on…

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Pasta with Pesto, String Beans and Potatoes

Makes 4 to 6 Servings Ingredients 6 oz or 2 bunches fresh basil leaves 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts or even almonds (toasted) 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 medium sized garlic cloves, minced Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 3…

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The Creamsicle

Makes four ice cream sodas 2 cups fresh orange juice 4 large scoops vanilla ice cream Seltzer, well chilled Bring the orange juice to a boil in a medium saucepan and simmer until it is reduced by half. Chill well. Drop a scoop of ice cream into the bottom of…

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Odd Lots Mac and Cheese

Makes 6 Large Servings Hands-On Time: About 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 55 Minutes Ingredients 1 qt whole milk 6 T (3/4 stick) unsalted butter 6 T unbleached all-purpose flour 8 oz assorted cheese (See Note) 1 T Worcestershire sauce 1 t dry mustard 1 t Tabasco sauce Kosher salt…

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Deviled Bones

Makes 6 Servings Hands-On Time: 20 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes to 3 Hours 45 Minutes Ingredients 5 pounds meaty beef short ribs with the bones Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 c Homemade Chicken Stock (see recipe on Roast Chicken page) or canned broth…

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Roast Chicken Stuffed with Zucchini and Cheese

Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 40 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes Ingredients 1 medium zucchini (about 1/2 pound) Kosher salt 1/2 medium onion 2 T extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove 1 t fresh thyme 1 1/2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano 2 slices firm white bread 1/4 c…

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Fettuccine with Rock Shrimp, Corn & Jalapeño

Makes 4 servings Hands-on Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 45 minutes Ingredients 1 pound dried fettuccine 3 tablespoons plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling 1 medium jalapeño, stemmed and seeded, sliced in rounds 1 pound rock shrimp, peeled and deveined Sea salt…

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