Sara’s Weeknight Meals Season 2

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… Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter four ½-cup ramekins (or one 2 cup baking dish) and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Coarsely chop the chocolate and melt it more »

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, preferably homemade 1 T unsalted butter ½ T all-purpose flour Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 4 large eggs 1T chopped fresh herbs, such as chives, parsley, more »

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 garlic chips and couscous Ingredients 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 pounds) See Note… 12 large fresh sage or basil leaves 2 to 3 oz thinly sliced more »

(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 oranges (about 1/3 cup) or a 50-50 mixture of lime and sweet orange juice 8 chicken thighs, skin removed 2 pounds small okra 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil The Cooking more »

(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. Ingredients… 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3-4 garlic cloves, mashed with mortar and pestle or finely chopped 1 medium yellow onion, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced 1/2 pound more »

Note: if you want more of a chocolate milk with bubbles add the higher amount of milk, if you want more of a chocolate seltzer, add more of the seltzer Makes 1 drink Ingredients 1/4 to 1/2 cup cold whole milk 2/3 to 1 cup soda stream seltzer 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup (the classic is U Bet but Hersheys is fine too) Directions… Pour cold milk into a tall soda glass. Add seltzer carefully and slowly (it bubbles up so more »

Makes 4 to 6 Servings Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 25 Minutes Ingredients One 12 ounce bottle beer 1 c plus 1/3 c Wondra or unbleached all-purpose flour 1 t Dijon Mustard Kosher Salt Asian Dipping Sauce (see recipe below) or soy sauce 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined Freshly ground black pepper Directions… Preheat the oven to 300° F. Whisk together 1 cup beer, 1 cup flour, the mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until more »

Makes 8 Sliders, 4 Servings Hands on Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 30 Minutes Suggested accompaniment cabbage and pepper slaw Ingredients… 1/8 small green cabbage 1/4 small red bell pepper 1/4 c fresh basil leaves 1 medium scallion One 1-inch piece fresh ginger 1 garlic clove 1/2 pound lean ground pork 2 t soy sauce 1/2 t kosher salt 1/8 t sesame oil 2 T vegetable oil Cilantro Mayo (see recipe below) Mini Pitas or small rolls (see Note) more »

Makes 6 to 8 servings Suggested accompaniments crudités, blue cheese dip, olives Ingredients 2 pounds chicken wings 1 T extra virgin olive oil 2 1/2 oz chorizo sausage, casing removed and very finely chopped 2 c Rice Krispies 1/4 c freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano 2 t sweet or hot paprika 1 t ground cumin 1/4 t kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper to taste 1/3 c mayonnaise 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 t sherry vinegar Directions:… Cut off the very tip more »

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 can diced tomatoes (preferably fire roasted) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper One 16- to 18- oz log cooked plain polenta Flour for dusting the polenta 2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano more »

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 1 garlic clove 2 1/2 c panko bread crumbs 6 to 8 T extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil 2 T fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 4 lemon wedges Directions… more »

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 rice vinegar 1 T firmly packed dark brown sugar 1 1/2 t toasted sesame oil 1 garlic clove 1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck, round, sirloin, or bison Kosher salt more »

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 add additional sugar if desired. Divide mixture into six tall glasses filled with ice, top with seltzer, stir well and garnish with mint. more »

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 medium oranges, quartered 1 cup carrot nubs 4 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch lengths 2 cups shelled edamame 1/2 cup Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur 1/4 cup Wan Ja more »

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 tablespoons unsalted butter Directions… 1. Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom. When the oil is hot, add the black beans, garlic more »