Sara’s Weeknight Meals Season 2
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…
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…
Grilled Mahimahi with Panella and Chickpeas
Makes 4 Servings Hand’s-On Time: 45 minutes Total Preparation Time: Overnight plus 3 hours Ingredients for the chickpeas 1 cup dried chickpeas (see Preparation Note) 2 ounces pancetta, unsliced 1 small carrot, roughly chopped 1 small yellow onion, quartered ½ stalk celery Extra-virgin olive oil Salt Freshly ground black pepper…
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…
Salt-Baked Pesce Per Due with Braised Greens
Serves 2 Hands-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour Ingredients One 2-pound fish (such as branzino, dorado, or black sea bass) 3 1/2 cups fine sea salt 3 large egg whites 4 sprigs flat-leaf parsley, stems and leaves separated, leaves chopped, for garnish 2 sprigs rosemary 1 clove…
Grilled Duck Breast on a Honey Roasted Carrot-Farro-Herb Salad with Cider Jus
Makes 4 servings Suggested Accompaniment Serve with a pinot noir Ingredients Two 12-ounce Muscovy Duck breasts Honey Roasted Carrot Farro Salad (recipe below) Cider Jus (recipe below) Directions First score the fat side of the breast by making shallow, crosswise cuts. (This helps the fat melt away into the pan.)…
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…
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…
Peppermint Bark
Hand’s-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour to an hour and a half Ingredients 12 ounces (about 2 cups) 65% cacao dark chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips 12 ounces (about 2 cups) white chocolate, chopped, or white chocolate chips 35 peppermint candies (about 1 cup crushed) NOTE: PLEASE…
Rosemary Walnuts
Makes 2 cups Hands-on Time: 10 minutes Total Preparation Time: 20 minutes Ingredients 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 2 cups walnuts Directions Melt 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter with 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crumbled, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2…
Homemade Marshmallows
Makes 96 marshmallows Hands-On Time: 45 minutes Total Preparation Time: 4 hours Ingredients About 1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting 3 (1/4-ounce) packages unflavored gelatin 1/2 cup cold water 2 cups granulated sugar – combined with seeds of 1 – 2 vanilla bean pods 1/2 cup light corn syrup 1/2…
Yellow Squash Soup with Zucchini Crisps
Makes about 10 cups, 4 – 6 servings Hands on time: 50 minutes Total preparation time: 60 minutes Suggested Accompaniment Tomato and Frisée Salad Ingredients 2 pounds yellow summer squash (about 6 medium) 1 large yellow bell pepper 4 medium carrots 1/2 pound Yukon gold potatoes (about 2 medium) 1…
Red Beans and Rice Soup with Ham
Makes about 10 cups, 6 servings Hands on time: 25 minutes Total preparation time: 40 minutes Suggested Accompaniment Tossed Green Salad Ingredients 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 6 ounces ham 1 large onion 4 medium celery stalks 1 large green bell pepper 3 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon Creole Seasoning (recipe follows)…
Turkey 101
HOW DO YOU DEFROST A TURKEY? It’s best to thaw your turkey in a refrigerator that’s 40 degrees or cooler. A good rule of thumb is to allow 24 hours of thawing time for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey. If you’ve run out of time, you can defrost…
Beef Kebab
Makes 4 servings Hand’s-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 45 minutes Suggested Accompaniments Gingered Spinach Yogurt, tomato. fresh limes and mint Ingredients 1 1/2 lb ground beef 2 cups minced onion 2 tablespoons minced gingerroot 3 cloves garlic minced 1/2 cup cilantro chiffonade 1 large egg 1/2 tablespoon garam…
Chicken Pilaf
Makes 6 servings Hands-On Time: 20 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour Suggested Accompaniments Fresh Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Fresh Lime Juice Ingredients 1 lb boneless chicken thighs Kosher salt 3 cups white basmati rice 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock 2 cups coconut milk 4 tablespoons canola oil…
Wild Striped Bass Curry
Makes 6 Servings Hands-On Time: 15 minutes Total Preparation Time: 45 minutes Suggested Accompaniments Basmati Rice Sautéed Zucchini Ingredients 6 cloves garlic, peeled 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes 2 tablespoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 6 (4-ounce) wild striped bass fillets, skin on…
Seared Scallops and Butter Lettuce Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 25 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 25 Minutes Ingredients 1 c all-purpose flour 3/4 pound medium sea scallops Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 c vegetable oil 1/3 c fresh grapefruit juice 1 small shallot 1 T unseasoned rice vinegar 1/8 t sugar 1…
Warm Steak House Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 35 Minutes Ingredients 1 pound russet Potatoes (2 medium) 5 T extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper One 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pound beef sirloin steak (about 1 1/2 inches thick) 1 large onion…
Roasted Vegetable and Fresh Ricotta Sandwiches
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 35 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 35 Minutes Suggested Accompaniments Roasted kale and parsnip strips Ingredients 1 small eggplant (about 10 oz) 1 large zucchini (about 12 oz) 1 ½ pounds plum tomatoes (about 6 medium) 3 T extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly…
Pulled Chicken Barbeque on Beer Bread with Pickled Cucumbers
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 20 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 20 Minutes Suggested Accompaniment Cole slaw Ingredients 1 recipe Beer Bread (recipe below) or use 4 large rolls or hamburger buns 1 recipe Basic Barbeque Sauce (recipe below) or 2 cups store-bought sauce 1 recipe Dill Pickle Cucumber Slices (recipe…
BLT and Egg Pie
Makes 6 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 65 Minutes Suggested Accompaniments sautéed summer squash or corn on the cob Basic Butter Pastry (recipe follows) or store-bought pastry for a single-crust pie Ingredients 1 pound small ripe tomatoes Kosher salt 8 slices bacon (see Cooks Notes) 1 medium…
Indian Scrambled Eggs with Pappadams
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 20 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 20 Minutes Suggested Accompaniments roasted asparagus or green beans Ingredients 1/4 c vegetable oil (preferably grapeseed) Four 8-inch pappadams (see source and alternative below) 1/2 small onion One 1-inch piece fresh ginger 3 T unsalted butter 1 large serrano chile…
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…