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Sara’s Weeknight Meals Season 3

Biscuit Sticky Buns

This is a great recipe based on cream biscuits. Normally, sticky buns are made with yeast dough, which scares off lots of folks. These are blessedly yeast-free. But you don’t have to tell your brunch guests. Let them assume that you got up at the crack of dawn to give…

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Çökertme Kebabı, Refika Style

Ingredients ½ pound beef tenderloin 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 to 5 sprigs oregano 1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds, crushed 1 teaspoon milled four peppercorn mix 1 dried hot pepper Salt ¼ cup olive oil 2 medium potatoes Sunflower seed oil for frying the potatoes 2 cups tomato sauce 1…

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Walnut Poppyseed Bread

According to Refika, “The best thing about having a bakery in my neighborhood is that on the way back from work you can stop by to buy bread dough. I strongly recommend this; in this way, only in ten minutes, you can make a pizza, lahmacun or pita and make…

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Marinated Bluefish

Ingredients 2 small bluefish, filleted coarse sea salt 1 tablespoon four peppercorn mix 2 tablespoons mustard seeds 3 garlic cloves zest and juice of 2 lemons 6 to 7 thyme sprigs olive oil for topping off the jar Directions Sprinkle salt on both sides of the fish, cover and chill…

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String Cheese and Mushroom Dip

Ingredients 10 sliced mushrooms (Refika used Fairy Ring Mushrooms, which I am not sure are easy to find in this country), your choice 2 big strips string cheese, separated into strings 5 garlic cloves salt and pepper 3 sprigs fresh thyme 3 tablespoons olive oil flat bread as an accompaniment…

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Tomato Walnut Salad

Ingredients 3 tomatoes, chopped 2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped ½ cup chopped walnuts ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley leaves 1 to 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses extra-virgin olive oil to taste salt and pepper to taste Directions In a salad bowl toss together the tomatoes, peppers, walnuts, parsley,…

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Simit Kebabs

Ingredients 1/3 cup bulgur 1 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon oregano ¼ cup chopped pistachio 1 white onion, grated 2 small garlic cloves, minced 4 ounces ground lamb 4 ounces ground veal Salt, pepper Pear Salsa (recipe below) as an accompaniment Directions If using wooden…

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Quince Liqueur

This flavored after dinner liqueur can be made with any other fruit such as apricots, figs, peaches and pears. Ingredients 3 quinces (about 2 pounds), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces 300 grams sugar (about 1 ½ cups) 4 to 5 whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick 2 cups unflavored…

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Pumpkin Fritters

Ingredients 1 medium onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 ½ lb pumpkin, grated the green part of two scallions, finely chopped ¼ cup finely chopped parsley ¼ cup finely chopped dill ½ cup crumbled feta cheese 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 Tbsp unbleached white flour Salt &…

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Waffles Eggs Benedict

Have you ever had some leftover salad greens in the fridge (not enough for a full salad) and wondered what to do with them? You can saute them and add them to the spinach for the green part of this eggs benedict. You could double up on the bacon and…

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Nacho Pie

Everyone loves nachos, but I wondered how to transform this all-American barroom staple made of tacos and melted cheese into a respectable (and less fattening) dinner entrée.  Here’s how:  Use the nachos as a pie crust and cut back on the cheese in favor of bell peppers, corn, onions, and…

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Linguini with White Bean, Roasted Red Pepper and Olive Sauce

White beans become very creamy when you mash them a bit so it is easy to turn them into instant sauce for pasta. I have “beefed” up the sauce with roasted red peppers and olives from the pantry but you could add any other handy pantry items such as marinated…

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My Banh Mi

My brother Peter is a New York State Civil Court judge when he’s on the clock, and a devoted chowhound in his off-hours. One day about five years ago I went to meet Pete for lunch and he took me to a little hole-in-the-wall a short walk from his chambers…

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Spicy Roast Pork

Whenever I’m looking for a lean cut of pork, I reach for the tenderloin. Not only is it very lean, it is, as named, ridiculously tender — just as long as you don’t overcook it. So I didn’t much mess with the meat in this recipe except to lather it…

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Peking Duck Wraps

One evening, when I was cooking sautéed duck breasts, a favorite at our house, I thought of Peking Duck and wondered if I couldn’t dream up a quick version . Peking duck is a great classic of Chinese cuisine, “a dish fit for an emperor,” according to writer Emily Hahn,…

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Bistro Duck Breasts

Recommended side dishes: coucous and butter braised baby carrots Makes 4 servings Ingredients 6 Peking duck breast halves Kosher salt 1 shallot, minced (about ¼ cup) 1 cup chicken broth ¼ cup dry red wine 2 teaspoons coarsely crushed black peppercorns 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 teaspoons water 2…

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Xim Xim de Galinha

Chicken, Shrimp, Peanut and Cashew Stew This stew is about simple ingredients but with an exotic result. The favorite Bahian combination of chicken and shrimp comes together in a creamy sauce. The nuts serve as the perfect binding agents for the coconut milk and chicken stock but they have to…

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Bacalhau Gomes Sá

Salt Cod with Onions, Eggs, Potatoes, and Olives Suggested Accompaniment: shredded collard greens, sauteed with garlic in olive oil Cod and onions have a love affair. Throw in potato, olives, and olive oil and you have a complete mixture of ingredients that absolutely love each other. Serves 8 to 10…

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Chicken Cassoulet

Suggested accompaniments: tossed green salad and crusty bread Yields 4 servings Hands-on time: 35 minutes Total preparation time: 45 minutes Ingredients2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 8 bone-in chicken thighs (about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 medium onion 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary…

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Broccoli and Goat Cheese Souffléed Omelet

This is a cross between an omelet and a soufflé and doesn’t take too much work as long as you have electric beaters. Make sure you only beat your egg whites to soft peaks, otherwise they won’t fold properly into the egg yolk base. Any leftovers you have would make…

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Sautéed Fish Fillets Meunière with Sauce Grenobloise

Recommended side dish: buttered green beans and roasted potatoes tossed with parsley Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: 15 minutes Total preparation time: 40 minutes IngredientsFour 6-ounce pieces, skinless, mild-flavored fish fillets, such as trout, tilapia or catfish 2 cups milk 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour Kosher salt and freshly ground…

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Angry Chicken

Serves 4 Side dish: sautéed baby bok choy Ingredients 1 teaspoon coriander seed 1 green cardamom pod ½ teaspoon whole black peppercorns 1 teaspoon fennel seed 3 cups Frank’s hot sauce 1 pound plain yogurt 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon 1 teaspoon turmeric…

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Crispy Oyster and Bacon Pad Thai

Serves 4 Ingredients 1 pound Pad Thai noodles 1 cup Pad Thai Sauce, recipe follows Vegetable oil for deep frying plus a little extra for stir frying Dozen shucked oysters Rice flour for dusting 1 Thai chile, thinly sliced 1 bunch scallions, green part only, cut into 2 inch lengths…

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Three Cheese Wonton Ravioli

Makes 4 servings Ingredients 3 cups Quick Tomato Sauce (recipe below) or your favorite store bought brand ½ cup squeezed, chopped, cooked fresh or frozen spinach ½ cup coarsely grated mozzarella ½ cup ricotta (whole milk or low fat) ½ cup freshly microplane grated Parmigiano-Reggiano plus extra for sprinkling ¼…

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