Authentic Mexican Pozole

from Food.com

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs pork shoulder
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 tablespoons california chili powder
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon oregano
4 cups canned white hominy, drained and rinsed
3 -5 cups pork broth, from cooking pork shoulder
1 cup canned diced green chilis (optional)
salt
2 whole fresh jalapenos, chopped (optional)
3 whole ancho chilies, seeded and stemmed (garnish) (optional)

Directions: 

1. This recipe requires a simple prep. 
2. Prepare the onion, peel the garlic, chop the onion, peel and chop the 2 garlic cloves, chop the green chilies and jalapenos if you are using them and get the hominy drained and rinsed. 
3. I boil my ancho chilies in a separate small pot for the garnish part (read below). 
4. Now you are ready to cook. 
5. Place the meat in a large saucepan and just cover with lightly salted water. 
6. Add 1/2 chopped onion, the 2 cloves peeled garlic, pepper, cumin, and oregano. 
7. Bring to a boil over medium heat, skim off any foam that rises, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. 
8. Remove meat and broth, reserving both. 
9. Saute the remaining chopped onion and garlic in oil until translucent. 
10. Add the remaining spices, stir for a minute. 
11. Cut the reserved pork into 1 inch cubes and add to the pan. 
12. Stir in the canned hominy, pork broth (if there is not enough pork broth, add chicken stock, I like to add it anyway for flavor, about 2-4 cups, eyeball the amount you like), green chilies and jalapenos (optional). 
13. Cook at a simmer, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes until the meat and hominy are tender. 
14. If necessary, cook for up to an additional 60 minutes until the chilies and onions are well blended into the broth. 
15. Degrease the stew, taste for salt, and serve in soup bowls. 
16. This is a delicious recipe and well worth the effort to make. 
17. Garnishes that are always served with are: lots of lime/lemon wedges, sliced radishes, chopped cilantro, shredded cabbage (not red), fresh/ packaged fried corn tortillas.
18. When my ancho chilies are soft from boiling (takes about 15 minutes), then I put them in the blender with 1 1/2cups of water, 1 clove of garlic and about 2 tablespoons diced onion, and about 1 tablespoons of salt and pepper. I blend this thin, then strain it to get the liquid separated from its "pulp". I throw the pulp into the soup for the flavor i like but you can discard if too spicy for you. The remaining liquid you put in a serving dish for guests to add in their own bowl, if desired. Beware! It's HOT! 

Sausage Ratatouille

The classic French ratatouille is made by simmering eggplant with other vegetables and herbs. It's often served as a side or appetizer with bread, but our addition of Italian sausage turns it into a hearty meal for cooler months.

Ingredients:
3 to 4 links (about 3/4 pound) Italian sausage
4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium-size eggplant, peeled and cut into a 3/4-inch dice
2 small zucchini, halved and sliced
1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 medium-size green bell pepper, halved, seeded, and sliced
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups canned diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon tomato paste
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Instructions:

1. Bring a medium-size pot of water to a boil. Puncture the sausage links in several places, then cook them at a low boil until they're no longer pink in the center, about 14 minutes. Transfer the links to a plate to cool, then slice them into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. 
2. Over medium-high heat, warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven. Add the eggplant and zucchini and sauté them, stirring often, until they are lightly browned but not soft, about 7 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a plate. 
3. In the same skillet over medium heat, warm the remaining olive oil. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté them for 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and sliced sausage and sauté, stirring often, for 3 minutes more. Stir in the tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini. 
4. Partially cover the skillet and gently simmer the ratatouille for 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste, along with salt and pepper to taste, and simmer 5 minutes more. Stir in the parsley and half of the basil. Serve hot, sprinkled with the remaining basil. Serves 6.

Nutritional Information: 
Per serving (1 1/3 cups): Calories 252 Total Fat 15 g (24% DV) Saturated Fat 3 g (17% DV) Cholesterol 17 mg (6% DV) Sodium 767 mg (32% DV) Total Carbohydrate 18 g (6% DV) Fiber 5 g (20% DV) Sugars 9 g Protein 12 g (24% DV) Vitamin C (100% DV)

Chicken and Biscuit Pie

Topped with mini biscuits instead of pastry crust and amply filled with a saucy mix of chicken and your family's favorite veggies, this potpie is sure to warm you up on a wintry evening. Just don't count on leftovers.

Ingredients
FILLING:
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 rib celery, finely chopped
1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
2 cups vegetables of your choice (left-overs or frozen ones that have been thawed)
Salt and pepper

BISCUIT TOPPING:
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
3/4 cup milk

Instructions

1. Melt the butter on the stovetop in a Dutch oven or other oven-safe sauté pan with high sides. Stir in the onion and celery, then cover the pan and cook them for 7 to 8 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the flour, stirring for 1 to 2 minutes to lightly brown it. 
2. Whisk the chicken stock into the pan. When it starts to thicken, whisk in the milk. Add the sage, thyme, chicken, and vegetables, continuing to stir until the mixture is heated through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. 
3. Remove the pan from the stovetop and heat the oven to 375 F. Meanwhile, make the biscuit topping by combining the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add the butter and use your fingertips to rub it into the dry ingredients. Add the milk and stir briskly, just until the dough pulls together. 
4. Flour your work surface and turn the dough onto it. Using floured hands, knead the dough two or three times, then flatten it to about 1/2 inch thick. Using a small round cutter, cut the dough into biscuits and place as many as will fit, barely touching, on top of the filling. (You can bake any extras separately, on a lightly greased pie plate, for about 15 minutes.) 
5. Bake the potpie until the biscuits are golden brown and the filling is bubbly, about 20 to 30 minutes. Then let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving it. 

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Nutritional Information: 
Per serving (3 biscuits and 1 cup of filling): Calories 381 Carbohydrates 38g (13% DV) Total Fat 15.5g (24% DV) Saturated Fat 9.3g (46% DV) Cholesterol 74.5mg (25% DV) Sodium 697mg (29% DV) Calcium 13% DV) Vitamin A (35% dv) Fiber 1.6 g (6% DV) Iron (13% DV) Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Cranberry Apple Crush

5 cups apple cider or apple juice 5 cups cranberry juice 1 1/2 cups guava juice or mango nectar 1/4 cup lime juice 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice Honey (optional) Kumquats (optional) Lime slices (optional) 1. In a 4-quart Dutch oven combine apple cider, cranberry juice, guava juice, lime juice, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. If desired, sweeten to taste with honey. 2. To serve, pour into mugs. If desired, garnish with lime slices and kumquats. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Lavender Madeleines

From Los Angeles Magazine

Chef Andrew LeStourgeon shares his recipe

Serves 2 - 4

Ingredients
225g (1 cup approx.) egg whites
280g (1 1/4 cup approx.) sugar
95g (6 2/3 tablespoons approx.) almond flour
50g (3 1/2 tablespoons approx.) filbert flour (also called hazelnut flour—find at specialty baking stores)
112g (1/2 cup approx.) all-purpose flour
Zest of one Lemon
38g (2 2/3 tablespoons approx.) honey
190g (3/4 cup approx.) browned butter, strained, cooled to room temperature
2g (1/2 teaspoon approx.) lavender flowers

*Other equipment: Madeleine pan or molds.

Preparation

1. Sift all three flours together
2. Add the lavender flowers and the lemon zest to the dry mixture, set aside.
3. In a stand mixer, begin to whip the egg whites on medium speed.
4. Gradually add the sugar until stiff peaks form. This process should take approximately 15 minutes, gradually adding the sugar into the whites over that time.
5. When stiff peaks are present, fold in the dry mixture, then the melted brown brown butter, and honey. Be careful not to over-deflate the batter while doing this.
6. Refrigerate over-night before using.
7. Preheat oven to 360 degrees.
8. Spray your madeleine molds with non-stick spray and dust with flour.
9. Fill the molds with the batter.
10. Bake at 360-degrees for approximately 10-12 mins until puffed and golden brown.
11. The madeleines should be crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside.
12. Et voila! Bon appetit.

Chicken Liver Mousse

From Los Angeles Magazine
Osteria La Buca chef Jason Neroni shares his recipe

Pairs well with a slices of vingeary pickled vegetables. Spread over toast for a delciously rich snack or hors d'oeuvre.

Serves 6, with leftovers

Ingredients
1 pint chicken livers
1 green apple, peeled & chopped
5 strips of smoked bacon
5 garlic cloves
4 medium shallots
1/8 cup sherry vinegar
3 sheets gelatin (pre-soaked)
1 tsp curing salt
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper

Method

1. Caramelize the bacon over medium heat until crispy, making sure to reserve the bacon fat for flavor.
2. Add the apple, garlic and shallots, and roast until golden brown, reserve.
3. Heat one or two sautee pans (you need to make sure you have enough surface area to ensure that you don't steam the livers).
4. When the sautee pan or pans are extremely hot, add a couple drops of canola oil and add your chicken livers, careful for flames. 
5. Sautee livers on one side untill golden brown or medium rare.
6. Place all ingredients in a blender and puree on high until smooth. Best to let the mousse sit overnight. If not, on a bed of ice of 3 hours.
7. Serve with toast points and pickled vegetables.

Smoked Salmon Pizzettes

Recipe from FoodNetwork.com, courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients
Flour, for work surface
1 (8-ounce) ball purchased pizza dough
Olive oil, for drizzling
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons capers, rinsed, drained, coarsely chopped and dried on paper towels
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces smoked salmon, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Directions
Special equipment: a 2-inch round cookie cutter

Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll the pizza dough into a 1/4-inch thick round. Using a 2-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 15 circles. Arrange the circles on a heavy baking sheet. Using the tines of a fork, prick the dough all over. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until golden brown, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix together the mascarpone cheese, sour cream and capers until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the mascarpone mixture into the center of each pastry round. Top with a piece of smoked salmon and press gently.

Arrange the pizzettes on a platter and sprinkle with chopped chives just before serving.

Sweet Corn Hash

4 ears of fresh sweet corn, shucked/cut off the cob
1/2 lb bacon, small diced
1 shallot, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red onion, small diced
1 cup, tightly packed spinach
kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper
1/2 Tbsp butter

Blanch the corn kernels in simmering salted water for 10 minutes. Drain.

In a saute pan over medium heat cook the bacon in the butter until some the fat renders. Add the shallot, garlic and onion and saute for 4 minutes. Add the corn and spinach and toss until the spinach is wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with crab ravioli, pork chops, chicken, fish, anything you like.

Scarpetta's Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil

from Serious Eats

from Serious Eats

Ingredients
3 ounces spaghetti, high-quality dried or fresh
Salt
6 ounces tomato sauce (recipe follows)
4 large leaves of basil
1/2 tablespoon butter, unsalted
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
8 ripe plum tomatoes
1/4 of a can San Marzano tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of red chili flakes
Pinch of kosher salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 cloves garlic, whole
2 stems of basil, leaves on
Pinch of red chili flakes

Note: Vary the ratio of canned to fresh tomatoes according to the season. If fresh, flavorful tomatoes are available, use all fresh; if tomatoes lack some flavor, supplement with canned.

Tomato Sauce
yields 2 cups

1. Place a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Prepare an ice bath by placing ice in a bowl and filling with cold water. Core tomatoes with a paring knife, and discard cores. Score the bottom of each tomato with an "X." When water has come to a boil, place tomatoes in water and leave for 15 seconds, until skin begins to split away. Transfer to ice bath. When cool, peel with paring knife.
2. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Remove seeds with your thumb, and set seeded tomatoes aside. Reserve seeds and excess juices. If using canned tomatoes, seed in the same way.
3. In a new pot, place 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, carefully transfer tomatoes to the pot. Add a pinch of salt and chili flakes.
4. Allow the tomatoes to cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften, then smash them with a potato masher. If the consistency is particularly thick, strain excess tomato juices for seeds and add to pot. Allow tomatoes to cook 30 to 45 minutes over medium heat, smashing and stirring occasionally.
5. While the tomatoes are cooking, prepare the basil-garlic oil. Take a small saucepan and place the remaining 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil in the pan. Add garlic cloves, basil, and chili flakes. Slowly heat to allow the flavors to transfer to the oil. When the garlic is lightly browned, remove from the heat. Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Strain the oil and combine with the tomato mixture.
6. Remove the sauce from the heat and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, as needed.

Pasta

1. Place a large pot of water on the stove. Heavily season with salt, until it tastes as salty as a broth would. Bring to a boil.
2. Roll basil leaves into a cylinder and thinly cut lengthwise into a chiffonade. Set aside.
3. Cook the spaghetti in the water and remove when it is just shy of al dente—depending on the pasta, 3 minutes for fresh, 10 minutes for dried.
4. While the pasta is cooking, place the sauce into a sauté pan and heat slowly. Allow the sauce to reduce slightly. Add the pasta to the sauté pan along with a bit of pasta water, to add starch and seasoning.
5. Add the pasta to the sauce, and allow to finish cooking, over medium high heat. The sauce should coat the pasta and look cohesive. When you shake the pan, the sauce and pasta should move together.
6. Remove from the heat and add the basil, cheese, butter, and extra virgin olive oil. Toss until well incorporated.
7. Adjust the seasoning and serve immediately.

Roasted Beets With Fresh Mint and Chèvre

From SummerTomato

Ingredients:

1 bunch of beets (3 large), any garden variety
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
1/4 oz. chèvre, crumbled
Olive oil
Sea salt or kosher salt

Instructions:


Preheat oven to 375.

If the leaves are still on your beets, twist them off leaving enough stem to use as a handle for peeling. If your beet greens are still fresh and springy I recommend cleaning them and cooking them up with some onions and garlic (cook them like spinach). Beet greens are so full of potassium that they are salty to the taste, so be careful with your seasonings because they are easy to over-salt. Both beets and beet greens are extremely good for people with high blood pressure.

Peel your beets using a vegetable peeler and chop evenly into bite-sized cubes. Discard stems. Cubes should be approximately 3/4 to 1 inch on each side. Keep in mind that the larger your pieces the longer they will take to cook.

Add 1-2 tbsp olive oil to beets and toss to coat. Sprinkle beets with salt and place in a single layer in a large Pyrex baking pan. Place in oven on middle rack and roast until beets are tender and have a glazed-like appearance, stirring every 8-10 minutes. Roasting takes approximately 35 minutes.

When beets are finished roasting, transfer them to a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator. Chill for at least 30 min, but 45 min to 1 hr is preferable.

5 minutes before the beets are done chilling, stack mint leaves on top of each other and chiffonade them by rolling lengthwise like a cigarette and slicing into thin ribbons. I like to cut the ribbons in half once by making a single cut through the middle of the pile along the vein of the leaves. Discard the stems.

Using a fork, crumble a small amount of chèvre into a small bowl or plate and set aside.

Sprinkle mint onto the beets and stir, leaving a few ribbons for garnish. Adjust salt to taste. Transfer beets and mint to a serving bowl and sprinkle with chèvre and remaining mint. Serve immediately.

Risotto With Edamame, Lemon, and Tarragon

from RealSimple.com

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 40m | Total Time: 40m

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cups Arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
4 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups shelled edamame, thawed
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped
1 cup grated Parmesan
kosher salt and pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes.
2. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
3. Add the wine and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid is absorbed.
4. Stir in the broth, ¾ cup at a time (waiting until each addition of broth is absorbed before adding the next), and cook, stirring occasionally. It should take about 25 minutes for all the broth to be absorbed.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the edamame, lemon zest, tarragon, ¾ cup of the Parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
6. Spoon into individual bowls and top with the remaining Parmesan.

Slow-Cooker Chicken With Bacon, Mushrooms, and Onions

from RealSimple.com

Serves 6| Hands-On Time: 35m | Total Time: 7hr 00m

Ingredients
1/2 pound sliced bacon, diced
1 4- to 6-pound chicken, cut up
1/2 cup dry white wine (or 1/4 cup dry vermouth plus 1/4 cup water)
1/2 pound small white mushrooms
1 cup frozen small white onions, thawed
6 garlic cloves, chopped
3 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary leaves)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions

1. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat until crisp. With a slotted spoon, transfer it to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Pour off all but a light coating of fat from the skillet. Add the chicken and brown over medium-high heat; transfer to the cooker.
2. Pour the wine into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits; add the skillet contents to the cooker, along with the mushrooms, onions, garlic, rosemary, and salt. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours.
3. Transfer the chicken, bacon, and vegetables to a platter; keep warm. Pour the sauce into a small saucepan. Combine the water and cornstarch; stir it into the sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Pour over the chicken.

Cornmeal Blini Bites

from Foodnetwork.com

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 3 dozen blini

Ingredients
1 8.5-ounce box corn muffin mix
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten
Olive oil, for shallow frying (about cup)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
18 seedless green grapes, halved
Honey, for drizzling

Directions
Whisk the muffin mix, milk and egg together until smooth.

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 inch of oil to the pan and heat until shimmering. Working in batches, drop teaspoons of batter into the oil to make small pancakes, about 1 1/2 inches wide. Cook until bubbles appear on the tops and the bottoms are golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and finish cooking, about 1 more minute.

Top each blini with ricotta and a grape half. Drizzle with honey and serve warm.

Pasta with Eggplant Sauce

from FitnessMagazine.com

Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients
1 medium eggplant
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 14-1/2-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 6-ounce can Italian-style tomato paste
1 4-ounce can sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup water
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Black pepper
Cooked penne pasta
Shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Peel eggplant; cut into 1-inch cubes.
2. In a 3-1/2- to 5-quart slow cooker, combine eggplant cubes, chopped onion, canned tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, sliced mushrooms, red wine, water, chopped garlic and oregano.
3. Cover; cook on low-heat setting 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
4. Stir in kalamata olives and parsley. Season to taste with pepper. Pour sauce over pasta; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

Nutrition facts per serving: 346 calories, 13g protein, 65g carbohydrate, 4g fat (1g saturated), 9g fiber

Cajun Shrimp and Rice

from FitnessMagazine.com

Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 14-ounce can chicken broth
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 6- to 6-1/4-ounce package long-grain and wild-rice mix, such as Uncle Ben's
1/4 cup water
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 pound cooked, shelled and deveined shrimp
Hot-pepper sauce (optional)

Directions

1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine tomatoes with their juices, chicken broth, onions, bell pepper, rice mix with seasoning packet, water, garlic, and Cajun seasoning.
2. Cover; cook on low-heat setting 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
3. Stir shrimp into rice mixture. Cover; cook for 15 minutes longer at high-heat setting. Sprinkle with hot-pepper sauce if desired.

Nutrition facts per serving: 223 calories, 21g protein, 32g carbohydrate, 2g fat (0g saturated), 3g fiber

Louisiana Gumbo

from Family.com

Ingredients
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound Italian sausage, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup onions, small dice
1 cup celery, small dice
1 cup green bell peppers, diced
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons jalapeños or Serrano peppers, minced
1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup white wine
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen okra, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups cooked white rice

Directions

1. In a skillet placed on stovetop set to medium heat, add oil. Once the oil is hot, brown and crumble the sausage until no pink remains, about 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain the grease, and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the skillet.
2. Add the flour and continuously stir with a whisk. Cook until flour has become a dark brown color but not burnt.
3. Add the onions, celery, peppers, paprika, chili peppers, and chicken breast. Stir to combine ingredients and sauté additional 7-8 minutes until vegetables soften.
4. Combine all of the remaining ingredients to the Crock-Pot® slow cooker except the shrimp. Cover and cook on Low for 7-8 hours or on High for 4-6 hours, adding in the shrimp 20 minutes before serving.
5. Serve over cooked rice. Makes 6 servings.

Serves: 6-8
Size: 4 1/2 - 6quarts

Spicy Chipotle Meatballs With Rice

By Abigail Chipley and Charlyne Mattox, April 2011

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 25m | Total Time: 40m

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes
2 to 3 teaspoons chopped canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for serving
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon ground cumin
kosher salt and black pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and half the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the tomatoes (with their juices) and chipotles; using a potato masher, break up the tomatoes. Simmer, partially covered, until the sauce has thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. If the sauce becomes too thick, add up to ½ cup water.
2. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to the package directions.
3. While the rice is cooking, in a medium bowl, combine the beef, cilantro, bread crumbs, egg, cumin, the remaining half of the garlic, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Shape the mixture into 16 meatballs (about 2 heaping tablespoons each).
4. Heat broiler. Place the meatballs on a foil-lined broilerproof baking sheet and broil, turning once, until cooked through, 8 to 12 minutes. Add the meatballs to the sauce. Serve over the rice and sprinkle with additional cilantro.

Slow Cooker Cuban Braised Beef and Peppers

By Sara Quessenberry, December 2009

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 8hr 30m

Ingredients
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
2 red bell peppers, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 onion, cut into 8 wedges
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
kosher salt and black pepper
1 1/2 pounds flank steak, cut crosswise into thirds
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 avocado, sliced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1. In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, oregano, cumin, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Nestle the steak among the vegetables. Cook, covered, until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily, on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.
2. Twenty-five minutes before serving, cook the rice according to the package directions.
3. Using two forks, shred the beef and mix it into the cooking liquid. Serve with the rice and top with the avocado and cilantro.

Shrimp, Leek, and Spinach Pasta

By Abigail Chipley and Charlyne Mattox, April 2011

Serves 4| Hands-On Time: 10m | Total Time: 20m

Ingredients
12 ounces gemelli, fusilli, or some other short pasta
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks (white and light green parts only), cut into half-moons
kosher salt and black pepper
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
3/4 cup heavy cream
10 ounces baby spinach (about 12 cups)

Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain and return it to the pot.
2. Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks have softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and lemon zest and cook, tossing frequently, until the shrimp is opaque throughout, 4 to 5 minutes more.
3. Add the cream and ½ teaspoon salt to the pasta in the pot and cook over medium heat, stirring, until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the shrimp mixture and the spinach and toss to combine.

Sticky Pecan Bites

from Leite's Culinaria

Think bite-sized sticky buns without the time-consuming yeast dough. Rich, tender, cakey, with a bit of caramely brown sugar goop. These little cheaters are made with a quick stirred-together cream biscuit concoction. Too simple for words. –Alice Medrich

Chewier, Gooier, Crispier, Crunchier
Everyone, it seems, expects something a little different from a sticky bun. So while these buttery little bites are really quite nice, just to be clear, they are not the puffy, yeasty rolls of your childhood that, incidentally, took hours to make, roll, rise, and bake. These are more like scones in a sense, with their denser, chewier substantialness, their shy sweetness, their dough that comes together in mere minutes. So if you’re particularly fond of caramely loveliness, consider doubling the filling. Like your sticky buns exceptionally moist? Err on the low end of the baking time. Partial to pecans? Chop some and add them to the filling. And so forth and so on. You get the idea.

Equipment
1 miniature muffin pan with 24 cups or 2 miniature muffin pans with 12 cups each

Ingredients | metric conversion
24 pecan halves
1 cup (4.5 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus additional for sprinkling
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup (3.5 ounces) packed brown or muscovado sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft, plus more for the muffin cups

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Lightly butter the muffin cups unless they are nonstick.
2. Place a pecan half in each muffin cup, top side down. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and mix together thoroughly with a whisk or fork. Make a well in the center. Pour the cream into the well. Use a rubber spatula to fold and stir the flour mixture and cream together just until the dry ingredients are completely moistened and a soft dough is formed. The dough should not look perfectly smooth. Let the dough rest for 2 to 3 minutes to firm.
3. Meanwhile, mix the sugar with the cinnamon.
4. On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to a rectangle about 12 by 7 inches and 1/4 inch thick. Use a small offset spatula or your fingertips to spread the dough with the soft butter, then sprinkle with a pinch of salt and the brown sugar, leaving a 1/8 to 1/4 inch border. Press the seam to seal. Starting at one short end, roll the dough tightly. Gently stretch the dough to lengthen the roll slightly to about 12 inches in length. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
5. Cut the dough roll crosswise into 24 equal pieces. (It’s easiest to do this by cutting the dough in half, then cutting each half in half, then cutting each portion into 6 pieces. This is easier to do than it sounds.) Place each piece of dough in a muffin cup, cut side up.
6. Bake the sticky buns for 12 to 15 minutes, until browned. Rotate the pan(s) from front to back halfway through the baking time to ensure even baking. (The longer you leave them in the oven, the crisper the edges but the drier the dough.) Immediately turn the buns out onto a sheet of parchment on a heatproof surface. (And we do mean immediately, otherwise the buns may stick to the pan.) Serve warm out of the oven.