January 5, 2008 in Recipes by danky
Makes 12 breadsticks.
INGREDIENTS
a 1/4-ounce package (2 1/2 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon table salt
1/4 cup olive oil
cornmeal for sprinkling the baking sheets
an egg wash made by beating 1 large egg with 1 tablespoon water
fennel seeds for sprinkling the breadsticks
coarse salt for sprinkling the breadsticks
DIRECTIONS
In the large bowl of an electric mixer proof the yeast with 1/2 teaspoon of the sugar in 3/4 cup lukewarm water for 5 minutes, or until it is foamy. Add the remaining teaspoon sugar, 2 cups of the flour, the table salt, and the oil and beat the mixture with the dough hook until it is combined. Knead the dough, kneading in enough of the remaining 1 cup flour to make the dough form a ball, and knead the dough for 5 minutes, or until it is soft but not sticky. On a lightly floured surface let the dough rest, covered with a kitchen towel, for 15 minutes. Divide the dough into 12 pieces, working with 1 piece at a time and keeping the remaining pieces covered roll the dough between the palms of the hands to form 14-inch ropes, and arrange the ropes as they are formed 2 inches apart on baking sheets sprinkled lightly with the cornmeal. Let the breadsticks rise, covered loosely, in a warm place for 40 minutes, brush them lightly with the egg wash, and sprinkle them with the fennel seeds and the coarse salt. Bake the breadsticks in the middle of a preheated 45°F. oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until they are pale golden, and let them cool on a rack for 10 minutes. The breadsticks may be made 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container.
Tags: Breadsticks, Coarse, Fennel, Salt
January 5, 2008 in Recipes by danky
Serves 6.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
6 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup dry white wine
three 14- to 16-ounce cans plum tomatoes including the juice,
chopped coarse
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves (preferably
flat-leafed)
1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon dried orégano, crumbled
3/4 teaspoon salt
dried hot red pepper flakes to taste if desired
1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp (about 34), shelled, deveined if desired,
and rinsed
1 pound dried rigatoni or other tubular pasta
1/2 pound feta, crumbled
DIRECTIONS
In a kettle cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until they are softened, add the wine, and boil the mixture for 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes with the juice, 1 tablespoon of the parsley, the basil, the orégano, the salt, and the red pepper flakes and boil the mixture, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until it is thickened. Add the shrimp and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are just firm.
In a large kettle of boiling salted water cook the rigatoni until it is just al dente, drain it well, and stir it into the shrimp mixture. Stir in 5 ounces of the Feta and salt and pepper to taste, transfer the mixture to a lightly oiled 4-quart shallow glass baking dish, and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the remaining 2 ounces Feta. Bake the pasta in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven for 20 minutes, or until the Feta is bubbling and the top is slightly crusty.
Tags: Feta, Rigatoni, Sauce, Shrimp, Tomato
January 5, 2008 in Recipes by danky
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.
Serves 6 as a first course.
INGREDIENTS
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cups chicken broth
3 garlic cloves, crushed lightly with the flat side of a knife
a pinch of dried hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
2 fresh thyme sprigs or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
2 fresh orégano sprigs or 1/4 teaspoon dried orégano, crumbled
1 teaspoon sugar
2 leeks (about 1/2 pound), trimmed, washed well, and cut crosswise
into 1-inch pieces
1 yellow squash, trimmed, halved lengthwise, and cut crosswise into
1-inch pieces
4 ribs of celery, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 pound mushrooms, halved if large and the stems reserved for
another use
DIRECTIONS
In a kettle stir together the lemon juice, the oil, the broth, the garlic, the red pepper flakes, the salt, the coriander seeds, the thyme, orégano, the sugar, and pepper to taste, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer it, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Bring the mixture to a boil, add the leeks, and simmer them for 2 minutes. Add the squash and the celery and simmer the vegetables, stirring gently, for 2 minutes. Add the bell peppers and the green beans and simmer the vegetables, stirring gently, for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and simmer the vegetables, stirring gently, for 30 seconds.
Transfer the vegetables witha slotted spoon to a shallow baking dish or bowl, boil the cooking liquid for 2 minutes, or until it is reduced to 1/2 cup, and strain it through a fine sieve onto the vegetables. Let the vegetables marinate, covered and chilled, for at least 3 hours or overnight, season them with salt and pepper, and let them come to room temperature before serving.
Tags: Marinated, Vegetables
January 5, 2008 in Recipes by danky
INGREDIENTS
for pâté brisée
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
1/4 teaspoon salt
raw rice for weighting the shell
for the filling
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
5 cups 1/2-inch chunks trimmed fresh rhubarb (about 2 pounds) or thawed frozen rhubarb
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
for the streusel topping
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
an egg wash made by beating 1 large egg with 1 tablespoon water
about 1/4 cup red currant jelly, melted
DIRECTIONS
Make the pâté brisée
In a large bowl blend the flour, the butter, the vegetable shortening, and the salt until the mixture resembles meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water, toss the mixture until the water is incorporated, adding more ice water if necessary to form a dough, and form the dough into a ball. Dust the dough with flour and chill it, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour.
Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, fit it into a 9-inch (1-quart) pie plate, and crimp the edge decoratively. Line the shell with foil, fill the foil with the rice, and bake the shell in the middle of a preheated 425°F. oven for 10 minutes. Remove the rice and foil carefully and bake the shell for 3 to 5 minutes more, or until it is pale golden.
Make the filling:
In a large bowl stir together the sugar, the tapioca, a pinch of salt, the vanilla, the rhubarb, and the butter until the mixture is combined well and let the filling stand, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
Make the streusel topping:
In a large bowl stir together the brown sugar, the flour, the butter, the cinnamon, the walnuts, and a pinch of salt and blend the mixture until it resembles coarse meal.
Spoon the filling into the shell, sprinkle the streusel topping around the outer 2 inches of the filling, leaving the center exposed, and brush the edge of the shell with some of the egg wash. Bake the pie on a baking sheet in the lower third of a preheated 450°F. oven for 15 minutes, reduce the heat to 350°F., and bake the pie for 50 minutes to 1 hour more, or until the filling is bubbling and the rhubarb is tender. Brush the exposed (center) portion of the filling with the jelly and let the pie cool on a rack for 2 hours.
Tags: Pie, Rhubarb, Streusel
January 5, 2008 in Recipes by danky
Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
Serves 6.
INGREDIENTS
1 head of red-leaf lettuce, rinsed, spun dry, and torn into small pieces
1 head of bibb lettuce, rinsed, spun dry, and torn into small pieces
1/2 cup thinly sliced scallion
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl toss together the lettuces and the scallion. In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a slow stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. Toss the salad with the dressing.
Tags: Bibb, Leaf, Lettuce, Red, Salad, Scallion