Searching4Zen

Welcome to Searching4Zen, a recipe sharing and blog discussing adventures in Food & Wine, Travel and Cycling. We hope you will register with us and share your comments.

  • Grilled Frozen Steaks

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    Author’s Notes Rather than follow the convention of thawing frozen steaks before grilling them, we discovered that we could get steaks that were just as juicy by cooking them straight from the freezer, no planning ahead required. We took advantage of the steaks’ ultrachilled state and started them over a hot fire to develop a […]

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  • Fettuccine with Butter and Cheese

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    Author’s Notes Fettuccine Alfredo consists of four ingredients: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, butter, fettuccine, and a pinch of salt. No cream. No eggs. Not even any black pepper. The cheese and butter should create a creamy sauce that thoroughly coats each strand of pasta. But this dish has been mucked up over the years with cream, thickeners, […]

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  • Grilled Sardines with Lemon, Garlic, and Paprika

    40 minutes
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    Author’s Notes Despite their small size, fresh sardines have a lot going for them. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, so they’re good for you. They’re a sustainable source of seafood, so they’re good for the oceans and planet. They’re also incredibly inexpensive, so sardines are easy on your wallet as well. And with a […]

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  • Fideos Casa Mono Style

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    Author’s Notes Fideos (or fideuà) are a dish typical of the coast of Valencia in Spain. Similar to paella, but with noodles instead of rice, this Spanish dish is a seafood-lover’s paradise. This video and this dish are bringing out some major Spain On The Road Again vibes!! Source: Mario Batali Ingredients For the saffron broth 1 […]

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  • Grilled Halloumi and Vegetables

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    Author’s Notes Halloumi is a firm, white, brined cheese traditionally made from a mixture of goat’s and sheep’s milk. (Though today, cow’s milk is often used.) Like other low-fat cheeses, it is perfect for grilling. It sears and colors quickly when it hits the hot grill. The interior softens, but the cheese doesn’t melt; it […]

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  • Roasted Vegetable Torte, Not as Easy as Pie

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    Ingredients 2 zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch slices (sometimes I skip zukes and double up on the other veggies I like more) 1 red onion, cut in half lengthwise and sliced 1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus another few tablespoons for brushing veggies Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper […]

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  • Gnocchi alla sorrentina (Potato Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella)

    1 hour 15 minutes
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    Author’s Notes Potato gnocchi are pretty filling, the kind of food you may associate with the cooler weather. But, in fact, you can enjoy gnocchi all year ’round. They are delicious with pesto, for example, or with a simple tomato sauce. In fact, one of the classic Campanian summer dishes is gnocchi alla sorrentina, or […]

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  • Lapin à la moutarde / Rabbit in mustard sauce

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    Ingredients 1 rabbit (about 3 to 4 lbs / 1 ½ to 2 kg), cut into serving pieces ¾ bottle of dry white wine (I used a Chablis) 3 tablespoons plus 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (I used a combination of classic Dijon and wholegrain) 250ml / 1 cup crème fraîche 3 tablespoons butter 2 garlic […]

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  • Perfect Scrambled Eggs

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    Author’s Notes Creamy-soft scrambled eggs require slow cooking over low heat. Drier ones call for a hot skillet, less stirring, and quicker cooking. The version explained here employs the slow-and-low approach, with butter, chives, and heavy cream added just before the eggs are done. Ingredients 1 ½ tbsp. unsalted butter 3 eggs ¼ tsp. kosher […]

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  • Speculoos Ice Cream

    25 minutes
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    Author’s Note This recipe is a great way to polish off the scraps left over from making speculoos (a type of spiced cookie), including homemade Biscoff (the most famous brand of speculoos), but feel free to use store-bought cookies instead. Biscoff, whether real or copycat, give this silky ice cream an intriguing caramel flavor, while […]

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