Searching4Zen

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  • Intense Chocolate Mousse Cake

    1 hr. 5 mins.
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    There is very little that needs to be said about a chocolate mousse cake. This one lives up to its name. It is gloriously intense. But the whisked egg whites ensure that it has a balancing lightness. A slice of it, with a smattering of fresh raspberries and a dollop of cream, or better still, […]

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  • Ribollita (Hearty Tuscan Bean, Bread, and Vegetable Stew)

    1 hour
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    This hearty Tuscan stew is loaded with tender vegetables and beans and thickened with bread. You can even simmer it down, then cook it into a savory vegetable pancake. Why It Works Beans and bread thicken and enrich this traditional stew. A variety of vegetables creates a deep, rich, flavorful soup. You can control the […]

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  • Savory Bread Pudding with Garden Greens and Goat Cheese

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    You can use a variety of greens, chard, kale, even young broccoli leaves. This is a very adaptive recipe with all ingredients…….use your imagination and use up those small pieces of cheese and extra rolls and bread in the freezer. Ingredients 1 plus or minus loaf of stale bread or rolls of any kind or […]

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  • Sautéed Pear Parfaits

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    Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons sugar 3 large Anjou or Bartlett pears, peeled, cored and cut into ¼ inch slices 3 sprigs fresh rosemary 8 ounces sour cream or crème fraiche 1 teaspoon brown sugar for garnish Instructions Melt the butter and sugar in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook stirring frequently […]

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  • Satay Shrimp in Rice Noodle Wrapper

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    Ingredients 12 uncooked shrimp peeled and deveined 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk 1 tablespoon green curry paste 1 package rice noodle wrappers 1 head leaf lettuce leaves separated, washed, dried and trimmed 1 cup fresh bean sprouts that have been sautéed for 30 seconds 12 fresh min leaves 12 fresh cilantro sprigs Peanut Sauce 1 […]

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  • Pasta Estate (Summer Pasta)

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    Ingredients 6 ears corn 1/4 cup olive oil 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 pound small yellow summer squash, diced 1/2 inch 2 pounds very ripe tomatoes, skinned and coarsly chopped 1 large handful basil leaves, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon salt 1 pound shell pasta 3/4 pound green beans, preferably flat Romano type, cut […]

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  • Gnocchi with spinach, peppers and Gorgonzola

    20 mins.
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    Ingredients 1 package (12 ounces) frozen gnocchi 1 tablespoon hot chili oil (or use olive oil and a large pinch of crushed red pepper flakes) 1/2 small onion, diced 1 small red bell pepper, diced 1 cup packed baby spinach leaves 2 teaspoons, minced fresh herbs, preferably a mix, such as rosemary, chives, thyme 2 […]

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  • Gratin of macaroni and cheese with asparagus and wild mushrooms

    1 hour 40 mins.
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    Erwin Dreschler’s updated rendition of this classic American dish can perform as an entree or side dish. Ingredients 1/2 pound asparagus 1/2 pound shiitake mushroom caps, optional 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt, freshly ground pepper 4 cloves garlic, slightly crushed 1 1/2 cups milk 1/2 cup whipping cream 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter 1/4 cup […]

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  • Bacon-Cilantro Fried Rice

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    Ingredients 4 eggs 8 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon minced ginger 1 bunch scallions sliced thinly, separate white and green 8 cups cooked jasmin rice, day old 1 tablespoon naturally brewed soy sauce 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Canola […]

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  • French Bread

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    Ingredients 3 cups of bread flour (highest gluten content) 3 cups all purpose unbleached flour 2 teaspoons kosher salt 2 packets of yeast 1 tablespoon sugar 2 1/4 cups of warm water (110 to 115°) Instructions Combine bread flour, all purpose flour and salt in food processor work bowl, fitted with the plastic bread dough […]

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