Newsletter Archive
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HCP Dishes - Friday February 26, 2010
Sofrito Grilled Bread and ShrimpSometimes, dining in little bites is just what you want to do. The idea of tapas or meze as a full dinner is possible on a busy weeknight if you have some ready-made ingredients on hand. Feel free to complement this dish with a jar of tapenade or marinated feta, a store-bought marinated vegetable salad, or whatever else strikes your fancy. Sofrito is a sautéed vegetable seasoning mixture from Latin America. It typically contains garlic, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and sometimes tomatoes or ham, although the recipe varies from family...
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HCP Dishes - Friday February 19, 2010
Dede Wilson’s Quick ’n’ Easy Chocolate CakeNeed a chocolate cake in a hurry? No mixer is required—just a bowl, a whisk, and a rubber spatula. This cake contains no eggs or dairy, making it very easy to make with ingredients at hand, while still producing a soft, moist, very chocolaty cake. It also happens to be vegan. Sift the cocoa before measuring to remove any lumps. As with any chocolate cake, this one pairs well with everything from Seven-Minute Frosting to Italian Meringue Buttercream in any of its variations or even Caramel Frosting.
Makes two 9 x...
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HCP Dishes - Friday February 12, 2010
Hungry Hungarian Stuffed PeppersThese stuffed peppers pack quite a punch—not in a violent way, but in a stomach-filling kind of way, which is why they are the perfect meal on those days when you’ve been partaking in athletic activity (or those sad days when you’ve subbed in an oddly tasteless nutty bar or some such for a real lunch because you were too busy at the office). So whip these up when you have a serious hankering for some rib-sticking vittles. We’re not saying Al Hrabosky (the former Major League Baseball relief pitcher and...
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HCP Dishes - Friday February 5, 2010
Bourbon CoffeeThe classic after-dinner coffee made with Irish whiskey takes on a new twist with the inclusion of bourbon. I find the smokiness that’s inherent in bourbon adds to the flavor of the coffee and makes this generally a more enjoyable beverage than the classic.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 24 ounces freshly brewed coffee
- 8 ounces bourbon
- 4 ounces white crème de menthe
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup whipped cream
- Fresh mint leaves for garnish
Directions:
- Pour the coffee into a large carafe (or leave it in the pot if it’s big enough). Stir the bourbon, crème de...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday January 27, 2010
Chocolate-Mint Brownies with White Chocolate ChipsThis is about as baroque as I like to get with brownies. White chocolate, which can sometimes be cloying, is a wonderfully creamy and sweet counterpoint to the intense dark chocolate and bracing mint.
Makes 16 brownies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 ounces (2 squares) unsweetened chocolate
- 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, making sure that the foil...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday January 20, 2010
Slow Cooker Braised Lamb Chops with White BeansHere you serve a whole, meaty shoulder lamb chop (which loves the slow braise) with beans and a savory sauce. It is wonderful and economical and loaded with flavor. Feel free to brown your chops in the oil drained from the sun-dried tomatoes for even more flavor. Serve over rice.
Serves 4
COOKER: Medium oval or large round or oval
SETTING AND COOK TIME: LOW for 5 to 7 hours; beans added halfway through cooking
Ingredients:
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, as needed
- 4 shoulder lamb chops
- 1 medium-size yellow onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday January 13, 2010
Lemony Chard-Stuffed ShellsSwiss chard is a member of the beet family and, despite its name, is native to the regions of the Mediterranean. It is especially high in vitamins A and C, and is rich in iron, calcium, and potassium. If chard is unavailable, spinach may be substituted.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 12 large pasta shells
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ⁄ 2 cup minced shallots
- 1 bunch Swiss chard, coarsely chopped
- 4 ounces white mushrooms, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 pound firm tofu, drained, blotted dry, and crumbled
- 1 ⁄ 3 cup freshly grated Parmesan or soy Parmesan cheese
- Juice and...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday January 6, 2010
Workout FuelDrink a few glasses of this before, during, and after a strenuous workout—its taste surpasses that of any bottled sports drink, and it has far fewer calories. Coconut water is a natural electrolyte-replacing rehydrator—exactly what you need from a sports drink. Other nutrients here are vitamin C, iron, and calcium. If you cannot find golden kiwis, use green.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 2 golden kiwis, peeled
- One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 cup fresh or unsweetened canned coconut water
- Pinch of sea salt
- 4 cups still water
Directions:
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and puree...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday December 30, 2009
CardinalI’ll take Cardinal, Alex, for one wine glass of punch. Is it a seed-eating family of birds in North and South America, associated in most minds with a bright red coloring? Is it a senior official of the Catholic church who takes part in electing a pope? Is it a navigational term, a train, or a lesser-known Marvel comics villain? Is it a punch that uses two different liquors, a wine, wine’s cousin vermouth, two bubbly additions, fruit, and sweetness for a result that’ll make carousing guests coo? I’ll take...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday December 23, 2009
Spicy Sworded TofuIf you’re already a tofu fan, this will become a favorite. If not, give it a try. This is a good amount of tofu, so you may need to cook it in two batches, depending on the size of your skillet. If you do, just be sure to split the other ingredients so that the flavors find both sets of tofu.
Makes 16 skewers
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds extra-firm tofu
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1⁄4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1⁄4 cup...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday December 16, 2009
Caramel BrieThis recipe always gets raves. Creamy Brie cheese is presented with a thick top coating of sweet caramel. As the party guests cut into the cheese with a cheese spreader, they get some caramel at the same time to spread on crackers or apple slices. Buy the individually wrapped caramels in the candy-aisle bins at the supermarket.
Serves 25 to 30
COOKER: Small round
SETTING AND COOK TIME: LOW for 1 to 11⁄2 hours
Ingredients:
- About 4 pounds Brie cheese (two 8-inch wheels, or two 1-kilogram wheels)
- 15 individually wrapped caramel candies
- 3⁄4 cup heavy cream or...
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HCP Dishes - Wednesday December 9, 2009
Braised Sirloin with Zinfandel and Cremini Mushroom SauceThis delicious braised sirloin is just waiting for the chance to star at your next dinner party. The beef and vegetables are sautéed and then simmered in a wine and beef broth to give you an elegant dinner. There is really no substitute for wine in a recipe, but if you must, you can substitute broth for the wine. Additional herbs will punch up the flavor as well.
Serves 6
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 pounds beef sirloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground...