Caramelized Fig Burrata

Caramelized Fig Burrata

Caramelized Fruit Is The Perfect Accompaniment To Burrata

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 Burrata

4-5 Black Mission Figs, halved

dozen grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup sugar

Aged Balsamic Vinegar, drizzle

EVOO, drizzle

crusty baguette, sliced

Cooking Tools

Non-stick frying pan

Directions

Take the halves of figs and dip cut side down into the sugar to coat.  Preheat frying pan to medium-hot and once screaming hot, place halved figs in pan.  Sear figs until caramelization occurs, 1-2 minutes, sear in batches. Cut Burrata in half on serving dish and place cut tomatoes on top, also the caramelized figs. Drizzle with olive oil and Balsamic vinegar  on top.  Serve with crusty baguette .

Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad

A True Classic, Made Fresh Makes All The Difference!

Difficulty:  Easy

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

3 large whole Romaine, chopped, rinsed & dried 

5 anchovies fillet packed in oil, drained

3 cloves garlic, garlic pressed

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 egg yolk (optional )

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup+ olive oil

2 tbsp fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup Parmesan shavings

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Large Salad Bowl 

Directions

Place anchovies, garlic and pinch of salt in bottom of large salad bowl and using a fork, break down anchovies until smooth.  Add in egg yolk, lemon juice, mustard and whisk until smooth.  Drizzle in olive oil and whisk until well incorporated. Fold in Parmesan cheese and fresh black pepper. Right before serving, toss chopped Romaine lettuce, parmesan shavings and top with Homemade Croutons. Cook's Notes: You can make dressing ahead of time, refrigerate dressing.

Croutons 

Ingredients

Crusty White bread, cubed

3 tbsp olive oil

Cooking Tools

Sheet pan

Directions 

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Toss bread and olive oil until well coated on sheet pan and bake for 15 minutes.  Cool off before adding to salad.

 

Bootleg Baklava

Bootleg Baklava

A New & Easy Take On A Classic Greek Dessert

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Cooling Time: 4+ hours

Ingredients

Athens Phyllo Dough 1 roll pre-pack 

1 cup milk

1 cup sugar 

2 eggs 

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

1 cup unsalted, shelled pistachio (crushed)

Simple Syrup

Ingredients 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup honey

Cooking Tools

8 X 12 oblong glass baking dish or equivalent 

Small mixing bowl

Small saucepan  

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.  Unwrap phyllo dough, 2 sheets at a time, fold like an accordion ( fan like) long ways and place in glass baking pan, repeat until phyllo sheets are gone or when you no longer have space.  Take half of the crushed pistachios and insert between the layers of dough.  Place in oven for 10 minutes, remove from oven, then pour melted butter all over the phyllo dough evenly.  Place phyllo back in the oven for another 10 minutes.  While phyllo is in the oven, in a mixing bowl, whisk; milk, sugar, eggs and vanilla until combined.  Remove phyllo from oven and pour the egg mixture evenly over the phyllo. Place it back in the oven for a third time for about 20 minutes. While the phyllo is baking, in a small saucepan over low heat, melt the ingredients for simple syrup until sugar is dissolved and set aside.

Once the Bootleg Baklava is fully cooked, remove from oven and pour the simple syrup over the phyllo evenly and bring to room temperature, then place in refrigerator for several hours to chill.  The more hours you chill, I believe the flavor gets better and better.  Right before serving, add the rest of the crushed pistachios on top.

Serves 8

 

Eggplant Al Forno

Eggplant Al Forno

This Is A Recipe From Chef Bobby Flay, Served At His Restaurant Amalfi, Las Vegas!

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium size eggplants

1 cup Ricotta cheese

1/2 cup Mascarpone cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese

3/4 cup of Sicilian Castelvetrano pitted olives, halved

4 cloves garlic, pressed (divided)

1/4 cup minced chives

1/4 cup green onions, chopped

1/2 cup Italian parsley, chopped

zest of 1 lemon

1/2 cup olive oil + drizzle

salt

pepper

Serve with a toasted Focaccia or toast points 

Cooking Tools

Sheet tray

2 small mixing bowls

Directions

Preheat oven 350. Degrees F.  Pierce eggplants with a fork around 7 times and coat with olive oil and place on sheet pan and bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes.  While the eggplant is baking, prepare the cheese mixture in one of the mixing bowls by adding; Ricotta cheese, mascarpone, grated Parmesan, 2 cloves of pressed garlic, salt and pepper to taste.  Whip until the cheeses are whipped together. In another mixing bowl, prepare the olive topping.  Place, olive oil, olives, 2 garlic pressed, chives, green onion, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper, mix well. Once eggplant is done, remove from sheet pan and place on a serving platter and split open like a baked potato.  Use a fork and fluff up the cooked eggplant, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, evenly dollop the cheese mixture between the the two eggplants, top with the olive mixture and garnish with Parmesan shavings.  Serve with bread of choice

Serves 4

Coconut Banana Chia Pudding

Coconut Banana Chia Pudding

A Delicious Simple Pudding With Just A Few Ingredients! 

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: No cooking required

Chilling Time: 1 hour+

Ingredients

1 can coconut milk

1/2 cup chia seeds

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup Agave

pinch of cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg

1 banana, sliced

1/4 cup chopped unsalted pistachios

whipped cream or non-dairy whipped topping 

Cooking Tools

Small mixing bowl

2 dessert glasses

Directions

In a mixing bowl, add; coconut milk, chia seeds, vanilla, agave, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer. Before serving, layer pudding in dessert glasses and line banana slices, add more pudding, then top with fresh whipped cream and chopped pistachios. 

Serves 2 

Rabokki

Rabokki

Ramen + Tteok Bokki , A Delicious Street Food Of Korea!

Difficulty: Moderate

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 servings of Ramen noodles, pre-boil separately, drain

20 Tteok Bokki, Rice cake noodles, pre-boiled, drained

4 cups chicken broth

2 Tbsp Gochujang

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp Gochugaru chili flakes

1 tbsp raw sugar

1/2 sheet dried kelp, rinsed off

2 cups chopped Kimchi

1/4 cup sliced green onions

2 eight minute hard boiled eggs, halved

6 shrimp dumplings, premade

sliced fish cake (optional)

sauteed spinach (optional)

Cooking Tools

Stock pot

Hot Pot

Directions

Cook the ramen and Tteok Bokki in advance, drain and set a side. In the Hot Pot over low flame, add chicken broth, Gochujang, Kimchi, garlic, sugar, chili flakes and kelp and cook broth for 15 minutes. Remove and discard kelp.

Add in ramen noodles and Tteok Bokki and cook in liquid for a few minute to allow for the absorption. Add the the dumplings & fishcakes into the broth to cook for an additional few minutes. Before serving, top with boiled eggs, green onions and sauteed spinach. Serve hot.

Serves 2 

Breakfast Bagel

Breakfast Bagel

Breakfast On The Go! 

Difficulty: Easy

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients 

2 plain bagels 

2 eggs

1/4 lb. breakfast sausage (bulk)

2 tbsp. diced onion

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

2 tbsp minced cilantro

2 Tbsp butter, melted 

salt

pepper

Cooking Tools

Small mixing bowl

Non-stick fry-pan 

Baking sheet tray

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Just slice the cap portion of the bagel, leaving majority of the bagel intact.  Scoop out the center portion of the bagel, just enough to hold the egg mixture. In a non-stick frying pan cook the breakfast sausage until fully cooked, let cool.  In a small mixing bowl, whisk eggs, onions, cheese, minced cilantro, the cooled breakfast sausage, melted butter, salt & pepper. Spoon in egg mixture into the hollowed out bagel and place on a sheet tray and bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Serves 2