Breakfast Pizza

Ingredients:

pizza dough
pesto
parmesan cheese
proscuitto
1 egg

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. Roll out the dough and spread with pesto. Top with parmesan cheese, proscuitto, and spices.

3. When the oven is ready, crack an egg on the pizza and cook for about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Decadent Chocolate Tart

Ingredients:

Chocolate Pastry Dough:

1 1/8 cups all purpose flour
1/8 cup sugar
2 tbsp unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/4 tsp salt
6 tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp ice water

Chocolate Filling:

8 oz dark chocolate, cut into pieces
6 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. To make the pastry dough: pulse the flour, sugar, cocoa and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. Add the yolk, vanilla and water and process until mixture begins to hold together. If the dough is dry, add more water.

2. Shape the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.

3. Then, roll out the dough and line a tart pan, making sure you press it well into the pan. Prick the dough with a fork and bake in a preheated oven at 340 degrees for about 17-20 minutes. Let it cool.

4. To make the filling: melt the chocolate and butter in a pan over low heat, stirring until smooth. Then remove from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.

5. Whisk together the eggs, cream, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until combined.

6. Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Bake until the filling 1 inch from the crust is fully set and slightly puffed and the center is a bit wobbly. This should take about 25 minutes. The center will continue to set as it cools.

7. Top with powdered sugar or serve alongside ice cream and strawberries.

Lentil, Parsnip & Kale Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb brown lentils
6-7 cups chicken stock
3 parsnips, peeled and diced
1 onion, chopped
3 ribs of celery, chopped
1 cup kale, chopped
extra virgin olive oil
herbs and spices

Directions:

1. In a large soup pot, saute the onion and celery in olive oil for about 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the chopped parsnips and keep cooking together for another 5-8 minutes.

2. Add the lentils, kale, chicken stock to the pot. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add preferred herbs and spices such as bay leaves, cumin, chili powder, thyme, salt and pepper.

3. Cook for about 1 hour, adding extra chicken stock if necessary. Season again if necessary. Enjoy!

Potato Gnocchi

Ingredients:

4 Russet  potatoes, baked and peeled
3 whole eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
3/4 cup flour
1 tbsp salt


Directions:

1. In a 350 degree oven, bake the potatoes until soft, about 45 minutes. Make sure to poke holes in the potatoes prior to cooking.

2. Peel the potatoes and using a ricer, pass the potatoes through the ricer and into a large bowl.

3. Add the flour, egg, cheese and salt to the potato and mix by hand until everything is incorporated. Don't overmix the dough.

4. Prepare the work area with extra flour. Separate the dough into chunks and roll out the chunks into thin rolls. Make sure to do this very gently.

5. Cut the dough into tiny pieces, about 1 inch in length. Pass the small pieces over a fork or gnocchi board. Place on a baking dish that is lightly dusted with flour.

6. At this point you can cook the gnocchi right away or put in the freezer for a few minutes.

7. Then, in a pot of boiling salted water, cook the gnocchi for about 1-2 minutes until they float to the top. You don't want to crowd the pot because it will lower the temperature of the water, so you can cook the gnocchi in batches if necessary.

8. Serve immediately with your favorite sauce!

Kimchi Fried Rice

Ingredients:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1 onion, diced
1 cup baby spinach leaves
3 stalks celery, diced
3 green onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups kimchi, roughly chopped
2 cups precooked rice, preferably day old
2 cloves garlic, minced
eggs
soy sauce
olive oil

Directions:

1. In a large pan or wok, saute the onion in olive oil on medium heat until soft. Then, add the chicken breast and cook together. Once the chicken is basically cooked through, add the chopped kimchi and garlic.

2. Once the kimchi heats up for a few minutes, turn up the heat to high and add the precooked rice. You want high heat so that the rice gets a hot and crunchy. Add soy sauce to the rice and mix thoroughly.

3. Add the spinach, celery, and green onions and cook together until all of the spinach has wilted, about 10 minutes.

4. Adjust the seasoning and top with a fried egg for serving. Enjoy!

Vichyssoise

Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter
4 cups leek whites, diced
2 1/2 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp chives
1 sprig fresh thyme
3-4 parsley stems
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a large pot, melt the better over medium high heat. When the butter stops foaming, add the leeks and sweat until very soft, but not brown.

2. Add the potatoes, stir and pour in all of the chicken stock.

3. Wrap all of the herbs in a cheesecloth and add to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer until the potatoes are well cooked, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the herbs.

5. Blend the soup using an immersion blender until it is creamy. Gently whisk in the heavy cream. Adjust the seasoning and garnish with the chives. Typically served cold.

Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup flour
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into pieces
1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 tsp Creole seasoning
1 tsp gumbo file
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Heat the oil over medium high heat in a heavy bottomed pot. Add the flour. Cook the flour and oil, whisking constantly, until dark brown, about 15-20 minutes.

2. Lower the heat and add the onion, pepper and celery. Stir and cook until everything becomes tender, about 5 minutes. Then, add the garlic and cook another 2 minutes.

3. Add the stock to the pot 1 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. Season with the Creole seasoning, file, salt and pepper.

4. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Add the chicken. When the chicken is nearly cooked, add the shrimp. Take the gumbo off the heat and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve alongside steamed rice.