Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Makes about two dozen)

1 EGG, BEATEN

½ CUP BUTTER

softened

½ CUP BROWN SUGAR

1/3 CUP HONEY

1 TBSP. VANILLA EXTRACT

Combine in large bowl.

1 CUP WHITE FLOUR

1 CUP WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR

½ TSP BAKING SODA

¼ TSP SALT

¼ TSP CINNAMON

¼ TSP NUTMEG

Combine in a separate, small bowl and blend into liquid mixture

1 CUP FINELY SHREDDED ZUCCHINI

12 OZ CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Stir these into other ingredients, mix well. Drop by spoonful onto greased baking sheet, and flatten with the back of a spoon. Bake at 350°, 10 to 15 minutes.

http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/recipes-summer-zucchini-chocolate-chip-cookies.htm

Vietnamese Marinated Flank Steak With Cucumber and Radish Salad

Vietnamese Marinated Flank Steak With Cucumber and Radish Salad

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Time 25 minutes, plus at least 30 minutes' marinating

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon packed lime zest
• 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (from about 3 limes)
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, grated or minced
• 1 large jalapeño, seeds and veins removed if desired, minced
• 1 flank steak, about 1 1/2 pounds
• 1 small seedless English cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1 large bunch of radishes, thinly sliced
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon vegetable, peanut or olive oil (optional)
• Cooked rice noodles or rice, for serving (optional)
• Sesame seeds or crushed roasted peanuts, for serving (optional)
• Fresh mint leaves or cilantro, for serving (optional)

Method

1. In a small bowl, combine the fish sauce, lime zest, lime juice, brown sugar, garlic and jalapeño. Pour 1/2 of the mixture over the flank steak and let marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 24 hours). Let meat come to room temperature before cooking if necessary.
2. Combine the cucumber, radishes and scallions. Pour in just enough of the marinade sauce to coat.
3. Light the grill or heat the broiler to high. Pat steak dry with paper towels.
4. If grilling, cook until done to taste, about 3 minutes per side for rare. If broiling, heat a 10-inch skillet over high heat for 5 minutes. Add oil to pan and sear the meat for 2 minutes. Flip meat and immediately transfer pan directly to top shelf of oven and broil for 2 to 3 minutes for rare, or longer for more well-done meat. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes covered in foil.
5. Thinly slice steak and serve over cooked rice noodles or rice if desired, and top with the cucumber salad. Garnish with sesame seeds and plenty of herbs if using and serve with remaining marinade as a sauce.

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/vietnamese-marinated-flank-steak/

Rhubarb Prosecco Sparkler

Rhubarb Prosecco Sparkler

Yield: enough syrup for 5-6 servings

Ingredients

For the rhubarb syrup: 

• 1½ cups sugar
• 1½ cups water
• ½-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and diced
• 1 tbsp. black peppercorns
• Zest of ½ a lime, cut into strips
• ½ a vanilla bean (split lengthwise)
• 2 cups diced rhubarb, cut into ¼-inch cubes
• ¾ tsp. spiced rum

To prepare: 

• 1 oz. spiced rhubarb syrup (above)
• Crushed ice
• 5 oz. prosecco per serving
• Thinly sliced rhubarb, for garnish

To make the syrup, combine the sugar and water in a  medium saucepan over medium heat. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved completely into the water. Add in the ginger, peppercorns, lime zest, and vanilla bean. Let simmer over medium to medium-high heat about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Place the rhubarb in a medium bowl. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve over the rhubarb. Add in a few pieces of the ginger and the vanilla bean pod. Discard the remaining solids. Let stand, swirling the bowl occasionally to coat the fruit, about 10 minutes. Stir in the rum, cover and chill for at least 4 hours or up to 1 week.

To serve, fill a glass with crushed ice. Add in 2 tablespoons of the rhubarb syrup and top with the Prosecco. Swirl gently to mix. Garnish with the fresh rhubarb and serve.

http://www.annies-eats.com/2015/05/08/rhubarb-prosecco-sparkler/

Kale Macaroni and Cheese

Serves 4 to 6 as a main, 8 as a side dish

• 1 bunch lacinato kale
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1tablespoon olive oil, plus some to grease
• 2tablespoons flour
• 2cups whole milk
• 15 to 20 ounces shredded cheese (I use a mix of mild and sharp aged cheddar and Asiago)
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (I like a mix of whole wheat and panko)
• 1/2cup grated or ground Pecorino Romano cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350º F.
2. In a large pot, bring 6 cups water to a boil, then blanch the kale in the boiling water for 30 seconds. Leaving the boiled water in the pot, use a slotted spoon to scoop the kale out of the water and into a strainer, and allow the excess water to drain. Let cool, then chop, removing and discarding the stems.
3. Bring the water in the pot back to a boil, add the penne, and cook according to the package until just under al dente, then drain and set aside. The pasta is going to be baked, so you want it to be just under cooked at this stage.
4. In a large saucepan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat until the butter starts to foam. While whisking, add in the flour and continue whisking for another 2 minutes. Add the milk slowly while whisking continuously to make sure there are no lumps. Once you have a smooth texture, turn off the heat and add the cheese. Mix well until the cheese is melted, then add the kale, making sure it doesn't stay in clumps.
5. Add the pasta to saucepan and combine with the cheese sauce. If your saucepan is not large enough, add the pasta and the cheesy kale mixture back into the drained pasta pot and mix well.
6. Grease an 11- or 12-inch cast iron pan or other oven-proof baking dish with some oil. Transfer the pasta/cheesy kale mixture into it, then sprinkle the breadcrumbs and Pecorino Romano over the top.
7. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until bubbling and golden brown on top. If after 40 minutes this has not happened, raise heat to 400º F and check again after 5 minutes. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

http://food52.com/recipes/26060-kale-macaroni-and-cheese-in-homage-to-woodberry-kitchen

SHAKSHUKA

Shakshuka [Eggs Poached in Spicy Tomato Sauce]
Adapted from Saveur
Serves 4 to 6
1/4 cup olive oil
5 Anaheim chiles or 3 jalape&#241os, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped (I was nervous and only used 2 Anaheims; I would go for 3 or 4 next time for a more moderate but still gentle kick)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, crushed then sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
Kosher salt, to taste
6 eggs
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
Warm pitas, for serving
Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chiles and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and paprika, and cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is soft, about 2 more minutes.
Put tomatoes and their liquid into a medium bowl and crush with your hands. Add crushed tomatoes and their liquid to skillet along with 1/2 cup water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes. Season sauce with salt.
Crack eggs over sauce so that eggs are evenly distributed across sauce’s surface. Cover skillet and cook until yolks are just set, about 5 minutes. Using a spoon, baste the whites of the eggs with tomato mixture, being careful not to disturb the yolk. Sprinkle shakshuka with feta and parsley and serve with pitas, for dipping.

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/04/shakshuka/

Avocado Pesto Stuffed Tomatoes

Ingredients

• 30 cherry tomatoes (about 1-1/4 pints)
• 1/2 medium avocado, pitted, peeled, and cut up
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons homemade or purchased basil pesto
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Snipped fresh basil (optional)

Directions

1. Cut a thin slice from the top of each tomato. (If desired, cut a thin slice from bottoms of tomatoes so they stand upright.) With a small spoon or small lemon baller carefully hollow out the tomatoes. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Invert tomatoes on the towels. Let stand 30 minutes to drain.
2. Meanwhile, for filling, in a food processor bowl combine avocado, cream cheese, pesto, and lemon juice. Cover; process until smooth. Spoon filling into a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round or open star tip.
3. Place tomatoes, open sides up, on a serving platter. Pipe filling into the tomato cups. Serve immediately or cover loosely and refrigerate up to 4 hours before serving. Sprinkle with snipped basil before serving. Makes 30 appetizers.

http://www.midwestliving.com/recipe/appetizers-snacks/avocado-pesto-stuffed-tomatoes

Homemade Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream

Homemade Orange Creamsicle Ice Cream

Ingredients

• 1 ³/₄ cup – coconut milk, full fat
• 2 medium – Orange
• 4 tbsp – Sweetener
• 1 tsp – Vanilla extract

Directions

1. Peel and section oranges.  Lay flat on a tray and freeze until hardened.
2. In a blender, add coconut milk and half of the frozen orange sections.
3. Blend until smooth.  Add the remaining oranges and continue blending.
4. Add the sweetener of your choice (honey, powdered sugar, maple syrup) and vanilla extract.
5. Blend.
6. Pour into a freezer safe container and freeze until solid.
7. When ready to serve, let it sit out for a few minutes to make it easier to scoop. Enjoy

http://www.superhealthykids.com/homemade-orange-creamsicle-ice-cream/