Category Archives: cooking

the best way to a woman’s heart is to cook for her

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Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Shallots, Bacon and Port

Ingredients

Pour a full-bodied red wine, such as a Bordeaux, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • 1 1/2 pounds large shallots (about 24), halved lengthwise, peeled
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 cups canned beef broth
  • 1 1/2 cups tawny Port
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 3- to 3 1/4-pound beef tenderloins (large ends), trimmed
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 7 bacon slices, chopped
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 large bunch watercress

Preparation
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. In 9-inch-diameter pie pan, toss shallots with oil to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Roast until shallots are deep brown and very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Boil broth and Port in large saucepan until reduced to 3 3/4 cups, about 30 minutes. Whisk in tomato paste. (Shallots and broth mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.)

Pat beef dry; sprinkle with thyme, salt and pepper. In large roasting pan set over medium heat, sauté bacon until golden, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Add beef to pan; brown on all sides over medium-high heat, about 7 minutes. Transfer pan to oven; roast beef until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F for medium-rare, about 45 minutes. Transfer beef to platter. Tent loosely with foil.

Spoon fat off top of pan drippings in roasting pan. Place roasting pan over high heat. Add broth mixture and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Transfer to medium saucepan; bring to simmer. Mix 3 tablespoons butter and flour in small bowl to form smooth paste; whisk into broth mixture and simmer until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Whisk in 3 tablespoons butter. Stir in roasted shallots and reserved bacon. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Cut beef into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spoon some sauce over. Garnish with watercress. Pass remaining sauce.

Serves 12.

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The Best Fresh Margaritas

Ingredients

  • 4 teaspoons grated zest plus 1/2 cup juice from 2 to 3 medium limes
  • 4 teaspoons grated zest plus 1/2 cup juice from 2 to 3 medium lemons
  • 1/4 cup superfine sugar
  • Pinch salt
  • 2 cups crushed ice
  • 1 cup 100 percent agave tequila, preferably Reposado
  • 1 cup Triple Sec

Preparation
Combine lime zest and juice, lemon zest and juice, sugar, and salt in large liquid measuring cup; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until flavors meld, 4 to 24 hours.

Divide 1 cup crushed ice between 4 or 6 margarita or double old-fashioned glasses. Strain juice mixture into 1-quart pitcher or cocktail shaker. Add tequila, Triple Sec, and remaining crushed ice; stir or shake until thoroughly combined and chilled, 20 to 60 seconds. Strain into ice-filled glasses; serve immediately.

NOTE: The longer the zest and juice mixture is allowed to steep, the more developed the citrus flavors in the finished margaritas. We recommend steeping for the full 24 hours, although the margaritas will still be great if the mixture is steeped only for the minimum 4 hours. If you’re in a rush and need to serve margaritas immediately, omit the zest and skip the steeping process altogether.

Makes about 1 quart, serving 4 to 6

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Bacon Herb Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Lemon Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 1 head garlic, top sliced off
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pork tenderloins (about 1 to 1 1/2 pound each) trimmed of excess fat
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 12 fresh sage leaves
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 12 1/4-inch thick slices bacon
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place garlic in a small ramekin, drizzle with 1-tablespoon olive oil, and wrap in foil. Bake until soft, about 45 minutes. When cool enough to handle, squeeze garlic flesh from head into a small bowl.

Arrange tenderloins on work surface. Rub the top each tenderloin with 1/2 of the roasted garlic and season with salt and pepper. Mix together the herbs and scatter half of the mix over the garlic on each tenderloin. Wrap 6 strips of bacon around each tenderloin and tie bacon in place with kitchen twine.

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat oil in a medium, skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the tenderloins until golden brown on all sides. Transfer seared tenderloins to medium roasting pan; place in the oven and cook to medium doneness about 8 to10 minutes. Transfer tenderloins to cutting board and let stand 10 minutes. Remove twine before carving.

Lemon Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped lemon zest
  • 5 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preparation
Combine juice, sugar and zest in a small non-reactive pan and reduce to 1/2 cup. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Toss sweet potatoes in oil and roast in a large ovenproof skillet. Roast until lightly golden brown and just cooked through. Remove the pan from the oven and place on a burner over medium heat. Add the glaze to the potatoes and toss to coat evenly. Saute potatoes until all are glazed.

Makes 4 servings.

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Bill Nicholson’s Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce

Ingredients

  • 2 dozen Krispy Kreme donuts
  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
  • 2 (4.5-ounce) cans fruit cocktail (undrained)
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 (9-ounce) box raisins
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Butter Rum Sauce, recipe follows

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cube donuts into a large bowl. Pour other ingredients on top of donuts and let soak for a few minutes. Mix all ingredients together until donuts have soaked up the liquid as much as possible.

Bake for about 1 hour until center has jelled. Top with Butter Rum Sauce.

Yield: about 12 servings

Butter Rum Sauce
Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 pound box confectioners’ sugar
  • Rum, to taste

Preparation
Melt butter and slowly stir in confectioners’ sugar. Add rum and heat until bubbly. Pour over each serving of Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding.

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Wilted Spinach Salad Flambé

Ingredients
Salad

  • 1½ pounds fresh spinach
  • ½ pound sliced mushrooms
  • ½ medium red onion, finely sliced
  • 1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Additional:

  • 1 tbsp. butter
  • 4 slices bacon, cut into pieces
  • 2 oz. brandy
  • 1 oz. Cointreau liqueur
  • 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

Dressing:

  • 4 oz. Canola oil
  • 1 tbsp. chopped shallots
  • 1 tsp. fresh thyme
  • 1 tsp. chopped garlic
  • 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt and pepper, to your taste
  • Freshly ground pepper for garnish, if desired

Preparation
Combine salad and set aside. Combine dressing and set aside. Preheat skillet over medium flame. Cook bacon to near crisp. Remove, drain grease and wipe pan. Add butter and bacon to skillet and cook until crisp. Add brandy and Cointreau. Flame to remove most of the alcohol. Add Dijon and mix. Add dressing and mix until creamy. Pour dressing over salad. Invert hot pan over bowl for one minute to wilt salad. Toss and serve.