Category Archives: Holidays

Pomegranate Brisket

Pomegranate Brisket
Serves 8-10
  • 5-7 pound Brisket
  • 4 cups Fresh Pomegranate Seeds
  • 2 cups Pomegranate Juice
  • 2 cups Red Wine
  • 2 Carrots
  • 2 White Onions
  • 5 Ribs Celery
  • 6 Cloves Garlic
  • 3 tablespoons Grape Preserves
  • 1 Bunch Fresh Thyme
  • 4 cups Chicken Stock
  • Salt and Pepper

Season brisket with kosher salt and pepper and sear on all sides in a hot pan. Remove brisket and put all vegetables and garlic in roasting pan and caramelize. Deglaze with wine and pomegranate juice. Add the grape preserves, fresh thyme, half the seeds, and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, cover with aluminum  foil and put in a 300 degree oven for 2- 3 hours. Remove from oven and let cool in braising liquid. Remove meat, strain sauce and simmer and skim. Slice against the grain and serve with mashed potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts and garnish with fresh pomegranate seeds.

Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms

Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms
28 small white mushrooms (1 1/2-inch-diameter)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup fresh, multi-grain bread crumbs
1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove the mushroom stems and chop finely. Saute the stems and garlic in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, over medium heat, until the mushrooms are coooked (about 5 minutes).
2. Combine the bread crumbs, Feta, sun-dried tomatoes, sauteed stems, parsley, mint, salt and pepper, to taste and olive oil in a medium bowl and stir until mixed well.
3. Spoon the filling into the mushroom cavities and arrange on a baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking srpay. Spray the tops of the mushrooms with olive oil spray.
4. Bake until the mushrooms are tender and the filling is heated through and golden on top, about 25 minutes.
5. Serve warm, garnished with extra flat-leaf parsley.

Grilled Caprese Salad Skewers

Grilled Caprese Salad Skewers

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into cubes, or small balls of fresh  mozzarella
  • 1 small basket cherry tomatoes
  • 12 whole fresh basil leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 small jar pureed roasted red pepper
  • 12 cup extra virgin olive oil

Cut cherry tomatoes in half. Alternately place mozzarella cubes, cherry tomato halves and basil leaves on skewers. Mix together olive oil and pureed roasted red bell pepper then set aside. Grill skewers for a few minutes or until cheese turns golden brown. Brush with olive oil and pepper mix then sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Braised Brisket with Garlic Gravy

Braised Brisket with Garlic Gravy

Ingredients:

  • About 2 cups garlic cloves, peeled (about 36 c loves) plus 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • A first-or second-cut beef brisket (about 5 pounds), trimmed of excess fat, wiped with a damp paper towel, and patted dry
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 3 cups chicken broth, or more if needed
  • 3 cups red wine
  • 3 or 4 fresh thyme sprigs, or 2 teaspoons dried leaves
  • 2 fresh rosemary sprigs, plus 1 teaspoon chopped leaves
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • Preheat the oven to 325°F.  Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed roasting pan or casserole large enough to accommodate the meat in one layer.  Add the brisket and brown well on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the brisket to a platter and set aside.

    Pour off all but about 1 tablespoon of fat remaining in the pan and add the garlic cloves. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the garlic edges just start to brown. Add the vinegar and deglaze the pan, scraping up all the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the stock, wine, thyme, and rosemary sprigs, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Salt and pepper the brisket to taste on all sides, and add it to the pan, fat side up. (Make sure liquid almost covers brisket, or add more stock if needed.) Spoon the garlic cloves over the meat. Place the brisket in the oven, cover , and cook, basting every half-hour, until the meat is fork tender, 3-3 1/2 hours or longer. Cool the brisket in the pan sauce, cover well with foil, and refrigerate until the fat congeals. Scrape off all solid fat. Remove the brisket from the pan and slice thinly across the grain.

    To make gravy: (optional)

    Strain the liquid from the brisket, reserving the garlic and discarding the thyme and rosemary sprigs. Skim and discard as much fat as possible from the liquid. Puree the cooked garlic with 1 cup of the braising liquid in a food processor or using an immersion blender. Transfer the pureed mixture, the remaining braising liquid, and the rest of the cooked garlic to a skillet. Add the chopped rosemary, minced garlic, and lemon zest. Boil down the gravy over high heat, uncovered, to the desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Rewarm the brisket in the gravy until heated through. Arrange the sliced brisket on a serving platter. Spoon some of the hot gravy all over the meat and serve the remaining gravy on the side.

    Hamentashen with Chocolate Ganache Filling

    Hamentashen with Chocolate Ganache Filling
    Ingredients:
    3 eggs
    1 cup sugar
    3/4 cup canola oil
    2 1/2 tsp vanilla
    1/2 cup orange juice
    5 1/2 cups flour
    1 Tbsp baking powder
    8 1/2 oz dark chocolate, chopped
    8 oz heavy cream or soy creamer
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add oil, vanilla and orange juice. Combine flour and baking powder. Stir into batter to form stiff dough. If dough is not stiff enough to handle, add more flour. Refrigerate dough until ready to use.
    Place chopped chocolate and cream or creamer in a glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate, stirring until all lumps are gone. Chill in refrigerator until filling is firm.
    Roll out dough to 1/4 ” thick and cut into circles. Spoon 2 tsp of filling into center of each round. Pinch edges to form three corners. Bake 12-15 minutes until light brown.

    Sufganiyot

    Sufganiyot

    Ingredients:

    1 cup whole milk (or soy/almond milk for Pareve)
    2 tablespoons granulated sugar
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
    2 tablespoons warm water
    3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for dusting
    About 10 cups vegetable or canola oil
    2 large eggs, lightly beaten
    1/2 cup of filling of your choice: raspberry, strawberry, or apricot jam; chocolate or caramel filling
    Confectioners sugar for dusting

    Bring milk to a simmer in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then remove from heat and stir in granulated sugar and salt. Cool milk to lukewarm.

    While milk is cooling, dissolve yeast in warm water in a small bowl, stirring until creamy, then let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.

    Pour milk mixture into a large bowl and stir in 2 1/2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons oil, eggs, and yeast mixture with a wooden spoon to make a very soft dough. Spread 1 cup flour on work surface and put dough on top. Knead dough, incorporating all of flour from work

    surface and adding just enough additional flour (if necessary) to keep dough from sticking, until smooth and elastic, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer dough to another large bowl and sprinkle lightly with additional flour, then cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let dough rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours.

    Turn out dough onto a floured surface and roll out with a floured rolling pin until 1/2 inch thick. Cut out rounds with 2-inch cutter. Stretch round to 2 1/2 inches and put 1 teaspoon filling in center, then wrap dough around filling to form a ball and seal very well. Make rest of doughnuts in same manner.

    Transfer rounds to a floured kitchen towel, then reroll scraps (only once) and make more doughnuts in same manner. Cover doughnuts with another kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place 30 minutes.

    While doughnuts rise, heat 3 inches oil (about 10 cups) in a deep 4-quart pot until it registers 375°F on thermometer. Fry doughnuts a couple at a time, turning occasionally, until puffed and golden brown, about 2 minutes per batch. Transfer as cooked to paper towels to drain. Serve warm, dusted with confectioner’s sugar.

    Classic Potato Latkes

    Classic Potato Latkes

    Ingredients:

    1 medium onion, peeled

    4 large russet or Idaho potatoes (about 3 1/2 pounds), peeled

    2 large eggs

    2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

    6 tablespoons vegetable oil

    6 tablespoons unsalted butter

    Applesauce and/or sour cream, for serving

    Preheat oven to 200°F. Place 2 nonstick baking sheets in oven. Using box grater or food processor fitted with grating disc, coarsely grate onion and place in colander set in sink. Coarsely grate potatoes, add to colander, and set aside to drain.

    In large mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs, then whisk in flour. Press potatoes and onion to extract as much liquid as possible, then add to egg-flour mixture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Using wooden spoon or hands, mix well, but do not overwork.

    Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in large heavy-bottomed skillet until hot but not smoking. Drop 1/4-cup portions of potato mixture into pan and flatten with spatula to form pancakes. Fry until bottoms are golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes, then turn over and fry an additional 4 to 5 minutes until golden-brown and crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm on baking sheets in oven while making remaining pancakes. Repeat, wiping out pan before adding more oil and butter to fry remaining batter. Serve pancakes hot with applesauce and/or sour cream.

    Honey Chocolate Marble Cake

    Honey Chocolate Marble Cake

    Ingredients:

    Honey Cake Batter
    1 3/4 cups flour
    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
    1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
    1/2 cup oil
    1/2 cup honey
    3/4 cup granulated sugar
    1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
    2 eggs
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    1/2 cup tea
    1/4 cup orange juice

    In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Stir with whisk, then make well in center and stir in oil, honey, granulated and brown sugars, eggs, vanilla, tea and orange juice. Stir well to make smooth batter. Set aside

    CHOCOLATE BATTER
    1 1/2 cups flour

    1/3 cup cocoa, sifted
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    1 cup granulated sugar
    1/2 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
    1/2 cup oil
    2 eggs
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    1 cup flat cola-flavored soft drink

    In large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Make well in center and whisk in granulated and brown sugars, oil, eggs, vanilla and cola. Blend well to make smooth batter.

    Pour Honey Cake Batter into well-greased 9- or 10-inch tube pan. Pour Chocolate Batter on top. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until cake springs back when gently touched, 55 minutes to 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, then unmold and place on serving platter.

    Fresh Fig Tart with Rosemary Crust and Lemon Cream

    Fresh Fig Tart with Rosemary Crust and Lemon Cream

    The recipe for this crust tart is more of a savory flavor with the cornmeal and rosemary. If you are looking for a sweeter dessert, simply substitute with a traditional, sweet tart recipe and use this filling.

    Ingredients:

    For crust

    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

    1/2 cup yellow cornmeal (not stone-ground)

    1 tablespoon sugar

    1/4 teaspoon salt

    1/2 cup cold unsalted butter or substitute, cut into pieces

    1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary

    4 to 5 tablespoons ice water

    For filling

    1/3 cup soy sour cream

    8 oz soy cream cheese

    1/4 cup sugar

    1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest

    1/8 teaspoon salt

    2 tablespoons red-currant or grape jelly

    1 tablespoon honey

    1 1/2 lb fresh figs

    Make crust:
    Pulse together flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter and rosemary and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal with some small pieces. Drizzle evenly with 4 tablespoons ice water and pulse until just incorporated.

    Gently squeeze a small handful: If it doesn’t hold together, add more water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition. Press dough evenly onto bottom and up sides of tart pan with floured fingers. Smooth dough with a small offset metal spatula or back of a spoon (floured if necessary), then roll a rolling pin over top of pan to trim dough flush with rim. Chill crust until firm, about 30 minutes.

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake crust in middle of oven until center and edges are golden, 25 to 30 minutes, then cool in pan on a rack.

    Prepare filling and assemble tart:
    Whisk together sour cream, cream cheese, sugar, zest, and salt in a bowl. Heat jelly and honey in a small saucepan over moderately low heat, whisking, until jelly is melted, about 4 minutes, then cool glaze slightly. Remove side of tart pan and spread mascarpone cream in shell. Cut figs lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange decoratively over cream. Brush figs with honey glaze.

    Strawberry Galette with Basil Cream

    Strawberry Galette with Basil Cream
    Ingredients:
    FOR THE DOUGH
    2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
    1 1/8 teaspoons salt
    1 teaspoon sugar
    8 ounces (1 cup) cold unsalted butter substitute, cut into small pieces
    1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons ice water
    FOR THE FILLING
    1 pound strawberries, hulled
    1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
    2 teaspoons cornstarch
    1 large egg yolk
    1 tablespoon water
    1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter substitute, cut into small pieces
    FOR THE BASIL CREAM
    3/4 cup whipping cream
    1/3 cup loosely packed fresh basil, chopped
    2 tablespoons sugar
    3/4 cup mascarpone cheese (can substitute cream cheese or soy cream cheese)

      1) Pulse flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor to combine. Add butter, and pulse until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Add ice water, and pulse until just combined (dough will still be crumbly). Shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
      2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out a 10-inch round, and transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
      3) Cut strawberries lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Reserve end pieces for another use. Toss slices with 1/4 cup sugar and the cornstarch, and immediately arrange them in concentric circles on dough. Start 1 inch from edge, overlapping slices slightly. Fold edge of dough over berries. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.  Whisk together yolk and water. Brush dough with the egg wash, and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Dot berries with butter. Bake until crust is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes.
      4) Meanwhile, combine cream, basil, and sugar in a heatproof bowl. Set bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water, and stir until sugar dissolves, about 4 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 hours for a more pronounced basil flavor). Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. Add mascarpone, and whisk until medium peaks form. Cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 2 hours.
      5) Transfer galette to a serving plate. Serve warm with basil cream and fried basil.

        Duck Breasts with Pomegranate-Wine Sauce

        Duck Breasts with Pomegranate-Wine Sauce

        Serves: 8

        Ingredients:

        3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
        1 1/2 cups minced shallots (about 8 large)
        6 garlic cloves, minced
        1 1/4 cups dry white wine, divided
        3/4 cup dry red wine
        2 14-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth
        1 14-ounce can low-salt beef broth
        3/4 cup fresh orange juice
        2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses*
        3 teaspoons minced fresh marjoram, divided
        1 fresh bay leaf
        4 pounds boneless duck breasts (4 to 8 breast halves, depending on size)
        1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour

        Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté until golden brown, about 18 minutes. Add garlic; sauté 3 minutes. Add 1 cup white wine and 3/4 cup red wine. Boil until most of liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Add both broths, orange juice, pomegranate molasses, 1 teaspoon marjoram, and bay leaf; boil until mixture is reduced to 2 cups, about 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf. (Sauce can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.)

        Set rack at lowest position in oven and preheat to 450°F. Rub meat side of duck breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 2 teaspoons marjoram. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Working in batches, sear breasts, skin side down, in heavy large skillet over high heat until skin browns and fat is rendered, about 8 minutes. Transfer duck breasts, skin side down, to rimmed baking sheet. Drain most of fat from skillet accept 1 1/2 Tbsp and set aside. Roast duck until thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 145°F for medium-rare, about 20 minutes.

        Meanwhile, bring sauce to simmer. Rewarm duck fat in reserved skillet over medium heat. Add flour; stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in sauce. Transfer duck breasts to cutting board. Add 1/4 cup white wine to sheet and scrape up browned bits; add to sauce. Simmer sauce 3 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and pepper. Thinly slice duck breasts and divide among 8 plates. Drizzle with sauce.

        Beet and pomegranate salad

        Beet and pomegranate salad

        Ingredients:

        3 to 4 medium beets
        2 tablespoons pomegranate concentrate or molasses
        2 to 3 tablespoons lemon juice
        2 to 3 small, dried red chile peppers, crushed
        Coarse sea salt
        1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
        1 cup pomegranate seeds
        1/4 cup lightly flavored olive oil

        1. Cook the beets in a covered medium saucepan of boiling water until tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool, peel and cut into very small dice. Place in a medium bowl.

        2. Add the pomegranate concentrate, lemon juice, peppers, one-eighth teaspoon sea salt, or to taste, and combine. Set aside for about 15 minutes.

        3. Toss the beets with the cilantro leaves and pomegranate seeds, drizzle with olive oil and serve

        Caramel Apple Pie

        Caramel Apple Pie

        Ingredients:
        3 cups flour
        pinch salt
        ¾ cup unsalted butter substitute, cold, in chunks
        2 eggs separated
        3 T ice water, plus more if needed
        1 cup sugar, plus ¼ cup for top
        3 T water
        ¼ cup heavy cream or Pareve whipping cream
        ½ cup red wine
        ½ vanilla bean, split and scraped
        1 lemon, halved
        8 apples (Granny Smith or Gala)
        1 T flour
        1 T ground cinnamon
        ¼ cup unsalted butter substitute

        Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour and salt together in large bowl. Cut in chunks of cold butter with pastry blender until the dough resembles cornmeal. Add the 2 egg yolks and the ice water and blend to pull dough together and moisten. Be careful not to overwork the dough. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

        To make the caramel sauce: place the sugar and water in a small pot and cook, stirring constantly, over medium-low heat until the sugar has melted and carmelized, about 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the burner and add the cream and wine slowly. Return it to the flame, add the vanilla bean and heat it slowly, then continue to slowly cook until reduced by half. Remove from the heat and cool until thickened.

        Fill a large bowl with cold water and squeeze in the lemon juice. Peel the apples, cut them in half, and remove the core. Put the apple halves in the lemon-water. Toss the apples with the flour and cinnamon.

        Take the dough out of the refrigerator and cut the ball in half. Rewrap and return 1 of the balls to the refrigerator. Let the dough rest on the counter for 15 minutes. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin and lay it inside a 10-inch glass pie pan. Press the dough into the pan so it fits tightly. Slice a couple of the apples at a time very thinly. Cover the bottom of the pastry with a layer of apples, shingling the slices so there are no gaps. Ladle about 2 ounces of the cooled sauce evenly over the apple slices. Repeat the layers, until the pie is slightly overfilled and domed on the top. Top the apples with pieces of the butter. Roll out the other ball of dough. Brush the bottom lip of the pie pastry with a little beaten egg white to form a seal. Place the pastry circle on top of the pie and trim off the overhanging excess from around the pie. Crimp the edges of dough together with your fingers to make a tight seal. Cut slits in the top of the pie so steam can escape while baking. Place the pie on a sheet tray and tent it with a piece of aluminum foil, so the crust does not cook faster than the apples. Bake the pie for 25 minutes on the middle rack.

        Remove the foil from the pie and brush the top with the remaining egg white. Sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon sugar and return to the oven. Bake for another 25 minutes, until the pie is golden and bubbling. Let the apple pie rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour to allow the fruit pectin to gel and set; otherwise the pie will fall apart when you cut into it. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

        Moist Rosh Hashana Honey Cake

        Moist Rosh Hashana Honey Cake

        Ingredients:
        3 1/2 cups flour
        1 Tbsp baking powder
        1 tsp baking soda
        1/2 tsp salt
        4 tsp ground cinnamon
        1/2 tsp ground allspice (optional)
        1 cup canola oil
        1 cup honey
        1  1/2 cup sugar
        1/2 cup brown sugar
        3 eggs
        1 tsp vanilla
        1 cup warm coffee
        3/4 cup orange juice (preferably fresh)

        Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9″ angel food pan or 10″ tube or bundt pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice.  Make a well and and add oil, honey, sugars, eggs, vanilla, coffee and orange juice. Using electric mixer, combine ingredients well to make a thick batter. Spoon into prepared pan. Place pans on 2 baking sheets stacked and bake until cake springs back, 60-70 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes, invert on wire rack and let cool completely.