Category Archives: Holiday Recipes

Happy New Year Brisket

Posted on September 27, 2011 | 5 comments

Brisket can definitely be an intimidating thing to make. I once made it as a young cook, and it was perfectly inedible. Back then, I couldn’t believe how long it takes to cook, but it does take very long. Now I usually make it in the slow cooker, which is awesome; but I don’t have a slow cooker in New York, and I don’t have time to run out and buy one. So this time I used my trusty Le Creuset, which worked out beautifully. I just finished cooking it and froze it before I took pictures so I will post pics when it defrosts on Thursday. A lot of people have some pretty awesome brisket recipes and I welcome you to send me yours. This really couldn’t be any easier and it’s super tasty. This original recipe came from my friend, Michele (with a few comments from Karyn too.) I did change a few things to the original recipe, but not a lot and I thank Michele for the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

4 lb. brisket (I didn’t need larger but you can adjust this recipe for whatever size brisket you use)

Lawry’s seasoned salt (I’ve never used this before today but I found out it doesn’t contain MSG, as I had previously thought)

2 large Spanish onions (Karyn uses Vidalia, which is also good), sliced thickly

2 cans of tomato sauce , I used the 16 oz. size. You can also use the 1 can of 28 oz. size. It depends on you and how much sauce you like.

2 tbsp. brown sugar (this is my addition. It doesn’t really change the flavor so much as cut the salt a bit)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

I sprinkled Lawry’s seasoned salt on both sides of the brisket (generously) then seared it in the Le Creuset pot with a little vegetable oil–probably about a tablespoon. (After the meat was seared, it shrunk to fit perfectly in my pot but I don’t think that a larger brisket would have fit.) Next, I added the tomato sauce and onions, covered the pot and put it in the oven. I cooked it for a total of 3 hours. I checked on it after each hour, which probably wasn’t even necessary. I then let it cool, off of the heat, for about an hour. Next, I sliced it with an electric knife, which came out beautifully. The meat was soft, but not falling apart at all. I then added the brown sugar to the gravy, put the brisket in a container with the gravy and froze it. I’ll take it out the night before I serve. Karyn pulses her gravy with an immersion blender. I didn’t do this but I think it makes for a good suggestion. In fact, I might still do it on Thursday. I’ll let you know. Thanks again Michele and Karyn!

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Posted in Holiday, Holiday Recipes, meat

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Honey Roasted Chicken – Holiday Chicken

Posted on September 19, 2011 | 4 comments

DSCN4234DSCN4234this recipe was actually given to me by my daughter, jennifer. she has made it numerous times. always to raves from the family. i am going to make it this year for rosh hashana and it is so perfect for Passover.  it is a delicious chicken dish made with honey so it so appropriate for the jewish new year! sweet and savory as our new year should be! enjoy it.  if anyone out there has some holiday ideas i’d love to hear about them. pay attention to cooking directions as you will not be preheating oven!!!!!!

Ingredients:

1 stick butter or margarine

1/2 cup minced yellow onion

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup Dijon Mustard

1/2 cup mild honey

1 teaspoon kosher salt

a rounded teaspoon curry powder

2 tablespoons peach or mango chutney ( available in most supermarkets)

small handful of dried currants or chopped dark raisins

2 roasting chickens  cut up in 8’s

Directions:

you will need 2 shallow baking sheets with 1 inch rims ( you may be able to get it on 1 large sheet)Spray baking sheets well with cooking spray.

to make sauce:

Melt butter/margarine in a heavy 2 quart saucepan over medium heat. while it is bubbling, saute onion and garlic until softened, about 3 – 5 minutes. add remaining ingredients except for chicken and stir until well combined. heat until warm throughout and set aside to cool slightly.

to prepeare chicken:

I would spray each baking sheet with pam cooking spray first

Rinse and pat chicken dry . (each piece) dip each piece in honey mixture, coating chicken completely. lay chicken pieces ( skin side up) on baking sheets. spoon any remaining sauce over chicken.

To Bake Chicken:

place chicken in a cold oven, turn heat to 400 degrees and bake for one hour. if you are using 2 baking sheets , roast in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and switch shelf positions 1/2 way through the cooking time.

to serve:

Transfer chicken to a warmed serving platter and serve . this chicken is good hot, at room temp. and cold out of fridge the next day.

*if you cannot find peach or mango chutney ( I found it at Whole Foods) Stonewall Kitchen Brand , you can use Peach Jam, Apricot Jam, etc. Probably Saucy Susan would work. Use your imagination and don’t kill yourself trying to find the chutney. I think the chutney would give it a bit more kick, and cut the sweet, but either one will be fine.

Happy Holiday and Have a Very Sweet New Year

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Spicy Mixed Nuts – 2 Ways 2 Recipes – Perfect anytime Appetizers

Posted on September 8, 2011 | 1 comment

This is my original favorite nut recipe and it is from Union Square Cafe cookbook. It is the best. I have been making these nuts for years and people always ask for the recipe. I can’t take credit for it but I can add a few useful tips. To avoid the brown sugar being grainy, make sure that the nuts are hot when you mix them, mix well from the bottom of the bowl and follow directions below for the melted butter in the saucepan. The nuts taste best when they are cooled down for a long time and have sat out for a while. They will keep for a long time in an airtight container. This recipe is pretty quick and easy too.

*check out my other nut recipe Sweet and Spicy Nuts for Thanksgiving Recipe also on site.

INGREDIENTS:

I usually start with unsalted nuts. (1/4 lb. of each, but adjust to your liking. You can even use mixed nuts as long as your final count is 2 1/4 cups. Use cashews, walnuts, pecans, almonds, brazil nuts, etc.)

2 tbsp coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tsp dark brown sugar

2 tsp kosher salt

1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Toss the nuts in a large bowl and spread them out on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven until light golden brown–about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the rosemary, cayenne, brown sugar, salt and melted butter. While nuts are hot, thoroughly toss the toasted nuts in the spiced butter. Allow to cool off enough for flavors to soak in.

*You can make this with all cashews

*You can melt the butter in a saucepan and add all ingredients right there. This may prevent grainy brown sugar. I like to do it this way.

*If you like a spicier version, add additional cayenne pepper

Second Recipe for Spicy Mixed Nuts:

Here is another recipe in the event that you don’t like rosemary.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp mustard powder

1/2 cup sugar

Kosher salt

1 large egg white

4 cups mixed, roasted, salted nuts

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use cooking spray (regular Pam is fine).

Mix the cayenne, cinnamon, ginger, mustard powder, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt in a small bowl. Whisk the egg white in a large bowl until frothy. Toss in the nuts, then add the spice mixture and toss until well coated.

Spread the nuts on the baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake until dry–about 45 minutes or so. Let cool completely on the baking sheet.

*If you like them with more heat, add 1-2 teaspoons of Chipotle chili powder to the spice mixture.

Enjoy!

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Posted in appetizers, Holiday, Holiday Recipes, Holiday/ Thanksgiving Recipes

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Sweet and Spicy Nuts – Perfect for Thanksgiving

Posted on June 5, 2011 | 1 comment

photo 4 (3)photo 1 (4)

My inspiration for this recipe came from Barefoot Contessa. I make these and keep them in a baggie or a container. Awesome, thanks Ina. These nuts make the perfect appetizers, no one who eats nuts can resist. I also like mine with a little “kick”, you can manage the heat on these.

ingredients:

vegetable oil

7 cups of nuts (you can break it up any way you want. You can do 7 cups of roasted mixed unsalted nuts or any other combination as long as they equal 7 cups. if you can’t find unsalted nuts, adjust the salt on this recipe as per direction below) 

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

3 tablespoons orange juice (fresh or container. fresh is always best (and one orange will do the trick,) but honestly no biggie.)

2 teaspoons ground chipotle powder–I use 2 teaspoons but if you really like them mild use a little less.

4 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves (divide 2 tablespoons for now and 2 tablespoons for later)

4 teaspoons Kosher salt (also divided 2 for now and 2 for later. don’t add second 2 teaspoons of salt if you bought salted nuts)

Preheat oven to 350

Brush a sheet pan (prefer one with sides) generously with vegetable oil (use a brush, love the silicone brushes)

First, combine nuts, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, maple syrup, brown sugar, orange juice, and chipotle powder in a large bowl (I prefer a large metal bowl). Toss to coat the nuts evenly.

Add 2 tablespoons of the minced rosemary and 2 teaspoons of the kosher salt and give it a good toss (a large metal spoon works the best b/c it can get a little sticky with a wooden spoon.)

Spread nuts in a single layer on sheet pan.

Roast nuts for 25 minutes, stirring twice. You will want to take them out of the oven to stir them b/c they may slide off the tray. Use a metal spatula. Roast for the rest of the 25 minutes until nuts are glazed .

Remove from the oven, and sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons of kosher salt (only if they were unsalted) and add the remaining 2 tablespoons of rosemary.

Toss well and set aside at room temp.

While they are cooling, stir them up a few times b/c they may stick together.

Taste for seasoning. They really don’t achieve full flavor until they fully cool. So you won’t know how spicy they are until they sit for a while. I’ve made these a million times and can tell you that this amount of chipotle has kick, but not psycho hot.

Serve warm, or let them cool. Put them in a container and serve whenever you like. They stay good for a long time.

*just a note: you can adjust salt, rosemary, and chipotle to your liking. I have recipe for Union Square Nuts and they don’t have chipotle and are also delish but I prefer these b/c I love the heat of the chipotle!

Enjoy!

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Posted in appetizers, Holiday, Holiday Recipes, Holiday/ Thanksgiving Recipes, snacks

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