Five Layer Mexican Dip

I made this for a football party (bummer, I won't need to make that again this season - I will be ready in a few months Cardinals - I still love you!).  It is very flavorful, and best of all, reasonably healthy.  Ellie Kreiger always has great recipes, and this one is no exception (all the flavors really mesh well together).  It can be made a day ahead, which should save a little time on game day.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, preferably low-sodium, drained and rinsed
• 1 tablespoon minced chipotle pepper in adobo
• 4 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups corn kernels (10-ounce box frozen corn)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 2 ripe avocados
• 4 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced (about 2 cups)
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion
• 1 tablespoon finely diced jalapeno pepper, optional
• 3/4 cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar

Directions

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes more.

Put half of the onion mixture into a food processor with the black beans, chipotle pepper, 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, cumin, water and salt. Puree until smooth. Set aside.

Add the corn to the skillet with the remaining onion mixture and cook for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro leaves.

In a small bowl mash the avocado with the remaining lime juice. In a medium bowl toss together the tomatoes, scallion and jalapeno, if using. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spread the black bean dip into the bottom of an 8 by 8 glass baking or serving dish. Top with the corn mixture, spreading it out to form a single layer over the beans, repeat with the avocado, then the tomatoes. Top with cheese. Serve with baked chips.

Per Serving:

Calories 140; Total Fat 8 g; (Sat Fat 2 g, Mono Fat 3 g, Poly Fat 0.7 g) ; Protein 5g; Carb 16 g; Fiber 5g; Cholesterol 6mg; Sodium 245 mg

Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding Pie with Crème Fraîche Topping

This pie gets requested over and over from my wife for her birthday (and any potluck, Wednesday, etc).  It is a really balanced recipe with great flavors.  It was the "Desert of the Year in Bon Apetitie" and is a crowd pleaser.

An intense dark-chocolate filling topped with sweet-tangy cream.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 1 cup chocolate wafer cookie crumbs (about half of one 9-ounce package; about 23 cookies, finely ground in processor)

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60% cacao), finely chopped

Filling:

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups whole milk, divided
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60% cacao), finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dark rum
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping:

• 1 cup chilled crème fraîche*
• 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Bittersweet chocolate shavings or curls (optional)

Preparation

Crust: Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Blend cookie crumbs and sugar in processor. Add melted butter; process until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides (not rim) of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Bake until crust begins to set and no longer looks moist, pressing gently with back of fork if crust puffs, about 12 minutes. Remove crust from oven, then sprinkle chopped chocolate over bottom of crust. Let stand until chocolate softens, 1 to 2 minutes. Using offset spatula or small rubber spatula, spread chocolate over bottom and up sides of crust to cover. Chill crust until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

Filling: Whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt to blend in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually add 1/3 cup milk, whisking until smooth paste forms. Whisk in remaining milk, then 1/4 cup cream. Using flat-bottom wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, stir mixture constantly over medium heat, scraping bottom and sides of pan until pudding thickens and begins to bubble at edges, about 5 minutes. Add chocolate; stir until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in rum and vanilla. Pour hot pudding into crust and spread evenly. Cool 1 hour at room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap; chill overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.

Topping: Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche, whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl just until stiff peaks form and mixture is thick enough to spread (do not overbeat or mixture may curdle). Spread topping decoratively over top of pie, swirling to create peaks, if desired. DO AHEAD: Pie can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.

Sprinkle chocolate shavings decoratively atop pie, if desired. Cut pie into wedges and serve.

Here is a slice of the pie:

* Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

Best Beef Stew

Best Beef Stew

This recipe is from America's Test Kitchen, and is wonderful.  It takes a bit of time to put together, but is very easy if you follow the directions (and is worth it!)

Serves 6 to 8.   Published January 1, 2010.   From Cook's Illustrated.

Use a good-quality, medium-bodied wine, such as Côtes du Rhône or Pinot Noir, for this stew. Try to find beef that is well marbled with white veins of fat. Meat that is too lean will come out slightly dry. Four pounds of blade steaks, trimmed of gristle and silver skin, can be substituted for the chuck-eye roast. While the blade steak will yield slightly thinner pieces after trimming, it should still be cut into 11/2-inch pieces. Look for salt pork that is roughly 75 percent lean. The stew can be cooled, covered tightly, and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat it gently before serving.

Ingredients

2	medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
4	anchovy fillets , finely minced (about 2 teaspoons)
1	tablespoon tomato paste
1	boneless beef chuck-eye roast (about 4 pounds), trimmed of excess fat, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (see note and step by step below)
2	tablespoons vegetable oil
1	large onion , halved and cut from pole to pole into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 2 cups)
4	medium carrots , peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 2 cups)
1/4	cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2	cups red wine (see note)
2	cups low-sodium chicken broth
2	bay leaves
4	sprigs fresh thyme
4	ounces salt pork , rinsed of excess salt (see note)
1	pound Yukon gold potatoes , scrubbed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2	cups frozen pearl onions , thawed
2	teaspoons unflavored powdered gelatin (about 1 packet)
1/2	cup water
1	cup frozen peas , thawed
	Table salt and ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. combine garlic and anchovies in small bowl; press with back of fork to form paste. Stir in tomato paste and set mixture aside.

2. Pat meat dry with paper towels. Do not season. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over high heat until just starting to smoke. Add half of beef and cook until well browned on all sides, about 8 minutes total, reducing heat if oil begins to smoke or fond begins to burn. Transfer beef to large plate. Repeat with remaining beef and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, leaving second batch of meat in pot after browning.

3. Reduce heat to medium and return first batch of beef to pot. Add onion and carrots to Dutch oven and stir to combine with beef. Cook, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits, until onion is softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add garlic mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until no dry flour remains, about 30 seconds.

4. Slowly add wine, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits. Increase heat to high and allow wine to simmer until thickened and slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Stir in broth, bay leaves, thyme, and salt pork. Bring to simmer, cover, transfer to oven, and cook for 11/2 hours.

5. Remove pot from oven; remove and discard bay leaves and salt pork. Stir in potatoes, cover, return to oven, and cook until potatoes are almost tender, about 45 minutes.

6. Using large spoon, skim any excess fat from surface of stew. Stir in pearl onions; cook over medium heat until potatoes and onions are cooked through and meat offers little resistance when poked with fork (meat should not be falling apart), about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over water in small bowl and allow to soften for 5 minutes.

7. Increase heat to high, stir in softened gelatin mixture and peas; simmer until gelatin is fully dissolved and stew is thickened, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve.

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Just in time for the holidays, a great recipe for some soft, spicy cookies. Ginger Molasses Cookies

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Wet ingredients: 1 cups sugar 3/4 cups (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter 1/4 cup molasses 1 eggs

Dry ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 t. baking soda 1/4 to 1/2 t. salt 11/4 t. cinnamon 1/2 t. ginger 1/8 t. nutmeg

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy.  Add molasses and eggs; beat well.

Whisk dry ingredients in separate bowl to combine.  Add flour mixture to butter mixture in two batches. Mix well until incorporated.

Form dough into walnut-sized balls (or use a small cookie scooper) and arrange onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or silpat.

Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets. Cool on wire racks.

Ellie's Black Bean Dip

This recipe is so easy, and healthy, and really good.  Hopefully this post is in time for a few holiday potlucks, to provide a healthy alternative to all the other fattening dips.  This isn't just good for being healthy, it is delicious regardless.

By Ellie Krieger, MS, RD

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, diced (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 clove garlic, minced (about 1 teaspoon)
• 1 tablespoon seeded and minced jalapeño pepper
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, preferably low-sodium, drained and rinsed
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon water
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and jalapeño and cook for 1 minute.
2. Place the beans in a food processor. Add the onion mixture and the remaining ingredients and process until smooth.

Beef and Macaroni

This recipe is so easy, and a crowd favorite.  This recipe makes a pretty large portion, so I freeze the extra, and reheat it in the microwave later. 

serves 6, prep 15 min, cook 40 min

• 1 pound ground beef, I used the leanest I can get
• 1 red onion, finely diced
• 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 carrots, finely diced (or 10 baby carrots)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 28 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp dried parsley (or dried basil, I was out)
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 2 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups uncooked macaroni noodles
• Red pepper flakes (to taste)

1. First finely dice the onion, pepper, and carrots.
2. Cook the ground beef in a dutch oven, seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain fat and discard.
3. In the same durch oven, heat oil over medium heat and add butter.
4. Add the vegetables and garlic and stir to cook several minutes until soft.
5. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring for a minute.
6. Add the un-drained diced tomatoes to the pan and the cooked ground beef.
7. Add the spices and turn down the heat to a simmer, cover the pan and cook for 30 min.
8. While sauce is cooking bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
9. Cook macaroni until tender, reserve 1 cup of pasta water, drain.  Do not rinse.  If your sauce seems to be drying out at any point add in some of your reserved pasta water as needed.
10. Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper.
11. Combine with noodles. Toss to mix well and separate the noodles. Serve.

My Famous Lemon Bar Recipe

Lemon Bars:

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup butter, softened

* 1/2 cup white sugar

* 2 cups all-purpose flour

* ¼ Tbs Salt

* 4 eggs

* 1 1/2 cups white sugar

* 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

* 4 lemons, juiced (or 3/4 Cup Juice + Rind from 3 Lemons)

*1/4 Teaspoon Salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, blend together softened butter, 2 cups flour and 1/2 cup sugar. Press into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm and golden.

4. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/12 cups sugar and flour. Whisk in the eggs and lemon juice. Pour over the baked crust.

5. Bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven. The bars will firm up as they cool.

For a festive tray, make another pan using limes instead of lemons and adding a drop of green food coloring to give a very pale green. After both pans have cooled, cut into uniform 2 inch squares and arrange in a checker board fashion.