Chef's Notes Plus

10 Drinkable Soups for Outdoor Gatherings

During these cold winter months, our gatherings are typically indoor and out of the elements. But this year is unlike others, and many of us are taking our socially-distant get-togethers outside. Eating outside can be a challenge, since your hands are cold, your face is cold, and your food gets […]

Desserts

Apple Strudel

Makes 6 servings Strudels are known for their paper-thin, flaky crust, which takes some patience, but is worth the effort. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be strudel-ing all of your favorite fillings. You can even use this dough with savory fillings, like seared mushrooms and goat cheese. […]

Main Dishes

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Makes 4 servings Ingredients 4 small sweet potatoes, scrubbed 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided use Kosher salt, to taste 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced Freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 lb 8 oz mixed mushrooms, like oyster, shiitake, or cremini, cut into bite-sized […]

Soups and Stews

Beef Chili

Makes 6 servings Ingredients 3 lb boneless beef shoulder 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds, or 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 tablespoon whole coriander seeds, or 2 teaspoon ground coriander 1 tablespoon sweet chili powder 1 tablespoon medium hot chili powder 1 tablespoon smoked Spanish paprika 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 […]

Beverages and Cocktails

Boulevardier

Makes 1 serving This drink is a cousin of the Negroni, replacing gin with bourbon. You can also add your own fun twist to this cocktail by replacing the Campari with other bitters like Gran Classico, Cynar, Cardamaro, Aperol, Ramazzotti, Averna, Nonino, Suze, or Bruto Americano. Ingredients 1 oz bourbon […]

Side Dishes

Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Glaze

Makes 4 servings Brussels sprouts, a member of the cabbage family, are usually available fresh from late summer to late winter. Select small, bright-green sprouts with closed leaves. The smaller Brussels sprouts are more tender than the larger ones. If the Brussels sprouts are to be served with a meat […]

Soups and Stews

Catalan Beef Stew

Makes 4 servings This Spanish dish marries a flavorful cut of beef from the shoulder with some typical Catalonian ingredients: oranges, olives, red wine, and bacon. Bitter oranges are traditional, but if you don’t have access to a bitter orange, use a Valencia (juice) orange and a touch of lime […]

Pies and Tarts

Chai Vanilla Tart

Makes one tart – 8-10 servings Tart Filling Ingredients 1/3 cup sugar 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 3/4 cups milk 1 egg 2 egg yolks 2 chai tea bags 1 tbsp unsalted butter 1/2 tsp vanilla extract Ground cinnamon, as needed Sweetened whipped cream, for topping Directions In a medium bowl, […]