Saturday, February 07, 2015

Pumpkin Ravioli



  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 1 can (15 Oz. Size) Pumpkin Puree
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Chili Powder (more To Taste)
  • 1/4 cup Pine Nuts
  • 1 stick Butter
  • 36 whole Wonton Wrappers
  • 1 whole Egg, Beaten
  •  Black Pepper To Taste
  •  Fresh Parmesan
  •  Fresh Sage, Sliced Very Thin

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter with the garlic in a skillet over medium heat and cook for a couple of minutes to release the garlic flavor. Add the pumpkin puree, salt and chili powder. Stir and cook over medium heat for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Toast pine nuts in a small skillet over medium-low heat, tossing occasionally, until golden. Remove from heat and pour the pine nuts onto a small plate. 
In a small skillet (you can use the same one you toasted the pine nuts in) brown the butter by melting it over medium-high heat, then letting it cook and bubble for an additional minute or so until the foam is golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside. 
Assemble the ravioli: Lay out 18 wonton wrappers and put 1/2 teaspoon of the pumpkin mixture in the center. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Using your finger, smear the egg mixture all over the surface of one of the wrappers surrounding the pumpkin. Place a clean wrapper on top, matching up the edges. Press the edges together and use your fingers to press out any air pockets that form. Repeat with the rest of the wrappers. (Keep in mind the wrappers dry out quickly, so you might want to assemble 9 ravioli at a time, keeping the other wrappers covered.)
(If you like, you can trim the raviolis using a circular or square cutter to make the edges uniform. Totally optional!)
Bring a pot of water to a boil. 3 at a time, drop the ravioli into the water and cook for about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spatula and put the ravioli on a plate. Continue cooking the ravioli in batches of 3. 
To serve, spoon a little browned butter onto each plate and smear it around. Place 3 ravioli on each plate, then spoon a little more browned butter over the top. Sprinkle on toasted pine nuts, sprinkle with a little black pepper, and sprinkle on shaved Parmesan. Finally, sprinkle on the sage and serve!

Friday, February 06, 2015

Orange Chicken

  • Vegetable Or Peanut Oil For Frying
  • 4 whole Egg Whites
  • 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
  • 4 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, Cut Into Bite Sized Pieces
  •  Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup Orange Juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon Packed Brown Sugar (OR White Sugar OR Honey)
  • 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar (or Regular Distilled Vinegar)
  • 1/4 teaspoon Sesame Oil
  •  Dash Of Salt
  •  Dash Of Crushed Red Pepper, More To Taste
  • 1 clove Garlic, Pressed Or Minced
  • 2 teaspoons Minced Ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Cornstarch (additional)
  •  Zest Of 1 Orange (optional)
  • 1/4 cup Water
  • 2 whole Green Onions, Sliced



Preparation Instructions

For the chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and egg whites with a fork until almost frothy, about 1 minute. Add the chicken to the mixture and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
For the sauce: Meanwhile, put the orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, salt, crushed red pepper, garlic and ginger (and orange zest, if using) in a small nonstick skillet and whisk together. Heat until bubbling and starting to thicken, about 3-4 minutes.
Whisk together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch slurry to the sauce. Mix in and thicken for 1 minute. (If sauce gets overly thick, just add in another 1/4 cup water and whisk in.)
Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 350 degrees F. In batches, carefully drop a few pieces of chicken into the oil (drop them in one by one to keep them from sticking together) and move it around, 2-3 minutes or until light golden. Let the pieces drain on a plate lined with paper towels for 2 to 3 minutes. Then drop them back into the oil for 1 minute to really solidify the coating.
Toss the chicken in the sauce and serve immediately with orange zest and sliced green onions on the top.