New Year's Eve

Pink Grapefruit & Avocado Salad

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:14:40 +0000

This is a special-occasion salad that pairs grapefruit segments with creamy avocado, pungent red onion, crunchy pomegranate seeds and aromatic, herby basil. Look for grapefruit with firm, shiny skin that are heavy for their size, which means they will have lots of juice. Store grapefruit for 1 week at room temperature or 1 month in the refrigerator.

Chilled Key Lime Mousse

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:01:42 +0000

Chilled Key Lime Mousse

This refreshing chilled Key lime mousse is a perfect union of cream and foam, tangy lime and soft sweet custard. The method is simple but a little unusual—you make a custard with fresh Key lime juice rather than milk or cream. Key limes, which are about the size of a Ping-Pong ball, are wonderfully fragrant and more acidic than regular limes. They are available all year at well-stocked supermarkets. If you can’t find them, by all means use regular limes.

Sweetened Ricotta & Apricot Crepes

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:02:51 +0000

Sweetened Ricotta & Apricot Crepes

Lightly sweetened ricotta, toasted almonds and a drizzle of apricot jam give these crepes a sophisticated edge. Try them for brunch or dessert.

Sausage & Applesauce Brunch Crepes

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:46:19 +0000

Sausage & Applesauce Brunch Crepes

Applesauce, turkey sausage and Cheddar turn crepes into a hearty brunch dish. Serve with a green salad and fresh fruit.

Mushroom & Spinach Crepes

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:38:34 +0000

Mushroom & Spinach Crepes

Try these crepes, filled with spinach and meaty mushrooms and topped with crumbled goat cheese, for a light supper with a salad on the side.

Banana-Caramel Crepes with Nutella

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:21:56 +0000

Banana-Caramel Crepes with Nutella

Try these banana and Nutella crepes for a special brunch or luscious dessert. In this method, we fold the crepe into a square leaving a little “window” in the middle to show off what’s inside. Feel free to roll or fold your crepes around your filling any way you choose.

Individual Brussels Sprout & Potato Frittatas

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:11:59 +0000

Individual Brussels Sprout & Potato Frittatas

Brussels sprouts and preshredded potatoes make these oversized muffin-shaped frittatas hearty. They’re as good served warm for dinner as they are at room temperature for lunch. Pair with a mixed green salad with cherry tomatoes and buttermilk dressing.

"Use a Spoon" Chopped Salad

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:42:01 +0000

"Use a Spoon" Chopped Salad

When Paul Newman and Michel Nischan opened their Westport, Connecticut, restaurant Dressing Room, Paul’s request was that the menu always include a chopped salad that you could eat with a spoon. This chopped salad recipe is full of great flavors, colors and textures, featuring celery, carrots, red pepper, apple, cucumber, greens, cabbage, goat cheese and almonds. This is great for any holiday meal: you can let it stand and it stays crisp.

Caviar-Egg Gem

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:03:20 +0000

Caviar-Egg Gem

Sliced eggs and ruby-colored salmon roe top whole-grain crackers for a sophisticated appetizer.

Pepper & Sopressata Bruschetta

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:45:52 +0000

Pepper & Sopressata Bruschetta

We love the taste of these zesty Italian-style one-bite appetizers—topped with sopressata, red pepper spread and fresh mozzarella—on thin-sliced toasted focaccia bread. If you can’t find focaccia, toasted slices of baguette are a good substitute.

Goat Cheese & Veggie Morsel

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:28:02 +0000

Goat Cheese & Veggie Morsel

Crackers topped with tangy goat cheese and a confetti of vegetables make a terrific vegetarian appetizer. Use soft goat cheese, plain or herbed, for easy spreading.

Feta & Cucumber Nip

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:18:47 +0000

Feta & Cucumber Nip

Crunchy pita chips make the perfect base for this ultra-quick olive, cucumber and feta appetizer. If you can’t find baby cucumber, cut a regular cucumber into thin slices that are approximately the same size as your pita chips.

Deconstructed Spicy Crab Roll

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:00:57 +0000

Deconstructed Spicy Crab Roll

Top rice crackers with pickled ginger and crabmeat for a sushi-bar-inspired appetizer. For the best flavor, use refrigerated pasteurized crabmeat labeled “jumbo.” Try a dollop of wasabi on top for extra zing.

Blue Corn Botanita

Sarah Hoff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:39:09 +0000

Blue Corn Botanita

Top blue corn tortilla chips with mango slices, cotija cheese and a squeeze of lime juice for a colorful appetizer. Blue corn tortilla chips make these Mexican-style appetizers pretty, but any variety will work. Look for cotija cheese, a type of aged Mexican cheese, near other specialty cheeses or in Mexican grocery stores. You may also find it labeled “queso añejo” or “queso añejado.” Finely crumbled Parmesan cheese can be used as a substitute.

Savory Chestnut Puree

Erin McCormick-Interactive Producer — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:01:32 +0000

Savory Chestnut Puree

Try this easy, elegant chestnut puree with roasted quail, turkey or chicken.