Collected Yum

Ingredients 1 (5-pound) watermelon 1 Vidalia or other sweet onion 1/4 cup red wine vinegar Salt and pepper 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 6 whole mint sprigs Directions Cut the flesh from the melon and cut into bite size pieces, removing and discarding the seeds, and set aside. Peel and slice the onion into rings. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, pepper, and whisk until salt is dissolved. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, a few drops at a time. Add in the chopped mint, taste, and adjust seasonings. In a large bowl, combine the melon, onion, and feta. Pour the dressing over the melon mixture and toss gently until everything is coated and evenly mixed. Garnish with mint sprigs. To serve, divide salad among individual plates and garnish with mint leaves.

Ingridients: 12 oz. torn fresh spinach (about 10 cups) 3 c. halved or sliced fresh strawberries 1/3 c. slice green onion 1/3 c. salad oil 3 tbsp. lemon juice 1 c. broken walnuts 2 tbsp. toasted seasame seed (opt.) In a bowl place torn spinach, strawberries, and green onions. Cover and chill up to 2 hours. For citrus dressing, measure salad oil, add lemon juice. Seal, shake well, chill. Shake citrus dressing again and pour over the spinach, strawberry mixture. Top with walnuts and optional toasted seasame seed. Toss salad lightly to coat. Serve immediately. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Ingridients: 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken, chopped into bite sized pieces 1 egg 1 1/2 teaspoons salt white pepper oil (for frying) 1/2 cup cornstarch, plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/4 cup flour 1 tablespoon gingerroot, minced 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon crushed hot red chili pepper 1/4 cup green onion, chopped 1 tablespoon rice wine 1/4 cup water 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Orange Sauce for Stir Fry 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons water 5 tablespoons sugar 5 tablespoons white vinegar 1 orange, zest of Change Measurements: US | Metric Directions: Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 45 mins 1 Place chicken pieces in large bowl. 2 Stir in egg, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon oil and mix well. 3 Stir cornstarch and flour together. 4 Mix flour mixture and egg mixture. 5 Add chicken pieces, stirring to coat. 6 Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep-fryer to 375 degrees. 7 Add chicken, small batches at a time, and fry 3 to 4 minutes or u...

All credits to: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/01/dry-fried-chicken-recipe.html Ingredientsserves 4 people, active time 30 minutes, total time 15 minutes Ingridients: 2 celery stalks, outer stems peeled 1 pound boneless chicken, chopped into 1-inch chunks 3 scallions, ends trimmed ¼ cup peanut oil 8 dried hot red chiles (preferably Sichuan chiles) 1 teaspoon whole Sichuan peppercorns 1 ½ tablespoons chili bean paste 1 tablespoon Shaoxing rice wine or medium-dry sherry 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce Salt 2 teaspoons sesame oil Procedures 1 Slice celery at steep angle into ½-inch slices. Set aside and toss with pinch of salt. Slice scallions at steep angle into ½-inch slices. Transfer to same bowl as celery. 2 Pour oil into large wok set over high heat. When smoking, add chicken. Stir-fry until chicken has lost much of its water, about 5 minutes. 3 Reduce heat to medium, and add chiles and Sichuan pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add chili bea...

2 cups (500 mL) heavy whipping cream ½ cup (125 mL) maple syrup 2 large eggs 2 egg yolks 1 tablespoon (15 mL) pure vanilla extract 1 vanilla bean, scraped ¼ cup (50 mL) maple sugar or packed brown sugar Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a baking pan with a double thickness of paper towels and put the ramekins in the pan. Fill a kettle with water and bring water to a boil. In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, heat cream with syrup and scraped vanilla bean. Bring mixture to a boil. Remove immediately from the heat and let cool slightly. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, egg yolks and vanilla until combined. Continue whisking and slowly drizzle in a bit of the hot cream mixture to temper, or warm, the eggs so they won't curdle. Keep whisking and slowly pour in the remaining cream mixture. Skim any foam off the top of the mixture. Pour mixture into six 2/3-cup ramekins. Carefully place the baking pan into the oven. Then pour enough hot water from the kettle into the baking pan so...

(Yields: 28 cream puffs.) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup whole milk 1 stick cold butter, cut into pieces ½ tsp. Kosher salt 4 large eggs 1 cup chopped chocolate (I used bittersweet) ½ cup heavy cream Vanilla ice cream, for serving Bring the first 3 ingredients to a boil to melt butter; add all of the flour at once, beating vigorously with a spoon until dough pulls away from the pan. Stir and cook over low heat about 30 seconds or until a thin film forms on the bottom of the pan. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until dough is shiny and not pasty. (If it is too thick, stir in a little milk to loosen it slightly.) Spoon dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake in a preheated 375˚ oven about 20 to 25 minutes or until puffed and evenly golden (you’ll know they’re done when the cracks that form are golden, too, and no longer pale). Transfer cream puffs to a wire rack to cool completely. To make sauce, gently heat chocolate, heavy cream and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan...

from MarthaStewart.com by Ralph Rucci Serves 2 Ingredients: Cake 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature cocoa powder, for dusting molds 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1/8 cup sugar 1 tsp all-purpose flour Confectioners sugar, if desired for dusting finished cake Ingredients: Whipped Cream 1 cup whipping cream 2 tbls sugar Directions: Cake Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Butter the 2 – 4 ounce ramekins and lightly dust the inside of each with cocoa powder, tapping out excess. Heat butter and chocolate in heat proof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water until chocolate is almost completely melted. Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk egg, egg yolk, and sugar until light and thick. Slowly add butter mixture to mixer, add flour and mix until combined. Divide batter between ramekins. Place on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Cook for 7 – 10 minutes – sides should be set and center soft. Direction: Whipp...