AprilAbrantes' profile page
Recipes
Steak Salad
By AprilAbrantes
In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, Belgian endive, red onion, baby arugula and cherry tomatoes, and half...
- Red Wine Vinaigrette:
- 1/2 head romaine lettuce, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 large head Belgian endive, thinly sliced crosswise (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced into rings
- 3 cups fresh baby arugula
- 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 ounces Gorgonzola, coarsely crumbled
- Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pound steak (such as New York, rib-eye or filet mignon), pan-fried or grilled and chilled
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup olive oil
Spaghetti and Meatball Cake
By AprilAbrantes
Cake
- Vanilla Buttercream:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
- 3 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups sifted cake flour
- 1 1/3 cups sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups hot coffee
- Vanilla Buttercream, recipe follows
- Chocolate Truffle Meatballs, recipe follows
- Strawberry puree, recipe follows
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 egg whites (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 cups butter, cut up
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Truffles:
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 12 ounces best-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 1/2 pounds semisweet chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups Dutch-process cocoa powder
Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina
By AprilAbrantes
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
- 1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
- 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish
Lemon Bars
By AprilAbrantes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
- For the crust:
- 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- For the filling:
- 6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
- 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 cup flour
- Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Lentil Soup
By AprilAbrantes
Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 pound lentils (approximately 1 1/4 cups)
- 11 cups low-salt chicken broth
- 4 to 6 fresh thyme sprigs
- 2/3 cup dried elbow pasta
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan
Baby Lettuce Salad with Herbed Red Wine Vinaigrette and Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano
By AprilAbrantes
In a mixing bowl combine the vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt and pepper and whisk to combine
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced shallot
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, such as basil, chives, parsley, thyme, rosemary
- 10 ounces baby lettuces, such as tango and lollo rosso
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pitted black olives, such as oil-cured or kalamata
- 1/3 cup (1 to 1 1/2 ounces) thinly shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano
Cookie Dough Truffles
By AprilAbrantes
In a large bowl cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
- 1 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
By AprilAbrantes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
- Ingredients
- 4 split (2 whole) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin on
- Good olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 cup good mayonnaise, plus more for the bread
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves
- 1 cup small-diced celery (2 stalks)
- 8 to 10 slices health or seven-grain bread
- 1 package mesclun salad mix
Orzo with Chick Peas
By AprilAbrantes
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil
- Salt
- 1/2 pound orzo
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small to medium zucchini, diced
- 1/2 red onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 (15-ounce) can chick peas, drained
- 1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup mint leaves, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup feta or goat cheese, crumbled
Turkey and Cranberry Ravioli
By AprilAbrantes
To make the ravioli: in a medium bowl, stir together the turkey, cranberry sauce, cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, eg...
- Ravioli:
- 1/4 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat
- 2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
- 2 tablespoons grated Romano
- 1 tablespoon bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 20 store-bought wonton wrappers
- Gravy:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper