Cat Cora's Classics with a Twist: Fresh Takes on Favorite Dishes
200
Cat Cora's Classics with a Twist: Fresh Takes on Favorite Dishes
200eBook
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Overview
On the wildly popular show Iron Chef America, Cat Cora fires up the imagination of millions of cooks by improvising exciting dishes while the clock is ticking. Now in Cat Cora’s Classics with a Twist, she shares recipes she makes where cooking really counts: at home.
If you’re searching for casual fare that looks as if you spent hours on it (but takes a fraction of the time), you’ll want to try tomato-mozzarella skewers with Blood Mary vinaigrette (witch crispy onion rings on the side), fettucine with scallops and lime, and blueberry-lemon poppyseed upside-down cake.
And if you need fast, healthful meals, you’ll find delicious inspiration in this book. These are the meals Cat puts together after work for her own family, including her four boys under the age of seven: enchilada pie, easy chicken curry, bucatini pasta with bacon, and crispy baked fish sticks with honey mustard dipping sauce.
Wish your favorite dishes were a little faster, fresher, and brighter-flavored? Then you’ll welcome Cat’s take on the classics: baked “fried calamari, soft tacos with grilled flank steak and pineapple salsa, and cherry-filled chocolate cupcakes. Many, like Greek-style nachos, “pulled pork” sloppy joes, and red velvet coconut cake, are Cat’s spins on foods she enjoyed as a child growing up in a Greek family in the South.
Cat helps you sneak out a few calories (when it improves the taste) and freshen things up, slipping chipotle chili croutons into Caesar salad or lemongrass into coq au vin. She reveals the secrets she learned over decades of cooking in restaurants. Best of all, Cat shows you how to “twist” these recipes, changing each one in subtle or dramatic ways the next time to make it your very own.
Praise for Cat Cora's Classics with a Twist
“When . . . Cora sets out to provide unique flavors, she delivers. . . . Her more than 100 recipes touch on every part of the menu, adding not only new tastes, but also new knowledge.” —Booklist
“Easily identifiable recipes like Chili and Minestrone are infused with Cora's signature zesty flair . . . and she certainly proves she's got a lot to offer. . . . Readers will easily identify with Cora's laid back, family-style approach to cooking, and find effective and valuable tips throughout. Over seventy full-color photos add style and remind the reader that casual trumps extravagant in Cora's kitchen. Her book will appeal to the home cook who wants to break from the monotony of the weeknight meal.” —Publishers Weekly
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780547487496 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins |
| Publication date: | 12/15/2023 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 200 |
| File size: | 9 MB |
About the Author
hunger-related causes. The mother of four boys, she is the author of Cooking
from the Hip, and she recently launched the restaurants CCQ at Macy’s in Costa
Mesa, California, and Kouzzina at Walt Disney World.
Ann Krueger Spivack co-wrote Cooking from the Hip and is a co-writer of The Essence of Chocolate and Elizabeth Faulkner's Demolition Desserts.
Read an Excerpt
CAT CORA'S CLASSICS WITH A TWIST
fresh takes on favorite dishesBy cat cora ann krueger spivack
houghton mifflin harcourt
Copyright © 2010 Cat CoraAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-547-12603-6
Chapter One
appetizers and drinksEntertaining should be your time to unwind and relax. If the thought of preparing a complicated meal stresses you out, simplify. Keep it casual, and invite friends over for just a drink and a bite. On a spectacular sunny day, ring up your friends for a spur-of-the-moment game of horseshoes, and serve royal gin and tonics outside with smoked salmon and wasabi tea sandwiches. These open-faced sandwiches might look demure, but they pack a flavor wallop and couldn't be easier to make.
Or invite a crowd to watch the big game, and set out a buffet of classic bar foods with a twist: jalapeño poppers, Greek-style nachos, pepper-filled quesadillas, individual-sized seven-layer dips, and my take on chips and dip-warm onion dip with homemade sesame pita chips. Cold beers, great company, and you're good to go.
greek-style nachos....2
warm onion dip....4
sesame pita chips....5
baked jalapeño poppers....6
stuffed mushrooms....8
crustless quiche....10
mini seven-layer dips....11
smoked salmon and wasabi tea sandwiches....12
baked "fried" calamari with marinara dipping sauce....14
grilled pepper (rajas) quesadillas....18
pom kir royal....21
farmers' market bloody mary....24
twist it: fast bloody mary with turkey jerky swizzle stick....26
royal gin and tonic....27
greek-style nachos
SERVES 6 TO 8
My grandmother came to the U.S. from the Greek island of Skópelos when she was pregnant with my father. Every time I go to Greece, I learn more about Greece and my family as well as about food, but it goes both ways: my Greek cousins also want me to make American dishes, which is how this hybrid came about during a recent visit. Ever since we've returned from that trip, nachos at my house are always Greek-style. Thanks to olives, garlic, herbs, and roasted red peppers, these nachos have more flavor than the standard, restaurant-style kind.
roasted red pepper salsa
1/2 cup strips jarred roasted red pepper or 1 large red bell pepper, roasted (see page 18) 1 teaspoon minced garlic Kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
for the salsa: Chop the peppers and mix in a small bowl with the garlic, a pinch of salt, and the oregano. Stir in the olive oil. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes to meld the flavors. (The salsa can be covered and refrigerated up to 1 day ahead.)
nachos
2 6-ounce bags pita chips or Sesame Pita Chips (page 5) 2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese 8 ounces (1 cup) mild feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup thinly sliced pepperoncini 1/2 cup pitted and sliced green Greek olives (such as Mt. Athos) 1/4 cup pitted and sliced kalamata olives 1/2 cup quartered cherry tomatoes 1/2 cup nonfat Greek-style plain yogurt (such as Fage)
for the nachos: Preheat the oven to 350?F. Remove the salsa from the fridge.
Spread the pita chips in a single layer on a baking sheet or a large heatproof platter. Sprinkle both cheeses evenly over the chips. Scatter the pepperoncini over the cheese. Bake the chips just until the cheese is melted, 7 to 10 minutes. Scatter the olives and cherry tomatoes over the chips. Spoon some of the salsa on the nachos and dab on small dollops of yogurt. Serve the nachos right away with the remaining salsa on the side for dipping.
TWIST IT
smooth salsa: Chop the garlic and oregano coarsely and add them, with the roasted pepper and a pinch of salt, to a food processor. Pulse until pureed. With the motor running, pour in the olive oil and puree until completely smooth. Scrape the puree into a small bowl and mix in the yogurt until blended. Taste and add more salt if necessary. Drizzle over the prepared nachos in a lattice pattern.
cat's note: If your food processor is larger than 1 quart, you may need to double the salsa ingredients; serve any leftover salsa with eggs or grilled meat the next day.
warm onion dip
SERVES 4 TO 6
This warm, creamy dip has a sweet caramelized onion and chive flavor that puts store-bought kinds to shame. Most of these ingredients are already in your fridge or pantry, and the dip takes about the same amount of time to make as you'd spend driving to the grocery store to buy the ready-made version.
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup finely chopped onion (Vidalia, Walla Walla, Maui, or yellow) 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup sour cream 1/2 cup finely grated sharp white cheddar 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (more if desired) 1 /2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives Tortilla chips, Sesame Pita Chips (page 5), or crackers
Preheat the oven to 350?F.
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until it is hot but not yet shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until it just begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Remove from the heat and let cool for about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar, Tabasco, and salt. Add the onion and stir until evenly distributed. Spread the dip in a shallow 5-by-7-inch baking dish and bake until bubbling and slightly browned, about 20 minutes. Stir in the chives. Serve warm with the chips or crackers.
sesame pita chips
MAKES ABOUT 10 CUPS CHIPS
Homemade pita chips win hands down over store-bought. For another great way to use leftover pita, see Pita Bread Salad (page 37).
6 whole pita bread rounds 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 1-2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
Preheat the oven to 350?F and position racks in upper and lower third.
Cut the pita bread into half rounds and slice each half into 2 single-layer halves. Slice each half into 4 wedges.
Place the wedges in a large bowl and drizzle the olive oil over them. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds. With two large spoons or your fingers, gently toss until each pita triangle has a light coating of oil and seeds.
Spread the pita in a single layer on two baking sheets. Bake for about 4 minutes. Switch the baking sheets from top to bottom and vice versa, rotating each pan 180 degrees. Bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, or until the chips are golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle sea salt over the chips while they're still warm. Let cool completely and serve. (The pita chips are best when served fresh, but they can be stored in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag for 1 to 2 days.)
baked jalapeño poppers
SERVES 4 TO 6; MAKES 12 TO 18 JALAPEÑOS
Spicy peppers with a smooth cheese filling and a warm, crunchy coating are irresistible, but I draw the line at deep-frying. My version is light and crispy, and you taste the pepper instead of oil. Reduced-fat cream cheese brings the peppers' flavor forward.
I know some people turn up their noses at garlic powder, but this is the flavor I want here.
12-18 fresh jalapeño peppers (depending on size) 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) light or regular cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese, preferably Greek 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh oregano 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons buttermilk (shake before measuring) 1 cup panko crumbs or plain dried bread crumbs 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 350?F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.
Cut each jalapeño in half lengthwise, cut off the stem, and scrape out the seeds. Set aside the peppers and rinse your fingers.
In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese, feta, oregano, and garlic powder.
In a small bowl, beat the eggs and buttermilk together. Pour the panko crumbs into a wide, shallow dish or onto a plate. In another shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
Spread about 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture in the center of each jalapeño half. Dredge the jalapeño in the seasoned flour, dip it into the egg mixture, and dredge in the crumbs, pressing lightly so the crumbs coat the pepper all around. If the coating doesn't stick, repeat until you have a nice thick coating. Gently set the coated peppers, cheese side up, on the baking sheet. Bake until the filling is bubbling and the crust is golden, 30 to 40 minutes.
Remove from the oven, let the poppers cool for 5 to 10 minutes, and serve warm.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from CAT CORA'S CLASSICS WITH A TWIST by cat cora ann krueger spivack Copyright © 2010 by Cat Cora. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
introduction....................xappetizers and drinks....................1
soups and salads....................29
main dishes and sides....................83
desserts....................155
good to know....................201
resources....................213
index....................217