Cheftionary

A stock is a very flavorsome liquid made by simmering animal carcass and/or vegetables in water and aromatics until their flavor is extracted. Usually used as a base for soups, sauces, braising liquids and several other culinary preparations. There are several different types of stock, here are a few of them I use. *Simple stock- combine flavoring ingredients with water and simmer for a specific amount of time (cooking times may very according to the type of stock your making). Chicken stock, vegetable stock and fish stock are examples of simple stocks. They are normally used to prepare soups, grains and vegetables. Skim often. *White stock- a neutral flavored stock made by blanching the bones in water before marrying them with water, vegetables and herbs. The most common whites stocks are made from beef or veal. White stocks are great for adding body to certain dishes without changing the flavor much. *Seafood stock- made from shrimp and lobster shells, some fish heads or bones.

Gathering and making sure you have the right equipment and ingredients (mise en place) is very important when making a good stock. The size and shape of the pot used to cook the stock plays a major role in assuring that your stock is rich in flavor, full-bodied and have a great color. The stockpot used should hold all of the ingredients and the liquids and still have at least 3 inches of space left over at the top of the pot. Stockpots are always taller than they are wide because the shape helps to create a good stock. The smaller suface area helps to better extract the flavors from the ingredients and it encourages convection by bringing all of the impurities to the top of the stock to be skimmed away more easily. The best selection of the ingredients determines if you are going to have rich flavorful, full-bodied stock or not. There is nothing like having a delicious stock to flavor soups, stews and sauces.

A thickening agent for soups and sauces including a mixture of egg yolks and cream, beurre manie and slurries. If tempered correctly, it should give the dish more body and a smooth tight texture. Basic ratio: 3 parts cream and 1 part egg yolk.

4 Red Bell Peppers ⅔ C Extra Virgin Olive Oil 5 Whole Garlic Cloves 5 Sprigs fresh Thyme 1 Tbsp Salt 1 Tbsp fresh Cracked Black Pepper Preheat oven to 375°F. In a medium-sized, deep baking pan with a lip, add all ingredients, making sure to completely coat the bell peppers in oil. Place in oven and roast for 30 to 45 minutes, ¼ turning every 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven and immediately cover pan tightly with foi aluminum foil. Set aside until peppers are cool enough to handle. Once peppers are cooled, remove from pan and place peppers in a bowl. Remove stems, seeds and outer skin from the peppers and discard. Place peppers in a tightly sealed container along with any oil in the bottom of the bowl. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. ** to make a pepper medley, use a variety of peppers, red, yellow, green, orange * *

2 oz Butter 2 Garlic Cloves (chopped) 4 C Spinach (chiffonade) 2 oz White Wine 1 tsp Salt ½ tsp Black Pepper 6 Soft Flour Tortillas Shells 20 oz Enchilada Sauce (previous recipe) 10 oz Mozzarella Cheese (shredded) 10 oz Cheddar Cheese (shredded) Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium-sized sauté pan, over medium-high heat, melt butter and add garlic. Sauté for 30 to 45 second then add spinach and sauté. Deglaze with white wine and add salt and pepper. Sauté for about 10 to 15 seconds, just enough to coat the spinach with the wine and garlic mixture. Strain immediately and set aside. Warm tortilla shells in the oven for about 1 minute. Remove shells and mix both cheeses together in a separate bowl. Spread about 1 oz of the mixed cheeses on each tortilla shell. Cover cheese with about 1½ oz of enchilada sauce. Spread spinach over sauce and roll the tortilla shells. Arrange enchiladas in a large baking dish and pour remaining sauce evenly over enchiladas. Top with cheese. Bake en

1# Ground Beef 1 Red Bell Pepper (medium dice) 1 Yellow Bell Pepper (medium dice) 1 medium Yellow Onion (medium dice) 1 Jalapeño Pepper (small dice) 4 Garlic Cloves (chopped) 3 oz White Wine 1 C Water 1 gl Tomato Sauce (previous recipe) ⅔ C Cumin Powder ⅔ C Chili Powder ¼ C Paprika ⅛ C Garlic Powder ⅛ C Onion Powder 2 Tbsp Salt 1 Tbsp Black Pepper ¼ C Fresh Basil (chopped) ¼ C Green Onions (chopped) Brown ground beef in a medium-sized stockpot, over medium-high heat. Once beef has browned, add bell peppers, jalapeño and garlic. Sauté about 4 to 5 minutes, when onions has started to become translucent, reglaze with white wine and add water. Add tomato sauce and reduce heat to a simmer. Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Continue to simmer for about 20 to 25 minutes. Add basil and green onions and simmer for another 3 to 5 minutes, stirring to incorporate ingredients. Sauce is ready for use or refrigerated for up to 4 days