Serves 6 • 2 lbs. fresh, ripe strawberries • 2 cups water • ⅓ cup honey • 2 Tbs. lemon juice • 10 to 12 ice cubes 1. Hull and wash the strawberries, and purée them in a blender with the water, in 2 or 3 batches. Strain the purée through a fine sieve and discard the...
Bean and potato tacos
Serves 4 to 6 • 2 medium-sized potatoes (about 1 lb.) • ½ onion • 3 Tbs. butter • salt and pepper • 14 fresh corn tortillas • vegetable oil for frying • 1½ cups refried beans • hot sauce • garnish • chopped cabbage and tomatoes 1. Peel the potatoes and cut them into...
Eggplant tortilla
Serves 3 to 4 • 3 Tbs. olive oil • 1 large clove garlic, minced • ½ large onion, chopped • 2½ cups small eggplant, cut in ¼-inch dice • 1 tsp. lemon juice • salt to taste • pepper to taste • 5 eggs 1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the garlic, onions,...
Fried mozzarella
Serves 6 • 1½ lbs. mozzarella cheese • 1⅓ cups fine, dry bread crumbs • 3 to 4 Tbs. finely minced fresh parsley • 2 eggs • salt to taste • pepper to taste • approximately 3 to 4 Tbs. flour • approximately ½ to ⅓ cup olive oil • garnish • slices of melon 1. Cut the...
Egg croquettes
Serves 6 to 8 • 5 Tbs. butter • ¾ cup flour • 2 cups warm milk • 1 raw egg • 6 hard-boiled eggs, sieved or finely chopped • 5 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese • 5 Tbs. chopped parsley • 1½ tsp. salt • fresh-ground black pepper to taste • dash of nutmeg • dash of cayenne...
Glazed carrots
Serves 4 to 6 • 1½ lbs. slender carrots • 3 Tbs. butter • ¾ cup water • 2 Tbs. lemon juice • salt to taste • 1 Tbs. cider vinegar • ⅓ cup brown sugar • dash of nutmeg 1. Scrape and trim the carrots and cut them in 1-inch lengths. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a...
French fried mushrooms
The mushrooms can be fried ahead of time and then reheated for about 10 minutes in a very hot oven, but the crusts will lose just a bit of their crispy pizzazz that way. Serves 6 • 1½ lbs. fresh, firm mushrooms • 1 cup dry bread or cracker crumbs • ⅓ cup minced fresh...
Marinated mushrooms
Serves 6 • 1 lb. fresh white mushrooms • 1½ cups water • 1½ cups cider or white vinegar • 1 Tbs. pickling spice, or: • 4 cloves, 4 peppercorns, ¼ tsp. mustard seeds, ½-inch stick cinnamon, pinch of dried rosemary, and 1 bay leaf • 2½ Tbs. olive oil • ¼ tsp. basil,...
Tomato omelets provençale
Serves 4 to 5 • 2¼ lbs. tomatoes (about 8 medium-sized) • 1 tsp. salt, and more to taste • 1 medium-sized yellow onion • 2 cloves garlic • 3 Tbs. olive oil • 2 bay leaves • ½ tsp. dried basil, crushed • ½ tsp. dried tarragon, crushed • 2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley • 5...
Zucchini soufflé
Serves 4 to 6 • 1 lb. fresh zucchini • 1 small yellow onion • 5 Tbs. butter • ¾ tsp. salt, and more to taste • ¼ to ½ tsp. dried basil, crushed • fresh-ground black pepper to taste • 3 Tbs. flour • 1⅓ cups warm milk • 6 egg yolks • 2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese • 7...