Searching4Zen

Welcome to Searching4Zen, a recipe sharing and blog discussing adventures in Food & Wine, Travel and Cycling. We hope you will register with us and share your comments.

  • Asian Mole

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    Ingredients 2 large onions, chopped 1/4 cup chopped garlic 1/4 cup chopped ginger 4 serrano chiles, chopped 1 cup red wine 1 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon minced thyme 3 tablespoons toasted black sesame seeds 1/4 pound dark unsweetened chocolate, chopped Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Canola oil for cooking […]

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  • Green Chile-Braised Beef With Potatoes And Caramelized Onions / Carne de Res Guisada con Chile Verde, Papas y Cebollas

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    Ingredients 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil, fresh-rendered pork lard or bacon drippings 2 pounds boneless beef short ribs or boneless beef chuck, cut into 3-inch pieces (when using chuck, I buy a beef chuck roast and cut it into roughly 2-inch chunks) Salt 3 large fresh poblano chiles 2 medium white or red onions, […]

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  • Apple, Bacon and Sage Pizza

    1 hour 20 mins.
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    This pizza topped with a creamy béchamel sauce and bursting with fall flavors was created for the Breville pizza maker. To bake the pizza in a standard oven, place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat the oven to 500°F (260°C). Roll out the dough as directed below, but don’t prick it with a […]

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  • Thin-Crust Pizza Dough

    20 mins.
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    Ingredients 1 1/2 tsp. active dry yeast 1 tsp. sugar 3/4 cup warm water (about 105°F) 1 cup cake flour 1 cup plus 3 Tbs. all-purpose flour 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil Instructions In a small bowl, whisk together the yeast, sugar and warm water and let stand until foamy, […]

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  • Spaghetti Pie with Pecorino and Black Pepper

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    This pie plays off the flavors of classic cacio e pepe — these flavors will be, delightfully, the strongest — but, of course, I fiddled with it a little. The first time, I made it with 8 ounces each of pecorino romano and fontina (because although I love cheddar, I just couldn’t). The second time, […]

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  • Tahini

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    Ingredients 1 cup sesame seeds 2 tablespoons or more mild olive oil, a neutral oil such as grapeseed oil, and/or a small amount of sesame oil Salt (optional) Equipment Measuring cups and spoons Skillet or rimmed baking sheet Wooden spoon Food processor (or mortar and pestle, or blender) Spatula Storage container Instructions Toast raw sesame […]

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  • Ina Garten’s Pasta alla Vecchia Bettola

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    Author Notes: This is Ina Garten’s version of Pasta alla Vecchia Bettola, which has been on the menu at Nick and Toni’s in East Hampton, NY for more than 20 years. Here’s the secret to its success: You take this perfectly adequate sauce and roast it in the oven for an hour and a half. […]

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  • Slow-Roasted Bacon-Wrapped-Pineapple Tacos

    1 hr. 10 mins.
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    Why It Works You know those actors who seem to spend their entire careers in supporting roles, yet manage to steal every scene they’re in? I think about that every time I get a really great al pastor taco. Sure, the crisp-edged marinated pork is the star, but an al pastor taco would be nothing […]

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  • Easy One-Pot Chicken Tinga (Spicy Mexican Shredded Chicken)

    1 hr. 10 mins.
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    Though tinga is traditionally flavored with chorizo, this quick and easy version still packs in the flavor, without forcing you to seek out special ingredients. The chicken is gently poached in broth, then shredded and tossed with a puréed sauce for extra-juicy texture and flavor. Why It Works Spicy, smoky, and juicy chicken. Read the […]

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  • Spanish-Style Grilled Veggies with Breadcrumb Picada (Easy Grilled Veggies)

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    Picada is a Spanish flavoring made with garlic, herbs, and ground nuts. Here, breadcrumbs stand in for the nuts. Ingredients On the Grill 3 large red bell peppers, stemmed, seeded, quartered 4 large Oriental eggplants, trimmed, cut lengthwise into 3 slices 4 green or yellow zucchini, trimmed, cut lengthwise Olive Oil For the Dish 6 […]

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