Author: Chef Cloud Wine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 shallot, minced
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced
3 ounces cremini mushrooms (baby bellas), sliced
2 tablespoons butter
1 3/4 cups Arborio rice
1 1/4 cups dry white wine
3 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
1 pinch celery salt
salt and pepper to taste
1 quart hot vegetable stock
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in shallot and cook for 30 seconds, then add shiitake and cremini mushrooms, and cook until they begin to brown. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and Arborio until rice is well coated in oil; reduce heat to medium, and cook until the shallot and mushrooms have turned golden brown.

Pour in white wine, and simmer until evaporated, stirring constantly. Season with thyme, celery salt, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low; pour in 1/3 of the hot vegetable stock, and cook until evaporated, stirring constantly, about 7 minutes.

Pour in another third of the vegetable stock, and continue to stir until evaporated. Repeat once more with the remaining third of stock. Stir constantly until the rice is tender and creamy. Add hot water if needed to continue cooking until the rice has softened.

Stir in butter, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley before serving.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 cup warm water
2 bunches Italian flat leaf parsley
6 cloves garlic
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup roasted red peppers, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Directions

Whisk together the kosher salt and warm water until the salt dissolves, set aside and allow to cool to room temperature. This is called the salmuera.

Combine the flat leaf parsley, garlic, and olive oil in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse several times to chop up the parsley. Add the roasted red peppers, paprika, oregano, crushed red pepper, black pepper, cumin, white vinegar, and red wine vinegar. Continue to pulse the food processor until the ingredients are well combined, but still chunky.

Transfer the sauce into a large mixing bowl, and slowly stir in the cooled salmuera. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to allow the salt to mellow. Sauce can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for 2 weeks.

Ingredients

1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks – drained with juice reserved
2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla-flavored vodka
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 (1 1/2-pound) beef sirloin steak, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup long grain white rice
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Stir together 1/3 cup reserved pineapple juice, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, olive oil, vanilla vodka, ginger, brown sugar, and white sugar in a mixing bowl until blended. Adjust the sugar to taste.

Place the steak strips in a large, resealable plastic bag. Pour in the pineapple juice mixture and seal the bag. Turn the bag gently to evenly coat steak with the marinade. Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours.

Bring water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Remove steak strips from marinade and place in the skillet. Cook and stir the steak strips until browned and no longer pink, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from the heat, cover and keep warm.

Place the pineapple chunks in a separate skillet. Cook over medium heat until slightly soft and heated through, about 4 minutes. To serve, divide the rice between two bowls, top with steak strips and pineapple chunks, and toss briefly.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, with liquid
2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 cups dry brown lentils
1/2 cup red wine
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Place the onions in the pot and saute for 10 minutes, or until onions are tender.

Place the tomatoes in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Pour this into the pot with the onion along with the chicken broth and the lentils

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20 minutes. Then, stir in the wine, garlic, nutmeg and cloves. Simmer for at least 25 more minutes.