Author: Chef Cloud Wine

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 (8 ounce) beef tenderloin filets
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1/2 cup thinly sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms
3 tablespoons sake
2 tablespoons mirin (sweetened rice wine)
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic chives
3/4 cup unsalted butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Season filets to taste with salt and pepper. Sear until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to oven, and cook to desired doneness, about 12 minutes for medium-rare. When done, allow steaks to rest out of the pan for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in ginger and garlic, and cook until translucent and aromatic, but not browned, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add shiitake mushrooms and cook 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Pour in the sake and mirin and simmer until reduced by half. Melt the remaining 3/4 cup butter, then reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the butter browns, 6 to 8 minutes. Once browned, season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in the chives. Spoon sauce over steaks to serve.

Ingredients

4 thick cut pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 onion, slivered
1/4 pound mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup dry red wine
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. In a large frying pan, brown well in olive oil. Remove chops from pan and set aside. Pour off and discard all but 1 tablespoon pan drippings.

Remove casing from sausage and crumble meat into same pan. Mix in onions and mushrooms. Cook, stirring until onions and sausage brown slightly. Mix in garlic. Place pork chops in casserole dish, spooning sausage mixture over them. Pour in wine and tomato sauce. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
1 (4 ounce) jar mushrooms, drained
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white wine
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 cup chicken broth
1 egg
1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned. Mix in flour, Italian seasoning and salt until smooth. Gradually stir in wine and chicken broth so that no lumps form and bring to a simmer. Whisk together the egg and cream; stir into the sauce. Heat through until thickened, but do not allow it to boil.

Ingredients

2 pounds lamb, cut into 1 inch square cubes
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup red wine
1 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried mint, crushed
1 clove garlic, chopped

4 cups plain yogurt
1 cucumber, shredded
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste

8 pita bread rounds
2 tablespoons olive oil

1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 tomato, thinly sliced

Directions

Place lamb in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup olive oil, red wine, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, oregano, mint and garlic. Stir until lamb is well coated. Cover, and refrigerate 3 hours, or overnight.

Preheat grill, and lightly oil grate. In a small bowl, combine yogurt, cucumber, minced garlic and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with dill weed, salt and pepper; set aside.

Thread meat onto skewers. Grill 10 minutes, turning once. Lightly sprinkle pita bread with olive oil, and place on grill until warm, about 1 minute. Serve meat on pita bread along with sliced red onion, sliced tomato and yogurt sauce.