Category: Wine

Ingredients

5 dried wood ear mushrooms
4 dried shiitake mushrooms
8 dried tiger lily buds
4 cups chicken stock
1/3 cup diced bamboo shoots
1/3 cup lean ground pork
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
1/2 (16 ounce) package firm tofu, cubed
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion

Directions

Soak the dried mushrooms and tiger lily buds in warm water for 20 minutes. After trimming off any tough stems, slice the mushrooms. With the fingers, shred the tiger lily stems.

Place the mushrooms, tiger lily buds, stock, bamboo shoots, and shredded pork into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in soy sauce, sugar, salt, white pepper, and vinegar. Combine cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water. Add a little of the hot soup to the cornstarch, and then return all to the pan. Heat to boiling, stirring. Add the bean curd, and cook 1 to 2 minutes.

Just before serving, turn off the heat. Stir the egg in gradually. Mix in sesame oil. Sprinkle each serving with scallions.

Ingredients

4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste

Directions

Place garlic in a mortar dish or on a cutting board, and sprinkle with salt. Mash with a pestle, or use the flat side of a knife to mash garlic and salt into a paste. Transfer to a medium bowl, and stir in olive oil, vinegar, and mustard. Add the broccoli, and stir to coat. Chill for 3 hours to marinate, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

Ingredients

2 cups chopped pistachio nuts
1 cup panko bread crumbs
2 egg whites
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter

Sauce:
1 teaspoon butter
2 shallots, finely chopped
1/2 cup red wine
4 ounces dried cherries
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon grated orange zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Mix together the pistachios and bread crumbs in a bowl. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl, and set aside.

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, gently dip them into the beaten egg whites, and then press into the pistachio-bread crumb mixture to coat. Gently toss between your hands so any coating that hasn’t stuck can fall away.

Heat the oil and butter in an oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Gently place the chicken breasts into the hot skillet, and fry for 5 to 8 minutes, until the bottom coating is golden brown and crisp.

Turn the chicken over in the skillet, and place the skillet in the preheated oven. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink, the juices run clear, and the top coating is lightly browned.

While the chicken is baking, melt 1 teaspoon of butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat, add the shallots, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until tender. Pour in the wine, drop in the cherries, and cook and stir for about 10 minutes to reduce wine to a glaze. Pour in the orange juice, chicken stock, and orange zest, and cook and stir about 20 more minutes, until sauce is reduced and thickened.

Ingredients

1/4 cup diced red onion
2/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon mustard powder
1 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
4 eggs
10 ounces fresh spinach – chopped, washed and dried
1 head iceberg lettuce – rinsed, dried, and chopped
1/2 pound bacon – cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 cups crushed croutons
1 red onion, sliced in rings

Directions

Place eggs in a saucepan and cover completely with cold water. Bring water to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.

In a small saucepan, combine the diced onion, sugar, black pepper, celery salt, mustard, vegetable oil, and vinegar. Whisk over high heat until all ingredients are well mixed and onions are translucent. Remove from heat and refrigerate until cool.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, spinach, iceberg, bacon, croutons and onion rings. Toss together.

Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat evenly.