RECIPES

Every dish, and the move behind it.

Grouped by what it is, not by when I posted it. 17 recipes across 5 categories.

Mains

Braising Beef Bourguignon with Bacon and Pearl Onions Chuck beef seared with bacon, then braised for hours in red wine until fork-tender — the slow braise is what turns a tough cut silky and rich. 4 hr 10 min

Searing Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine and Parmigiano Seared chicken over fettuccine in a Parmesan cream sauce finished off the heat, not on it, which is the only way to melt cheese into silk instead of grit. 40 min

Mains Chicken Enchiladas with Black Beans and Green Chiles Shredded chicken and black beans rolled in tortillas under red sauce and melted cheese, baked until the edges bubble and the top blisters and browns. 1 hr

Mains Chicken Fried Steak with Peppery Milk Gravy Cube steak double-dredged for a craggy crust and pan-fried, then a peppery milk gravy built right in the skillet from the browned bits left behind. 1 hr

Braising Gołąbki (Polish stuffed cabbage rolls) Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a pork-and-beef rice filling, baked under a bright tomato sauce until soft and saucy. 2 hr 15 min

Mains Ground Beef Quesadillas with Spanish Rice Crispy quesadillas stuffed with seasoned beef, black beans and melted cheese, served with tomato Spanish rice for a loaded Mexican-American plate. 1 hr

Mains Individual Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Creamy chicken, carrot and pea filling baked under a deep-golden puff pastry lid, one serving at a time, for a crisp top instead of a soggy shared crust. 1 hr 30 min

Mains Italian Meatballs with Parmesan and Marinara Herb-seasoned beef meatballs chilled, floured and pan-fried for a crust, then baked until golden — the chill is what keeps them from falling apart. 1 hr 15 min

Braising Kapusta z Kielbasa (Polish Braised Sauerkraut with Kielbasa and Potatoes) Braised sauerkraut and cabbage with seared kielbasa and soft potatoes — a simple Polish skillet supper that tastes like a Sunday at home. 1 hr 5 min

Glazing Maple-Glazed Roasted Salmon with Soy and Dijon Salmon roasted with a layered maple, soy and Dijon glaze, finished under the broiler so the sugars caramelize into a sticky, glossy crust in 30 minutes. 30 min

Searing Seared Duck Breast with Red Wine Reduction Duck breast started skin-down in a cold pan so the fat renders slowly into crisp skin, sliced pink and served with a glossy red wine reduction. 55 min

Mains Teriyaki Pork Bites with Forbidden Rice Pork bites seared then glazed in a sticky soy, mirin and sake teriyaki sauce, served over layered white and forbidden rice for a glossy weeknight plate. 45 min

Appetizer

Appetizer Polish Beef Tatar with Raw Egg Yolk Hand-chopped raw beef tenderloin with a raw egg yolk, pickles and onion arranged in separate mounds — each diner mixes their own to taste at the table. 25 min

Dessert

Dessert Dark Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry Sauce Individual chocolate cakes pulled from the oven while the center still jiggles, so it stays molten, served warm with a quick fresh raspberry sauce. 40 min

Pasta

Fresh pasta Handmade Tagliatelle with Wild Mushrooms Fresh egg pasta rolled and cut by hand, tossed with deeply browned wild mushrooms, garlic, thyme and cream — the browning is where the flavor comes from. 1 hr 30 min

Soups

Soups Chicken Tortilla Soup with Black Bean and Corn Salsa Chicken poached whole and shredded back into a spiced broth with black bean and corn salsa, finished with tortilla strips, sour cream, and cilantro. 1 hr 45 min

Soups Zupa Ogorkowa (Polish Dill Pickle Soup) A tangy Polish soup of fermented pickles, potato and carrot in a savory broth, sharpened at the end with a splash of the pickle brine itself. 1 hr