Author: Chef M

This dish began as a soup but it’s so rich in chickpeas and winter vegetables that it should really be termed a stew, even though that word doesn’t carry an elegance with it. Not only is it hearty and satisfying but there is a real sweetness from the carrots, parsnips and pumpkin which is offset by the tamarind in a delightful way. My preference is for chicken stock as it has more body and flavour but use vegetable if you want to make this a vegetarian meal. Make it the day before to give the flavours time to meld.

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The flavor of this tomato-based sauce is incredibly complex: It has heat, the tiniest bit of sweetness from the orange, lots of deep spice flavor, and a nice balance of acidity. Use it in place of ketchup on a burger or with fries, toss with roasted vegetables, or braise with Harissa Braised Chicken Legs. Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for one month.

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This very light and airy cheesecake is paired with a rich dark chocolate and pumpkin seed crust. The sour cream topping not only adds an amazing tangy flavor, it helps cover up any cracks that may form when the cheesecake i baking and cooling. Releasing the spring on the pan before the cheesecake has had much time to cool allows the crust to shrink along with the cheesecake and helps prevent large cracks. Store loosely wrapped, in the refrigerator, for up to five days.

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The best bread pudding you’ll ever taste resides in a quaint Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, called Sfoglia. It’s decadent and rich, and it has just a touch of dark rum to deepen the flavor. I tried wrestling the recipe from the chef to no avail, but this version is a close runner-up. I do know that the custard base is cooked briefly to thicken for extra creaminess, a technique that is skipped for most bread puddings. For best results, make sure to use whole milk (not skim, please!) or even a combination of milk and cream. The…

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Make this classic sandwich with left-over holiday roasted turkey for best flavor. A luscious sauce and bacon topping have made this turkey sandwich famous.

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