Tortellini Minestrone

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 stalks of celery, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 medium onion, minced
• 5 oz mushrooms, sliced 
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbs minced fresh oregano, or 1 tsp dried
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 1/2 cups V8 vegetable juice
• 15oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 9oz package fresh cheese tortellini
• 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• salt and ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup pesto
• grated parmesan cheese (garnish)

Banana Bread French Toast

• 4 slices bread of choice
• 1tsp banana extract 
• 1/2tsp cinnamon
• 1/4tsp pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg
• 1/4c milk (of preference)
• 1/2c egg beaters or one large egg
• 1/4c maple syrup (garnish)
• 1/4c walnuts, roughly chopped (garnish)
• 1/2 banana for topping (garnish)

Chard and Mushroom Stuffed Veal

Stuffing:

• 2oz dried porcini mushrooms
• 1 bunch Swiss chard, stalks removed, coarsely chopped
• Kosher salt
• 3tbs olive oil
• 2c chopped leeks (white and pale-green parts only)
• 2c chopped onions
• 6 garlic cloves, chopped
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1lb crimini mushrooms, trimmed, finely chopped
• 2tsp chopped fresh sage
• 4c 1/2” cubes day-old white bread
• 1c finely grated Parmesan
• 2 eggs, whisked to blend

Roast:

• 8tsp Hungarian sweet paprika, divided
• 2tbs kosher salt plus more for seasoning
• 5tsp chopped fresh sage, divided
• 4tsp freshly ground black pepper plus more for seasoning
• 1tsp ground cardamom
• 1 4–6lb trimmed boneless veal breast halved crosswise
• 2tbs olive oil
• 2c finely sliced leeks (white and pale-green parts only)
• 2c finely chopped carrots
• 1c finely chopped celery
• 1c finely chopped onion
• 2c dry white wine
• 1c chicken broth

Spinach and Ricotta Roulade

Roulade:

• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2c almond milk or regular milk
• 4tbs butter
• 5tbs flour
• salt
• pinch cayenne pepper
• 1/2c parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Spinach and Ricotta Roulade:

• 1 recipe souffle base (above)
• tomato sauce
• 2lb spinach
• 1/2 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 8oz ricotta
• 1/4c almond milk or regular milk
• nutmeg
• black pepper
• half and half, for baking

French Onion Soup

• 3lbs sweet onions
• 1tbs unsalted butter
• 1tbs olive oil
• 1tsp kosher or sea salt
• ground black pepper or white pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1c dry white wine
• 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 dried bay leaf
• 4c chicken broth
• 4 slices of crusty artisan-style bread
• 4oz of cave-aged Gruyere cheese, grated
• 2tbs grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• A splash of dry sherry (optional)
• A sprinkle of chopped chives for color and garnish (optional)

Chocolate Mocha Layer Cake

Meringue layers: 

• 5 egg whites
• pinch of salt
• 250g caster sugar
• 1tbs cornflour
• 1tbs lemon juice

Cream filling:

• 5 egg yolks
• 6tbs sugar
• 20g vanilla sugar
• 9tbs cornflour
• 1l milk
• 1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out
• 200g butter, at room temperature

Chocolate hazelnut filling:

• 150g dark chocolate, melted
• 80g toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

White chocolate mocha filling:

• 100g white chocolate, melted
• 5tbs instant coffee 
• 1tbs dark rum

Chocolate Chip Toffee Monkey Bread

• 1/3c granulated sugar, divided
• 1/4c warm water
• 2 1/4tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 3/4c warm milk
• 2/3c melted butter, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2tsp salt
• 3 2/3c all purpose flour, divided
• 1c milk chocolate chips
• 1/2c packed brown sugar
• 1/2c toffee bits

(Source: portuguesegirlcooks.com)

Chocolate Chip Toffee Monkey Bread

• 1/3c granulated sugar, divided
• 1/4c warm water
• 2 1/4tsp (1 packet) active dry yeast
• 3/4c warm milk
• 2/3c melted butter, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2tsp salt
• 3 2/3c all purpose flour, divided
• 1c milk chocolate chips
• 1/2c packed brown sugar
• 1/2c toffee bits

(Source: portuguesegirlcooks.com)

Tiramisu Pancakes

Pancakes:

• 2c all-purpose flour
• 2tbs sugar
• 2tbs cocoa powder, slightly rounded, sifted
• 2tsp baking powder
• 1/2tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2c milk
• 1/2c sour cream
• 3 large eggs
• 4tbs butter, melted
• 2tsp vanilla
• 4tbs espresso, or 1 tsp instant espresso powder
• Chocolate shavings, for garnish

Mascarpone Cream:

• 4oz mascarpone cheese
• 1c whipping cream
• 2tbs sugar

[full size]

[full size]