Mango, Avocado, and Black Bean Salad with Lime Dressing

Ingredients:

2 ripe but firm avocados, halved, peeled and cubed
3 Tbsp lime juice, divided
2 ripe but firm mangoes, peeled and cubed
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
1 tsp grated lime zest
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp sugar
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive ooil
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained

Directions:

Gently toss avocado with 1 Tbsp of the lime juice in a medium bowl.  Add mango and jalapeno and gently toss to combine.  Set aside.

Whisk together remaining 2 Tbsp lime juice, zest, cilantro, salt, pepper, and sugar in a large bowl.  whisk in oil until thoroughly combined to make a thick dressing.  Add avocado mixture and black beans and toss gently.  Spoon salad onto plates, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.

Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Gelato Siciliano

from Saveur

serves 6-8

Ingredients:

• 3 cups milk
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp. cornstarch
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (I sift the cocoa to remove any lumps)

Instructions:

Bring 2 cups of milk to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat; remove from heat. Meanwhile, combine 1 cup milk with sugar, cornstarch and cocoa in a bowl and stir into hot milk. Cook until sugar and cocoa dissolve. Allow to cool, then cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight.  Process mixture in an ice cream maker.  You don't need to churn it as long as you do ice cream - you want it to just be a custard sort of consistency, not completely frozen.Store in the freezer in a container with plastic wrap pressed right on top. It's best the day you make it.  If it freezes hard, just remove it 10 minutes before you plan of serving it.

Classic Hot Chocolate

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 quart (1 liter) milk
• 1 Madagascar vanilla bean, split
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• ¾ teaspoon (3.5 grams) black peppercorns (whole)
• 2 bars (3.5 ounces/100 grams each) Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa, hopped

METHOD:

1. Heat the milk with the spices in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches boiling point, but do not let the milk boil.
2. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth.
3. Remove from heat and let rest for 25 minutes to release the spices’ aroma.
4. Strain the liquid and reheat before serving.

YIELD:

4 - 6 servings

Zucchini Fritti

Total Time: 1 hr 50 min

Prep: 20 min

Inactive: 1 hr 20 min

Cook: 10 min

Yield:

4 servings

Ingredients

• 2.2 pounds (1 kg) zucchini, washed
• Sea salt
• About 8 cups sunflower oil

Directions

For the batter:

• About 5.5 ounces (150 g) all-purpose flour, sifted
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons warm water
• 3 egg whites

Cut the zucchini into about 2-inch (5 cm) disks, then cut each disk into 2-inch (5 cm) matchsticks. Place in a colander, sprinkle with sea salt, and leave for 30 minutes. Pat dry.

For the batter:
Place the sifted flour into a medium bowl, make a well in the center, pour in the olive oil and stir slowly combining the flour into the oil. Loosen this paste with warm water, added slowly, stirring constantly, until you have a batter the consistency of double cream. Leave for a minimum of 45 minutes.

Heat the oil in a high-sided pan to about 400 degrees F (190 degrees C). Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold gently into the batter.

Dip the zucchini in the batter, then fry in batches in the hot oil until golden and crisp.  Serve immediately.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

Country Apple Dumplings

Ingredients

• 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
• 2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Mountain Dew ™

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew™ over the dumplings.
4. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Focaccia Flat Bread

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 pinch ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt, sugar, yeast, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, basil and black pepper. Mix in the vegetable oil and water.
2. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Punch dough down; place on greased baking sheet. Pat into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Brush top with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.