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Aromatic Sweet Potato Soup with Ginger and Lime

November 8, 2023 By
Aromatic Sweet Potato Soup with Ginger and Lime
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Recipe By Silvia Baldini — Elevate your comfort food game with this vibrant sweet potato soup. This delightful blend of wholesome ingredients makes it a breeze to prepare. Loaded with sweet potatoes, this soup brings a wealth of vitamins and nutrients. Not only does it taste fantastic, but it also nourishes your body with every spoonful. Infused with the perfect blend of red curry and ginger, this soup adds a delightful touch of warmth to keep you cozy and satisfied. To tie it all together, I have incorporated coconut milk, giving the soup a luxurious and velvety texture. It's the secret ingredient that elevates this dish to a whole new level of comfort. Warm your soul and treat your taste buds to the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Aromatic Sweet Potato Soup with Ginger and Lime
Yum
Print Recipe
Recipe By Silvia Baldini — Elevate your comfort food game with this vibrant sweet potato soup. This delightful blend of wholesome ingredients makes it a breeze to prepare. Loaded with sweet potatoes, this soup brings a wealth of vitamins and nutrients. Not only does it taste fantastic, but it also nourishes your body with every spoonful. Infused with the perfect blend of red curry and ginger, this soup adds a delightful touch of warmth to keep you cozy and satisfied. To tie it all together, I have incorporated coconut milk, giving the soup a luxurious and velvety texture. It's the secret ingredient that elevates this dish to a whole new level of comfort. Warm your soul and treat your taste buds to the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium white onion chopped
  • 1 medium leek cleaned, white part and only sliced
  • 1 large clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1-1 1/2 teaspoons red Thai curry paste
  • 1 lb sweet potato, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 pint chicken stock
  • 7 fl oz coconut milk 1 can
  • seasalt
  • freshly ground black pepper
GARNISH
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated zest of a lime
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large lidded saucepan, add the onion, the leek and garlic, cover and sweat for 10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally.
  2. Stir in the ginger and curry paste and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add the sweet potatoes, stock and coconut milk. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the potato is soft.
  4. Cool sightly before blending until smooth and creamy. You may need to add a little more stock to achieve the right consistently. Season to taste and re-heat gently.
  5. Serve in warmed bowls with a dash of fresh ginger and lime zest on top.
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Five-Spice Lacquered Pork Shoulder

March 10, 2020 By
Five-Spice Lacquered Pork Shoulder
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini and Augusto Baldini — My son and I make Sunday family meals together, often. I cherish the time we spend cooking in the kitchen. Every second is precious to me. This pork shoulder is slow cooked for at least 8 hours at a very low temperature, and believe you me it comes out a masterpiece. The meat melts in your mouth, while the fat is rendered crisp and magnificently delicious. We often use a whole pork shoulder (eleven-twelve pounds of pork and scale up the recipe) We put it in the oven for the all night on a Saturday, then on Sunday morning we have family and friends over and feast on it. It's what life is about.
Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time
8/9 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time
8/9 hours
Five-Spice Lacquered Pork Shoulder
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini and Augusto Baldini — My son and I make Sunday family meals together, often. I cherish the time we spend cooking in the kitchen. Every second is precious to me. This pork shoulder is slow cooked for at least 8 hours at a very low temperature, and believe you me it comes out a masterpiece. The meat melts in your mouth, while the fat is rendered crisp and magnificently delicious. We often use a whole pork shoulder (eleven-twelve pounds of pork and scale up the recipe) We put it in the oven for the all night on a Saturday, then on Sunday morning we have family and friends over and feast on it. It's what life is about.
Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time
8/9 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 people 45 minutes
Cook Time
8/9 hours
Ingredients
  • 1 2-inch fresh ginger minced
  • 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon five spice powder Five Spice Powder is a blend of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and Szechwan peppercorns.
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • one 8 pounds boneless, skinless pork shoulder
  • 1 1/2 cups orange juice
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven at 450F(230C) Combine the ginger, garlic, maple syrup, soy sauce, five-spice powder and salt in a small bowl. Mix well.
  2. Pat the pork shoulder dry with paper towels. Rub the pork all over with the spice mixture. Put the pork in a roasting pan or Dutch oven, fat facing up. Pour the orange juice in the roasting pan around the shoulder and place in the oven.
  3. Roast for 30 minutes to brown the shoulder. Lower the temperature to 265F(130C) and roast for 8 hours or more. Open the oven and baste the pork once in a while with the juices.
  4. Pull the pork out of the oven. Use tongs or two forks and shred the meat and stir it in to the juices and fat at bottom. Serve with buns or lettuce leaves.
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Italian Hot Chocolate

October 2, 2019 By
Italian Hot Chocolate
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini — Italian hot chocolate is thicker, creamier, and generally much richer than traditional American hot chocolate, which is less dense and milkier. It is made with a few key ingredients: cocoa, sugar, and milk. A little dark chocolate and a thickening agent, such as cornstarch, are added as well. I like to add flavors to my chocolate. Vanilla or coffee are great additions. Nutella and marshmallows make a great halloween treat and a dash of orange liquor or rum give it an adult twist.
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Italian Hot Chocolate
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini — Italian hot chocolate is thicker, creamier, and generally much richer than traditional American hot chocolate, which is less dense and milkier. It is made with a few key ingredients: cocoa, sugar, and milk. A little dark chocolate and a thickening agent, such as cornstarch, are added as well. I like to add flavors to my chocolate. Vanilla or coffee are great additions. Nutella and marshmallows make a great halloween treat and a dash of orange liquor or rum give it an adult twist.
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Ingredients
  • 4 cups whole milk
  • 7 oz dark chocolate 70% cacao
  • 8 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Chop the dark chocolate into very small pieces. Place the milk on low heat.
  2. In a bowl mix together cocoa, cornstarch (or potato starch), and powdered sugar. When the milk is hot, but well before it starts to boil, add the mixture and start stirring, always in the same direction, avoiding the formation of lumps.
  3. Once bubbles start to form on the surface, add the chocolate and mix until thick and creamy. But beware: the starch will cause it to thicken even when removed from heat, so it's a good idea to remove the chocolate from the heat before it thickens completely (otherwise you run the risk of turning it into a pudding!)
  4. Pour it into four mugs and serve it warm.
Recipe Notes

Make sure the milk is warm before you start adding the other ingredients.Keep the heat on low and be careful of burning the bottom.
Do not allow the chocolate to thicken too much before removing it from heat.
If chocolate clumps start to form, remove the mixture from heat and whisk vigorously until it is smooth again.White chocolate can be used instead of dark chocolate
The chocolate can be flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, nutella, orange liquor, peppermint, rum

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Peaches and Warm Biscuits with Amaretto Whipped Cream

August 14, 2019 By
Peaches and Warm Biscuits with Amaretto Whipped Cream
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Peaches and warm biscuits with Amaretto whipped cream are the celebration of summer flavors and they require minimal effort. To make this heavenly dessert I drench sliced white peaches in lemon and sugar. I add a couple of teaspoons of Amaretto liquor, then I set them aside to macerate. I usually don’t peel my peaches; I use a cloth to remove the fuzz. It takes less than 15 minutes to make biscuit dough. Use the best fats you can find. I like lard, for its flavor and intensity or European-style butter for its low water content and taste. I work the biscuits with either All-purpose flour or cake flour for a silkier crumb, and I always use cream. I use a soft touch on the mixing, turning out and patting down of the dough. (Do not fool with a rolling pin. A rolling pin has no place in biscuits.)
Servings Prep Time
6/8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
10/15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6/8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
10/15 minutes
Peaches and Warm Biscuits with Amaretto Whipped Cream
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Print Recipe
Peaches and warm biscuits with Amaretto whipped cream are the celebration of summer flavors and they require minimal effort. To make this heavenly dessert I drench sliced white peaches in lemon and sugar. I add a couple of teaspoons of Amaretto liquor, then I set them aside to macerate. I usually don’t peel my peaches; I use a cloth to remove the fuzz. It takes less than 15 minutes to make biscuit dough. Use the best fats you can find. I like lard, for its flavor and intensity or European-style butter for its low water content and taste. I work the biscuits with either All-purpose flour or cake flour for a silkier crumb, and I always use cream. I use a soft touch on the mixing, turning out and patting down of the dough. (Do not fool with a rolling pin. A rolling pin has no place in biscuits.)
Servings Prep Time
6/8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
10/15 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6/8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
10/15 minutes
Ingredients
Peaches
  • 4/5 medium ripe peaches, sliced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 medium lemon
  • 2 teaspoons Amaretto liquor
Biscuits
  • 2 cups All-Purpose flour or cake flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 8 tablespoons European style butter, unsalted
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
Glaze
  • 1 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon milk or heavy cream
Whipped Cream
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Amaretto liquor
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
To finish
  • 8 Amaretto cookies crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Remove the peaches fuzz gently with a cloth. Slice the peaches, remove the pit, and toss them in a bowl with the sugar, the juice of half a lemon, and the Amaretto liquor. Set-asides to macerate. If you want to skin peaches, cross the bottom with a sharp paring knife, pour boiling water over them. When ripe they will peel after 15-20 seconds.
  2. To make the biscuits line a cookie sheet with baking paper and preheat the oven at 400°F. Sift the flour, the baking powder, sugar and the salt in a large bowl. Add the butter and with your hands or a pastry cutter or a fork work the mixture into a crumbly dough. Add the cream and stir gently until it forms a rough ball.
  3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape with your hands, not a rolling pin, into a rectangle about 1 inch thick, fold once and gently reshape the rectangle about 6 inches by 10 inches large. Cut the dough into 6 disks with a metal cutter or a small glass. Shape the remaining dough into a disk. Brush the top of the biscuits with cream or milk and sprinkle with sugar.
  4. Place the biscuits gently onto the lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let them cool.
  5. Whip the cream in a standing mixer until it begins to get stiff, then add the sugar and the Amaretto liquor. Continue to whip until the cream is firm. Do not overbeat the cream or it will turn in to butter.
  6. To assemble cut the biscuits in half and place the bottom of each plate. You can lightly dunk the cut biscuit halves in some of the maceration juices to mop up the extra flavor. Divide the peaches among the biscuits and spoon more of the macerating liquids over pressing a little so the bottom absorbs more juices. Sprinkle the crumbled amaretto cookies on the peaches. Add a generous dollop of whipped cream, dust lightly with the cocoa powder
  7. Top the whipped cream with the biscuit crown and drizzle the remaining juices around the plate.
Recipe Notes

If your peaches are not perfectly ripe and sweet, you can bake them for 15 to 20 minutes after macerating them. Baking the peaches will develop their sugary flavor and soften them. To bake, place them on a lined cookie sheet and dot them with butter, then place them in the oven at 350°F.

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Strawberry & Rhubarb Pie

May 12, 2019 By
Strawberry & Rhubarb Pie
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini— adapted from Martha Stewart. Strawberries and rhubarb pie is my favorite pie. I like the tart and sweet combined with the richness of butter. I adapted my recipes from an old Martha Stewart's one because why mess with perfection.
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1-15 hours 3 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1-15 hours 3 hours
Strawberry & Rhubarb Pie
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini— adapted from Martha Stewart. Strawberries and rhubarb pie is my favorite pie. I like the tart and sweet combined with the richness of butter. I adapted my recipes from an old Martha Stewart's one because why mess with perfection.
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1-15 hours 3 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 1 hour
Cook Time Passive Time
1-15 hours 3 hours
Ingredients
For the Filling
  • 1 1/2 pounds rhubarb
  • 1 1/2 cups strawberries, hulled and chopped
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Honey
  • 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 pinch coarse salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cubed
For the Crust/ Pate Brisee 2 disk
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cubed
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup + iced water
  • egg wash
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
Servings: servings
Instructions
Pie
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the filling: Clean and cut rhubarb in 1 inches pieces. Mix together rhubarb, strawberries, granulated sugar, honey, cornstarch, zest and juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
  2. Make the crust: Roll out 1 disk pate brisee to a 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Pour in filling; dot top with butter. Refrigerate while making top crust.
  3. Roll remaining disk pate brisee to a 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into wide strips using a pastry cutter.
  4. Lay 8 strips across pie. Fold back every other strip, and lay a horizontal strip across the center of the pie. Unfold folded strips, then fold back remaining strips. Lay another horizontal strip across pie. Repeat folding and unfolding strips to weave a lattice pattern. Repeat on remaining side.
  5. Seal around edges. Fold edges under, and crimp as desired. Cut stars shapes and hearts with a pastry cutters and decorate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  6. Brush crust with egg wash, and sprinkle sugar. Bake pie on middle rack, with a foil-lined baking sheet on bottom rack to catch juices, until vigorously bubbling in center and bottom crust is golden, about 1 1/5 hours. (Loosely tent with foil after 1 hour if crust is browning too quickly.) Transfer pie to a wire rack, and let cool for at least 2 hours or longer, before serving.
Pate Brise
  1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and sugar. Add butter, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds.
  2. With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
  3. Divide dough into two equal balls. Wrap in plastic. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill at least 1 hour. Dough may be stored, frozen, up to 3 months.
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Herbs and Lemon Orzotto

April 30, 2019 By
Herbs and Lemon Orzotto
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Herbs and Lemon Orzotto
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 20 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 medium white onion chopped
  • 2 cups pearl barley
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup herbs—parlsey, mint, rosemary, thyme chopped evenly
  • 1 cup washed baby spinach
  • 1/2 medium zest of lemon
  • 8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • fine salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. In a heavy-bottomed large saucepan, heat the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent. Add the barley and toast for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally. The barley will be toasted when slightly translucent. Add the wine and cook until absorbed. Add chopped herbs, spinach, lemon zest and stir. Season with salt.
  2. Gradually add the chicken stock, stirring frequently. Bring to a simmer, lower the heat, and cover. Cook for 20/25 minutes, until the liquid is almost absorbed and barley is tender. Add the butter, the Parmesan, season with salt and pepper and stir. Remove from the heat. Rest the barley for 5/7 minutes before serving. Finish with the chopped parsley.
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Wild Mushroom Risotto

April 30, 2019 By
Wild Mushroom Risotto
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Recipe by Silvia Baldini— The risotto rules are simple. Start by sweating the onions, toast the rice until translucent, add wine and reduce, then add the main ingredient and cook for about 20 minutes by adding stock a ladle at time letting the liquid absorbs, then finish with butter and Parmesan and let the risotto rest for at least 5/7 minutes before serving to allow the starches and the butter to solidify together and become smooth and creamy. This process is called "mantecare" in italian. This mushroom Risotto is a perfect family meal but also sufficiently elegant for company and large dinner parties. If you are lucky enough to find fresh porcini, by all means go for it, but dried ones will do just fine. One last word about risotto. Keep it simple, use one star ingredient with few enhancing aromas and herbs, don't crowd the pot.
Servings Prep Time
4 people 25 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 25 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Wild Mushroom Risotto
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Print Recipe
Recipe by Silvia Baldini— The risotto rules are simple. Start by sweating the onions, toast the rice until translucent, add wine and reduce, then add the main ingredient and cook for about 20 minutes by adding stock a ladle at time letting the liquid absorbs, then finish with butter and Parmesan and let the risotto rest for at least 5/7 minutes before serving to allow the starches and the butter to solidify together and become smooth and creamy. This process is called "mantecare" in italian. This mushroom Risotto is a perfect family meal but also sufficiently elegant for company and large dinner parties. If you are lucky enough to find fresh porcini, by all means go for it, but dried ones will do just fine. One last word about risotto. Keep it simple, use one star ingredient with few enhancing aromas and herbs, don't crowd the pot.
Servings Prep Time
4 people 25 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 people 25 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Ingredients
  • 2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion diced
  • 2 cups arborio rice
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 2 cups clean fresh wild mushrooms, sliced use only the tender part, reserve the stems for stock
  • 1 bunch tied herbs— rosemary, bayleaf, thyme, parsley
  • 8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Servings: people
Instructions
  1. Soak dried porcini in 3 cups warm water until rehydrated, at least 20 minutes or until soft. Strain the mushrooms, reserving the broth for the risotto. (Discard the last 1/2 inch of the liquid; it will contain dirt from the porcini.) Heat the chicken stock and mushroom broth to a simmer.
  2. Heat the oil and the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; add onion; cook until slightly translucent. Add rice and stir; season with salt and pepper and cook until slightly translucent and lightly toasted. Add wine and stir until almost all the liquid has cooked off. Add the drained porcini and wild mushrooms and the tied herbs. Add hot stock and broth mixture, a ladleful at a time, completely stirring in the liquid each time. Keep adding broth as needed so there is always a 1/4-inch liquid layer over the rice.
  3. After 15 to 20 minutes, the rice should be close to al dente. Taste and adjust seasoning, remove the herbs, stir in butter, then Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the chopped parsley and serve with extra Parmesan cheese.
Recipe Notes

Risotto can be made in a pressure cooker or an Instapot. I suggest you follow all the steps from the original recipe but add the stock all at once then close and cook for 5/6 minutes. The timing might need to be adjusted depending from what kind of cooker you use, but with some practice the rice turns out perfectly, and you save a lot of time and effort.

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