Ballpark Cookies, or Pretzel and White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pretzelcookies

Makes 2 ½ dozen

I call these ball park cookies because they include white or chocolate chips, salty pretzels, and peanuts, all flavors that remind me of the ballpark. The shortening (use the canola oil shortening sticks made by EarthBalance or use canola oil as a substitute) adds a crunchiness to the cookie. I love the pretzels and the nuts in them. It’s an awesome contrast in flavor, salty pretzels and nuts to sweet batter with chocolate chips.

½ cup margarine, softened
½ cup shortening (or use canola oil)
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2-1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup white chocolate chips or chocolate chips
½ cup peanuts or pecans
3/4 cup chopped pretzels (the original recipe has ½ cup pretzels but I thought it needed more)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together margarine, shortening and sugars until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed add flour and baking soda, white chocolate chips, peanuts and pretzels.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned. Let cool on cookie sheet 1 to 2 minutes before removing to wire rack to finish cooling.

Citrus Rice Salad

citrus-rice-salad

Serves 6

I saw this recipe in one of Giada’s cookbooks and thought it looked amazing and that the flavors would be vibrant and well-blended. It was great and I loved that I made it the day before and served it room temperature for Shabbos lunch.

Rice Salad:
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups white or brown basmati rice, rinsed
3/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 medium orange, zested
1 lemon, zested
1 cup thinly sliced green onions

Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
For the Rice Salad:
In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, salt and oil to a boil over medium-high heat Stir in the rice. Cover the saucepan, reduce the heat, and simmer until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Using a fork, fluff the rice and place in a large serving bowl. Add the parsley, orange zest, half of the lemon zest, green onions, and 1/4 cup of the almonds. Toss well.

For the Vinaigrette:
In a blender, combine the olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and cumin. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Pour the vinaigrette over the rice mixture and stir well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with the remaining lemon zest and almonds.

Veal Stew with Bread Crumb Gremolata

Serves 6

2 lamb shanks
2 pounds cubed veal
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Spanish onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 celery rib, sliced 1/4 inch thick
2 tablespoons chopped thyme or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 cups dry white wine
2 cups jarred tomato sauce or marinara sauce
2 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup panko
1 cup lightly packed parsley, minced
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper (or to taste, it adds spice)
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 375°. Season the lamb and veal with salt and pepper. In a large dutch oven, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the lamb and veal and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until browned all over, 12 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate.

Spoon off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the dish. Add the onion, carrot, celery and thyme and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half, 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and chicken stock and bring to a boil. Return the meat to the pot, cover and simmer for 1 hour and half hours, until the meat is very tender. Let stand covered for 10 minutes.

For the bread crumb gremolata: In a small pan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add panko and mix until toasted, about 2 minutes. Add the parsley, red pepper, and lemon zest. Add kosher salt to taste.

Transfer the veal stew to a platter. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and spoon it over the veal. Sprinkle some gremolata over the veal.

Purim Menu Ideas

Sundried Tomato and Olive Dip
Coffee Spice Rubbed Steaks
Tequila Lime Chicken
Apple Cobbler in a Cup

Stuffed! Purim: Open miracles, hidden goodies
Bison Shepards Pie
Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms
Lamb and Pine nut stuffed Grape Leaves
Hammentaschen Recipe: with Gluten-Free Variation

Indian Menu
Poppy Seed Bread
Indian-Spiced Cashews and Pistachios
Lamb in Filo Dough
Vegetable Samosas
Baked Basmati Rice with Cranberries
Lemon-Scented Almond Milk Custard

American Menu
Smoked Salmon and Wontons
Tequila Mustard Glazed Chicken Skewers
Rice with Lentils and Caramelized Onions
Butterscotch Blondies with Pretzel Caramel Topping
Iced Irish Coffee

Hamentaschen
Hamentaschen with 2 Fillings from Kosher Revolution
Classic Hamentaschen with Apricot, Poppy Seed, Chocolate and Other Fillings
Filo Hamentaschen
Hamentaschen with Apple Pie or Cappucino Filling

Thanksgiving Recipe Ideas

Perfect Roasted Turkey
Herb Marinated Turkey Roast
Roast Turkey with Smoked Paprika
Stuffed Chicken with Turkey and Apple Cranberry Sausage Stuffing
Brussels Sprouts with Maple Syrup
Cranberry Macadamia Nut Stuffing
Roasted Squash with Spices and Pareve “Brown Butter”
Green Beans with Soy and Capers
Orange Maple Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pilaf
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Mousse Pie
Apple Pie with Cranberries