Spicy pumpkin soup

Ingredients:

-4 Tbsp unsalted butter
-2 teaspoons minced garlic
-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
-1 teaspoon ground coriander
-Pinch ground cayenne pepper
-3 (15 oz) cans of pure pumpkin (6 cups)
-5 cups of vegetable broth
-2 cups of milk
-1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions:

Blend ingredients and simmer on low for 15min. Garnish with either sour cream, pumpkin seeds, or cilantro.

Gnocchi Gruyere

Ingredients (2 servings):

-1lb. gnocchi

-8oz Gruyere cheese

-4 tablespoons butter

-chopped garlic

-1/4 cup half&hlaf

Instructions for 2 serving:

- Cook gnocchi

- add garlic to saucepan and cook for 1 min

- add cream, grated gruyere cheese and butter to pan and cook on high until fully melted.

- season sauce with salt\pepper

- strain gnocchi and combine with sauce and mix well with sauce.

- serve on plate and top with parmesan cheese.

Enjoy.

Baked Gnocchi

Ingredients:
2 lbs. of gnocchi
1/2lb of mozzarella
Sauce: (you can substitute canned tomatoe sauce)
-2 cans of diced petite tomatoes
-1/2lb of ricotta
-2tsp crushed Red pepper
-2tsp minced garlic
-2tsp cup olive oil
-2tsp sugar
-1/4 cup white wine

Directions:
1. Place sauce ingredients in saucepan and cook for 10min.
2. Boil gnocchi
3. Mix sauce and gnocchi in baking dish and cover entirely with mozzarella cheese. Then bake at 350 degrees for 15min.

Creating a great cheese plate

As you know, cheese is a popular party food and also goes great with wine. However, I often see people just take a few common cheeses, like cheddar, swiss, and american and put them on a plate. But a much nicer way to present a cheese plate to your guests is by selecting cheeses with varying textures. For example, below are 4 different cheese textures and some classic cheese selections for each.

1. Hard: Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, Gruyere
2. Semi-Hard: Cheddar, Gouda, Swiss
3. Semi-soft: Mozzarella, Havarti, Fontina
4. Soft: Brie, Goat cheese, or anything spreadable

Another interesting way to create a cheese plate is to select different textures from a specific country. France, Germany, Italy, and America have the best selections.

Goto: http://www.cheese.com/ for further reference.

Roasted Vegetable Medley

Ingredients:
1 medium zucchini, cut into chunks
1 medium yellow squash, cut into chunks
1 medium onion, halved then cut into chunks
1/2 pound button mushrooms, quartered or halved
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 425 F.
Combine zucchini and yellow squash pieces with onions and mushrooms in a mixing bowl.
Coat evenly with oil, an then with seasoning and salt and pepper.
Spread them out on to a baking sheet.
Place in oven and roast 20 to 25 minutes until tender.

Beer Roasted Beef Tenderloin

Ingredients:
-2 to 3lb beef tenderloin (which is actuallly filet mignon cut and you will have to ask butcher to cut for you. Typical cost is ~$20/lb.)
-8 oz of beer
-4 cubes of beef bouilon
-ground black pepper
-crushed garlic
-meat thermometer

Instructions:
-Preheat the oven to 500°F.
-Marinate tenderloin with garlic, pepper and oil.
-Sear the tenderloin in a frying pan, until brown on all edges
-Poor 8oz of beer and 4 bouillon cubes in roasting pan
-Place meat in roasting pan.
-Place meat thermometer into its center and place the pan in the oven.
-Optionally surround beef with potatoes and carrots.
-Immediately turn the heat down to 225 °F.
-Check temperature after 1/2 hour; and the every 20 min.
-The thermometer should read 140°F for rare meat.
-When done, remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.

"Best Ever" Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
- 1.5 lb pasta (ie. macaroni)
- 2.5 cups whole milk
- 2 lbs of cheese (equal parts cheddar, mozzarella, swiss, Monterey jack)
- 1 lb cream cheese
- 1/4 lb butter (1 stick)
- breadcrumbs

Instructions:
Cook pasta.
In a large pot, bring milk to a boil and reduce to heat to low.
Add Cheddar & cream cheese to milk and stir until cheese is fully melted.
Add pasta to cheese and mix thoroughly.
Add pasta to a baking pan and cook for 45 mins at 350 degrees.

When ready to serve, cover pasta with thin layer of breadcrumbs and distribute the stick of butter on top. Cook until bubbling.