Grilled Flank Steak with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce and Asparagus

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon salted butter, plus 1 stick slightly softened
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 pound gorgonzola cheese,crumbled
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds flank steak
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/4 cup paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 pounds large asparagus, trimmed

Directions

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until tender, about 1 minute. Add the heavy cream and simmer until reduced by half. Whisk in the gorgonzola until it melts. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Heat a grill pan over medium heat. Brush the steak lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper. Grill the steak, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare, turning once. Remove from the heat and cover with foil. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Meanwhile, combine the sugar, paprika and onion powder in a small bowl. Reserve 4 teaspoons and store the rest in an airtight container. (Seasoning will keep in the pantry for up to 6 months.) Mix the stick of softened butter with 3 teaspoons of the seasoning in a small bowl; cover and refrigerate.
Toss the asparagus with the remaining 1 teaspoon barbecue seasoning mix and 1 tablespoon olive oil; add salt and pepper to taste. Cook the asparagus in a grill pan over medium heat until tender, turning once, about 6 minutes total.

Cut the steak into -inch-thick slices. Top with the gorgonzola cream sauce, and serve with the asparagus and some barbecue butter.

Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar plus 1 tablespoon for garnish
• 1/3 cup nut-flavored liqueur (recommended: Di Saronno or Frangelico)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 7 cups large dice cinnamon challah (or plain challah or brioche plus 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon) (about 10 ounces challah)
• 1 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and arrange a rack in middle.
Whisk together milk, cream, eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, liqueur, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl until egg is broken up and mixture is smooth. Evenly distribute bread and walnuts in a 2 quart baking dish, pour custard mixture over bread, and allow to soak for at least 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring about 8 cups water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
Evenly distribute remaining 1 tablespoon sugar over bread pudding. Set the filled baking dish into a larger roasting pan and add enough of the hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake until custard is set and top is lightly browned, about 50 to 60 minutes. Remove from water bath and let sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, at room temperature.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
• Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.

Using a mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.

Autumn Potato Gratin

Ingredients

• 4 pounds mixed baby potatoes, such as Red Bliss, Peruvian Purples, and Fingerlings
• 2 cups heavy cream, plus some to cover
• 4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
• 2 sprigs each fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary
• 2 garlic cloves, cracked
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Halve the potatoes and toss them into a large baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, put the cream, butter, herbs, and garlic in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, to infuse the cream with flavor. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the hot cream mixture through a strainer over the potatoes, (discard the herbs and garlic), if there is not enough cream to go 3/4 of the way up the potatoes then pour some additional cream on top to make up the difference. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through and top begins to brown. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Quick Pear Tart Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup raw sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
• 1/2 stick butter, melted
• 2 (15 1/4-ounce) cans pear halves, keeping stem end attached, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon together. Lay puff pastry sheet on a work surface brush with melted butter and sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar. Cut into 6 even pieces. Fan the pear slices over the puff pastry, using 1/2 a pear for each puff pastry square. Sprinkle tops of pear tarts with remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake until pastry is golden and cooked through, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove from tart from oven, sprinkle with cheese and bake until cheese melts, 5 minutes more.

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Ingredients

• 1 cup thawed, chopped frozen spinach
• 11/2 cups thawed, chopped frozen artichoke hearts
• 6 ounces cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

Boil spinach and artichokes in 1 cup of water until tender and drain. Discard liquid. Heat cream cheese in microwave for 1 minute or until hot and soft. Stir in rest of ingredients and serve hot.

Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive or vegetable oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 4 boneless chicken breast halves cut into 1 to 2-inch cubes, about 4 cups
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Pinch dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 4 medium red potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or oven-proof stockpot over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute for 5 to 7 minutes, until browned on all sides. Remove 1/2 the cooked chicken for later in the week, cover and refrigerate. In a small bowl, combine flour, thyme, salt, pepper, and paprika. Add flour mixture to the chicken and stir to coat. Stir in carrots, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, chicken broth, wine, and Dijon mustard and mix well. Bring mixture to a boil. Cook until vegetables are tender. Transfer stew to a clean 2-quart casserole dish and stir in corn. Place pie crust on top of casserole and pinch around the edges to seal the crust to the dish. Brush the top with beaten egg and prick the surface 1 or 2 times with a sharp knife or fork to allow steam to escape during cooking. Place casserole dish on baking sheet and bake for about 8 to 10 minutes, until crust is golden.