Chilled Strawberry Soup with Mint Whipped Cream

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When I get to sip on something sweet and pink, it feels tres chic.

This has proven true time and again as I have made this delicate and sophisticated strawberry soup. Whether it’s been a bridal shower, baby shower luncheon or a holiday dessert—this strawberry soup has been a show stopper.To clear up any confusion, this is not a gazpacho or a salsa. The strawberries are not pureed or juiced—they are actually stewed for an hour. With this stewing process, the strawberries release their juice creating a concentrated, light yet bold syrup that is perfect for sipping on.

One key to a great strawberry soup is selecting ripe and sweet strawberries. Market Street currently has a wonderful selection of freshly ripened strawberries, perfect for creating a deliciously flavorful chilled soup. While at Market Street collecting your show stopping ingredients be sure to grab organic mint leaves to top off this delicate treat.

You’ll need to wander over to the spice aisle to grab some critical aromatics for this recipe: fresh vanilla beans, cardamom pods (don’t be afraid of this ingredient—it’s very similar to cinnamon!) and mint extract. While you may not use these ingredients every day, you’ll find that these ingredients MAKE this soup have layers of flavor and depth. When making this soup you’ll also need a few other pieces of equipment (if you don’t already have it at home), all of which you can get at Market Street.

1—plastic wrap

2—stainless steel bowl

3—fine mesh strainerIsn’t it great having a catch-all grocery store? Market Street is a shop that not only provides for your basic cooking needs but also for those tabletop goodies (like fresh flowers and pretty plates) that are always necessary when you need to feel tres chic.

Chilled Strawberry Soup with Mint Whipped Cream

Author note: This recipe is a slightly reworked version of a Strawberry Soup I found in Food and Wine Magazine. It is delicate, rich and perfect as a starter or finisher of any luncheon or dinner.

3 pounds strawberries

1 cup sugar

5 cardamom pods

1 vanilla bean, sliced in half (lengthwise)

10 mint leaves, torn

fresh strawberries, chopped

mint whipped cream, see recipe below

mint leaves, for topping

  1. Place strawberries and all their juices into a medium-sized glass (or stainless steel) bowl. Stir in the sugar, vanilla bean and cardamom pods. Place plastic wrap over the top of the bowl and seal well.
  2. Fill a small sauce pan 1/2 inch full of water. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Place the bowl on top of the sauce pan to create a double boiler (make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl). Stew the strawberries for 1 hour. Stir once.
  3. Carefully remove the bowl from the pan. Place the bowl into an ice bath and stir in the mint leaves into the strawberry mixture. Let the strawberries cool for 15-20 minutes.
  4. Strain the strawberry soup into a container. Continue to let the strawberry soup come to room temperature and then place in the fridge.
  5. Place the chopped strawberries into a small serving bowl. Top the strawberries with the soup, mint whipped cream and a mint leaf. Serve chilled.

for the Mint Whipped Cream

1/2 cup crème fraiche

1 cup cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon mint extract

3 teaspoons sugar

  1. Place all ingredients into a large bowl.
  2. Using an electric mixer, whip on high until stiff peaks form, about 4-5 minutes.
  3. Serve immediately, or spoon out and place into a container. Store in fridge until ready to serve (up to 24 hours).

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Market Street. All opinions are my own.

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Wild Mushroom White Pizza

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Date-night “in” is hallowed ground in our home. It’s intentional time spent with my most-loved one where our evening is slow and filled with ridiculously good food, refreshing conversation, boisterous laughter and quality wine.

An important ingredient to a successful evening “in” is the kitchen. It is not just about the cooking in this room it’s also about the ambiance. A bottle of quality wine and good music make this room warm and inviting. My husband and I have been cooking together since our early twenties and find unparalleled joy in this time spent together. We have found that delicious food, excellent drinks and enjoyable music create a slow and thoughtful dinner at home.
One detail that “makes” these evenings are that my husband and I share similar tastes, especially an affection for full-bodied red wine—in particular, Napa Valley Cabernet. The depth of flavors found in each sip of a Napa Valley Cabernet is unmatched. We have also found that big Cabs pairs beautifully with the ingredients we like to cook with and eat.

We have been fine-tuning date-night “in” for 15 years but for the past 8 ½ there has been another element involved: children. Logistics have become another important element to pull-off a successful date-night.The logistical problem is always bedtime, but after 8 ½ years our tactical strategy has resulted in great success.  First, exhaust the children during the day. I’m talking early wake-time, multiple activities (it’s always a plus if a soccer game occurs on this day), no tv and a good bike ride at the end of the day to wrap up everything nicely.

One hour before “date-night” begins the bottle of wine is opened. We take this hour to get our exhausted children asleep. While we wait for sleep to take hold my husband and I slowly sip on a glass of Napa Valley wine. Since its winter and Cab season (which is our favorite season) we either sit outdoors warmed by the heat of grill or indoors by the fire in the fireplace.The big tannic Cab warms us and our conversation. The tone is now set for the evening.

Once the children’s sleep is confirmed we turn on the music in the kitchen and dinner begins.

Pizza is one of our go-to date-night “in” meals. Cooking responsibilities are easily split—one manages the toppings, the other handles the dough and sauce. This cooking strategy works great with this Wild Mushroom White Pizza.A Cabernet from Napa Valley pairs brilliantly with the rich mushrooms, cream, cheese and bread of this pizza. It’s the perfect date-night “in”: pizza and wine.

What I cherish about sometimes staying in, rather than going out, is that it’s a 15 year tradition. We’ve been sipping on wine and dancing while we cook since our twenties and I don’t plan to stop. And when it’s not necessary to exhaust children or juggle multiple logistics in order to have date nights at home you’ll still find us in the kitchen, together. Date-night “in” will always be a rhythm of our kitchen, one that we plan to embrace with a glass of wine in our hands

Wild Mushroom White Pizza

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

6 cups shitake mushrooms, chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 1-inch pieces fresh ginger, peeled

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup white wine

1 cup cream

1/2 teaspoon sherry vinegar

1/4 cup shallot, rough chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

red pepper flakes, pinch

1/2 cup parmesan, grated

1 cup mozzarella, shredded

  1. Heat the oven to 550 degrees.
  2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized skillet. Add the garlic cloves and ginger pieces to the pan once the butter is melted.
  3. Place half of the mushrooms into the skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat. Push the softened mushrooms to the perimeter of the skillet. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the center of the skillet.
  4. Add the remaining 3 cups of mushrooms. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the mushrooms are soft, slightly browned and sticking to the bottom of the pan. Stir occasionally.
  5. Deglaze the pan with the wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the heat. Remove the ginger and garlic.
  6. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and place on your preferred baking equipment.
  7. In a food processor, puree cream, vinegar, shallots and red pepper flakes until the cream is thickened and slightly fluffy.
  8. Top the dough with the white sauce and sautéed mushrooms, parmesan, mozzarella. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the dough and cheese are golden brown. Remove from the heat and let cool 5 minutes. Cut and serve immediately.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Napa Valley Vintners. All opinions are my own.

Instant Pot “Hot Cocoa” Bread Pudding

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Instant Pot 'Hot Cocoa' Bread Pudding

4 egg yoks

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups half and half

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup tablespoons instant hot cocoa powder

6 cups brioche loaf, crust removed and cubed into 1 inch pieces

1 1/2 cups water

chocolate syrup, for topping

marshmallows, for topping

caramel corn, for topping

  1. In a small saucepan, warm the half and half and vanilla over low heat for 15 minutes.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until well combined. Set aside.
  3. After 10 minutes of warming the half and half stir in the hot cocoa. Whisk well until the instant hot cocoa is fully combined and dissolved. Continue to cook for 5 minutes.
  4. While whisking the egg and sugar mixture, add a spoonful of warm cocoa half and half. Continue to whisk to prevent scrambling of the eggs. Continue this process three more times until the custard is warmed.
  5. In a steady stream pour the remaining cocoa half and half into the custard, whisking continually.
  6. Place the brioche into a 7-8 ounce porcelain ramekin. Pour the custard over the bread. Be sure that the tops of the bread are coated by the custard.
  7. Add the water to the Instant Pot and place the steam rack into the Instant Pot.
  8. Place the ramekin onto the steam rack. Secure the lid onto the Instant Pot. Using the manual setting, cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes, turn off the Instant Pot and let the pressure release naturally for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes release any remaining pressure.
  9. Remove the bread pudding. Let cool for 5 minutes.
  10. Top with chocolate syrup, marshmallows and caramel corn.

Gochujang Bok Choy Wraps

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Gochujang Bok Choy Wraps

Author note: This recipe was also featured in The Dallas Morning News. Click here for the story and recipe.

1 pound ground pork

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons gochujang paste

2 tablespoons soy sauce (or 3 tablespoons coconut aminos)

5 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 bok choy ends, finely diced

1 cup yellow onion, finely diced

1 1/2 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and finely diced

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

bok choy leaves, for serving

chopped cilantro, for topping

chili garlic sauce, for topping

lime wedges, for topping

  1. Place the pork, sesame oil, ground ginger, vinegar, gochujang paste, soy sauce, bok choy ends, onion and shiitake mushrooms into a large bowl and thoroughly mix.
  2. Place the vegetable oil into a large skillet. Warm over medium-high heat. Add the pork mixture into the skillet and cook for 15 minutes, or until the pork is fully cooked and the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
  3. Place in bok choy leaves, top with cilantro, chili garlic sauce and squeezes of fresh lime.

Lemon Soda

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Lemon Soda

  • Servings: makes 1 drink
  • Print
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 tablespoons simple syrup (see below for recipe), chilled

2/3 cup club soda, chilled

  1. Place the lemon juice and simple syrup into a glass. Top with club soda and gently stir. Serve chilled, with or without ice.

for the Simple Syrup

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

  1. Place all ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  2. Pour the syrup into an airtight container and store in the fridge.

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Gorgonzola Polenta Medallions

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Gray skies, cold breezes and long nights are my jam. Needless to say I thrive in the winter.

It’s not just the environmental elements that invigorate me during this time of the year. It’s how I “dress up” these long nights that I love: warm food, full bodied wines and conversations that linger well after dinner.Colder months and Cabernet go hand-in-hand. This bold tannic red stands up with the warm, rich dinners that we are all craving (and cooking) during this season. When I am searching for the perfect bottle to pair with a robust, comforting meal during the winter (and while I cook!) — I go for a Cabernet from Napa Valley.Cabernet Sauvignon wines are classic favorites—especially those from Napa Valley. The Cabs from Napa Valley are unique due to the Napa Valley’s climate and soil. These Cabernets offer a well-rounded and refined taste like no other New World variety. Needless to say, I am a Napa Valley Cabernet fan.

One of my goals this year is to incorporate more slow meals into our routine. My son calls it “fancy family,” but I call it something else— bliss.Our most recent family dinner was on a cold dark night. We lit candles, set the table to the nines and opened a bottle of Napa Valley Cabernet. This blustery evening was perfectly matched for Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Gorgonzola Polenta Medallions that was paired with a bold, full-bodied Cabernet.

During these types of dinners, we give ourselves permission to go slow which opens the door to conversation and appreciation of everything that makes up the meal. It’s not just what is on our plates that makes the dinner memorable, it’s what happens around the table that makes these long evenings so worthwhile.Cabernet for the adults and Shirley Temples for the children, we toasted our dinner before we tucked into a plateful of goodness.

A comforting meal paired with a big Cab has a warming effect; the night becomes brighter—complete with full bellies and lively conversation.
 Our dinner lasted for 2 hours that evening. As I cleared away the dishes, I noticed two things that brought me deep satisfaction. Not only would there be plenty of leftovers for short rib sandwiches the next day, but also, most importantly, there were content smiles on my loved ones’ faces. I knew the evening was a success.

It was then that I noted, cold weather season may be Cab Season, but “Fancy Family” season is year-round.

Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Gorgonzola Polenta Medallions

Author note: If time is limited or you prefer not to bake the polenta that is okay. Once the polenta has finished cooking, remove from the cooktop. Add 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola. Stir well to combine. Spoon into warm bowls and top with the short ribs and pan sauce. If you prefer an extra crispy medallion, broil until browned instead of baked.

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

3 pounds bone-in short ribs

2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 carrots, diced

1/2 shallots, diced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

3 garlic cloves, crushed

2 cups dry red wine

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 bay leaves, torn in half

1 tablespoon flour

polenta medallions, see recipe below

gorgonzola, crumbled

parsley, chopped

  1. 30 minutes before cooking, remove the meat from the fridge.
  2. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
  3. With 2 teaspoons of salt, evenly season the short ribs on all sides.
  4. In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over high on the stove top. Once hot, add the short ribs and brown for 2-3 minutes per side, for a total of 4-6 minutes, and set aside. This should be done in 2 batches.
  5. Lower the heat to medium low and remove the Dutch oven from the heat. Add the shallots, carrots garlic and tomato paste to the pan. Continue to cook off the heat for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
  6. Add the Dutch oven back to the stove top. Add the wine and deglaze the pan. Once the brown bits are scraped from the pan, add dijon, worcestershire, bay leaves and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix well.
  7. Place the short ribs back into the Dutch oven. Add more wine if needed to submerge the short ribs halfway.
  8. Bring the liquid to a boil, cover the Dutch oven, and place it in the oven. Cook for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until the short ribs are tender. Remove from the Dutch oven and place onto a cutting board. Cover with foil. Let rest for 10 minutes.
  9. Place the pan back onto the cooktop. Bring the remaining liquid to a simmer. Whisk in the flour and let simmer for 5 minutes, or until thickened.
  10. Remove the meat from the bone. Shred or chop the short ribs. Place a spoonful of pan sauce onto the polenta crisps, then add the short ribs. Top with gorgonzola and chopped parsley.

for the Polenta Medallions

Author note: It takes several hours for the polenta to “set.” I typically make the polenta the day before service and keep covered and chilled in the fridge overnight or up to 48 hours.

6 cups water

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 1/2 cups polenta

  1. Bring the water to a boil. Add salt.
  2. In small batches and in a fine stream add the polenta to the boiling water, whisking constantly. Once all the polenta is added, stir the polenta with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes adjusting the boil to a simmer by reducing the heat to low. Once a constant simmer is maintained, cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes.
  3. After 10 minutes, stir the polenta. Cover the pan and cook for another 10 minutes. Repeat this process two more times for a total of 40 minutes.
  4. After 40 minutes, remove the lid. Continue to cook the polenta over low heat. Stir the last 1 minute of cooking.
  5. Pour the polenta onto a parchment lined rimmed sheet pan (10×15).
  6. Smooth the top of the polenta with a silicon spatula, cover and place into the fridge for 4 hours, or until set.
  7. Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Cut out rounds of polenta using a round pastry cutter. (If you don’t have a a pastry cutter or cookie cutter, a ball jar lid works) Place the rounds onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Place into the oven and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until a light brown crust has formed.
  8. Remove from the oven. Top with red wine braised short ribs, gorgonzola and chopped parsley.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Napa Valley Vintners. All opinions are my own.

Shrimp Tostada

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Shrimp Tostada

Author note: The marinade used for the shrimp also works well with chicken. Use caution when frying with oil. Use a thermometer to make sure the temperature of the oil is not too hot. The amount of tortillas used is dependent upon how many people you plan to feed.

1 1/2 pounds raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 tablespoons dijon mustard

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons canola oil

corn or flour tortillas

1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil (for frying)

canned refried beans

avocado crema (click here for recipe), for topping

butter lettuce, chopped, for topping

cilantro, chopped, for topping

lime wedges, for topping

Mexican cream, for topping

queso fresca, for topping

  1. In a large bowl add the dijon, mayonnaise, salt, garlic powder, chili powder and cumin. Mix well. Add the shrimp and stir well to coat. Cover and place in the fridge up to eight hours before cook time.
  2. Place 1/4 cup canola oil into a medium-sized skillet. Bring to 350 degrees over medium heat. Use a thermometer to accurately measure the temperature of the oil. When the oil has reached the appropriate temperature, place one to two tortillas into the oil. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side. Flip and repeat on the other side of the tortilla.
  3. Place the crisp and golden tortillas onto a paper towel-lined plate. Continue until all tortillas are fried.
  4. Meanwhile, add 2 tablespoons of canola oil into a skillet and cook over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp into the skillet and cook for about 4-6 minutes, flipping once, until the shrimp is cooked all the way through.
  5. On the fried tortilla add a layer of beans and avocado crema. Top with shrimp and then your favorite toppings. Serve immediately.

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