Change has Come

My blog has moved - to a place with more flexibility and support. http://silverservicechef.wordpress.com/ I'll leave this version up, but I also moved all the posts for your convenience. --Li...

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Fire and Ice Salad

Tomato and cucumber salad - one of my favorites.  Cool, refreshing and that bite of vinegar! Never before has it had a kick, though and this one fits the bill. Quite colorful and inviting for the eyes as well, this salad was a huge hit at our barbecue yesterday and I was thrilled to have a little bit to bring home for lunch today. Don't let it sit...

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Triple Oreo Madness Cupcakes

Who doesn't love Oreos? The best of both worlds - vanilla and chocolate all in one cookie. Whether you eat it straight up, or split it apart and eat it in pieces, it's America's cookie. They keep churning our imitations and fancy new variations (cookie dough was a travesty), but you cannot mess with the classic Oreo. I'll even take a Double Stuff once in...

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Onion Dip from Scratch

We all remember that onion dip our mom's made with the container of sour cream and a packet of onion soup mix - we thought it was the greatest thing to have at a party.  You can admit it. Then came Alton Brown and he figured out a way to make it from scratch and my whole world was turned upside-down - how could it be better? Well, after a few times making it and then...

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Breaded Chicken Thighs with Angry Cuke Salad

From Garnish & Gather Yields 4 servings Ingredients: 4 Each chicken thighs, boneless, skinless  1 Cup yogurt, Greek, plain  1 tsp pepper, crushed red  1 Cup flour, all purpose 1/2 Cup cornmeal, yellow  1/2 tsp garlic powder  1/2 Tbls onion powder  1/2 Tbls thyme, dried  1 Large egg, whole  To taste salt and pepper  oil, olive...

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Lindy's Lemon Bars

From Lindy Sparks Ruffin Yields 24 bars Ingredients: 1 Cup butter, unsalted  1/2 Cup sugar, powdered plus some for dusting 2 Cups flour, all-purpose  4 Large egg, whole slightly beaten 2 Cups sugar, white  4 tsp juice, lemon  4 tsp flour, all-purpose  2 tsp zest, lemon  1 tsp baking powder  Tools Needed: Pyrex Grip-Rite 2-Quart Oblong...

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Superfudge Brownies

From Ben and Jerry's Yields 12 servings (24 brownies) Ingredients: 4 Ounce(wt)s chocolate, baking, unsweetened  1/2 Cup butter  4 Each egg, whole room temperature 1/2 tsp salt  2 Cups sugar, white  1 tsp extract, vanilla  1 Cup flour, all-purpose unsifted Optional Ingredients: 1 Cup walnuts, English chopped Tools Needed:Wilton Recipe Right 13...

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Lemon Blueberry Tiramisu Trifle

Yields 8 servings Ingredients: 1/4 Cup juice, lemon  1/4 Cup sugar, white  8 Ounce(wt)s cheese, cream light softened1 recipe of Lemon curd (below) 2 Cups cream, heavy  24 Each ladyfingers, crisp  2 Pints blueberries  Tools Needed: Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater Black & Decker CJ625 30-Watt 34-Ounce Citrus Juicer Cuisinart DLC-10S...

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Scarpetta Braised Short Ribs

From Scott Conant, Scarpetta, New York, NY Yields 4 servings Serve over Farro and Vegetable Risotto Ingredients: 4 Pounds beef, short ribs  Salt, Kosher  Pepper, black, ground  Oil, extra virgin olive  1 Cup carrot chopped 1 Cup celery chopped 1 Cup onion, yellow chopped 10 Cloves garlic, fresh coarsely chopped 3/4 Cups wine, dry red  1/2...

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Farro and Vegetable Risotto

From Scott Conant, Scarpetta, New York, NY Yields 6 servings Serve with Scarpetta Braised Short Ribs Ingredients: Salt, Kosher  3/4 Cups farro  Oil, extra virgin olive  1/2 Cup carrot 1/4-inch diced Pepper, crushed red  1/2 Cup squash, yellow 1/4-inch diced 1/2 Cup squash, zucchini 1/4-inch diced 1 1/2 Cup stock, chicken, low-sodium warmed 2...

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Slow Cooker Garden Minestrone

Yields 8 servings Adapted from America's Test Kitchen Ingredients: 1 Large onion, white minced 4 Cloves garlic, fresh minced 1 Tbls oil, extra virgin olive plus extra for serving 1 1/2 tsp oregano, fresh minced 1/8 tsp pepper, crushed red  6 Cups stock, vegetable OR chicken, low-sodium  15 Ounce(wt)s sauce, tomato  6 1/2 Ounce(wt)s beans, great northern,...

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Slow Cooker Farmhouse Chicken and Corn Chowder

Yields 6 servings Adapted from America's Test Kitchen Ingredients: 2 Slices bacon, uncooked minced 4 tsp oil, vegetable  2 Large onion, white minced 6 Cloves garlic, fresh minced 1 Tbls tomato paste  2 tsp thyme, fresh minced 1/4 Cup flour, all-purpose  5 Cups stock, chicken, low-sodium  1 Pound potatoes, small red scrubbed, cut in 1/2-in chunks...

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