Chef's Notes Plus

Potato, Po-tah-do: Know Your ‘Taters

Potato varieties differ in starch and moisture content, skin and flesh color, and shape. Sweet potatoes and yams, although not botanically related to the potato, share several characteristics with it and can be treated in the same manner. Each cooking technique produces a markedly different texture, flavor, and appearance in […]

Side Dishes

Potatoes Anna

Makes 10 servings Ingredients 4 lb russet potatoes 1/2 cup clarified unsalted butter, or as needed 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more as needed Pinch of freshly ground black pepper, or as needed Directions Preheat the oven to 400°F. Scrub, peel, and trim the potatoes into uniform cylinders. Using a […]

Side Dishes

Potatoes au Gratin

Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients 1 3/4 lb russet potatoes 5 garlic cloves 2 cups whole milk Freshly grated nutmeg, as needed Salt, as needed Freshly ground black pepper, as needed 3/4 cup heavy cream 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces Directions Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter […]

Pies and Tarts

Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie

Makes one 9-inch pie Why should you have to choose between two perfect desserts? With this Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie, you don’t have to! Pie Ingredients 2 eggs 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup cream cheese, softened at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 3/4 cups pumpkin […]

Breakfast and Brunch, Cakes

Quark Stollen

Makes 1 loaf This recipe comes right from Bakeshop 6 at The Culinary Institute of America! A traditional German holiday treat, this stollen is leavened with baking powder, not yeast, so it’s a simple edition to your Christmas to-do list. You can find quark, a soft cultured cheese, near the […]

Salads

Roasted Pear and Arugula Salad with Caramelized Shallot Vinaigrette

Makes 6 Servings Salad Ingredients Juice of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 3 unpeeled Bartlett pears 3 cups baby arugula 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped 1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled Vinaigrette Ingredients 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 3 shallots, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar 3 tablespoons […]

Cookies, Free Recipes

Roll-Out Sugar Cookies

Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size of the cookie cutter You are an artist, and the holiday cookie plate is your canvas! This year, we would like to give you the gift of sugar cookies that are easy to make, hold their shape when baked, and are […]

Cookies, Family Fun

Royal Icing

Makes about one cup If you won’t be using the icing right away, take the following steps to keep the icing from drying out: Clean the sides of the bowl or container to remove any drips; if a dry crust develops on the bowl, small pieces can drop into the […]

Main Dishes

Salt-Crusted Sea Bass

Makes 4 servings This is one of the most aromatic ways to cook sea bass. The crust forms a nice cooking vessel for the fish and citrus, and when you crack the crust the smell is incredible. Bring the fish to the table in the crust and then crack it […]