Margaritas

1/2 cup coarse salt
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes' worth), plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 cup triple sec
1 cup white tequila
1. Pour the salt onto a small plate. Rub the outside rim of each glass with the cut lime. Dip each glass into the reserved salt; set aside.
2. Place lime juice, lemon juice, triple sec, and 3 cups ice in a blender, and puree on low speed until completely blended. Add tequila and blend for 2 seconds. Pour margaritas into the reserved glasses, over ice, and serve immediately.

Potato Latkes

From Manny's Delicatessen in Chicago via Parade Magazine

Remember: Crispness requires the oil to be very hot - just this side of smoking.

Peel 3/4 lb baking potatoes (russets) and grate medium-coarse (M and I used Simplot Golden potatoes and they were still wonderful). Yield should be about two cups. Combine potatoes and 1/4 cup grated onion in a colander, pressing out as much moisture as possible. Stir potato mixture with 2 large eggs, lightly beaten; 1 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour; and 1/8 tsp baking powder. Let stand for 5 minutes. In a heavy skillet, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium-high and add 1/2 cup vegetable oil or more - enough to total about a 1/4 inch layer of fat. Drop potato mixture into skillet in 2 Tbsp portions, using a wooden spoon to slightly flatten each one. Don't make them too thin, and don't let them touch. Fry for about 2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and fry for 1 minute more. Use a slotted spatula to remove from oil; drain on paper towels. Serves 4.

Tamales

Ganked from Allrecipes.com

4 pounds boneless chuck roast

4 clovesgarlic

3 (8 ounce) package sdried corn husks

4 dried ancho chiles

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup beef broth

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 teaspoon ground cumin

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon white vinegar

salt to taste

3 cupslard

1 tablespoon salt

9 cups masa harina

 

Directions

1. Place beef and garlic in a large pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as water boils, reduce heat to a simmer and cover pot. Let simmer for 3 1/2 hours, until beef is tender and shreds easily. When beef is done, remove from pot, reserving 5 cups cooking liquid and discarding garlic. Allow meat to cool slightly, and shred finely with forks.
2. Meanwhile, place corn husks in a large container and cover with warm water. Allow to soak for 3 hours, until soft and pliable. May need to weight down with an inverted plate and a heavy can.
3. Toast ancho chiles in a cast iron skillet, making sure not to burn them. Allow to cool and then remove stems and seeds. Crumble and grind in a clean coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet. Mix in flour and allow to brown slightly. Pour in 1 cup beef broth and stir until smooth. Mix in ground chiles, cumin seeds, ground cumin, minced garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, vinegar and salt. Stir shredded beef into skillet and cover. Let simmer 45 minutes.
5. Place lard and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whip with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy. Add masa harina and beat at low speed until well mixed. Pour in reserved cooking liquid a little at a time until mixture is the consistency of soft cookie dough.
6. Drain water from corn husks. One at a time, flatten out each husk, with the narrow end facing you, and spread approximately 2 tablespoons masa mixture onto the top 2/3 of the husk. Spread about 1 tablespoon of meat mixture down the middle of the masa. Roll up the corn husk starting at one of the long sides. Fold the narrow end of the husk onto the rolled tamale and tie with a piece of butchers' twine.
7. Place tamales in a steamer basket. Steam over boiling water for approximately one hour, until masa is firm and holds its shape. Make sure steamer does not run out of water. Serve immediately, allowing each person to unwrap their own tamales. Allow any leftovers (still in husks) to cool, uncovered, in the refrigerator.

Emeril's KickedUp Spinach Artichoke Dip

From Parade Magazine:
ingredients: 

2 (10-oz) packages fresh spinach, well rinsed, stems trimmed
4 Tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 cup (6 1/2 oz) 1/2-inch cubes Brie cheese, rind removed
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 (6 1/2-oz) jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
4 strips crisp fried bacon, chopped
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Assorted chips, such as pita, tortilla, and bagel chips, for dipping

 

At a glance:Servings: 8
Active Time: 15 min
Total Time: 30 min

 

directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9-inch round ovenproof baking dish and set aside.

2. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add spinach in batches and cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and refresh under cold running water. Squeeze to remove excess water. Chop and set aside.

3. Melt butter in a medium pot on medium-high. Add onion and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add garlic, salt, black pepper, and cayenne and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, to make a light roux, about 2 minutes. Add milk and cream in a steady stream and cook, stirring constantly, until thick and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add cooked spinach and lemon juice and stir to incorporate. Add Brie and Monterey Jack, artichoke hearts, and bacon; stir well. Remove from heat and pour into prepared baking dish. Top with Parmesan and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and serve hot with chips.

Emeril's Gumbo YaYa

From Parade Magazine:
ingredients: 

1 (6-lb) roasting chicken or 2 (3-lb) chickens
8 cups water
2 medium yellow onions, quartered
2 ribs celery, each cut into 6 pieces
2 bay leaves
1 Tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
2 cups chopped yellow onion
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 lb andouille or other smoked sausage, finely chopped, plus 1 lb smoked sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 Tbsp chopped green onion or scallion (green parts only)
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley leaves
Cooked rice (optional)

At a glance:Servings: 10
Active Time: 35 min
Total Time: 4 hr 35 min

 

directions:1. In a large, heavy pot, combine chicken, water, onions, celery pieces, bay leaves, 1 Tbsp salt, and 1 tsp cayenne. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium and cook, partly covered, until chicken is tender, about 2 hours. Remove chicken. Strain and reserve broth.

2. In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, combine oil and flour. Stirring slowly and constantly, cook over medium heat to make a dark brown roux, the color of chocolate, 20 to 25 minutes. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, celery, and sausage. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add reserved broth and stir until roux mixture and broth are well combined. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours.

3. Meanwhile, remove skin from chicken and meat from bones, discarding skin and bones. Coarsely chop chicken. Add chicken and sliced sausage to gumbo. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes before skimming off fat. Season with remaining salt and pepper. Stir in green onion and parsley. Top with rice, if desired.

Emeril's Columbia Street Grinder

From Parade Magazine:
ingredients:

4 (6-inch) loaves Portuguese stick bread or Italian or French loaves
Balsamic-Herb Vinaigrette
8 oz sliced provolone cheese
8 oz sliced mortadella
8 oz sliced spicy ham, such as capicola
8 oz sliced salami
1 large ripe tomato, cut into 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices
12 thin onion slices
12 jarred hot or sweet cherry peppers, drained and roughly chopped
2 cups torn green-leaf lettuce

 

At a glance:Servings: Makes 4 sandwiches
Active Time: 10 min
Total Time: 10 min

 

directions:1. Cut loaves of bread in half lengthwise; arrange in a single layer, cut sides up. Liberally brush bread with vinaigrette. On bottom half of each loaf, evenly layer 1/4 of the provolone, followed by 1/4 of the mortadella, 1/4 of the spicy ham, and 1/4 of the salami. Top each with 2 tomato slices and 3 onion slices. Divide cherry peppers among sandwiches. Stir vinaigrette and generously drizzle over onion and tomato.

2. In a small bowl, toss torn lettuce with some of remaining vinaigrette. Divide lettuce among sandwiches, top with other halves of bread, and serve.

Hangar Steak Goulash

Ganked from Bridgid

You can make this up to go in the crock pot in just a few minutes, after you fry up a few pieces of bacon for breakfast and it will be ready when most of you get home from work.
1 and 1/2  pound hangar steak.
1  cup dry white wine
7-8  pieces of bacon, four cooked just tender, the remainder cooked crispy for garnish. Save a little bit of the drippings.
2 small cans tomatoes (with juice)
3 celery hearts, chopped (not diced fine)
3/4 large sweet onion sliced
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp Jane's Krazy Salt  (Moody's sells it but the website is here. )
1 Tablespoon minced garlic (or 3 cloves)
1  and 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons HOT Hungarian paprika
Marinate the hangar steak in  a zip lock bag in dry white wine for a few hours (or overnight) in the refrigerator.  Remove meat, reserving 1/2 cup of the wine (discard rest).
Place steak in crock pot and cover with tomatoes, reserved wine, celery, onion, Worcestershire, spices and four chopped slices of the  tender bacon (with a teaspoon of the drippings), reserving crispy bacon bits for topping later. Stir gently, cover and set to cook for low for 8 hours (mine has a feature which will move it to warm when the 8 hours is done).
When you get home remove about a half cup of the broth, let cool slightly and stir in a couple heaping teaspoons of flour if you would like the stock thicker and whisk until there are no lumps. SLOWLY  stream into the crock pot, stirring constantly, then place lid back on, turn heat up if it's on warm and continue cooking another 15-30 minutes to thicken.
Serve in bowls with sour cream and chopped crispy bacon.  This would also be good over noodles for those so inclined.  :-)