X Recipes

X

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients but the charcoal in a mixing glass, then add the charcoal. Add ice, and shake vigorously. Double strain (through a cocktail strainer, and then a mesh sieve) into a chilled coupe.

X COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter using a pastry blender, or pinching between your fingers. Add egg, and mix until a dough forms. It may take a couple of minutes of mixing. When the dough starts to hold together, turn it out onto a floured surface and knead briefly. Shape dough into a long roll, wrap, and set aside.
• Place the figs, almonds, apricot preserves, raisins, orange peel, chocolate, rum, and cinnamon into a food processor or blender. Process until finely chopped. If the fruit is hard, it may be soaked in boiling water to soften for 15 minutes before processing.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, mix together the remaining egg and milk to make an egg wash.
• Divide dough into 12 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece out into a 3x12 inch rectangle. Brush the strips of dough lightly with egg wash. Place a strip of the fruit mixture lengthwise down the center of each piece of dough, and fold the edges over. Roll gently to seal. This will make the filled tube of dough a little bit longer. Cut each tube into 3 inch pieces. Make a one inch long slit with a knife down the center of each cut end. Spread the ends out to form an X shape. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto lightly greased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden. Allow cookies to cool on the tray for at least 5 minutes, so they will not be too delicate, before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar when cool.

GUACAMOLE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the onion and lime juice, and season with salt and pepper. Let that sit as you chop the jalapeño.
• Cut the hard stem end off of the jalapeño and discard, then slice the chile in half lengthwise. If you don't want the spice, use your knife or a spoon to remove the inner seeds and white membrane (this is where most of the chile's heat resides). If you enjoy the heat, then leave all of that in. Chop the jalapeño as finely as you can and add to the bowl with the onion and lime juice. Be sure to wash your hands very well with soap after handling spicy chiles like jalapeños, and whatever you do, do not touch your eyes after handling them.
• Cut the avocados in half lengthwise and pull the halves apart. You can use your knife to pit the avocados, but a safer way is to hold the avocado half in one hand so that your thumb is touching the skin side where the pit is and your index and middle fingers are touching the flesh side around the pit. Gently press your fingers into each other to pop the pit out; with a ripe avocado, it should come out very easily. Use your hands to squeeze the avocado flesh out into the bowl with the other ingredients, or scoop it out with a spoon.
• Using a fork, gently mash the avocados against the side of the bowl until they are mashed to your desired consistency, then stir them into the other ingredients until well combined. Taste and add more salt if desired.
• Contrary to popular belief, adding avocado pits to guacamole does nothing to prevent oxidation, but if you press a good layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper directly over the guacamole and store it in the refrigerator, it will keep well for up to 2 days.

LEMON SPAGHETTI WITH ROASTED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Gently pat the artichoke hearts with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Place the artichoke hearts in a mound in the center of the baking sheet. Add 2 tablespoons oil and 1 teaspoon salt, season with pepper and gently toss to combine. Scatter the artichoke hearts in an even layer and roast for 20 minutes. Flip the hearts and roast for an additional 10 minutes, until browned and a little crisp around the edges.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes or according to package directions.
• While the pasta cooks, in a serving dish large enough to accommodate the spaghetti, add the Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the lemon zest; toss to combine. Add the lemon juice and the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil; stir to combine. The mixture should resemble a thick paste.
• Place the serving dish next to the pasta pot. Scoop out and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of it over the Parmesan-lemon mixture; stir to thin out the mixture a little.
• Using tongs, lift out some of the spaghetti (with its cooking water still clinging to it) and transfer to the Parmesan-lemon mixture; quickly toss and drag the spaghetti in a circular motion around the dish to incorporate the sauce. Repeat until you have transferred and tossed all of the spaghetti.
• Add the butter, basil and 1 tablespoon of the pasta water to the spaghetti, and keep tossing until you have a silky sauce clinging to it. Add more pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed.
• Top with the roasted artichokes, a little more black pepper and torn basil, and serve.

HABANERO HONEY SWEET CORN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously butter a 9-inch pie dish.
• Combine fresh corn kernels, habanero pepper, eggs, water, and honey in a bowl. Puree with an immersion blender until almost smooth. Add flour, melted butter, cornmeal, salt, and baking powder; whisk until combined.
• Transfer mixture into the greased pie dish. Shake gently to settle mixture into the dish.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool until warm or room temperature before serving.

AIR-FRYER APPLE DANISH

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 300°. Unroll crescent dough; separate into 8 triangles. Place 1 tablespoon applesauce at the wide end of each triangle; carefully roll up. Brush tops with 2 teaspoons cider. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over rolls., In batches, arrange rolls, point side down, in a single layer in greased air fryer. Curve to form crescents. Cook until golden brown, 7-9 minutes. Cool slightly. Combine confectioners' sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons cider; drizzle over rolls. Serve warm.

GRILLED CILANTRO-LIME CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Whisk cilantro, oil, lime juice, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl. Add thighs and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat an outdoor grill over medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Cook thighs for 6 minutes. Flip and cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 6 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Serve with lime wedges if desired.