AMERICAN GUMBO

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Ingredients Servings: 10-12  3 quarts no-salt-added chicken broth, plus more as needed  2 bay leaves  10 to 12 crab legs or claws, optional  2 pounds andouille sausage or any smoked sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices  2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large), cut into 1-inch chunks  1 tablespoon garlic powder, or more to taste  2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, such as Tony Cachere’s, or more to taste  1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco, or more to taste and for serving  1 cup all-purpose flour  1 cup canola oil, or any neutral oil  1 large yellow onion (about 10 ounces), cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 2 cups)  3 large celery ribs, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 cup)  1 large green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 cup)  1 pound okra, sliced, defrosted if frozen  3 garlic cloves, minced or grated  1 (10 -ounce) can Rotel brand Tomatoes and Green Chiles, or any small diced tomatoes  2 pounds medium peeled/deveined tail-off shrimp (41 to 50 count), defrosted if frozen  Cooked white rice, for serving  1/4 cup chopped curly or flat-leaf fresh parsley leaves or scallions, for serving  Filé powder, optional, for serving (see headnote).

Directions Time: Active 3 hours 15 minutes | Total: 4 hours Step 1: In a large stock pot over medium-high heat, add the broth, bay leaves and crab, if using, and bring to a simmer. Decrease the heat to low to keep hot. Step 2: Set a paper towel-lined plate near the stove. In a large skillet over medium high heat, lightly fry the sausage until just browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer to the prepared plate. Remove the skillet from the heat, but do not clean. Step 3: In a medium bowl, toss the chicken pieces with the garlic powder, Creole seasoning and hot sauce. Return the skillet to medium-high heat, add the chicken pieces and cook through, about 8 minutes. Step 4: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, such as a Dutch oven, over medium-high heat, add the oil and then gradually add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until you have a beige paste. Reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking and stirring constantly until the roux is dark chocolate-brown, about 30 minutes, adjusting the temperature up or down as needed. Step 5: (The timing here will vary depending on your stove as well as the pan you are using; the most important thing is to not let any portion of the roux scorch, and to stir constantly until you've reached the desired color. If it burns, throw it out and start over.) Step 6: Add the onions, celery and bell pepper to the darkened roux, stir until fully coated and cook until just softening, 5 to 7 minutes. Add in half the okra and the garlic and cook until the okra begins to soften 5 to 10 minutes, stirring as needed and lowering the heat if it begins to stick. (If the okra was frozen, it will probably soften more quickly.) Step 7: Increase the heat under the broth to high, add the roux and vegetables to the broth, bring to a boil and boil for about 5 minutes. Add the sausage and chicken with any accumulated juices, the remaining okra and the tomatoes and boil for another 5 minutes. Step 8: Reduce the heat to low, cover and let the gumbo simmer, at least 45 minutes and up to 2 hours. Step 9: Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more garlic powder, Creole seasoning or hot sauce as needed. If the gumbo is too thick, add more stock or water, 1/4 cup at a time until desired consistency. cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes. Step 10: About 10 minutes before serving, add the shrimp and cook until pink and cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes. Step 11: Scoop some rice into bowls and ladle the gumbo on top. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with hot sauce and filé powder, if desired.

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AUSTRALIAN PAVLOVA

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This home recipe is based on Stephanie Alexander’s “Pom’s Companion,” a recipe book many Australian families follow. The photo is that of a pavlova cooked for one of her family dinners. Ingredients  4 egg whites (at room temperature)  Pinch of salt  250 g castor sugar  2 teaspoons corn flour  1 teaspoon white wine vinegar  Few drops of vanilla
Directions  Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C). Line a baking tray with baking paper and draw an 8-inch (20 centimeter) circle on the paper.  Beat egg whites and salt until satiny peaks form.  Beat in sugar, a third at a time, until meringue is stiff and shiny.  Sprinkle over corn flour, vinegar and vanilla and fold in lightly.  Mound onto paper lined baking tray within circle and flatten top and smooth sides. Place in oven, immediately reduce heat to 300° F (150°C) and cook for 75 minutes. Turn off oven and leave pavlova in it to cool completely.
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Brazilian Pão de Queijo (CHEESE ROLLS)

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Ingredients • 4 cups of tapioca flour • 2 tsp of salt • 6 tbsp of olive oil • 2 large eggs • 1 1/4 cups of 2% milk • 1/2 cup of water • 2 1/2 cups of cheese
Directions Step 1 Add milk, water, salt and oil to a pan. Bring it to a boil on medium heat. Step 2 Add the tapioca starch to a mixing bowl. Step 3 Add the hot mixture to the mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Step 4 Add the eggs and mix. Step 5 Add the cheese. Step 6 Cover the dough and put it in the refrigerator for an hour. Step 7 Set the oven to 400° F (200 ° C) Step 8 Shape the dough into balls about 1-1/2 inches thick. Step 9 Place the cheese bread on a tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.
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CYPRIOT OLIVE PIE

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The ingredients are vegan, the recipe is simple, and the result is very delicious. Ingredients  4 cups bread flour  1 cup olive oil  1,5 cup orange juice  1,5 cup pitted black olives (Cyprus or Greek style)  10 spring onions  100 gr fresh coriander  2 tbsp dried spearmint  3tsp baking powder  sesame seeds

Instructions Step 1 Add the flour to a big bowl and then the olive oil. Rub the flour and the olive oil together until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Step 2 Add the baking powder and orange juice and mix all the ingredients to create a dough. Knead slightly (don't overwork the dough until everything is nicely mixed) and let the dough rest. Step 3 Add the olives, fresh coriander, fresh onions, and spearmint in a food processor. Blend everything to a smooth paste. Step 4 This quantity can make two big rolls or four small ones. Divide the dough into the quantity you desire. Step 5 Take the first piece of dough and, using a rolling pin, spread the dough into a rectangle. Try to spread it as thinly as possible Step 6 Take some of the olive paste and spread it on the rolled-out dough. Use just enough, so you have more for the other olive pies. Step 7 Tightly roll the dough, starting from the wider side Step 8 Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Step 9 Line a baking tray with parchment paper and bake the olive pie roll for 40 minutes or until nicely golden.

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Czech Kuba

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Kuba is a traditional Czech dish, especially on the Christmas dinner table. Ingredients  1-⅓ cups pearled barley  7 handfuls of dried mushrooms  2 Tablespoons of unsalted butter  2 small onions, peeled and finely chopped  ½ Tablespoon of dried marjoram  3 cloves of garlic, peeled and pressed  1-½ teaspoons of salt
Directions Step 1 Preheat the oven to 350° F (180° C) Step 2 Place dried mushrooms in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook for ten minutes. Step 3 Set the cooked mushrooms aside and let them cool before draining them and chopping them coarsely. Reserve the mushroom stock. Step 4 Cook the pearled barley in salted water. You can replace some of the water with the mushroom stock. Pour off any excess liquid. Step 5 Peel and finely chop the onions. Peel and press the garlic. Step 6 In a high-sided frying pan, sauté the onions in the unsalted butter until golden brown. Add the cooked barley, coarsely chopped mushrooms, crushed garlic, and half tablespoon of dried marjoram. Season with salt to taste. Step 7 Grease the baking dish with butter. Pour in the mushroom barley mixture, smoothing the surface. Step 8 Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.

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ESTONIAN blood sausage

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The minister makes his own blood sausage at home; though it can be purchased online, at a butcher shop, or at many grocery stores. If you purchase ready-made blood sausage, which can be called “Black Pudding” in English, then it is already cooked and only needs to be reheated. Whether you buy it or make it from scratch using an online recipe, blood sausage can be prepared using the same method as any other pre-cooked sausage — by frying, grilling, baking, or boiling.

Frying Step 1 Heat a tablespoon of oil, either olive oil or vegetable oil, in a skillet. Step 2 Fry sausages on medium heat, cooking each side for a few minutes until browned. Baking Step 1 Preheat oven to 350° F (180° C) Step 2 Cook sausages on a tray for 10 to 15 minutes. Blood sausage is traditionally served with any of the following:  Fried apples  Baguette  Cheese  Potatoes  Eggs and beans

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FINNISH WILD BERRIES

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The minister pointed out that long summer days in Finland made berries extra sweet, especially the wild berries. Picking wild berries and carrying them home in a traditional wooden cup is a Finnish family pastime. Finns often freeze the handpicked berries to enjoy during the winter months. The berries can be served alone or with cream. Here’s a traditional recipe for Finnish berry soup. Ingredients  2 cups of berries  1-1/2 cups of water  1/2 cups of apple juice  2 tablespoons of corn starch  4 tablespoons of cold water  1-1/2 teaspoons of vanilla  Optional: sugar or alternative sweetener
Directions Step 1 Combine berries, water and juice in a sauce pot and bring to a boil. Step 2 Mix corn starch with the four tablespoons of cold water. Step 3 Once the berries boil, add the corn starch mixture and stir. Step 4 Boil it a few minutes longer until the mixture thickens. Step 5 Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Sweeten to taste.
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MALTESE RABBIT STEW

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Ingredients  1 rabbit, cleaned and cut into pieces  1/4 cup of olive oil  1 large onion, chopped  3 cloves garlic, chopped  ½ cup red wine  1 bay leaf  1 cube beef bouillon  ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg  2 tablespoons tomato paste  ¼ teaspoon white sugar  salt and pepper to taste  4 large potatoes, peeled and quartered  2 carrots, chopped  ½ cup peas

Directions Step 1 Cook the rabbit in hot oil in a large saucepan. Add the chopped onion and garlic, stirring occasionally until the rabbit is brown. Step 2 Stir in the wine, bay leaf, beef bouillon, nutmeg, tomato paste, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Step 3 Add the potatoes, carrots, and peas. Pour enough water over everything until covered. Step 4 Bring stew to a boil, then reduce heat and allow the stew to simmer until the potatoes are completely cooked through, about an hour. Step 5 Optional: Serve with fresh cooked pasta.

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PORTUGUESE Rabanadas Natalícias

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Rabanadas are a favorite in Portugal at Christmas time. Ingredients  1 cup sugar  2 tablespoons ground cinnamon  4 large eggs  2 cups of 2% milk  Oil for frying  1 loaf of French bread, cut into 1-inch slices

Step 1 Mix sugar and cinnamon until blended. Separately, whisk eggs and milk. Dip both sides of the bread in the egg mixture. Step 2 Heat oil in a skillet. Working with a few slices at a time, remove bread from egg mixture, allowing excess to drain, and fry on each side until golden brown. Step 3 Dip warm rabanadas in cinnamon-sugar to coat all sides. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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SLOVENIAN POTICA

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Ingredients Yeast • 2 x packages active dry yeast • 1 Tbsp sugar  • 1/2 cup warm milk *place all the above ingredients into a mug. Stir well and set it aside for the yeast to activate and bubble. Dough • 500g all purpose flour, sifted - You will need more flour during the mixing process. I only ever start with 500g and then add more flour as I mix the dough • 1 tsp salt • 1-2 Tablespoons dark rum • 70g butter, room temperature • 4 x large eggs, separated • 1 Tbsp lemon zest • 2 cups of warm whole milk 1. Sift the flour into a large bowl. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix the wet ingredients first; add the egg yolks, butter, rum and lemon zest. Mix well until you achieve a nice pale yellow consistency. 3. Add a well inside the center of the flour, sprinkle 1 tsp salt around the edges only. Pour the yeast, above egg mixture and 2 cups of warm milk inside the well. Mix for about 8-10 minutes, by hand or use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.  * The dough will likely be runny, add some more flour about 1 Tablespoon at a time * if it seems too dry add some warm milk 1 Tablespoon at a time. 4. After 8-10 minutes remove the dough from the bowl, it should still be a little sticky. Sprinkle some flour onto the surface that you are working on and continue kneading by hand until your dough becomes a nice soft, smooth ball.  5. Place the dough into a bowl. Cover it with clear plastic wrap and a kitchen tea towel. Place the bowl in an area away from the window or draft. Allow the dough to rise and double in size for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 6. While the dough is resting, make the walnut filling. Walnut filling • 200ml of warm milk • 40g of butter • 600g of ground walnuts • 100g sugar • Egg whites • 1 Tbsp lemon zest • 2 Tbsp's dark rum 1. Place a small pot on low temperature on the stove and melt the butter with the milk.  2. Place the ground walnuts into a bowl. Pour the warm milk & butter over the ground walnuts. 3. Add the sugar, rum and lemon zest. Mix until well combined and set aside to cool down.  4. Whip the eggs whites until you get a nice fluffy consistency.**Important: do not add the whipped egg whites to the walnut mixture until it is cooled down. You don't want to end up with scrambled eggs. 5. Add the egg whites to the cooled walnut mixture. Mix until well combined.
POTICA is a delicious traditional Slovenian Walnut Roll, or sweet bread, that is known in Slovenia as the Queen of Slovenian desserts. It can appear in various interpretations: different ingredients (hazelnuts, chocolate, poppy seeds, pork crackling and so forth) and different sizes (mini or full-sized). No Christmas or Easter holiday in Slovenia is complete without a walnut potica cake. Equally, potica is common at weddings and funerals, and at all major family and national holidays. Making the Potica  1. Place a large tablecloth on top of the surface that you are working on. Sprinkle it with flour. 2. Place the risen dough on top of the floured tablecloth. Start rolling out the dough. Shape the dough into a large square or rectangle, depending on the size of the pan you are using. * If you are using a round 9" bundt pan, you want it to be around 20" x 20" 3. Once you have rolled out the dough, add the prepared walnut filling 4. Roll up the dough, pressing slightly as you roll to help get some of the air out.  5. Butter the pan or bundt pan that you are using. *Helpful tip: Roll up a kitchen tea towel and measure the inside of the bundt pan to see how long the Potica or walnut roll needs to be before you cut it and place it into the bundt pans or pans that you will be using to bake the Potica in.  6. Place the Potica in the buttered pan(s). Use a wooden skewer to poke holes into the Potica. Poke generously all over. Cover up the Potica with a kitchen tea towel. Allow to rest and rise for another 30-60 minutes. *It all depends on how warm your kitchen is.  7. After the second rise, beat 1 egg, and give the top of the Potica and egg wash.  8. Using the wooden skewer, re-poke the holes again (bringing the skewer right down to the bottom), after you brush on the egg wash, so there will be a proper air flow when the Potica is baking. 9. Bake the Potica in a 350F over for about 45 minutes. After the 45 minutes lower the heat to 325F, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. 10. The Potica is done baking when the top has a beautiful bronzed color. Remove it from the oven and allow to rest for about 2 minutes. Then place it upside down on a cooling rack. Leaving the pan over it while it is cooling down. Once it has cooled down completely. Place the Potica onto a serving plate with the topside facing down. Sprinkle the Potica with some powdered sugar (icing sugar) and serve!
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SWISS RACLETTE

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Raclette refers to both a type of Swiss cows-milk cheese and also the name of the grill that it is traditionally prepared on. This hard cheese melts to a golden liquid consistency. It can be heated in individual portions using a special raclette grill at the table or made in advance in an oven. To prepare in an oven, place sliced chunks of the cheese in a cast iron skillet and bake for five or ten minutes at 350° F (180° C). Ingredients  8 ounces of Raclette cheese per person

Directions Typically served with any combination of the following:  Baby potatoes  Baguette  Pickles or cornichons  Charcuterie  Sliced apples  Nuts

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ZAMBIAN NSHIMA

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This is a staple dish consumed in many African countries, and the name of this cornmeal dish varies by region. It is called “Nshima” in Malawi and Zambia; “Ugali” in Kenya and Tanzania; and “Pap” in South Africa and Lesotho. Ingredients  1 cup of cornmeal per serving  2-1/2 cups of water per cup of cornmeal  Salt to taste

Directions Step 1 Bring cold water to a boil. Step 2 Slowly add about half of the cornmeal one spoon at a time. Continue stirring until the water begins to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for a few minutes. Step 3 Add the remaining cornmeal as before. Continue stirring until there are no lumps and the mixture is thick and smooth. Step 4 Turn off the heat. Cover the pot and let stand for a few minutes.

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POTICA

SLOVENIAN CLASSIC

This dish was recommended by Slovenia to the United Nations

POTICA

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Ingredients Yeast • 2 x packages active dry yeast • 1 Tbsp sugar  • 1/2 cup warm milk *place all the above ingredients into a mug. Stir well and set it aside for the yeast to activate and bubble. Dough • 500g all purpose flour, sifted - You will need more flour during the mixing process. I only ever start with 500g and then add more flour as I mix the dough • 1 tsp salt • 70g butter, room temperature • 4 x large eggs, separated • 1-2 Tablespoons dark rum • 1 Tbsp lemon zest • 2 cups of warm whole milk 1. Sift the flour into a large bowl. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix the wet ingredients first; add the egg yolks, butter, rum and lemon zest. Mix well until you achieve a nice pale yellow consistency. 3. Add a well inside the center of the flour, sprinkle 1 tsp salt around the edges only. Pour the yeast, above egg mixture and 2 cups of warm milk inside the well. Mix for about 8-10 minutes, by hand or use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment.  * The dough will likely be runny, add some more flour about 1 Tablespoon at a time * if it seems too dry add some warm milk 1 Tablespoon at a time. 4. After 8-10 minutes remove the dough from the bowl, it should still be a little sticky. Sprinkle some flour onto the surface that you are working on and continue kneading by hand until your dough becomes a nice soft, smooth ball.  5. Place the dough into a bowl. Cover it with clear plastic wrap and a kitchen tea towel. Place the bowl in an area away from the window or draft. Allow the dough to rise and double in size for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 6. While the dough is resting, make the walnut filling. Walnut filling • 200ml of warm milk • 40g of butter • 600g of ground walnuts • 100g sugar •1 Tbsp lemon zest • 2 Tbsp's dark rum • Egg whites 1.Place a small pot on low temperature on the stove and melt the butter with the milk.  2. Place the ground walnuts into a bowl. Pour the warm milk & butter over the ground walnuts. 3. Add the sugar, rum and lemon zest. Mix until well combined and set aside to cool down.  4. Whip the eggs whites until you get a nice fluffy consistency.** Important: do not add the whipped egg whites to the walnut mixture until it is cooled down. You don't want to end up with scrambled eggs. 5. Add the egg whites to the cooled walnut mixture. Mix until well combined.

Making the Potica  1. Place a large tablecloth on top of the surface that you are working on. Sprinkle it with flour. 2. Place the risen dough on top of the floured tablecloth. Start rolling out the dough. Shape the dough into a large square or rectangle, depending on the size of the pan you are using. * If you are using a round 9"; bundt pan, you want it to be around  20" x 20"; 3. Once you have rolled out the dough, add the prepared walnut filling 4. Roll up the dough, pressing slightly as you roll to help get some of the air out.  5. Butter the pan or bundt pan that you are using. *Helpful tip: Roll up a kitchen tea towel and measure the inside of the bundt pan to see how long the Potica or walnut roll needs to be before you cut it and place it into the bundt pans or pans that you will be using to bake the Potica in.  6. Place the Potica in the buttered pan(s). Use a wooden skewer to poke holes into the Potica. Poke generously all over. Cover up the Potica with a kitchen tea towel. Allow to rest and rise for another 30-60 minutes. *It all depends on how warm your kitchen is.  7. After the second rise, beat 1 egg, and give the top of the Potica and egg wash.  8. Using the wooden skewer, re-poke the holes again (bringing the skewer right down to the bottom), after you brush on the egg wash, so there will be a proper air flow when the Potica is baking. 9. Bake the Potica in a 350F over for about 45 minutes. After the 45 minutes lower the heat to 325F, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. 10. The Potica is done baking when the top has a beautiful bronzed color. Remove it from the oven and allow to rest for about 2 minutes. Then place it upside down on a cooling rack. Leaving the pan over it while it is cooling down. Once it has cooled down completely. Place the Potica onto a serving plate with the topside facing down. Sprinkle the Potica with some powdered sugar (icing sugar) and serve!

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