Chocolate-Dipped Steak Pizza-Layered Cannoli with Pistachios

      Serves 4

    ½ pound boneless sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into ¼-inch slices

2 teaspoons olive oil, divided

¼ teaspoon salt, divided

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic

½ tablespoon fresh oregano

½ (28-ounce) can unsalted whole tomatoes, undrained

⅓ cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon ⅓-less-fat cream cheese

1 ounce shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (about ¼ cup)

½ teaspoon grated orange rind

⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 (1-inch-thick) slice ciabatta bread, cut lengthwise into 4 strips

4 (5-inch-long) cannoli shells

1½ tablespoons finely chopped roasted pistachios

2 tablespoons torn basil leaves

½ teaspoon finely chopped bittersweet chocolate

1. Preheat broiler to high.
2. Heat a large skillet over high heat.  Combine steak and ½ teaspoon oil in a large bowl; toss to coat.  Sprinkle steak with ⅛ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper.  Add steak to pan; cook for 2 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally.  Remove steak from pan.
3. Reduce heat to medium-high.  Add remaining oil to pan, and swirl to coat.  Add garlic, and sauté for 30 seconds.  Add oregano, remaining salt, remaining pepper, and tomatoes.  Reduce heat, and simmer 6 minutes, mashing tomato mixture with potato masher.  Return steak to pan, and toss to coat.  
4. Place ricotta, cream cheese, mozzarella, orange rind, and vanilla extract in a mini food processor; process until smooth.  Add powdered sugar, and pulse until well combined.  Place cheese mixture in a small heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; seal bag.
5. Place bread on a baking sheet; broil 1 minute or until lightly toasted. Spoon tomato mixture evenly over bread strips; place 1 strip bread at bottom of each cannoli shell. Snip a ½-inch hole in one bottom corner of bag containing cheese mixture.  Squeeze cheese mixture into top of cannoli shells until shells are full.  Broil 2 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.
6. Combine pistachios, basil, and chocolate in a small bowl.  Evenly dip ends of cannoli in pistachio mixture.

Jicama, Butternut Squash, and Pomegranate Au Gratin with Wild Mushrooms and Crispy Bacon

    Serves 7 (serving size: about 13 tablespoons)

    1½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

    1 thinly sliced green onion

    4 cups finely diced peeled butternut squash, divided (about 2 pounds)

    ⅜ teaspoon kosher salt, divided

    1 center-cut bacon slice

    2 ounces sliced chantarelle mushrooms

    2 ounces sliced shiitake mushroom caps

    ¾ tablespoon chopped fresh sage

    2 tablespoons unsalted beef stock (such as Swanson)

    1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated and divided (about ¼ cup)

    1½ cups julienne-cut peeled jicama (about ½ medium)

    1 tablespoon part-skim ricotta cheese

    ¼ cup pomegranate arils

    8 teaspoons vertically sliced red onion

⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

    2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

    Cooking spray

    2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

    ½ tablespoon agave nectar

    3 ounces oyster mushrooms, sliced

    ⅛ teaspoon ground red pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add ½ tablespoon oil; swirl to coat.  Add green onion; sauté 30 seconds.  Add 3 cups squash; sauté 2 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium-low, and stir in ⅛ teaspoon salt.  Cook, covered, 15 minutes or until tender.  Increase heat to medium-high.  Cook, uncovered, 2 minutes or until liquid evaporates, stirring frequently.  Place squash mixture in a large bowl; mash with a potato masher or fork until smooth.
3. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan; crumble bacon.  Add chantarelles, shiitakes, and sage to drippings; sauté 8 minutes or until mushrooms are browned.  Add stock; cook 3 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates.  Add mushroom mixture, remaining squash, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ ounce Parmigian-Reggiano cheese, jicama, ricotta cheese, pomegranate, red onion, black pepper, and cilantro to mashed squash mixture, stirring to combine.  Spoon squash mixture into a broiler-safe 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Cover with foil; bake for 1 hour.  Remove pan from oven; discard foil.
4. Preheat broiler to high.
5. Combine bacon, remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano, remaining oil, remaining salt, lime juice, nectar, oyster mushrooms, and red pepper in a bowl, stirring with a whisk; pour over gratin.  Broil 6 minutes or until lightly browned.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Cider’n’Cream-Roasted Olives

     Serves 4

    1 cup apple cider

    ½ cinnamon stick

1 cup mixed olives (with pits)

½ cup vanilla ice cream

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

½ tablespoon caramel sauce

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

Grated nutmeg to taste

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1½ sprigs thyme

¼ lemon, zested and juiced   

1. In small saucepan, heat cider with cinnamon stick.  Remove stick; combine cider and all other ingredients in 2-quart baking dish and bake at 400° F for 20 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.