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Ingredients:

Classic Chicken Broth:
9 cups water
1 whole 3- to 3½ pound chicken, fat trimmed and cut into 10 or 12 pieces
1 cup rice wine or sake
6 slices fresh ginger, each the size of a quarter, smashed lightly with the flat side of a knife
6 whole scallions, ends trimmed, smashed lightly with the flat side of a knife

1 small head Chinese cabbage (preferably Napa) (about 1½ pounds)
1 teaspoon canola or corn oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed lightly with the flat side of a knife
2 tablespoons rice wine or sake
½ pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems trimmed, and cut into quarters
2 ounces bean threads (cellophane noodles), softened in hot water to cover (if unavailable, substitute 1/3 pound thin rice noodles or vermicelli, softened in warm water to cover)
2 teaspoons salt

1. Prepare the Classic Chicken Broth by putting the water with the chicken, rice wine or sake, ginger slices, and scallions in a large pot and bringing to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1½ hours . Remove the chicken pieces and skim the broth to remove any impurities.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut away the stem of the cabbage and discard. Cut the cabbage in half and cut the leaves into 2-inch squares, separating the leafy sections from the tough ones. Place the cabbage sections in a bowl. Set by the stove with the shiitake mushrooms.
3. Heat a Dutch oven or casserole, add the oil, and heat until very hot. Add the garlic cloves and the harder sections of the cabbage and stir-fry over high heat about 1 minute. Add the rice wine or sake, cover, and continue cooking about 5 minutes, until tender. Add the leafier sections, the shiitake mushrooms, and the chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer 20 minutes uncovered.
4. Drain the bean threads and cut them into 4-inch lengths. Add them to the soup and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Return the chicken pieces to the soup and stir in the salt. Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

© 2008 Nina Simonds “A Spoonful of Ginger”

Ingredients:

6 Navel Oranges, peeled and cut into ½-inch-thick slices
¼ cup tightly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon minced candied ginger

Arrange the orange slices side by side on a serving platter. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and candied ginger and sprinkle over the oranges. Let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature, and serve.

Variation: substitute grapefruit slices for the oranges

© 2008 Nina Simonds “China Express”

According to an article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association by Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, at the University of Cologne, Germany, dark chocolate can be good for you. Among the many health benefits dark chocolate offers, two of the most exciting are its ability to lower blood pressure, and its high level of antioxidants that destroy free radicals – which may cause heart disease and a host of other medical problems.

Other potential benefits of chocolate can be found in its flavinols which may help reduce blood clots, and in the oleic acid in cocoa butter which may raise good cholesterol levels.

Nick Malgieri writes: “This is my approximation of the lusciously rich hot chocolate served at such famous Parisian establishments as La Maison du Chocolat and Angelina’s.”

Sumptuous Hot Chocolate
Makes about 1 quart hot chocolate or enough for 5 or 6 mugs.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
3 ounces French bittersweet chocolate, cut into ¼-inch pieces
3 ounces French milk chocolate, cut into ¼-inch pieces
¼ cup unsweetened alkalized (Dutch process) cocoa powder
3 cups milk
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Bring the water to a simmer in a small pan. Remove from heat and add the chocolates. Shake the pan to make sure all the chocolate is covered with hot water and set it aside for 5 minutes to melt the chocolate.
2. Sift the cocoa powder into another, larger saucepan, preferably an enamel-lined one. Add a few tablespoons of milk and stir to make a paste. This will keep the cocoa from lumping. Gradually whisk in the rest of the milk. Place the pan on lowest heat and bring the liquid to a simmer, whisking often.
3. Whisk the chocolates and water to a smooth paste and whisk into the cocoa and milk mixture. Continue to heat until very hot, but do not bring to a full boil. Keep whisking to make the chocolate frothy. Off heat, whisk in the vanilla and serve immediately. (I like to top each cup with a little whipped cream.-Nina)

© 1998 “Chocolate: From Simple Cookies to Extravagant Showstoppers” by Nick Malgieri

Serves 6

“I like to dip orange sections, strawberries and crystallized or uncrystallized ginger in melted baking chocolate for an easy and DELICIOUS dessert or snack. You can also use other fruits.”

Oranges and Candied Ginger dipped in chocolate!
One 5.3 oz. Green & Blacks Baking Chocolate bar with 72% cocoa content including extra cocoa butter for easier melting
3 Navel oranges, peeled and sectioned
12 pieces or slices crystallized or uncrystallized ginger

Break the chocolate into sections and place in a double boiler (or one saucepan containing boiling water placed over another. Heat the water over medium-low heat until the chocolate is melted. Dip the orange sections and ginger slices in the chocolate and let drip back into the chocolate. Arrange on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Freeze or chill in the refrigerator until hardened. Arrange on a serving dish and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.

Oranges and Candied Ginger dipped in chocolate!

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Six Servings

Poaching Mixture:
1 bottle red wine ( French or American Merlot)
6 cups water
1 ½ cups sugar
peel of 1 orange
2 sticks cinnamon
2 stars anise*
6 slightly under- ripe Bosc pears
2 lemons, cut in half
2 tablespoons chopped candied ginger, for garnish (optional)

1. Mix the ingredients of the Poaching Mixture in a large, non-aluminum pot. Bring to boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

Peel the pears, leaving the stem on. Rub the surface with the cut lemons to prevent them from turning brown. Lower the pears into the poaching liquid and squeeze the juice from the lemons into the pot. Bring the liquid to a boil again, then reduce the heat to low, and simmer uncovered until pears are tender, about 40 to minutes. Test by piercing the pears with a knife. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pears to a bowl.

2. Strain out the seasonings (orange peel, cinnamon sticks, and star anise) and discard. Pour 3 cups of the cooking liquid into a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 30 minutes, until the sauce is reduced. Pour the syrup over the pears. Serve warm or chilled for at least 3 hours with a little syrup. Sprinkle the top with the candied ginger. The pears can be poached 1 day ahead and refrigerated.

© Copyright Nina Simonds 2008.

Six to Eight Servings

½ pound boneless butt or shoulder, trimmed of excess fat or gristle
2 teaspoons olive or canola oil

Seasonings:
3 stalks scallion, ends trimmed, cut into 1 ½-inch sections, and smashed lightly with the flat side of a cleaver or knife
3 garlic cloves, smashed lightly with the flat side of a cleaver, and sliced thin
3 slices fresh ginger, about the size of a quarter, smashed lightly with the flat side of a cleaver or knife
½ teaspoon hot chili paste
1 stick cinnamon
½ whole star anise, smashed or ½ teaspoon anise seeds

Braising Mixture:
4 cups water
1/3 cup soy sauce
¼ rice wine or sake
2 tablespoons sugar
3 sweet potatoes or yams, about 1 ½ pounds, peeled and cut into 1 ½ -inch cubes
2 tablespoons minced scallions for garnish

1. Cut the pork into 1 ½-inch cubes.
2. Heat the oil until very hot in a 4-quart casserole or a Dutch oven. Add half the pork pieces. Sear the outside of half the pork over high heat until brown, turning once. Remove and sear the remaining meat. Set aside.
3. Reheat the pan and oil, add the Seasonings. Stir-fry until fragrant, about 15 seconds, then add the Braising Mixture. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Add the pork, bring the liquid to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Let simmer covered for 35 to 40 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes, stir, cover, and continue cooking for about 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Serve the pork and potatoes, atop a bed of stir-fried bok choy with some of the braising mixture spooned on top and accompanied by steamed rice.

© Copyright Nina Simonds 2008

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