Ingredients

Tofu Triangles:
1 carton firm tofu, drained
2 tablespoons peanut or sesame oil, for frying
2 scallions including the greens, thinly sliced on the diagonal
1 tablespoon toasted white or black sesame seeds
The Creamy Nut Butter Sauce:
1/4 cup regular soy sauce
1 tablespoon tamari
1/4 cup sesame paste, peanut butter, or cashew butter
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons white or light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or chili oil
2 scallions, finely chopped
1/3 cup water or stock
Pinch salt

Directions

1. Slice the tofu crosswise into scant 1/ 2-inch slabs, then cut each slab into 2 triangles. Blot with paper towels.
2. Heat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet and add the oil. When hot, add the tofu and fry over medium-high heat until golden. Turn and cook on the second side.
3. Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small food processor and puree until smooth. Taste for salt and add a little extra, if needed.
4. When the tofu is done, pour in half the sauce and cook until bubbling and partially reduced.
5. Turn off the heat, scatter the scallions and sesame seeds over the top, and bring to the table. Serve the rest of the sauce over brown rice, noodles, or whatever you choose as an accompaniment.

Serves 4.

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Ingredients

For the cake:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pans
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs plus 3 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
For the whipped frosting:
3 large egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-by-2-inch cake pans, tapping out excess flour.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Alternately beat in flour mixture and buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix just until combined.
4. Divide batter between pans; smooth tops. Bake until cakes pull away from sides of pans, 32 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pans and invert cakes onto a wire rack. Let cool completely.
5. Make the whipped frosting: In a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, combine 3 large egg whites, 3/4 cup sugar, a pinch salt and 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until sugar has dissolved (or mixture registers 150 on an instant-read thermometer), 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Transfer to a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high until glossy, stiff peaks form (do not overbeat), about 3 minutes; reduce speed to low, add 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and beat just until combined.
7. Place one cake, bottom side up, on a cake stand. Tuck strips of parchment paper underneath. Using an offset-spatula or table knife, spread top with whipped frosting. Top with remaining cake; frost top, then sides.

Serves 12.

Make ahead: Store unfrosted cakes at room temperature up to 1 day. Once frosted, serve within a few hours.

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Ingredients

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 ounces Spanish chorizo or turkey kielbasa, diced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup dry white wine, divided
1 15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 1/4 pounds Pacific cod, cut into 4 pieces
Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallot, chorizo (or kielbasa) and thyme and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Add tomatoes and 1/4 cup wine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are broken down and the wine is almost evaporated, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in beans and 1/4 teaspoon salt and remove from the heat.
4. Sprinkle fish with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper; place in the prepared baking dish. Top each piece of fish with equal amounts of the tomato mixture (about 1/2 cup per fillet). Pour the remaining 1/4 cup wine into the pan and cover the pan with foil.
5. Bake until the fish is just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the fish with the sauce spooned over the top.

Serves 4.

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Ingredients

Butter, for ramekins
Coarse salt
1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli florets
6 large eggs
1/2 cup half-and-half
Ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (3 ounces)
Crusty bread and mixed salad (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter four 8-ounce ramekins (or a 9-inch pie dish); set aside.
2. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli; cook 1 minute. Drain well; transfer to a cutting board, and blot dry with paper towels. Chop coarsely.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in broccoli and cheese.
4. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Ladle broccoli mixture into ramekins, dividing evenly. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve with crusty bread and a mixed-green salad, if desired.

Serves 4.

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Ingredients

1-1/4 cup sliced zucchini (1 medium)
1/2 cup sliced carrot (1 medium)
1/2 cup sliced onion (1 medium)
1 small red sweet pepper cut into strips (3/4 cup)
2-1/2 cups shredded green cabbage (about half of a small cabbage head)
1 tablespoon cooking oil or peanut oil
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves or turkey tenderloins, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup bottled stir-fry sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
3 to 4 cups hot cooked white or brown rice
3/4 cup chopped cocktail peanuts or cashews

Directions

1. In a 12-inch skillet or wok cook and stir half of the zucchini, carrot, onion, pepper, and cabbage in hot oil over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove vegetables from the skillet. Repeat with remaining vegetables; remove from the skillet.
2. If necessary, add more oil to the hot skillet. Add chicken to the skillet. Cook and stir for 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Push chicken from center of the skillet. Add stir-fry sauce and ginger to center of the wok. Cook and stir until bubbly.
3. Return the vegetables to the skillet. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until chicken-vegetable mixture is coated and heated through. Serve over rice. Sprinkle servings with chopped peanuts.

Serves 6.

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