Recipe so good you've made it at least 3 times: COTM Edition

[The Dairy Queen]

If you're a COTM'er, and you're like me, you've amassed an impressive collection of cookbooks. There are several, Dunlop, Vietnamese, Casas, I revisit repeatedly, but there are some, even ones I loved, I never get back into because I kind of forget about them.

So, in the interest of getting good use out of some great books, I thought I'd throw the question out there. Which recipes from which books do you find yourself returning to and why? I'm also curious which recipes you find especially easy or quick now that you "have them down". If there are recipes you loved so much you keep MEANING to return to them, I suppose are worth a shout-out, too.

Anyway, call out your favs, please. I'll chime in later, when I have access to my books.

Here's a link to the COTM archive to refresh your memory. http://www.chow.com/cookbook_of_the_m...

Thanks!

~TDQ

[tidecreek]

This recipe from the Two Hot Tamales on Foodnetwork is my all time favorite I get cravings for it,

http://www.cookingindex.com/recipes/1...

[LulusMom]

Those SE Asian turkey burgers from the Gourmet book; the mushroom/goat cheese pasta from the same book.

[buttertart]

Marcella Hazan's recipe for potato and artichoke gratin is perfect with roast lamb - and is glamorous-looking in its subtle browns, greens, and beiges. Dunlop's (RCC) recipes for cilantro salad, smacked cucumbers, Mao-style red-cooked pork and beef strips with cilantro, and (LoP) "fish-flavored"chicken slivers are favorites as well. (The Dunlop recipes have a paticularly excellent ratio of effort to result - and the flavors are authentic.) The Kashmiri-style rogan josh and the chicken curry identified as "everyday chicken" in Jaffrey's Indian Cooking have been in rotation chez nous since the 80's. And Dorie Greenspan's 15-minute miracle chocolate amaretti torte IS a miracle. There are so many great recipes in these great books, virtually every one chosen is a total winner.

[buttertart]

I've been getting into the Dunlops again and love the dry-fried green beans and ma po tofu - my husband isn't crazy about most ma po doufu recipes but loves this one. The woman is a genius. Hope she does another book...soon!

[debbiel]

I haven't been around for a long time, so I'm not sure I remember which of my recipes were from COTM. One recipe comes to mind though. I have made the brown sugar bundt cake (with pears and hazelnuts) from Baking from My Home to Yours over and over and over again. I'm often asked to bring it to holiday gatherings, and it's become a birthday request cake for a friend.

[MMRuth]

That sounds like it might be nice for Thanksgiving - I'm going to hunt around for the recipe. And I think a friend of mine may have the book.

[debbiel]

It's been a wonderful addition to our Thanksgiving dessert spreads. She has a primary recipe and then a variation recipe in the book. What I make is actually a combination of the two. I describe my version here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/3474... (I've solved the problem of the cake falling apart)

[MMRuth]

Excellent, thank you. I've been thinking that my Thanksgiving Buche de Noel ambitions are just too much given my space constraints, and I could still use the leaf and acorn cookies that I spend a day figuring how to make as decoration for this one.

[Gio]

One recipe that I've made multiple times from past COTMs is from Mai Pham's Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table: Vietnamese Fried Rice

Then there's Land of Plenty by Fuscia Dunlop:
Dan Dan Noodles (both versions)
Fish Fragrant Eggplant
Dry-Fried Green Beans

Mustn't forget Bon Appetit Y'All:
Pulled Pork (Sandwiches) with Mama's BBQ Sauce
Heart Healthy Cole Slaw
Vegetable Slaw with Creamy Asian Dressing
Fingerling Potato Salad

There are several from the Ottolenghi book but the Crumble from
Fennel, Cherry Tomato and Crumble Gratin has been made several times over including on fruit gratins.

That's all I can remember right now but there are more just out of memory's reach. Batali's right up there with his basic sauce and a few chicken dishes.

[LulusMom]

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by this (very good) question. But here's a first shot:

Flexitarian: Sun-Dried Tomato Croque Monsieurs (these are so good, and so easy)
Chilled Asparagus Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette (easy do ahead for company)
Tofu with Lemon, Soy, white wine and butter sauce
Bulgar with Roasted chickpeas, red onin and lemon (I make with couscous)

Batali: Spaghetti with Caramelized Onions, anchovies and toasted bread crumbs
Trenette with pesto, beans and potatoes
Scampi (shrimp) with garlic, chiles and fennel
- feel sure I'm forgetting something else here
and of course the tomato sauce

Nigella Lawson: the za'atar chicken with fettoush (my husband would like me to make this once a week)
Rhubarb fool

Dunlop: Dry fried chicken
shrimp with chinese chives
cilantro salad
green beans (wish I remembered the name - dry fried?)

Mai Pham: ginger chicken (sometimes made as ginger tofu - this is the one I'd make once a week if i could)
vietnamese fried rice
grilled 5 spice chicken
also loved the tamarind shrimp in the other Viet. book, and love making my own version of banh mi.

Thats it for now. Again, great question TDQ.

[The Dairy Queen]

Well, here's my list. As usual, I feel like a relative slacker. I realized there are a lot of recipes I've tried twice, especially from the Vietnamese books and Ottolenghi, but not many I've tried three times or truly put into my regular rotation. Nevertheless, here's my list:

Dunlop:
Traditional Dan Dan Noodles (LOP, page 87)
Dry-Fried Green Beans I (LOP, pg 289
Pock-Marked Mother Chen's Bean Curd (Ma Po Tofu) pp 313-314, LOP

Casas
La Cocina de Mama" "Meats," Spanish-style Hash Casserole, pg 255
Foods & Wines of Spain: Puff Pastry with Salmon Filling, "Sausages, Pates, and Savory Pies", pg 74 Delicious, easy and can be made from ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Flexitarian Table
Tofu with Lemon, Soy, White Wine, and Butter Sauce
Fresh Corn Polenta with Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes

Vietnamese
Nguyen: Grilled Garlicky Five-Spice Pork Steaks (ItTVK p.143)--quick and easy

~TDQ

[JoanN]

And in 2008:

Batali: The only Batali recipes I can honestly say I’ve made multiple times are the Potatoes Roasted with Garlic Cloves and the Basic Tomato Sauce, both from Molto Italiano.

Into the Vietnamese Kitchen: Stuffed Squid; Cucumber and Shrimp Salad; Pickled Shallots; Shrimp in Spicy Tamarind Sauce

Casas: The Paella a la Valenciana is one of my favorite dinner party dishes and whenever I make it I nearly always have her Flan del Gran Flanero for dessert.

Roast Chicken and Other Stories: Roast Potatoes with Olive Oil, Parsley, and Garlic. These are similar to the Potatoes Roasted with Garlic Cloves in Molto Italiano—my two favorite recipes, now, for roasted potatoes. Scallops Saute Provencal

Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook and Land of Plenty: Still don’t own RCC, but I have the recipes for, and have made often, both Pock-Marked Woman’s Bean Curd and Yueyang Hot-Dry Noodles.
From LoP: Dry-Fried Chicken; Tai Bai Chicken; Xie Laoban’s Dan Dan Noodles; Dry-Fried Green Beans (I make these with snow peas and pea pods, also); Hot and Numbing Crispy Shrimp; Gong Bao Chicken

Frank Stitt's Southern Table: Ha! Should I be embarrassed to admit that the only recipe I’ve made three times is the one for Watermelon Margaritas?

The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen: Coddled Pork; Slow-Roasted Rack of Lamb

[MMRuth]

Those Batali potatoes are fabulous, There are several things in that book that I've made several times, so I need to go through the book.

Casas - I cooked from Delicioso extensively way before Casa was COTM - so I'll post some of my favorites.

Julia Child - same thing - taught myself to cook w/ The Way to Cook, and turn to it again and again.

And, no need to be embarrassed about those Watermelon Margaritas - they are damn good.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Here is Joan's report on the watermelon margaritas: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/4852...

Could one of you say how much tequila and Cointreau go with the 3/4 cup of watermelon juice, and fill in any other non-obvious details? I'd be much obliged.

[JoanN]

I'll just paraphrase the whole thing.

About 1/8 of a watermelon (about 2 pounds), rind removed and cut into chunks
1 lime
9 ounces high quality tequila (I used Herradura Silver, one of his recommendations)
1 ounce cointreau
4 ounces fresh lime juice
1 ounce simple syrup

Set aside 4 cubes of watermelon as a garnish. Cut lime in quarters. With colander set over a bowl, squeeze watermelon to extract 3/4 cup of juice. Rub the rims of 4 martini glasses with the lime and coat the rim with salt. Put watermelon juice, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and syrup in a large cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about 20 seconds, strain into glasses, and garnish with chunks of watermelon or lime zest.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Thanks! I'd love one right now, but I'll probably have to wait until next watermelon season.

[MMRuth]

I've used v. good tequila, but, once had to use Jose Cuervo (?) and, really, it was still awfully good. I can tell the difference when I drink it straight (with Sangrita) but not so much in a cocktail.

[classylady]

One of my three editions of the Pei Mei Cookbook containing recipe for Beef and Broccoli.I have made this recipe over 100 times.

[buttertart]

I have those books, must have a look. I love Fu Peimei, her cooking show was so fun - but her books were not used in the Cookbook of the Month threads, so this would be better off in the original "Recipe so good you've made it at last 3 times" thread I believe.

[JoanN]

What a great idea! But a time-consuming exercise. I can't believe so many have responded already. I've been going through the list systematically and am only up to August '07. At this rate I'm going to need to make a New Year's resolution complete this project.

[The Dairy Queen]

Pace yourself, JoanN. There's no rule that you have to pack it all into a single post!

~TDQ

[JoanN]

Good idea, TDQ. Here's my list so far, from the COTMs of 2006 and 2007:

Julia Child: Cassoulet—I’ve made this recipe over and over, pretty much as written, even though you can now buy ingredients such as duck confit and saucisson that just weren’t available when I made this the first few times.

Schlesinger & Willoughby: From Thrill, and in rotation long before COTM, Grilled Rum-Soaked Shrimp with Mango-Lime Relish

Sunday Suppers at Lucques: Where to start? Kabocha Squash and Fennel Soup; Winter Squash Risotto; Braised Chicken with Saffron Onions; Roasted Pear Salad; Barramundi with Winter Vegetables; Herb Roasted Rack of Lamb; Onion Tart; Potato Puree; and of course the Braised Shortribs. And even though I’ve only made them once (lack of access to outdoor grill), I’m including the Grilled Pork Burgers since I know they’ll be made at every possible opportunity.

Zuni Café Cookbook: In addition to the chicken and bread salad, of course, NYEve Gougeres; Raw Favas with Salami; Standing Rib Roast of Pork; Endive and Fuyu Persimmon Salad; Carol’s Pickled Onions; Brandied Cherries

Baking from My Home to Yours: Sticky Buns (and I make her Golden Brioche Dough for loaves even when I’m not making the buns; Caramel Crunch Bars

All About Braising: World’s Best Cabbage; Short Ribs Braised in Porter Ale; Seven Hour Leg of Lamb

Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking: Even before COTM, Baked Green Lasagne with Meat Sauce, Bolognese Style was a go-to party dish. Still is.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Is the cassoulet from MTAoFC? That COTM included all Julia Child books.

[JoanN]

Yes, it is. Sorry for forgetting to mention it.

[MMRuth]

Great idea for a thread. I'll get started with a couple books:

Into the Vietnamese Kitchen:

Steamed Salmon with Garlic and Ginger - I've made this many times, and have also used the cooking method (v. healthy, quick and easy) with other kinds of fish and other flavours, so to speak.

I lent my other Vietnamese book to a friend - but, off hand, the "quick" chicken pho, the grilled eggplant salad with scallions, the cucumber salad on the same page, her dipping sauce, and the scallion noodles.

Lucques:

Boeuf a la Nicoise
Fava Bean Puree
Wild Salmon Salad with Beets, Potato, Egg and Mustard Vinaigrette
Wild Salmon a la Lutece
Grilled Pork Burgers with Rob's Famous Coleslaw
Roasted Pear Salad with Endive, Hazelnuts and St. Agur
Grossi Potatoes
Grilled Duck Breasts (I've not made the whole recipe again, but use her method for cooking duck breasts now.)
Roasted Beets w/ Horseradish Creme Fraiche (I make this quite often)
Hazelnut-Brown Butter Cake (So easy, so delicious - I usually don't serve it with fruit)

Hazan - from memory

Pesto
Tomato and Onion Sauce (the one with the butter and onion halves)
The tomato sauce with sauted onion slices
Her basic risotto recipe
Bolognese Sauce

[ChefJune]

not her Roasted Lemon Chicken?

[MMRuth]

No, I made it once, but, even though I've tried many many roast chicken recipes (though not the Zuni one), I still prefer my husband's method - which is cooking it at very high heat for a rather short time. The skin is always crispy, the meat always juicy.

[MMRuth]

More:

Frank Stitt's "The Southern Table":

Pimiento Cheese (though I omit the cream cheese)
Watermelon Margaritas
Orange Things (a cocktail)
Flounder with Bread Crumbs and Sauce Gribiche
Flounder with Clam Chowder Sauce
Spicey Baked Oysters with Carmelized Onions
Chicken Saute with lemon, capers and bread crumbs - never reported on it, but my husband just loves it.

Hopkinson:

Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes
Saffron Mashed Potatoes
His crepe recipe (first time I'd made crepes, and it works, so I've stuck with it)
Roast Best End of Lamb with Eggplant and Basil Cream Sauce
Salmon in Pastry with Currants and Ginger
His Hollandaise sauce - foolproof, IMO.
I have to mention the duck soup recipe from Second Helpings - it's quite similar to the Grouse Soup recipe in Roast Chicken.

[oakjoan]

MMR: Hazan's pesto recipe changed the way I feel about pesto. Stirring the cheese in at the end instead of using the processor or blender made a heavenly difference, especially in the texture. It's never gummy.

I don't know if the pesto recipe is in the COTM Hazan, I only have two of the older books: The Classic Italian Cookbook and More Classic Italian, etc. The volumes I have were published in the late 70s.

[MMRuth]

It is the COTM book. I've had mine since the early 90s, and it's in about five pieces.

[GretchenS]

Molly Stevens, All About Braising, that World's Best Cabbage recipe (just bought the ingredients to make for tomorrow) and her Veal and Ricotta Meatballs (one of my most requested recipes by friends). Mario Batali's veal meatballs braised in milk (with cornichons and pistachios in them). All three are great comfort food, easy to make, foolproof and repeatedly delicious. From the Casas books, the Lomo de Cerdo en Adobo (marinated pork loin) (Delicioso, I think) and the warm mushroom salad drizzled with concentrated balsamic (Tapas) have been great dinner party items, delicious, attractive but quick and easy. Also planning to make Mario's lamb shanks with oranges and olives a few times this winter, made it at least twice last winter, it's my favorite lamb shanks recipe yet. I don't always participate in COTM but those books alone are giant additions to my repertoire and I'm glad we are revisitng at least one this winter, I'll probably revisit all of them! Great thread idea, TDQ.

[Rubee]

I'll start with Dunlop's "Land of Plenty" as it's the COTM I cook out of the most. I'll have to look through RCC later. Recipes from LOP I've made at least three times/on a regular rotation.

Dan Dan Noodles (both versions)
Potstickers
"Cooked Chicken for Sichuanese Appetizers" - this section has a lot of no-cook sauces which I use for leftover roast or poached chicken for lunches
Strange Flavor/Bang Bang Chicken
Ants Climbing a Tree
Dry-Fried Beef Slivers
Dry-Fried Chicken
Tai Bai Chicken
Hot and Numbing Tiny Fish (I use shrimp)
Fish Fragrant Eggplant (my all-time favorite eggplant recipe)
Dry-Fried Green Beans
Chives with Bacon
Stir-Fried Water Spinach (I do all sorts of vegs, usually cabbage) with Chile and Sichuan Pepper
Ma Po Tofu

[The Dairy Queen]

You have some of my favs on there! Dan Dan Noodles, Ma Po Tofu, and Dry-Fried green beans would also be on my list.

~TDQ

[Rubee]

Haven't made as many from Dunlop's RCC - Revolutionary Chinese Cooking- but these are my 3x favorites:

Spicy Coriander Salad (really good on fish tacos!)
Yueyang Hot-Dry Noodles
Numbing-and-Hot Chicken
Peng's Home-Style Bean Curd
Cabbage with Vinegar (fast and easy side dish - stir fry cabbage with chiles, sprinkle w/Chianking vinegar. I usually use thinly sliced green cabbage)