Rosemary-Roasted Salmon

Ingredients
serves 4

* 2 large bunches fresh rosemary
* 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
* 1 2-pound center-cut salmon fillet with skin
* 2 large lemons, thinly sliced
* 1/3 cup olive oil

Preparation


Preheat oven to 500°F. Arrange half of rosemary sprigs in single layer in center of heavy baking sheet. Arrange sliced red onion atop rosemary. Place salmon, skin side down, atop red onion. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover salmon with remaining rosemary sprigs. Arrange lemon slices over rosemary. Drizzle olive oil over. Sprinkle lemon slices with salt. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Roast salmon until just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer salmon to plates. Serve with roasted onions and lemon slices.

Cook's Illustrated's Best Drop Biscuits

- makes 12 biscuits -
Ingredients

2 cups (10 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1 cup cold buttermilk
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (about 5 minutes), plus 2 tablespoons melted butter for brushing biscuits
Procedure

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475°F. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in large bowl. Combine buttermilk and 8 tablespoons melted butter in medium bowl, stirring until butter forms small clumps.

2. Add buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and stir with rubber spatula until just incorporated and batter pulls away from sides of bowl. Using greased 1/4-cup dry measure, scoop level amount of batter and drop onto parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet (biscuits should measure about 2 1/4 inches in diameter and 1 1/4 inches high). Repeat with remaining batter, spacing biscuits about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until tops are golden brown and crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.

3. Brush biscuit tops with remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter. Transfer to wire rack and let cool 5 minutes before serving.

Asian Pasta With Tofu, Shiitake Mushrooms and Broccoli

I like to use soba -- buckwheat pasta -- for this dish. Soba has a nutty flavor and contributes a measure of all-important whole grain to the dish.

1 pound broccoli, crowns broken or cut into small florets, stems peeled and diced

2 tablespoons canola oil or peanut oil

6 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps quartered

2 plump garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

6 scallions, white and light green parts only, sliced

1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

1/2 pound firm tofu, sliced and drained on paper towels

1 cup chicken stock or vegetable stock

2 tablespoons soy sauce (more to taste)

1/2 pound buckwheat pasta (soba), udon noodles or dried rice sticks (soak rice sticks in hot water for 20 minutes)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 teaspoons Chinese sesame oil

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. Add the broccoli to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Remove to the ice water. Allow to cool, then drain and dry on paper towels. Cover the pot of water and keep hot.

2. Heat a wide, heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. When it is rippling hot, add the mushrooms and sear for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time. Turn the heat to medium, add the garlic, ginger, scallions, and red pepper flakes and cook for another 30 seconds to a minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat and transfer the contents of the pan to a bowl.

3. Return the pan to medium-high heat and heat the remaining tablespoon of oil until rippling. Add the tofu and sear on both sides until it begins to color, about 1 minute per side. Add 1 teaspoon soy sauce and stir together. Return the mushroom mixture and the broccoli to the pan. Add the stock and soy sauce, bring to a simmer and turn the heat to low. Simmer uncovered for a minute or two, until the broccoli is crisp-tender, then turn off the heat.

4. Meanwhile, bring the pot of water back to a boil and add the pasta. Cook soba or udon noodles until al dente, about 5 minutes. Cook softened rice noodles for 1 minute. Drain and toss with the mushrooms and the broccoli. Heat through, add the cilantro and sesame oil, toss together, and serve.

Yield: Serves 4 generously

Advance preparation: You can prepare the ingredients and blanch the broccoli hours ahead of cooking the dish. The stir-frying is a last-minute operation.

Brussels Sprouts With Bacon and Figs

That Bittman is a freaking genius!

Brussels Sprouts With Bacon and Figs

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 to 8 ounces bacon, chopped

1 pound Brussels sprouts, stems trimmed

1 cup dried figs, stemmed and quartered

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, or more to taste.

1. Put a large skillet over medium heat and add oil, then bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to crisp, 5 to 8 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, put sprouts through feed tube of a food processor equipped with a slicing attachment and shred. (You can also do this with a mandoline or a knife.)

3. Add sprouts, figs and 1/4 cup water to pan; sprinkle with salt and pepper, turn heat to medium, and cook, undisturbed, until sprouts and figs are nearly tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Turn heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until any remaining water evaporates, another 5 to 10 minutes. Add vinegar, taste, adjust seasoning and serve.

Yield: 4 servings.