Mexican Rice

1-1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp shallots, finely chopped
1 cup onions chopped
2 cups basmati rice
2-1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground oregano
1 tsp fennel seeds, toasted
3 cups free-range chicken stock
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
8 oz feta cheese with tomato and basil, crumbled
2 large cubanelle peppers, seeded and chopped
cilantro leaves, chopped [...]

Roast Pork with Holy Mole Sauce
2 pork loins, rolled and tied
kosher salt
crushed black peppercorns (mortar and pestle)
ground cinnamon
ground cumin
dried oregano
ground sage
3 tbsp olive oil
Mole
1-1/2 cups onions, sliced
1-1/2 tbsp garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp coriander seeds, toasted and crushed (mortar and pestle)
1-1/2 tbsp dried red chili, seeded
1 tbsp chipotle chili in [...]

Four Spice and Ginger Cake
8 large free-range eggs 1 cup sugar pinch fine sea salt 1 cup butter, softened and cut up into 1/2" cubes 2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour [...]

Quinoa Salad
Adapted from The New Steak
1 cup organic quinoa
2 cups water
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 cups baby arugula leaves
1/2 cup grape tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 tbsp fresh oregano leaves, chopped
1 tbsp fresh parsley leaves, chopped
4 radishes, sliced thin
5 scallions, finely chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white vinegar
freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt
8 [...]

Roasted Chayote Squash
Adapted from The New Steak
2 chayote squash, cut into 8 pieces (just like you would cut up an apple)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp kosher salt
pinch of cayenne pepper (Adjust according to your taste)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toss the chayote pieces in olive oil to coat, then sprinkle with salt and cayenne [...]

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Strip Steak with Tequila-Avocado Sauce
Adapted from The New Steak
2 striploin steaks
2 tsp kosher salt
olive oil
2 tbsp peanut oil
freshly ground black pepper
Tequila-Avocado Sauce
4 tomatillos (about 1/3 cup) I use canned tomatillos so no peeling or cooking is required – just core them
1/2 tsp hot sauce
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1/3 cup cilantro leaves, [...]

Koukkiá Koúnnes (Fava Bean Stew with Garlic, Thyme and Bay Leaves)
Adapted from Saveur Magazine
2-19oz cans fava (or faba) beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
6 cloves of garlic, peeled and quartered
small handful of thyme sprigs, tied together with kitchen twine
3 fresh bay leaves
2 medium onions, chopped coarsely
5 cups organic [...]

Belle and I hold an open house dinner on the second Saturday of every month. It’s open to all our friends and all their friends, too – a great way for us to share interesting recipes and meet new people every month!
Last month was our first open house dinner, and we did an Asian theme. [...]

Risotto with Bolognese Sauce
6 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 large onion, peeled and chopped finely
3 cloves of garlic, chopped finely
2 cups risotto rice (Arborio)
1 cup dry white wine
1-2 cups Bolognese sauce

Heat stock in a medium sauce pot and bring to a simmer.
Heat oil and butter in a large sauce pan over medium-low [...]

I had tried quite a few pepper mills (and broke most of them) and was getting frustrated. I liked grinding my own in the mortar and pestle (does anyone know which is the mortar and which is the pestle?) but that was time consuming, especially with the amount of fresh black pepper I like.
I did [...]