As chefs at an online cooking school we had to read the Hunger Games (don’t tell the kids) and were taken by some of the dishes. One that caught our eye was the Training Center Meal on Page 76 where Katniss Everdeen ate her fill of Mushroom Soup, Bitter Greens, Pea-Sized Tomatoes, Noodles in Green Sauce (we assume Pesto Sauce), Blue Grapes and thin-sliced rare Roast Beef...

A Mix of Baked Potato and Soup This Hearty Winter Recipe is Posted Courtesy of Spiceology.Net.

Preparation Either make some White Chicken Stock at home or use a store bought brand. Separate the Bok Choy leaves from the bulb and wash the Bok Choy leaves as you would wash and Prepare Spinach. You can discard the bulb or Reserve it for Vegetable Stock. Break out your Cutting Board and Mince the Ginger and the Garlic...

Method for Mint Chantilly Whip the Heavy Cream and 1 tsp of granulated sugar until you reach a Stiff Peak. Combine your whipped cream and fresh mint in a mixing bowl. With a Rubber Spatula, fold in ingredients until fully incorporated. Set aside. Method for Soup Place your Peaches and orange juice in a Food Processor...

Cold Strawberry Soup with Hot Pistachio Cream This soup is an easy dinner-party-pleaser, especially when made in the early summer/late spring with fresh seasonal Strawberries. Method for Strawberry Soup Begin by placing your halved Strawberries, 1 T (tablespoon) of the granulated sugar into the medium Mixing bowl...

Method To begin, pour your white wine in your small Sauce Pan, add the Lemongrass. Place the sauce pan on your burner and turn it to Medium/High Heat. Reduce the white wine to half its original volume. Once you have reduced the mixture by half, take the Sauce Pan off the heat and set it aside...

Smart Kitchen has an exercise on using a Court Bouillon in Intermediate Stocks, Sauces & Soups. This Court Bouillon recipe is designed for broad use. It contains a mix of aromatics, spices and acid, that are helpful when Boiling or Poaching a variety of proteins or carbohydrates...

A Rich Earthy Take on Some Old Favorites

Before beginning this Shiitake Mushroom and Potato Soup recipe, it is very important to have all of your Preparation work done first. Preparation is the 2nd of Smart Kitchen’s 4 Levers of Cooking.™ Having all of the prep done before turning on the heat allows you to focus on the 3rd Lever, Managing the Cooking Processes...

To begin, prepare your Mise en Place, including the Pistou, as directed by the ingredients list. Next, place a medium-sized Sauce Pot on a burner and heat to Medium Heat. We are going to start by Rendering the Pancetta; so pour in the Olive Oil and add the Pancetta. Stir often with a Mixing Spoon, until the fat has Rendered which will take about 2 minutes...

Method To begin the Spinach Soup be sure to have all of your Preparation finished so that your Mise en Place is complete before you start cooking. Preparation is the 2nd Lever of Smart Kitchen’s 4 Levers of Cooking.™ It is helpful to have all of your ingredients cut, measured and ready to go before you begin cooking with any the heat...

Method Top o’ the Mornin (or Evenin’) to Ya! & Happy St. Patrick’s Day. To begin this New World twist on Irish Stew, your ingredients should all be prepped for a proper Mise En Place, (which I don’t think we have a word for in Gaelic). Once prepped, the first step is to Season your Tempered and Carré (Large Diced) Leg of Lamb meat in a large Mixing Bowl with Salt & Pepper...

Method Place the Seedless Watermelon, Ginger, Lime juice and Mint leaves in a Food Processor. Purée until smooth and fully incorporated, about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Once incorporated, strain though a Fine Mesh Strainer into the Small Mixing Bowl to remove excess pulp. At this point, you can chill your strained watermelon broth for 45 minutes or more or continue to finish your Watermelon Soup at room temperature...

Method Rinse the Yellow Split Peas under running water in a Fine Mesh Strainer. Then soak in a large Sauce Pot with over night. If you are in a rush 2-3 hours will allow the Yellow Split Peas to soak up enough water and soften. Strain the yellow split peas. Set the sauce pan on Medium/High Heat...