pastel de tres leches

Cake:
6 large eggs, separated
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream topping:
1 14-ounce can evaporated milk
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup heavy cream

Icing:
whipped vanilla icing
1 ripe mango, peeled, seed removed, and thinly sliced
1 ripe papaya, peeled, seeds removed, and thinly sliced

To make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and set aside.

In the bowl of a mixer, beat the egg whites on low speed until soft peaks form. Add the sugar gradually with the mixer running and peak to stiff peaks. Add the egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after the addition of each.

Sift together the flour and baking powder and add to the egg mixture, alternating with the milk. (Do this quickly so the batter does not lose volume.) Add the vanilla. Bake until golden, 25 minutes.

To make the cream topping: In a blender, combine the evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream and blend on high speed.

Remove the cake from the oven and while still warm, pour the cream mixture over it. Let sit and cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 4 hours or overnight.

To assemble: Remove the cake from the refrigerator and spread the icing evenly across the top. Arrange the mango and papaya slices over the top and serve.

creme brule

1 extra-large egg
4 extra-large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon for each serving
3 cups heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it's very hot to the touch but not boiled. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and orange liqueur and pour into 6 to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full.

Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the custards are set when gently shaken. Remove the custards from the water bath, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until firm.

To serve, spread 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar caramelizes evenly. Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute until the caramelized sugar hardens.

Mac & Cheese - Barefoot Contessa

Kosher salt
Vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.

Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Chinese Peanut Butter Noodles

The hardest part of the recipe is amassing the ingredients. Most can be
purchased in an Oriental Food Store. Once you make the dressing, you will
have "instant" company fare on hand for a long, long time. The recipe
makes 1 quart. I store mine in a mayonnaise-type jar in the refrigerator.
Dressing will keep well indefinitely in the refrigerator. Use about 2-4
heaping Tbsp. of dressing per pound of noodles.

Recipe may be prepared up to 1 day ahead of time through Step 3 and kept
refrigerated.

1 lb. chinese-style noodles (or any spaghetti/fettucini-type pasta)
2 Tbsp. dark sesame oil
DRESSING:
6 Tbsp. peanut butter
1/4 cup water
3 Tbsp. light soy sauce
6 Tbsp. dark soy sauce
6 Tbsp. tahini (sesame paste)
1/2 cup dark sesame oil
2 Tbsp. sherry
4 tsp. rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1-2 Tbsp. hot pepper oil (see instructions below)*
1/2 cup hot water

GARNISH: (all are optional, depending on your taste)
1 carrot, peeled
1/2 firm medium cucumber, peeled, seeded, and julienned
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced

1. Cook noodles in large pot of boiling unsalted water over medium heat
until barely tender and still firm.
2. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water until cold. Drain well
and toss noodles with (2 Tbsp) dark sesame oil so they don't stick
together.
3. FOR DRESSING: combine all ingredients except hot water in a blender
or food processor fitted with steel blade and blend until smooth.
Thin with hot water to consistency of whipping cream.
4. For garnish, peel flesh of carrot in short shavings about 4" long.
Place in ice water for 30 minutes to curl.
5. Just before serving, toss noodles with sauce. Garnish with cucumber,
peanuts, green onion, and carrot curls. Serve at room temperature.

* HOT PEPPER OIL: Amount you use depends on how hot you like it. 2 Tbsp.
will give it a nice "bite." If your tastes run to the very hot, you might
want to use 3 Tbsp.
If you don't want to buy the oil "ready made" in the market, here's a
recipe:
1/4 cup hot red pepper flakes, 1 cup oil. Combine in a saucepan over
medium heat. Bring to boil, and immediately turn off heat. Let cool.
Strain in small glass container that can be sealed. Refrigerate.
Lasts indefinitely.