RECIPE STUFFED TOMATO RECIPES

Steps:

• Prepare the Chicken Filling. When cool, stir in cooked rice. Reserve. Prepare the Tomato Sauce. Set aside and keep warm. 
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
• Wash the peppers under cold water. Wipe dry. Cut the top 1-inch of the peppers off, keeping the stem intact. Reserve. Remove the core and seeds. Brush inside and outside with olive oil. Season inside with salt and pepper. 
• Divide the filling into 6 portions and fill each pepper to the top. Place the lids back on top. In a roasting pan, place the stuffed peppers and the hot Tomato Sauce. Bake in the oven for about 1 hour or until done. Serve in heated plates garnished with minced parsley.
• Coarsely grind the chicken and transfer to a large bowl. Reserve. 
• In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over moderate heat. Saute the onion until translucent. Add mushrooms and continue to cook until all the liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally. Cool. 
• Stir the onion and mushroom mixture into the ground chicken. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well. To test for taste, saute a small amount in a little oil and adjust seasoning. 
• Reserve as stuffing for Green Peppers with Tomato Sauce. 
• Yield: about 4 cups
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Adventures in the Kitchen" Random House, 1991
• In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil. Over medium heat, saute the onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and simmer for 20 minutes or until sauce thickens. 
• Strain into a clean saucepan. Whisk in butter, piece by piece. Add basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Use as needed. 
• Yield: Makes 2 1/2 cups
• Place the chicken bones in a 6 or 7-quart pot, pour cold water over to cover, and bring to a rolling boil. Skim off the foam and fat that collects on the top. 
• Add the remaining ingredients, lower the heat to a simmer, and simmer uncovered for 2 to 3 hours, skimming as necessary. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean bowl and cool. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 3 days, discarding the hardened layer of fat before using or freezing. 
• Yield: Makes about 2 quarts
• Recipe courtesy Wolfgang Puck, "Pizza, Pasta & More!" Random House, 2000

Steps:

• Make the cabbage rolls: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the cabbage leaves and cook, until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain the leaves into a colander in the sink and refresh under cold running water. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, place the beef, rice, sour cream, and 2 teaspoons salt.
• Heat the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in the paprika and allspice and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes more. Add the onion mixture to the beef mixture, and mix until well combined. Season with pepper to taste.
• Lay the cabbage leaves on a work surface and blot dry with paper towels. Slice off the ridged part of the thick rib at the bottom each leaf, creating a level surface over the leaves. Place about 1/2 cup of the beef mixture in the bottom center of each roll. Roll the bottom of a leaf over the beef mixture, fold in the sides, and continue rolling forward until completely closed. Repeat with the remaining leafs. Arrange the rolls seam side-down in a 9-x 13- x 2- inch oval gratin dish.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Make the tomato sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the tomatoes, broth, salt, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and season with pepper to taste. Pour over the cabbage rolls and cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 1 hour.
• Remove the foil from the baking dish and continue cooking, basting occasionally, until lightly browned and cooked through, about 30 minutes more. Serve in the gratin dish.