Broccoli Cheddar Soup Serves 4

 6 tbsp (14g) butter

 1 small yellow or sweet onion, diced

 1 small carrot, diced 1 garlic clove, minced

 ¼ cup (30g) flour

 2 cups (473 ml) half & half 

3 cups (710 ml) chicken stock 

1 russet potato, peeled and diced

 Pinch nutmeg

 Pinch cayenne

 Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

 1 large head broccoli, florets and stems, chopped small (about 4 cups) 

8 oz (227 g) sharp cheddar cheese, plus a pinch for garnish (about 2 ½ cups)

1. Place a soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and melt butter. Add onion and carrot and sauté gently until tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and toast for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until the raw taste of the flour is gone, and the color is golden. 

2. Slowly whisk in half and half until smooth. Add the chicken stock, potato, a small pinch of nutmeg and cayenne, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer gently for about 8-10 minutes, until slightly thickening. Add broccoli and simmer for another 15-20 minutes, until very tender.

 3. Turn off heat and carefully use an immersion blender to puree to desired consistency (add more half and half or chicken stock if needed to thin). Return pot to heat and stir in cheese, whisking until melted. Taste and add more seasoning, if desired. Serve into bowls, garnish with extra cheese, parsley or scallion, bacon bits, croutons, and hot sauce.

These bao buns are full of flavor and delicious texture, you won't be missing the meat!

Enjoy!

Shiitake Mushroom Bao Buns

Serves 4

1lb (453 g) Shiitake mushrooms, stem removed and thinly sliced

½ cup (80g) shallot, thinly sliced

1 tbsp (14 g) ginger, minced

1 tsp (6 g) thyme, minced

½ cup (118 ml) sweet soy, ABC variety suggested

2 tbsp (28 ml) hoisin sauce

2 tbsp (28 ml) rice wine vinegar

1 tbsp (14 g) butter

¼ cup (30g) cilantro, chopped

¼ cup (30g) scallions, chopped

Crushed peanuts

Pickled Vegetables

Folded Bao Buns

1. Place a large skillet over medium high heat and add a thin layer of oil. Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and cook till golden brown and moisture has evaporated. Add sliced shallots and cook until soft, about 5 mins. If shallots start to brown, turn the heat of the pan down so too much browning doesn’t occur.

2. Add the ginger and thyme into the pan with the mushrooms and shallots. Stir vigorously for 30 seconds to ensure the ginger and thyme don’t burn. Add sweet soy sauce, hoisin, and rice wine vinegar and stir to coat everything evenly. Simmer until the mixture has thickened and turn off the heat. Stir in the butter and taste. Season with salt and vinegar if needed and finish with the chopped cilantro and chopped scallions.

3. Steam the bao buns, in either a wok with a bamboo steamer, or wrapped in a damp paper towel and microwaved for 45 seconds.

4. Assemble by adding the mushroom mixture, top with peanuts and pickled vegetables. Enjoy!

Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is an annual observance that highlights the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans throughout history. It serves as a platform to educate, reflect upon, and celebrate the rich heritage and diverse experiences of Black Americans.

Did You Know? Black History Month is celebrated every year in the United States during the month of February. This specific month was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of two prominent figures in African American history: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is on February 12th, and Frederick Douglass’s birthday is on February 14th.

The UBS Cooking School takes time to recognize Black History Month with some fantastic traditional recipes. Be sure to click on the links and register soon.

February 1 Gullah Geechee Hot Shrimp & Okra

February 13 Creole Fish Po Boys

February 28 Rice & Peas with Smoked Sausage

Welcome to February in the Hawk’s Nest. This month the Hawk’s Nest has plenty of events bound to break you from your winter slumber. Visit the Hawk’s Nest on Tuesdays for a couple of our most popular activations. During lunchtime visit the library for the lunchtime movie of the week featuring popular cinematic favorites starting at 12:30PM, and them hit the game room every Tuesday at 3:00PM for the Hawk’s Nest ping pong challenge. Cornhole returns on Wednesdays at 3:00PM and is always a big hit with the staff members.

“Let the good times roll!” in the Hawk’s Nest on 2/13 in celebration of Fat Tuesday and the start of Mardi Gras! Head down to the Hawk’s Nest all afternoon for beads, masks, sweets, and of course Mardi Gras music. Happy Mardi Gras 2024!

The highlight of the month is sure to be the return of “Art e Vino” from Hoboken and the very popular Paint and Sip event. Join your artistic UBS colleagues on 2/22 at 3:00PM for an amazing experience where you will have the opportunity to create your own painting while sipping on some fantastic wines. If this sounds good to you click the link here and register now. Have fun!

Lunar New Year happens this year on Saturday, February 10, 2024. This year ushers in the year of the Dragon! Although this holiday is commonly called “Chinese New Year” in the West, China is not the only country to observe it. Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals and is observed by millions of people worldwide.

Many other countries in East Asia, including Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, hold their own New Year celebrations at this time. Occasionally, the date celebrated may differ by one day or even one moon cycle due to time zones and other factors.

Food Facts: Certain dishes are eaten during the Chinese New Year for their symbolic meaning. Lucky food is served during the 16-day festival season, especially on Chinese New Year dinner on New Year's Eve, which is believed to bring goodluck for the coming year.

The UBS Cooking School celebrates Lunar New Year with a virtual class focusing on one of the most significant New Year dishes, dumplings. With a history of more than 1,800 years, dumplings are a classic lucky food for Lunar New Year, and a traditional dish eaten on Chinese New Year's Eve. Click the link here to register for this festive virtual event on 2/7 at 2:30PM. Happy Lunar New Year!

March is when spring officially begins and many people turn their clocks forward for daylight saving time. It also can be a dramatic month with sometimes wild and shifting weather. As the seasons change from winter to spring, it's the perfect time to observe some fun March holidays in the Lincoln Harbor Hawk’s Nest. We start the month off by celebrating National Snack Day on 3/6 with a visit from 5-Spoke Creamery. Come meet the cheese maker Barbara and snack on some of her delicious cheeses. We then celebrate St’ Patrick’s day and National Irish Whiskey with a visit from the Acker Spirits division. Tyker from Acker will be holding an “Irish Whiskey 101” class sure to impress even the most seasoned of whiskey enthusiasts. The class takes place on 3/13 @ 4:00PM and can be signed up for on Eventbrite.com here.

We then transition into “March Madness” and the NCAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournaments. The action starts on 3/21 and will continue all month long. We will be showing all the games on the screens throughout the Hawk’s Nest so be sure to head down to the 2^nd floor and root your teams on. Finally, National Crossword Puzzle Day falls on 3/27 and will be highlighted in the Hawk’s Nest with a crossword puzzle contest headed up by the community manager. Head to the cooking school at 3:00PM that day and enter the contest to win an exciting prize. Happy Spring!

My suggestion to you this season is to develop one goal that focuses your attention and resources on what is most important so that you can be successful in achieving your priorities. Whether it is to improve something, make something, reduce something, or develop someone or yourself, set your goal in a manner that you can be successful in achieving the desired outcome.

What’s your goal? Start by thinking about what is important to you in terms of the big picture. This should be something where you are accountable for the results. Think about what you can do to make it attainable. Be specific about what goal you want to accomplish. Look towards the end results and choose a task that is on-going and can be incorporated into your everyday life. Make your goal quantifiable by applying metrics and an end date to determine if you meet the goal. This makes it feel more tangible and provides a way to measure progress. Anyone can set goals, but if it lacks realistic timing, chances are you’re not going to succeed.

Always Remember: “If you don’t have your health, you don't have anything…”

Join Lauren every week for her amazing Wellness Wednesday presentations. Check out the list below and register now. Your health will thank you.

February         7       Seeds in Your Diet

February       14       Heart Your Self

February       21       February Superfoods with Chef Sydney

February       28       Strength Training with Erick Araujo

March            6       Healthy Legumes

March          13       National Nutrition Month

March          20       March Superfoods with Chef Sydney

March          27       Keeping Healthy while Traveling with Erick Araujo

In a year of record-breaking temperatures and marine heatwaves threatening our already depleted seas, conservationists, supermarkets, and even politicians, have spoken out over dwindling wild fish populations. The welfare of farmed fish, as well as the impact of the fish farming industry, has also taken a hit. So, what are the fish to ditch in 2024 and what should we eating? “Unsustainable seafood is one of the biggest threats to our seas,” says Charlotte Coombes, good fish guide manager at the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). The guide’s latest edition, in October, awarded only one in eight US fish the highest “green” status and considered only 13% of fish a sustainable choice. A simple “swap” would reduce the pressure on this handful of preferred favorites, Coombes says, reducing the demand that drives unsustainable fishing and farming practices.

Sustainable Fish Swaps: Instead of cooking or ordering Cod, Haddock, Salmon, Tuna, or Prawns, try Hake, Plaice, Sardines, Rainbow Trout, or Mussels. A few simple swaps could help the environment, save you money, and also allow you to try something different. If you need some recipe suggestions just let us at the UBS Cooking School know, the chefs would be glad to help. 

The UBS Cooking School prides itself in using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients in all of our classes and events. View our list of great In-Person seafood centric classes below and learn from chefs with environmental conservation and sustainability at the top of mind. We are sure you will enjoy!

February 20 Shrimp Pad Thai

February 22 Lemon Oregano Seared Tuna with Roasted Vegetables

February 29 Coriander Salmon with Spiced Lentils

March 20 North African Spiced Salmon & Sweet Potato

March 26 Salmon with Anchovy Butter & Farro Salad

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is defined as a type of mood disorder associated with seasonal changes, commonly seen as depression arising during the winter months. SAD is very common and includes more than 3-million annual cases diagnosed in the US. SAD is said to occur due to changes in the body’s internal clock, circadian system and changes in brain and body's chemicals including reduced serotonin and vitamin D deficiency. Most cases of SAD begin during late fall and go away during spring or summer. Prevention efforts can include following a healthy, nutritious diet, monitoring your mood and energy levels, maintaining adequate rest, sleep and stress regulation, avoiding alcohol, and regularly connecting with people to avoid loneliness.

SAD symptoms often include:

• Feeling depressed on most of the days, during the season
• Sadness
• Reduced energy
• Loss of concentration and interest in activities
• Trouble sleeping/oversleeping
• Nausea, loss of appetite/craving for fatty or carbohydrate type foods
• Weight loss/weight gain

If you are struggling with feeling sad, you may feel drained, miserable, or weighed down by emotions or disappointment. Light therapy, psychotherapy, and medications are the treatments available for SAD. SAD symptoms are associated with social withdrawal and substance abuse or self-medicating when untreated. It is important to understand you do not have to go through it alone. Finding people who can listen, support, and help you cope makes a big difference. Connect with Mike at the email link here and talk to an expert. It’s bound to help…

In-Person classes led by our all-star chefs Sydney and Brian will guide you through some fun and unique recipes during February and March. The current batch of classes has something for everyone. From creamy and savory, to hot and spicy, there is class for all tastes and cooking styles. Check out the classes below and click on the links to register. Have Fun! Bon Appetit!

February         7        Southwestern Black Bean Burgers

February        15       Carne Asada Tacos & Pico De Gallo

February        26       Chicken Marsala & Buttery Noodles

March             4        Lamb Feta Sliders with Tzatziki

March             7        Steak & Mushrooms in Brandy Cream Sauce

March           13        Colcannon Patties & Bacon Horseradish Sauce

Knowing how to use knives skillfully is the foundation of all cooking and doesn't have to be scary or frustrating. Many home and even professional cooks don't always wield a knife correctly, however, which increases food preparation time and makes the process harder, and less safe than it should be. Simply put, good knife skills are the foundation of a well-trained cook or chef. Chef Sydney has put together a series of knife skills “technique” based classes sure to bring your abilities up to par. Follow the links below to register for these skills-based classes. 

February         27       Knife Skills 201: Chicken Butchering

March            14        Knife Skills 301: Fish Butchering

“Seared Scallops with Wild Mushrooms”

By Suzy Zhang

UBS Job Role: GDMO Data Lineage Analyst

Role Location: Weehawken, NJ

Date Joined UBS: November 2021

“Exploring new dishes and materials has been a highlight of my time at the UBS. The curriculum encourages creativity and hands-on exploration, making each session a delightful culinary adventure. The inclusivity and diverse cuisine offerings have truly enriched my experience, allowing me to appreciate and learn from a wide range of culinary traditions.”

-Suzy

Scan below and leave a comment on anything you would like to see in our Cooking School!