Baby Eggplant Salad
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Unpeeled Baby Eggplants
2 Garlic Cloves
1 Teaspoon Ground Paprika
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
3 Tablespoons Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Bunch Chopped Fresh Italian Parsley
Fill a large size pot with water and salt. Cut the eggplants into quarters (lengthwise). Place the garlic cloves and eggplants into the water and bring to a boil over a high heat. Boil until the eggplant pieces are tender. Drain and throw away the garlic. Place the eggplant pieces into a large size bowl. Combine with the paprika, cumin, lemon juice, olive oil and chopped parsley. Mix gently and place into the fridge for 2 to 4 hours. Remove from the fridge when ready to serve. Serve chilled. Serves 4
Blueberry Cookies
If you’re tired of the same old chocolate chip cookie then give my scrumptious Blueberry Cookies a test run. I wouldn’t quite put them in the “healthy” category, but close enough.
INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Cup Softened Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
2 Large Eggs
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Dried Blueberries
Preheat your oven to 375º F. In a small size bowl combine the flour, baking soda and kosher salt. In a large size bowl beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Add the eggs one at a time. Beat well after adding each egg. Slowly beat in the flour mixture. Stir in the blueberries. Drop by teaspoonful onto parchment paper line baking sheets. Place into the oven and bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Remember every oven heats differently and if you like your cookies soft then you may want to take them out just a bit early as they will continue to cook for a bit after leaving the oven. Remove from the oven and let cool for 4 minutes on the baking sheet. Remove from the baking sheet and transfer them to wire racks and let cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.
Kentucky Benedictine
I love this Southern spread made popular by Louisville’s Benedict’s restaurateur, Jennie Carter Benedict, who opened her restaurant in 1893. It can be used as a dip or for a sandwich and is perfect for either an afternoon tea or a light meal.
INGREDIENTS
1 Large Cucumber
8 Ounces Softened Cream Cheese
4 Tablespoons Grated Onion or 2 Minced Green Onions
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Tablespoon Mayonnaise
Remove the cucumber skin and then grate it into a medium size bowl. Drain the cucumber and onion juice (unless using minced green onions). Add the cream cheese, grated onion, kosher salt and mayonnaise. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until all of the ingredients are combined. Place plastic wrap over the bowl and put into the fridge for 2 to 3 hours. If you are using for a vegetable dip then thin it out with a bit of sour cream. Makes about 1 1/2 Cups
Oatmeal Cherry Cookies
Over the weekend I was in the mood for oatmeal cookies. I looked all over my pantry for the box of raisins that I could have sworn was in there, but couldn’t locate them. BUT I did see a container filled with dried cherries. The jury is in and I must admit that I like oatmeal cookies better with cherries. Just sayin’.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
3/4 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 Cup Dried Cherries
Preheat your oven to 350º F. In a large size bowl, beat the butter, sugar and brown sugar on a medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat well. In a separate medium size bowl combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and kosher salt. Mix well Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Mix well. Add the oats and dried cherries and mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool for 1 minute on the baking sheet and then remove to a wire rack. Cool completely. Repeat until you have baked all of the cookies. Makes about 4 dozen.
Bastille Day Pain Française
Tuna sandwiches à la française! The best way to make this very large sandwich is to make it a day in advance. This allows the delicious juices to soak into the French bread. Make sure to use olive oil packed tuna instead of tuna packed in water.
INGREDIENTS
1 Large Loaf of French Bread (Round or Long)
2 Garlic Cloves Cut in Half
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
3 Medium Sliced Ripe Tomatoes
1/2 Cup Fresh Basil
1 Tablespoon Fresh Mint
6 Ounces Canned Tuna Packed in Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Pitted & Chopped Kalamata Olives
2 Chopped Green Onions
1 Tablespoon Capers
1 Large Hard Boiled Egg Sliced
Cut your bread in half horizontally. Take out some of the soft center from each half to make about a one inch shell. Rub the inside of the bread halves with the garlic. In a small sized measuring cup mix together the olive oil, vinegar, kosher salt and pepper. Drizzle 1/4 of the olive oil mixture onto both halves of the garlic rubbed bread. On the bottom half of the bread place 1/3 of the tomato slices. Drizzle about half of the remaining oil mixture onto the tomato slices. Next top with half of the basil and all of the mint. Set aside. Drain the tuna. In a small size bowl flake the tuna. Add the olives, green onions and capers. Spoon the tuna mixture over the tomato and herbs. Place the egg slices on top. Put the remaining tomato slices and basil on top of the egg slices. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil mixture. Place the top half of the bread on top all of this deliciousness. Wrap this large sandwich tightly with either foil or plastic wrap. Put in the fridge for at least 5 hours or overnight. Remove from the fridge when ready to serve and cut into 4 separate sandwiches. Makes 4 main dish servings.
Greek Style Eggplant Dip
This dip is super healthy and goes perfectly with raw vegetables, crackers or whole grain pita wedges.
INGREDIENTS
1 Large Eggplant
3 Thinly Sliced Garlic Cloves
14 Ounces Silken Tofu
3 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
Preheat your oven to 350º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise. Cut slits in the flesh side of the eggplant halves and insert the garlic slices. Put the eggplant cut-side down on the baking sheet and then prick the eggplant all over with a fork. Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. You will want the eggplant to be soft and collapsed. Remove from the oven and then when the eggplant is cool enough to handle scoop out the pulp and put it into a food processor or blender. Throw away the skin. Add the tofu, lemon juice and kosher salt. Puree until nice and smooth. Serve immediately. Makes about 2 1/2 cups.
Nutella Pound Cake
If you like Nutella then you will like this pound cake recipe. It’s easy to make and can be eaten for breakfast or as a dessert.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
3 Room Temperature Eggs
1/2 Cup Whipping Cream
1 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Nutella
Preheat your oven to 325º F. Allow the butter and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside. In a medium size bowl stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and kosher salt. Set aside. In a large size bowl beat the butter on a medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add the sugar and beat for 30 seconds until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Scrape the bowl frequently. Alternately add the flour mixture and whipping cream to the butter mixture. Beat on low after each addition just until combined. Pour half of the batter into the parchment paper lined loaf pan. Place 1/2 cup Nutella on top of the batter and swirl with a knife. Pour the rest of the batter and place the remaining 1/2 cup Nutella on top of the batter. Swirl the Nutella with a knife. Place into the oven and bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Remember that ovens heat differently so check at 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan (by pulling out by the parchment paper) and cool thoroughly on the rack. Makes 1 Nutella Pound Cake.
Beer Brownies
Make these Beer Brownies for your father this Father’s Day! He’ll love you for it unless he hates chocolate!
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups Unbleached Flour
2 Cups Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1 Cup Softened Butter
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
3 Eggs
1 Cup Beer (I used Ale)
1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Chocolate Frosting
Preheat your oven to 350º F. In a large size bowl combine the flour, baking soda, kosher salt and cocoa powder. Set aside. In a separate large size bowl beat together the butter and sugar for 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time beating in between each addition. Add the vanilla and beat for 20 seconds. Gradually add the flour mixture alternating with the beer until both are added. Beat on slow until smooth. Pour into parchment paper lined 13x9x2 baking pan. Place into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until done. Remember that all ovens heat differently so make sure to check at 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely in the pan. Remove from the pan by lifting the parchment paper. Set onto the counter and frost with the chocolate frosting. Cut into brownies squares. Makes 24 brownies depending on how large or small you cut the brownies.
Chocolate Frosting
INGREDIENTS
1/2 Cup Softened Butter
2/3 Cup Cocoa
3 Cups Powdered Sugar
1/3 Cup Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Place the softened butter into a large size bowl and beat with a mixer for 30 seconds. Add the cocoa and beat for another 30 seconds. Add the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract and beat on high for 2 minutes. You will want the consistency to be very creamy without lumps. Makes about 2 cups.
Spicy Onion Rings
In preparing the onion rings maintain the oil at 350º F during cooking. If the temperature drops below 350º then the onion rings take longer to cook and tend to absorb too much oil. Plus they don’t get crisp like they should. Try and prepare the steak and the onion rings at the same time. If you can’t do that then have the onion rings ready to fry as soon as those delicious steaks come off of the grill.
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Unbleached Flour
1/2 Cup Cornstarch
1 Tablespoon Ground Red Chile Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cayenne
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Pepper
1 Quart Vegetable Oil (For Deep Frying)
4 Large Thinly Slices Onions (Rings Separated)
In a large size bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, red chile powder, cayenne, cumin, kosher salt and pepper. Pour the oil into a saucepan or deep-fryer and bring the heat to 350º F. Put the onion rings into the flour mixture and coat. Gently shake off any excess. Using tongs carefully put some of the coated onions into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove from the oil and place on paper towels to drain. Do this in 3 or 4 batches until all are fried. Season with additional kosher salt if you like. Serve warm. Serves 4
Cherry Scones
My Cherry Scones will make your kitchen smell of summer. Make sure to eat these scones warm and with a good butter. Using cream instead of shortening makes the scones extra-tender and flaky.
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 Cups Unbleached Flour
4 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/3 Cup Butter (Cut Up)
2 Beaten Eggs
3/4 Cup Whipping Cream
1 Cup Dried Cherries
1/4 Cup Milk (For Brushing Tops)
1/4 Cups Sugar (For Sprinkling Tops)
Preheat your oven to 400º F. In a small size bowl add the dried cherries and enough boiling water over the cherries to cover. Let stand for 5 minutes. In a large size bowl combine the flour, sugar, kosher salt and baking powder. Cut in the butter until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour and set aside. In a medium size bowl combine the eggs and whipping cream. Drain the cherries. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture all at once. Add the cherries. Use a fork to stir just until moistened. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead the dough by folding and pressing it until the dough is almost smooth (about 10 times). Divide the dough in half and roll out each dough half into a circle. Cut each circle into six wedges. Place the dough wedges 2 inches apart on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Brush the wedges with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Remove and transfer to a serving plate. Serve warm. Makes about 12 scones.
