Cold Sesame Noodles

Every now and again I get a craving for cold sesame noodles.I remember the first time I had this dish, I didn't think I was going to like it at all, but with every bite I fell in love. The creamy sauce with all the crunchy veggies makes it for an amazing meal. These have a distinctive sesame flavor. I love these with bean sprouts. green onions, shredded carrots and cucumbers. I hope you'll give it a try. This recipe comes from Tyler Florence and like all the others I've tried from him, was spectacular!



* 12 ounces angel hair pasta ( I used udon noodles)
* 3 tablespoons dark sesame oil
* 2 tablespoons peanut oil
* 1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 teaspoon red chili paste, such as sambal
* 1 lime, juiced
* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
* 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 3 tablespoons soy sauce
* 6 tablespoons hot water
* 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
* 2 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
* Fresh chopped cilantro leaves, for garnish

Directions



Cook the noodles in large pot of boiling unsalted water over medium heat until barely tender and still firm. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water until cold. Drain the noodles really well and transfer to a wide bowl; toss with the sesame oil so they don't stick together. Chill.

In a blender combine the peanut oil, ginger, garlic, chili paste, lime juice, brown sugar, peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, and hot water. Blend. Toss the noodles with the peanut sauce until well coated. Serve at room temperature or chilled; garnish with the sesame seeds, green onions, and cilantro.

Caponata and GREAT friends

I can't seem to catch a breath these days...I've been trying to update my blog in the past few days and every time I seat down to do that, something else needs my attention...Ohhh, the joys of parenthood :) I'm sure those of you who have children can relate to that very well... I am fortunate enough to have a group of friends, who help elevate some of the pain that comes with working full time, raising children, balancing marriage and family. We get together as often as we can to catch up, enjoy glass or two of wine and just get away I often wonder how I've ever done it without them. They are such a GREAT support system!!!

This is one of the recipes I often make when we get together. It is very easy to make, delicious and healthy. This recipe comes from Gourmet, September 2006 issue.



* 2 lb small Italian eggplants (about 4)
* 1 tablespoon kosher salt or 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
* 1 1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
* 4 medium celery ribs, cut crosswise into very thin
* 1/3 cup large green Sicilian olives (1 3/4 oz), pitted and coarsely chopped
* 1 3/4 oz Italian capers packed in salt (1/3 cup), rinsed well
* 2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
* 1/3 cup white-wine vinegar
* 1 (14- to 15-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice, drained and chopped (1 cup)

Peel eggplants, leaving some strips of peel, then cut into 1-inch cubes and spread on half of a kitchen towel. Sprinkle eggplant with salt, then cover with other half of towel and weight with a baking sheet topped with 2 or 3 large cans for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 1/2 cup oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, stirring, until pale golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Add celery and cook, stirring, until onion and celery are deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add olives, capers, and 2 tablespoons sugar and cook, stirring, 2 minutes, then stir in vinegar and tomatoes.

Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes. If sauce is very acidic, add 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar (to taste). Transfer to a bowl and keep warm, covered.

Rinse eggplant in a colander under running water, then squeeze dry in small handfuls.

Heat remaining cup oil in cleaned skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then fry eggplant in 2 batches, turning occasionally with tongs, until tender and browned on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes per batch. Transfer as cooked to paper towels to drain, then transfer to a large shallow serving dish in an even layer. Spoon sauce on top, spreading evenly, and let stand, covered with a kitchen towel, at room temperature, at least 8 hours (for flavors to develop). Stir before serving.

Grilled Eggplant Parmigiana & Picky Eater

Are your children picky eaters? If they are, you know what you have to go through every day to feed them. You learn to become creative with what you serve them and how you present it. I have to admit, it is exhausting to have to do it day in and day out. My lovely daughter Olivia is one of those kids who is very difficult to feed nutritious meals. She adores everything with tomato sauce on it, so I am trying to come up with all the things that I can add and disguise in the sauce. One of the things she really enjoys is eggplant Parmesan. I've been making it for a long time now and have several great recipes but this one is my favorite. It's healthy, easy to prepare and delicious. It does not require breading or frying, the eggplant is simply grilled and served with easy tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. If you have a picky eater in your household, give it a try, you might want to cut grilled eggplant in smaller pieces to disguise it, if your child does not like it. I hope you'll give it a try and enjoy it as much as we do!



Here is the recipe:

* 1/4 cup olive oil
* 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
* 1/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
* 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil
* 1/2 ounce finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1/4 cup)
* 4 small Italian eggplants (1/2 pound each)
* 16 thin slices whole-milk mozzarella (from a 1-lb block; not fresh)

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic and red-pepper flakes, stirring, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and salt and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in basil and parmesan.

Prepare a gas grill for direct-heat cooking over moderate heat.

Trim 1/4 inch off 2 opposite long sides of each eggplant. Cut each eggplant lengthwise (in same direction as trimmed sides so each slice has skin just around edge) into 4 slices. Brush slices with remaining 2 tablespoons oil.

Grill eggplant, covered, turning over once, until tender, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a work surface.

Spread top of each slice with about 1 tablespoon tomato sauce and top with a slice of mozzarella, then restack each eggplant. Transfer stacks to a shallow baking pan and grill, covered, just until cheese is melted, about 4 minutes.

Accident, TLC & Broccoli, Red Pepper, and Cheddar Chowder

This soup is my week's contribution to Soup Sundays-- Deb at Kahaka Kitchen's weekly blog group where you can submit your posting for a soup, soup-like meal, salad and sandwiches. Click here for more information.


On Tuesday afternoon I got a call from my daughter's school and was told that she was hurt... She apparently was pushed by one of her classmates and fell on her face...For a moment my heart stopped because when she was 19 months old she fell in the same manner and knocked out her front tooth and the other 6 were loose. Thankfully we were able to save the loose teeth back then and not having to do a root canals on all of them. When I was told that she fell and hit her face I feared that she lost more teeth, but I was assured that only ONE of her teeth was loose and her lip was badly cut. I understand that they do not want me to panic but what's with: " She is OK now, she has a badly cut & bruised lip and one tooth is loose but you do not have to pick her up now" What the #$@@$$%? Let me tell you, when I went to get her (right after I got a call) she looked like she was in a head on collision with a wall, her tooth was the least of my worries...her lips looked so bad I thought she will need stitches for sure. I immediately took her to see a doctor, who couldn't tell if we will be able to save the tooth, her lip did not need stitches but she was put on antibiotic to prevent infection. I have to take her to see the dentist after her lip will heal enough so they can take x-rays and determine if the front tooth can be saved. The only cancellation is that she is 4 years old and those are baby teeth. Here is a picture of Olivia missing one tooth already.



Since this incident she of course can't eat all the things that she normally would, so I have to be creative with what I serve her...It seems that soup is a good solution. Olivia loves cheddar-broccoli soup so I decided to make a variation of it for her. This recipe comes from Gourmet Magazine, December 2001 issue. It was a nice variation of the classic flavors. I liked the addition of red pepper and potato. It was a truly delightful soup! You will really love it if you are a fan of cheddar-broccoli.



* 1 small head broccoli (1/2 pound)
* 1 large boiling potato (1/2 pound)
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
* l large garlic clove, finely chopped
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup heavy cream
* 6 oz sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated (1 1/2 cups)

Discard tough lower third of broccoli stem. Peel remaining stem and finely chop. Cut remaining broccoli into very small (1-inch) florets. Cook florets in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, then drain. Reserve 3 cups cooking water for chowder.

Peel potato and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Cook potato, onion, bell pepper, broccoli stems, and garlic in butter in a 3- to 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add cumin, salt, pepper, and mustard and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add reserved cooking water and simmer (partially covered), stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cream and cheese and cook, stirring, until cheese is melted, then season with salt and pepper.

Purée about 2 cups of chowder in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids) and return to pot. Add florets and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Artichoke Toast

I just wanted to do a quick "drive by" post... I've been very busy in the past few days and didn't get a chance to do much cooking. I had this appetizer in a Spanish-Tapas restaurant called Firefly on Paradise and LOVED it. If you are ever in Las Vegas, you difinitely have to give it a try. The serve UNBELIEVABLE Sangria and hundreds of tapas, hot, cold,vegetarian, meat, seafood etc. You can check out Firefly Menu Here. You can imagine how excited I was when I found the recipe. It is a fabulous appetizer that you'll find yourself craving all the time. I hope you'll give it a try and fall in love with it as much as I did.



* 1 (12-ounce) can quartered artichokes
* 4 ounces lemon juice
* 4 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon kosher salt
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
* 1-ounce whole coriander seeds
* Dash hot sauce
* 1 loaf baguette, sliced 1/2-inch thick, brushed with a mixture of olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme
* Garlic Aioli, recipe follows
* Quartered, marinated artichoke hearts, for garnish
* 1 roasted red pepper, peeled, seeded, and sliced
* 1-ounce fresh basil leaves, very thinly sliced

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the artichokes, lemon juice, olive oil, pepper, salt, parsley, coriander seeds, and hot sauce; mix well. Refrigerate and marinate overnight.

Preheat the oven broiler and spread the bread slices onto a baking sheet. Broil the bread slices until they are toasted. Spread the sliced bread generously with Garlic Aioli, top with a marinated artichoke, a strip of red pepper, and then sprinkle with basil. Serve immediately.

Garlic Aioli:

2 eggs*

1 tablespoon Thai chili-garlic sauce (recommended: Sriracha)

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt
In a blender or food processor, combine the eggs, chili-garlic sauce, lemon juice, and garlic. Pulse until well mixed, and then slowly pour in the olive oil and continue processing until the mixture is thick and creamy. Season, to taste, with salt.

Daring Cooks Challenge-Indian Dosas

This month's Daring Cooks Challenge was hosted by Debyi from Healthy Vegan Kitcchen, she chose Indian Dosas. It was a great recipe and I enjoyed making it. I didn't make any changes with the exception of pureeing the sauce. I didn't like the texture of the original sauce. The flavors were excellent and I will be making it again. Thanks Debyi!!!

Here is the recipe:




Indian Dosas

This recipe comes in 3 parts, the dosas, the filling and the sauce. It does take awhile to make, but the filling and sauce can be made ahead and frozen if need be. You can serve them as a main course with rice and veggies, or as an appetizer. This does take a little planning ahead, so make sure you read the recipe through before starting (I forgot & didn't start making the rice until everything was ready, oops).

Serves 4

Equipment needed:
large bowl
whisk
griddle or skillet
ladle (or large spoon)
spatula
vegetable peeler &/or knife
large saucepan
food processor or bean masher

Dosa Pancakes

1 cup (120gm/8oz) spelt flour (or all-purpose, gluten free flour)
½ tsp (2½ gm) salt
½ tsp (2½ gm) baking powder
½ tsp (2½ gm) curry powder
½ cup (125ml/4oz) almond milk (or soy, or rice, etc.)
¾ cup (175ml/6oz) water
cooking spray, if needed

Dosa Filling
1 batch Curried Garbanzo Filling (see below), heated

Dosa Toppings
1 batch Coconut Curry Sauce (see below), heated
¼ cup (125gm) grated coconut
¼ cucumber, sliced

Dosa Pancakes



1.Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, slowly adding the almond milk and water, whisking until smooth.
2.Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray your pan with a thin layer of cooking spray, if needed.
3.Ladle 2 tablespoons of batter into the center of your pan in a circular motion until it is a thin, round pancake. When bubbles appear on the surface and it no longer looks wet, flip it over and cook for a few seconds. Remove from heat and repeat with remaining batter. Makes 8 pancakes.

Curried Garbanzo Filling



This filling works great as a rice bowl topping or as a wrap too, so don't be afraid to make a full batch.

5 cloves garlic
1 onion, peeled and finely diced
1 carrot, peeled and finely diced
1 green pepper, finely diced (red, yellow or orange are fine too)
2 medium hot banana chilies, minced
2 TBSP (16gm) cumin, ground
1 TBSP (8gm) oregano
1 TBSP (8gm) sea salt (coarse)
1 TBSP (8gm) turmeric
4 cups (850gm/30oz) cooked or canned chick peas (about 2 cans)
½ cup (125gm/4oz) tomato paste

1.Heat a large saucepan over medium to low heat. Add the garlic, veggies, and spices, cooking until soft, stirring occasionally.
2.Mash the chickpeas by hand, or in a food processor. Add the chickpeas and tomato paste to the saucepan, stirring until heated through.

Coconut Curry Sauce

This makes a great sauce to just pour over rice as well. This does freeze well, but the texture will be a little different. The flavor is still the same though. My picture of this sauce is one that I had made, had to freeze, then thaw to use. It tastes great, but the texture is a little runnier, not quite as thick as it was before freezing.

1 onion, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic
½ (2½ gm) tsp cumin, ground
¾ (3¾ gm) tsp sea salt (coarse)
3 TBSP (30gm) curry powder
3 TBSP (30gm) spelt flour (or all-purpose GF flour)
3 cups (750ml/24oz) vegetable broth
2 cups (500ml/24oz) coconut milk
3 large tomatoes, diced

1.Heat a saucepan over medium heat, add the onion and garlic, cooking for 5 minutes, or until soft.
2.Add the spices, cooking for 1 minutes more. Add the flour and cook for 1 additional minute.
3.Gradually stir in the vegetable broth to prevent lumps. Once the flour has been incorporated, add the coconut milk and tomatoes, stirring occasionally.
4.Let it simmer for half an hour.
Happy eating!

Quick Avocado and Tomato Salad

I bought some avocado on sale last weekend and wanted to find a new way to use it. Generally my go to dish would be a guacamole, but I've been doing it time and time again...I found this recipe online and decided to try it, I've adjusted the seasoning a bit to our taste but it was a great combination of flavors and textures. I also added chopped cilantro, because I like the combination. Overall it was very nice weekday side dish, although the balsamic makes the avocado look "muddy".



2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup diced red onion
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and toss together.
2. Let stand for about 5-10 minutes before serving.

Eggplant and Zucchini Pie with Roasted Bell Pepper Sauce

Ever since I found this recipe I wanted to try it... It looked so tasty and consisted of some of my favorite ingredients: eggplant, zucchini, goat cheese, tomatoes, hmmm...yum! I had all the veggies at home already and decided to give it a shot. I've use pre-made pie crust, blind baked it for 15 minutes than filled it with eggplant filling and baked it close to an hour, because when I checked it at 30 minute mark, the filling was still very giggly (is that even a word?)The roasted red pepper sauce is a must, I forgot to take a picture of it, but this pie is very mild in flavor and it needs an extra zip which the sauce provides. I have to admit, I was looking forward to eating this pie, but the end result was out of this world. It was soo delicious! My husband, who is generally not happy without meat in his dinner, had 2 helpings and asked if I could make it again...Now, that is what I call an endorsement. I hope you'll try this recipe and enjoy it as much as we did. It was adapted from Hubert Keller-I only used two of his recipes in the past and they were both a huge hit. I think I'll be back for more.



For this recipe you will need:
• 1 pre-baked pie shell (baked in a deep dish pie pan)
Eggplant Filling:
• 3 eggplants, ends cut off and cut in half lengthwise
• 5 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup flour
• 2 cup milk
• 4 oz goat cheese
• 4 large eggs
• Nutmeg, to taste
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon garlic, finely minced
• Plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 4 small zucchini, thinly sliced (about 1 lb)
• ½ cup fresh bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce:

• ¼ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• Plum tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded, diced
• 1 large red bell pepper, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced
• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon sugar or honey
• Salt & Pepper, to taste
• 6 fresh basil leaves, minced



Preheat oven to 350º F.
To prepare the filling, lightly brush a baking pan with olive oil. Place the eggplant halves skin side up
on the pan and roast in the oven for 40 – 45 minutes, or until completely tender. Remove from the
oven and set aside to cool. When cool, carefully scoop out the flesh and transfer to a strainer,
discarding the skin. Let drain for 20 minutes, and then chop coarsely.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until
blended. Gradually pour in the milk while stirring and continues to stir until the mixture thickens.
Remove from the heat. Fold in the goat cheese and the eggs one by one. Season to taste with salt,
pepper and a dash of nutmeg. Add the chopped eggplant and garlic into the mixture.
Spoon the eggplant mixture into the pie shell and spread it out evenly. Slice the tomatoes and
zucchinis into thin slices. Beginning on the outermost edge of the pie and working clockwise, arrange
alternating tomato and zucchini disks on top of the eggplant mixture, overlapping slightly. To fill the
center, arrange alternating tomato and zucchini disks counter clockwise, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle
with the breadcrumbs, thyme leaves and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Place the eggplant pie on a baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake about 30 minutes ( I baked it for 50-60 minutes)
To prepare the sauce, combine the olive oil and onion in a saucepan and sauté over medium heat for 3
minutes, or until translucent. Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper, thyme, sugar, salt and pepper
and cook for 15 minutes, or until it thickens. Adjust the seasonings if necessary and stir in the basil.
Keep warm.

Orzo Pasta Salad

I had some leftover vegetables in my fridge and wanted to make something that is light and refreshing. Few years back when we first moved to Vegas, I attended the luncheon where they served sandwiches... My favorite one was a veggie sandwich, it consisted of grilled eggplant and zucchini with goat cheese, served on sourdough bread. It was soooo delicious! I wanted to make a salad that is healthy and light but still delicious and use grilled vegetables. I love orzo and combined with grilled veggies, fresh tomatoes and refreshing lemon vinaigrette it is a winning combination.



Orzo Pasta Salad

* 1 pound orzo, cooked

Vinaigrette:

* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon of dry oregano
* 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1 teaspoon of salt
*1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

Mix lemon juice, oregano, dijon mustard and lemon peel. After it is all combined, add olive oil in small stream while whisking continuously to make a vinaigrette. Set aside.


* 1 small eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 1/4 slices
* 1 zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/4 slices
* 1 yellow squash, sliced lengthwise into 1/4 slices
* 1 medium red onion, sliced lengthwise into 1/4 slices
* 8 oz of steamed broccoli
* 8 oz of steamed cauliflower
* 1 pint of cherry tomatoes
* Handful of cilantro leaves

Steam broccoli and cauliflower till tender, set aside. Brush eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash and red onion slices with olive oil and grill till tender. Chopped in bite size pieces. Cut cherry tomatoes in half, chop cilantro leaves.
In a large bowl combine cooked orzo, grilled veggies, tomatoes, cilantro, and steamed broccoli and cauliflower. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and mix well. add salt and pepper if needed.

Greek Panzanella Salad

I saw a new episode of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics yesterday... As you know Ina is one of my favorite if not THE Favorite chef. One of the recipes she made on the show was a Greek panzanella, a twist on a traditional Italian salad but with olives, feta cheese and Greek vinaigrette. It was a HUGE HIT!!! If you like traditional panzanella, you will love this one as well.



* Good olive oil
* 1 small French bread cut into 1-inch cubes (6 cups)
* Kosher salt
* 1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and sliced 1/4-inch thick
* 1 red bell pepper, large diced
* 1 yellow bell pepper, large diced
* 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
* 1/2 red onion, sliced in half rounds
* 1/2 pound feta cheese, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
* 1/2 cup calamata olives, pitted

For the vinaigrette:

* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
* 1/4 cup good red wine vinegar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/2 cup good olive oil

Directions

Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread cubes and sprinkle with salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 5 to 10 minutes, until nicely browned. Add more olive oil as needed.

Place the cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper in a small bowl. While still whisking, add the olive oil and make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the feta, olives and bread cubes and mix together lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.

Braised Eggplant in garlic sauce

I was talking to my mother in law today about cooking eggplant...We went out to lunch and among all the goodies we ordered was a braised eggplant-sooo yummy!!! I've never eaten eggplant growing up but enjoy it great deal in the past few years. I generally serve it grilled, in a salad or in Moussaka (traditional eggplant-based dish that comes out of the Mediterranean, made with eggplant, ground meat and tomatoes, onions and some kind of pepper) but have never braised it. I feel a little intimidated when it comes to asian dishes, it just seems so complicated when you looking at the recipe. Those of you who know me, know that I do not shy away from the challenge and since there is no time like a present, I decided to make my own version of braised eggplant in garlic sauce... The outcome was delicious!! It was a bit spicy but I think it gives the eggplant a little zip, which is needed.



4 Asian eggplants or 1 large regular eggplant (about 1 1/4 lbs)
1 tsp salt

Sauce:
3/4 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp dry sherry or Chinese rice wine
2 tsp seasame oil
2 tsp hoisin sauce
2 tsp chili paste

2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbps minced garlic
1 tsp minced ginger
2 green onions (including tops) thinly sliced
2 tsp cornstarch disolved in water
4 tsp water
Slivered green onion for garnish



Directions

Peel the eggplant and cut it into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in a medium bowl, sprinkle with salt, and toss gently to mix. Set aside for 30 minutes.
Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Drain and rinse the eggplant and squeeze it dry. Place a wok or wide frying pan over high heat until hot. Add the vegetable oil, swirling to coat the sides. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add the eggplant, green onions, mix well. Add the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan and braise until the eggplant is tender and the liquid is slightly reduced, about 10 minutes. Add the cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until the sauce boils and thickens. Garnish with slivered green onions.

Gail's Fresh Tomato Basil Soup & Grilled Cheese

I love grilled cheese sandwiches...Whenever I do not know what to make for dinner I seem to gravitate toward some sort of grilled sandwich/panini. It generally is a glorified grilled cheese as I am a HUGE cheese lover. No grilled cheese would be complete without tomato soup. For many years I could not find a good and easy recipe for tomato soup, until my friend Ali given me her sister's recipe for a fresh tomato/basil soup. It is very easy and quick soup, rich in bright tomato and basil flavors. If you like tomato and basil combination this is a must try recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. Thank you Ali & Gail for sharing!!!




Gail's Fresh Tomato & Basil Soup

3 TBS of butter
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
1/2 onion, chopped
28 oz can of crashed tomatoes
15 leaves of fresh basil (use more if you like the basil flavor)
1 can of chicken stock
1 tsp of sugar
cayenne pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1/2 cup of Heavy cream

Saute butter, garlic and onion till soft, put it in the blender, add basil and blend till smooth, add crashed tomatoes and blend till pureed. Return to pan and add chicken stock, season with cayenne pepper, salt and sugar. Heat just till boiling (do not boil)Add heavy cream, remove from heat and serve.

Serve alone or with your favorite grilled cheese sandwich.

Abundance of Broccoli

Somehow I've ended up with 5 lbs bag of broccoli florets...Don't ask me why or how, I'm sure I bought it in one of my "let's eat healthier" Costco trips and after using the first pound I did not know what to do with the rest. As I mentioned in my previous post, my mother in law is visiting and she likes EVERYTHING, I kid you not, there isn't a thing that I've ever saw her complaining about when it comes to food. I don't know where she puts it either, she has a fabulous figure and can eat anything she'd like...My point is that since she is in town I can cook anything at all especially things I generally stay away from because my hubby does not like it. Cheddar and broccoli soup is one of those things I would not cook just for the 3 of us but with MIL in town and 4 lbs of broccoli left in the fridge it was a natural choice.

I've never made a Cheddar Broccoli Soup before and wanted a good recipe...I turn to my friend Vikki who has a lot of experience in the kitchen and is an expert on a lot of different dishes. She had great suggestions but I ultimately made a mish-mash of different recipes to create Sylwia's Original.



3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
3 pounds fresh broccoli
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
1 Celery chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups of water
1 cup of half and half
1 roasted red pepper (you can use more if you like roasted peppers)
2 cloves of garlic minced
2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Melt butter over medium-high heat. Add broccoli, onion, carrot, celery and garlic salt and pepper and saute until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the roasted red pepper chopped and cook for 1 minute. Add stock and bring to boil.

Simmer uncovered until broccoli is tender, about 15 minutes. Pour in half and half. Puree the soup. Add cheddar cheese, salt and pepper, to taste, and ENJOY!

The end result was very YUMMY and a hit with everybody including my Hubby and Olivia.

Stuffed crepes-Krokiety

I don't get the chance to cook much Polish food these days but every now and again I get a craving for tastes of my childhood...Krokiety are Polish crepes filled with cooked sourkraut, mushrooms and fried onion. They taste great served with red borsch (beet soup) These were a staple in our house and we all loved it. I know not a lot of people like sourkraut but these were a hit even with people who were adamant that they do not eat/will not try anything with sourkraut in it. I realize that I can't convert you into sourkraut lover but if you would give this recipe a try you will see how DELICIOUS it is. My husband (NO SOURKRAUT KIND OF GUY) and my daughter who is 4 years old are now huge fans of these tasty treats as well.



Crepes

2 eggs
2 tbsp of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 cups whole milk
1 cups water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil



Preparation:

In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, sugar and salt. Add milk and water, stir.
Sift the flour with baking powder and add to the wet ingredients in the bowl. Whisk well, you don’t need any lumps in the batter. Add the oil, whisk again.

Heat a crêpe pan or medium size frying pan over medium heat. Very lightly brush it with oil and pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan and swirl it around. Wait until the surface doesn’t appear wet and the crêpe is lightly browned on one side, about a minute, flip the crêpe onto the other side. Proceed with the other crepes till they are all made.

Filling:

2 1/4 cup of sauerkraut
8 oz mushrooms -( wild mushrooms would be perfect, but any other will do fine as well),chopped
1 big onion, chopped
chicken broth
salt, pepper to taste

Boil chicken broth, add sauerkraut and cook it for about 15 minutes until soft,drain it and put aside. In the skillet melt 1 tablespoon of butter, add chopped onion, fry until well cooked. Season with salt and pepper.

When our sauerkraut is drained and of room temperature chop it into small pieces.
Then mix it with mushrooms and onions, season with salt and pepper.

Next, take one crepe, place it on a smooth surface,place 2 tablespoons of mushroom filling in to the center of the crepe; spread it evenly leaving about 1/2 inch border along the edge.

Roll your crepe so that all the corners were inside. The best way to do it is to fold two opposite corners toward the middle of the crepe, then still pressing these corners roll two remaining corners .If you look at the shorter side of your crepe it will look like a snail :)with no filling visible.

Finally, place your crepes into beaten egg making sure that it is coated well, then into bread crumbs . Heat a skillet with 4 tablespoons of oil. cook each crepe so it was fried on each side.

In the mood for Indian anyone? Chilli Tofu with Beans and Bok Choy

I was browsing the web for some inspiration and boy, did I find it. I have a stack of recipes to try in the next few weeks. This one is from Meena (http://www.hookedonheat.com) I love Indian food but was always intimidated by it. Meena's recipes are super easy and quick, and the best part is that I had all the ingredients on hand.





1 block of firm tofu, cubed
2 large bunches of bok choy, chopped: green and white parts separated
a big handful of green beans, cut into 1-inch lengths
1 medium onion, finely sliced
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp tamarind concentrate
2-3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp light cooking oil
salt, to taste

Heat about 1 tsp of oil in a deep non-stick wok, and fry cubed tofu till slightly golden all over. Set aside.

Add in remaining oil in the pan and saute garlic and onions till soft and lightly browned. Add in spices and fry for a few seconds.

Throw in chopped tomatoes, season with salt and fry for a few minutes. Add in tomato paste and tamarind extract, and continue to fry, breaking up tomatoes till it starts to dry out and give out oil from the sides.

Add in beans and tofu, and stir fry till beans are cooked but still crisp. Add in bok choy, and stir fry till it starts to wilt. Serve warm.

Vegetarian Bao (Chinese Buns)

These are one of my husband's favorites. You can only get them in Asian bakery or Asian supermarket, but they are not always available...So I've decided to give them a try myself, how hard could it be, right? Turned out not as hard as I thought... Here is the outcome of my BAO experiment...



Dough:

2 TBSP of sugar
1 Package of dry yeast
3/4 cup plus 2 TBSP of warm water (100-110'F)
1 tsp of sesame oil
2 3/4 cup of AP flour

Dissolve sugar and yest in 3/4 cup plus 2 TBSP of warm water, add 2 TBSP of sugar and let it stand for 5 minutes. Add 1 tsp of sesame oil and 2 1/2 cups of AP flour. Kneed the dough adding more flour as needed 1 TBSP at the time. Dough is going to be sticky. Knead for dough 10 minutes till smooth. Spray the surface of the dough with cooking spray, cover and let it rest for 10 minutes. After dough rests, cut it in 8 equal pieces and roll it out into circles. Dough should be thinner at the edges and slightly thicker in the center.

Filling:

2TBSP of vegetable oil
1/2 head of cabbage shredded
12 shittake mushrooms, cut in small pieces
1 squares of soy bean cake or bake tofu, you can find it in Asian market, cut in bite sized pieces
1 tsp on sesame oil
3 TBSP of soy sauce
1 tsp of Worchestershire Sauce
salt & pepper to taste

Note: These buns can be filled with many different savory fillings.





Head oil in a pan and add cabbage,mushrooms and baked tofu and saute till soft, add soy sauce & Worchestershire sauce, and cook till soft. Season to taste with salt and pepper and add sesame oil at the end of cooking. Cool the filling.

After the filling is cooled, assemble the buns. Take the dough rounds, fill them with 2 TBSP of filling, bring up the sides to cover the filling, twist and pinched to seal. Buns will be very full.

You can steam them immediately or put them in the fridge to rest for couple of hours, making sure that they are not sticking together (they will rise in the fridge so I put some wax paper in between them, so they do not stick and tear)

Steam for 10-18 minutes & ENJOY!!!