Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint Cookies from Allrecipes.com

Easy recipe that doesn't require the dough to be chilled.  I filled the cookies and baked them for about 15-18mins instead of doing the two-step baking process.  Turned out delicious.

I doubled the recipe and got about 3 dozen cookies.

Note: Dec 2017: I made these following the recipe and the dough was way too sticky.  I had to add a little extra flour (1/4c.).  Cookies required much longer baking time and turned out very crumbly.  Need to find a new recipe!

Oven Pancake

Serves 2:

1/2 c. flour
3 eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. milk
2 Tb. butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix eggs, salt, milk, flour in a bowl. Put butter in a pie plate and put into the hot oven until butter melts.  Remove pie plate from oven and pour pancake batter into the center of the pie plate.  Bake in the oven 15-20 mins until pancake is puffy and edges turn golden.

Best Ever Banana Pancakes

Where has this recipe been all my life?  Now that I've discovered banana pancakes from Allrecipes.com, I have made it too many times to count.  It is hands down the best pancake recipe I've ever tried.

1c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tb. sugar

1 egg
1c. milk
2 Tb. veg oil or melted cooled butter
2 ripe, mashed bananas (use a ziploc bag to mash, then cut a hole on the end and squeeze it out)
handful chocolate chips (optional)

Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients (minus the banana) in separate bowls.  Pour wet ingredients into dry, mix, then gently fold in banana.  Mix in a handful of chocolate chips.  Makes 9-10 pancakes which is just enough for us.

Spicy Japanese Eggplant

I was thrilled try a recipe from a beautiful Japanese cookbook, Everyday Harumi.  This was so delicious, the whole family was fighting over the last bite!  I made a few modifications and here's our version.

2 japanese eggplants (or 1 large "regular" eggplant)
1/3c. soy sauce
2 1/2 Tb. sugar
1/4 c. unseasoned rice vinegar
2 scallions, minced
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp minced ginger
red pepper flakes
vegetable or canola oil

Cut eggplant into chunks and soak in cold water for 5-10 mins.  Drain and pat dry.
Combine soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic.  Add red pepper flakes to your liking.
Heat a few tablespoons oil in a skillet.  Sautee the eggplant until it turns soft and starts to brown.  Drain on a paper towel.  In a mixing bowl, combine the sauce mixture and the eggplant.  Let stand for 5-10 mins before serving.  Garnish with the scallions and enjoy.

We ate this over rice and I also served a side of tofu drizzled with soy sauce and dusted with crushed peanuts.

Key Lime Pie

1 prepared (unbaked) graham cracker crust
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
zest of 1 lime
1/2c. key lime juice (or bottled lime and lemon juice)
4 egg yolks, beaten

Combine ingredients, pour into pie shell.  Bake at 375 for about 15 mins or until a knife inserted in the center of the pie leaves a mark.  (Don't let the pie start to brown or turn golden as it will be overdone).

Tips:
Zest the lime, then squeeze the fresh lime juice into a 1/2c. measuring cup.  Add a few tablespoons of bottled lemon juice, and then bottled lime juice to equal 1/2 cup total.

This recipe gives a nice thin layer of pie filling.  For a full, thick pie the recipe could be doubled.

Veg Briyani

http://lakshmiammal.wordpress.com/2007/01/30/the-no-spit-vegetable-pulav/

added 1 tea spoon of tamarind.

used 1 teaspoon garam masala instead of grinding

added the following separately.

coriander powder

cumin

cashews

turmeric

ginger

garlic

pinch of chili powder

came out a bit bland. could use more spices. 

cooked for 45 min in rice cooker.  was a bit over cooked.  probably only needs 25min

 

Spinach Paneer

Spinach Paneer

Chilaquiles

1 jar salsa verde
Tortilla chips- a few cups
red onion- thinly slice some strips for garnish
cilantro
cotija cheese

Heat a little oil in a skillet.  Add salsa verde and stir.  When hot, add in tortilla chips and stir well.  Spoon onto a plate and top with red onion, cilantro and cotija cheese.

Mexican Breakfast Casserole

This was pretty good, but next time I'd leave out the corn and I'd cut the filling in half.

Mexican Breakfast Casserole

10 minute Berry Cobbler

This berry cobbler only takes 10 mins of prep and the results are amazing!  I added a splash of vanilla to the batter, and I used frozen berries (thawed in the microwave and then drained of extra juice).  Sprinkling sugar over the top gave the crust a nice sweet crunch.

Easy Fruit Cobbler

Freezer Friendly Vegetarian Dinners

Spanish Rice- Freeze in a ziploc.  Empty into a bowl, add a little, and cover, microwave

Stuffed Green Peppers
Prep filling, boil green peppers in salted water for 3 mins.  Fill peppers on baking dish and place in freezer.  Once frozen, they can be individually wrapped. To serve: Remove wrapping and partially thaw at room temperature. Place in shallow pan, cover with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

Lentil Shepherd's Pie  Lay parchment paper in a casserole dish; assemble and freeze.  Once frozen, remove from parchment paper, wrap and place back in freezer.  To cook, replace casserole in same dish.  Bake at 250 degrees for 20 mins, then 350 degrees for 30 mins.

Lasagna (recipe to try)

Veggie Alfredo Lasagna

This lasagna recipe is made with cauliflower sauce.  Looks delish!