Chick Pea Salad

This is a delicious vegetarian salad or side dish.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
A Sheet Pan line with Foil

2 tsp Smoked Paprika
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
1/2 tsp dried Oregano
1/2 tsp dried Onion Flakes
1/2 tsp dried Red Pepper Flakes
2 TBS Olive Oil, divided.
1 C Drained, Canned Chick Peas
1 small Cucumber,  peeled and diced.
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced.
1/4 C Chopped, Fresh Parsley
1 Avocado, diced.
Salt and Pepper to taste
The Juice of 2 Limes

In a Large Mixing Bowl:
Paprika
Thyme
Oregano
Onion Flakes
Red Pepper Flakes
Whisk Well.
Add:
1 TBS Olive Oil.
Stir to combine well.
Add:
Chick Peas
Stir to Coat well.
Spread evenly onto the Sheet Pan.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove to a Rack to Cool Completely.
Transfer to a Serving Bowl.

Add:
Cucumber
Bell Pepper
Parsley
Avocado
Remaining Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Lime Juice.
Stir to combine well.

Chill well before serving.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Pan Release Mix

I spent some time as a Cake Decorator in the 80's. I was looking for a part time job and the opportunity came available. I learned from my mentor, Elizabeth. She had worked in the industry for over 20 years and she was incredible at making cakes and decorating them. She taught me so much and I took advantage of the knowledge that she had. I came away with the best icing recipe, the best decorating techniques, and this recipe for the perfect Pan Release. I also took some Cake Decorating Classes and this was the recipe used in the Class. I use it in all of my Cake Pans, including the most intricate Bunt Pan designs.

Pan Release Mix

Equal parts of Crisco, Vegetable Oil and Flour.
I start with 1 C of each mixed well and refrigerated in a Jar.
I always have it available for all of my baking needs.

Brush the Pans generously with the Mix.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Moose Munch Brownies

Many years ago I discovered the Ultimate Brownies. It was a creation from a company called Moose Munch. We carried the product at Macy's when I was working there. It was a simple recipe. Buy a box of your favorite Brownie Mix, bake according to the instructions on the box and as soon as you take them out of the oven, you gently press the entire Box of Moose Munch into the warmed Brownie Base. It made an amazing recipe and consequently, The Ultimate Brownies were born. If you're not familiar with Moose Munch, it's sort of like Cracker Jack coated in either Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate or White Chocolate. The recipe has become a favorite at our house.

This is my favorite Brownie Mix

This is Moose Munch!



.
Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Eggplant Farci

I love Eggplant and all of the various ways it can be used in recipes. This is my newest recipe and at the end I added links to my other favorite Eggplant recipes on my Blog.
This is an easy recipe for a Stuffed and Baked Eggplant.

In Gastonomy, Farci is the French word for Stuffed. There are recipes for Tomatoes Farci, Zucchini Farci, Mushrooms Farci, Cabbage Farci etc.

Here's what you'll need:
A 9" X 13" Casserole Dish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Here are a few of my 9" X 13" Casserole Dish:

Pampered Chef

Anchor Hocking

Emile Henry

1 1/2 C Marinara Sauce, divided.
2 Medium Eggplants cut in half.
1 TBS Olive Oil
1 Onion, diced.
1 tsp Dried Oregano
Salt and Pepper to taste.
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced.
1 C Chopped Tomatoes
1 Egg, beaten.
2 1/2 C Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided.
1 1/4 C  Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 C Italian Flavored Breadcrumbs
Chopped Fresh Basil Leaves for Garnish.

In the Casserole Dish:
1 C of the Marinara Sauce evenly distributed.
Set aside.

Eggplant:
Cut out the Eggplant into 1/2" Cubes, leaving a 1/2"  thick layer on the sides.
Roughly Chop the Cubes.

In a Skillet on Medium High Heat:
Olive Oil, until Hot.
Add:
Onion, sauté 5 minutes.
Reduce Heat to Medium.

In a  Large Mixing Bowl:
Reserved Eggplant
Oregano
Salt
Pepper.
Mix well.
Add to the Onion and Cook 5 minutes on Medium Heat.

Add:
Garlic, continue cooking for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Spoon the mixture into the Mixing Bowl.
Add:
Chopped Tomatoes
Egg
1 C Mozzarella Cheese
Remaining Marinara Sauce
Mix well.

Spoon Mixture, evenly into the hollowed out Eggplant Halves.
Place them on the Marinara Sauce in the Casserole Dish.

Sprinkle each Half with:
Remaining Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Bread Crumbs

Bake for 50 - 6- minutes.
Eggplant should be tender and the tops should be Golden Brown.

Transfer to Serving Platter.
Garnish each with Chopped Fresh Basil Leaves.

Serve Hot.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

How to Strip the Leaves of Thyme and Oregano

I saw a video of a method to Strip the Leaves from Stems of Thyme and Oregano. I'll try it with Rosemary too. I think it's a great method. I'm surprised I had never heard of it before.

Cut single stems and pull them through the holes of a Colander, from the inside out. It keeps the leaves in the Colander so you can rinse them.
I place the rinsed leaves on Paper Towels to remove the excess water.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!

Easter Bird Nests

Spring is here, the birds are returning and Easter is next weekend. There are so many clever ideas for Easter treats and this is a favorite.

Here's what you'll need:

Sheet Pans lined with Parchment Paper. 

1 C White Chocolate Chips

1 TBS Crisco

3 C Miniature Pretzel Sticks.

Mini Chocolate Candy Eggs

In a Glass Mixing Bowl. (I used a large Stainless Steel Bowl)

Broken Pretzel Sticks

In a Microwave safe Bowl. (I opted to Melt mine in a Double Boiler)

Chocolate 

Crisco

Heat just until melted, stirring until creamy smooth.

Immediately pour over the Pretzels, gently mixing with a Silicone Spatula.

Create the Nests with a Cluster of the Pretzels on the Sheet Pans lined with Parchment Paper.
At this point I dipped the Eggs in a bit of Chocolate to secure them to the Nests.

Allow them to cool until the Chocolate is set.

Transfer them to a Serving Platter.

NOTE: I recommend using a Double Boiler to melt the Chocolate.
I also dipped the bottom of each Egg in a bit of Chocolate to secure them to the Nest.

Enjoy!

Peace in the Kitchen

Spaghetti Baked in a Springform Pan

I love recipes, sweet and savory, that are made in a Springform Pan.
This is a great way to Bake Spaghetti.

Here's what you'll need:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
1 - 9" - 10" Springform Pan, coated lightly with a Vegetable Cooking Spray.

This is my Pampered Chef Springform Pan.
It has a Tempered Glass Bottom.

1 Pound of Dried Spaghetti, cooked according to package directions.
3 Large Eggs, beaten.
2 C Ricotta Cheese, divided.
1 - 8oz. package of Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Slices.
2 C of your favorite Spaghetti Sauce, divided.
1/2 C Shredded Fresh Mozzarella Cheese.
1/4 C Grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Fresh Parsley as a Garnish.

In a Large Mixing Bowl:
Cooked Spaghetti, cooled.
Egg
Mix well.

In the Pan:
1/3 of the Spaghetti.
Press it in the bottom of the pan.

Add:
Slices of Mozzarella Cheese Cheese.
1 C of Ricotta Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Use an Offset Spatula to spread the Cheese evenly.
1 C of the Spaghetti Sauce, spread evenly over the top.

Repeat again, ending with the Sauce.

Sprinkle evenly with the Shredded Mozzarella and Grated Parmesan.

Bake 30 - 45 minutes.
Remove to a Rack and cool 30 minutes to allow it to settle so it's easy to release.
Release from the Pan to a Serving Platter and Slice to serve.

Just prior to serving, garnish the top with Fresh Chopped Parsley.

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!