Greek Lemon Cake

Lemons are a staple of Greek cooking, because the mild climate is perfect for citrus trees. This is a simple lemon cake that is not too heavy, but still very satisfying. A word of advice: use only fresh lemons for the juice and zest called for in this recipe. They make a world of difference!

Ingredients:

* 3 cups cake flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 6 eggs
* 2 cups sugar
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 2 teaspoons lemon zest
* 2 tablespoons lemon juice
* 1 cup plain yogurt

Let’s prepare!

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a bundt cake pan and set aside. Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside. Separate the eggs (always my favorite part). In a small bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 of the sugar, beating a little more until stiff glossy peaks form. Set aside.

Cream the butter, 1 1/2 cups sugar, egg yolks, lemon zest, and lemon juice until fluffy. Add the flour mixture alternately with the yogurt. Then gently fold in the egg whites and pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 50-60 minutes and let the cake cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before turning out on a rack to finish. Serve with a nice cup of coffee or lemon tea and enjoy!

Baba Ghannouj & Pita Chips

Baba Ghannouj is an eggplant spread that is popular throughout the world. Variations on it can be found in Turkey, Israel, Greece and now, right here in middle Georgia! What a simple spread to put together when you want to try some international cuisine! Great as an appetizer or party dish, especially when paired with these toasted pita chips.

Baba Ghannouj ingredients:

* 1 eggplant
* 2 garlic cloves
* 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
* 2 tablespoons tahini paste
* 1/2 bunch parsley, leaves only
* Salt and pepper

Pita Chips ingredients:

* 4-6 pita shells
* 1 teaspoon oregano
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon pepper
* olive oil

Pierce some holes in the skin of the eggplant and roast your eggplant in a 375 degree F oven for about 30 minutes, turning about every 7-8 minutes.

Once the eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel away the skin and discard. Place the eggplant flesh in a colander and drain for 10 minutes. In a food processor, combine the garlic, lemon juice, tahini paste and parsley. Pulse to combine. Add the eggplant flesh. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the flavor with more tahini or lemon juice if you prefer. You can also add in a sprinkle of honey of sugar!

Let’s prepare the pita slices. Cut each pita in half, then two more times to make 8 wedges. Arrange on a large baking sheet. Brush the pita chips with olive oil, and sprinkle with even amounts of oregano, salt, and pepper. Bake for 7 minutes in a 400 degree oven, or until toasted and golden in color.

Enjoy!

Greek Style Shrimp Scampi

If you love pasta like we do around our house, this is a quick, fresh-tasting alternative to the same old spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo you have had a million times before. It is extremely easy to put together and that is why it makes the perfect weeknight meal!

Ingredients:

* 12 oz linguini or spaghetti
* Salt
* 1 lb medium to large shrimp, deveined, peeled, and tails removed
* Pepper
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
* Couple pinches of red pepper flakes
* 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
* 1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 20 (or more) Kalamata olives, pitted, and halved
* 1/2 cup white wine
* 1/2 cup flat leaf parsley
* 1 cup feta cheese

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt the water and cook the pasta according to package directions.

Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. While the pasta water comes to a boil, heat the olive oil and garlic in a deep skillet. Once the garlic has browned (but before it burns!), remove and reserve. Add and cook the shrimp, about 3-4 minutes. Toss in red pepper flakes, lemon zest, oregano, olives, and wine and cook for a couple more minutes. Remove from heat. Add a ladle of the pasta water to the sauce along with the lemon juice. Drain pasta and add to the skillet. Let the pasta soak in the juices, then toss in parsley and feta.

All that is left is to enjoy!

Greek Orzo & Mahi Mahi with Mustard-Dill Vinaigrette

Quick, filling, and tasty! Those are three words to describe this perfect weeknight Greek dinner. And let me tell you, the orzo with the vinaigrette-perfect just by itself. And even better, the vinaigrette works well just over a nice garden salad! If Mahi Mahi is not your preferred fish, feel free to use some other type of seafood.

Ingredients:

* 8 oz orzo, cooked al dente
* 1 large cucumber, seeded, quartered lengthwise, and sliced
*3 green onions, thinly sliced
* 3 roma tomatoes, chopped
* 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
* 1 teaspoon dried dill
* 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 6 oz feta cheese (with Mediterranean herbs), crumbled
* 2 Mahi Mahi fillets
* 1 teaspoon Greek Seasoning
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* olive oil

To begin, cook the orzo according to package directions. Once it is cooked al dente, combine with the cucumber, green onions, and tomatoes. In a blender, pulse (until smooth) the dill, vinegar, and mustard. With the motor still running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the vinaigrette over the orzo mixture and stir to combine. Gently fold in the feta cheese.

To prepare the fish, combine the Greek seasoning with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pepper. Sprinkle both sides of the fish and let it rest for a few minutes. Heat a heavy skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook the fish about 7 minutes on each side, or until done.

Plate the fish on top of the orzo mixture and enjoy! How could a weeknight meal be easier?

Eggplant & Potato Moussaka

I recently found a great recipe for this classic Greek favorite by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, which prompted me to try my hand at it. Emeril’s recipe calls for half of your meat to be ground lamb, but I stuck with ground chuck, which is a lot easier to find at our local supermarkets. A word of warning… this is the perfect weekend recipe, not something for your hurried weeknights! Take that word of caution from my experience! But please do not pass this great recipe by because of the steps involved. Your time and patience will be rewarded!

Ingredients:

* 3 large eggplants, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
* 1 1/2 cups olive oil, plus more as needed
* 3 large baking potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices
* 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
* 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 1 ½ pound ground chuck
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/4 cup dry red wine
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
* 1/2 cup salt, plus more for seasoning
* Freshly ground black pepper
* 2 1/2 cups milk
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Once you have all of your ingredients ready, let’s get started.

Place the peeled eggplant slices in a large bowl and cover with water. Add 1/2 cup of salt and gently combine. Let this stand for 20 minutes, drain, and pat dry with paper towels. (Tip: Lay out a few layers of paper towels, lay your eggplant slices on them, and top with more paper towels. This will help draw out the water.)

While the eggplant is soaking, let’s work on the potatoes. Heat 1/2 cup of the olive oil in a large skillet (I actually had two skillets going to cut down on the time) and, working in batches, add the potato slices and cook until lightly golden on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a paper-lined plate to drain and repeat with any remaining potato slices. Season lightly with salt.

Place 1 cup of flour into a bowl and coat both sides of the eggplant slices in the flour. Shake to remove any excess flour. Add 1/4 cup of the remaining oil to the skillet and, working in batches, fry the eggplant slices until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add more oil to the skillet as needed in 1/4 cup increments. Repeat until all of the eggplant has been cooked and transfer to a paper-lined plate to drain.

Moving on to the meat. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet. Cook the meat and drain off the grease. Add the onions, and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Toss in the garlic and oregano. Add the red wine and cook until evaporated. Add the tomato paste, stir to incorporate, then add the crushed tomatoes, water, and parsley. Stir occasionally, until almost all liquid has evaporated, about 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

Let’s make the béchamel sauce. In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Once it is hot, whisk in the flour, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk, until smooth and thick. Season with salt to taste. Whisk in the egg and egg yolk. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese, cover, and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish. The first layer will be all of the sliced potatoes in an even layer. Next, top with half of the eggplant slices then half of the meat sauce. Spoon 3/4 cup of the béchamel sauce evenly over the meat sauce and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the cheese. Finally, top with the remaining eggplant slices, pressing down on the layers gently with your hands to compress (if needed) and top with the remaining meat sauce and then spread the remaining béchamel sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake (uncovered) 50 minutes to 1 hour until golden brown on the top and heated throughout. Let stand for at least 15-20 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

Enjoy!!

Fish Tacos with Guacamole Sauce

Most of us are familiar with plain old ground beef tacos. However, along the coast of Southern California and Mexico, tacos are often made with chunks of fried fish instead. Any mild white fish will do. The guacamole sauce is also a star, and you may find yourself enjoying the extra sauce with chips. It is that good!

* 3 Tilapia fillets
* olive oil, for drizzling
* Salt and pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* 1 lime, juiced
* 3 avocados, pitted and scooped from skins
* 1 lemon, juiced
* 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1 cup plain yogurt
* 1 teaspoon coarse salt
* 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
* 2 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
* Flour tortillas
* Garnish: Shredded Cheese of your choice, salsa, and radicchio leaves

Let’s start with the sauce. In a blender, combine avocado flesh, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, yogurt and salt. Process guacamole sauce until smooth. Remove guacamole sauce to a bowl and stir in diced tomatoes and chopped scallions.

Preheat a skillet and drizzle tilapia with olive oil to keep fish from sticking. Season fish with paprika, salt, and pepper. Pan sear the fish 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until opaque. Drizzle the fish with the lime and remove from the skillet. Flake fish into large chunks with a fork.

To serve, prepare your tacos with the fish at the bottom, then add the cheese, salsa, radicchio, and top with the guacamole sauce. Fold and enjoy!

Black Bean Cakes with Orange Basil Salsa

What a pleasant surprise with this recipe. The fresh basil mixed with the orange really made this fresh salsa a hit in my house! And when topped over these delicious bean cakes… how could you go wrong?

Salsa

* 2 navel oranges, separated and cut into small pieces
* 2 large tomatoes, cored and diced finely
* 2 scallion, sliced thin
* 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
* 2 teaspoon olive oil
* 1 small jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
* 1 dash salt

Bean Cakes

* 4 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if canned
* 2 eggs
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 medium onion, diced finely
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 celery rib, sliced thin
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 tsp salt
* freshly ground pepper

Combine all the salsa ingredients in a bowl. Let sit for at least 1 hour.

Place 3 cups of the black beans in a large bowl. In a food processor, process the remaining cup of beans with the eggs until smooth. Stir this mixture into the whole beans along with the breadcrumbs.

Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and celery and sauté until very tender and beginning to brown. Sprinkle on the cumin and cook 1 more minute.

Add the vegetables into the bean mixture and add the salt and pepper. Stir to mix well.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a cookie sheet. Using a 1/3 cup measuring cup, scoop up 10-12 portions of the bean mixture and place on the baking sheet. Flatten out with your hand. Bake 10 minutes, flip and bake 10 more minutes. Serve the bean cakes topped with the salsa.

Baked Chili Fries

Craving fries without the grease? You must give this recipe a try! Simple to put together and perfect for munching on while hanging out with friends. Serve these up with your favorite Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing!

* 1 1/2 pounds poblano peppers, seeded & cut into long strips
* 1 cup flour, divided
* 2 eggs, lightly beaten
* 2 tablespoons mustard
* 1 cup breadcrumbs
* 1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
* Salt and ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Set up 3 plates for your breading process; in one spread the flour, in the second beat the eggs with the mustard and about 2 tablespoons of flour, in the third combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, and some salt and pepper.

Coat the peppers in the flour, then in egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs, pressing to make sure coating sticks. Place the coated peppers on a baking sheet and roast about 18 minutes, turning halfway through baking until golden brown and crispy. All that is left is to enjoy!

Chili Tamale Bowls

I found this really neat twist on tamales that I just have to share with you. The concept of this recipe works with any chili recipe out there, but seriously, give this one a try! The polenta mixed with the chili really adds something extra special.

* 3 dried chili peppers, seeds and stems removed
* 1 quart chicken stock
* 1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
* 1 tablespoon ground cumin
* 3/4 tablespoon ground coriander
* 3/4 tablespoon paprika
* 1 1/2 pinches cinnamon
* 1/2 pinch of ground cloves
* 3 teaspoons brown sugar
* Salt and black pepper
* 1 onion, finely chopped
* 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 cup lager beer
* 2 tablespoons tomato paste
* 1 1/2 cups whole milk
* 1 cup quick cooking polenta
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 rounded tablespoon honey
* 2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese

Let’s get started! Place the chilies in a pot and cover with 2 1/2 cups stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer to soften, 7 to 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, brown meat, breaking into small pieces. Season the meat with cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, cloves, salt and pepper. Add onions and garlic to meat and cook to tender. Stir in tomato paste, incorporate it, and then add beer to the pan, scraping up the bits.

In a blender, purée the stock and softened peppers, then stir into chili. Add the brown sugar and let the chili simmer on low for about 30 minutes.

Right before you are ready to serve the chili, bring remaining 1 1/2 cups of stock and milk to a boil then whisk in polenta and whisk about 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Stir in butter and honey and season the polenta with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour polenta into individual bowl and form a well in the center. Fill polenta lined bowls with chili and top with shredded cheese. Enjoy!

Tilapia with Tomatillo Sauce & Corn and Pepper Succotash

This recipe is one of our all-time favorites, especially during the summer. Tomatillos (known as tomate verde, or “green tomatoes” in Mexico) are a staple of Latin American cooking. Interestingly, they are not tomatoes at all, but are more closely related to gooseberries. Tomatillos have a sweet, slightly tart flavor that works well with this spicy fish recipe.

Tilapia and Tomatillo Sauce

* 1 to 1 1/2 pounds tilapia (3 fillets)
* Coarse salt
* Ground pepper
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
* 1/2 teaspoon chile powder
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 lime, halved
* 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
* 1 jalapeno seeded and finely chopped
* 2 or 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 8 to 10 tomatillos, husks removed and diced
* 1/2 bottle of beer (Killian’s Irish Red and similar lagers work well)
* 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves

Corn & Pepper Succotash

* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
* 1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped
* 1 small red or green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
* 1 15 oz can yellow corn
* sugar to taste
* Dash chili powder
* Salt
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 lime, juiced

Let’s get started! Season fish with salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and chili powder. Heat a nonstick skillet or sauté pan over medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Heat an ovenproof serving plate in a warm oven. Sauté fish 3 to 4 minutes on each side until opaque, then squeeze the juice of 1/2 lime over the fish and carefully slide the fillets onto the warm plate. Cover the fish to keep it warm.

Return pan to heat and add the remaining oil. Over medium high heat, quickly sauté the red onion, jalapeno and garlic for a minute or so, then add the diced tomatillos (with seeds and juice). Season mixture with coarse salt and sauté the mixture of vegetables for 5 minutes to thicken and meld it.

Once you get your tomatillo sauce going, get a second sauté pan hot over moderate heat for the succotash. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, chopped onion, jalapeno and bell pepper. Sauté 2 or 3 minutes. Combine corn with peppers and onions. Season with a sprinkle of sugar, a dash of chili powder and salt. When the mixture bubbles, reduce heat to simmer. Cut butter into pieces and stir into corn mixture. Allow mixture to simmer and cook 3-5 more minutes.

While corn is working, go back to your sauce for the fish. Add the beer and the juice of 1/2 lime and cilantro to the pan. Simmer sauce 5 minutes longer, then spoon hot sauce down over the fish fillets.

Chocolate Amaretti Cake

I am 100% in love with this cake! Its texture makes me think of a brownie and a cheesecake. When I came across this recipe by Giada de Laurentiis, I knew I would fall in love.

Ingredients

* 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
* 1 cup slivered almonds
* 1 cup amaretti cookies
* 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
* 4 large eggs
* about 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, for sifting

Before we start, spray a 9-inch spring form pan with nonstick spray, place it in the fridge, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small bowl, melt the chocolate chips, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth.

Combine the almonds and amaretti cookies in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Transfer that to a bowl and set aside. Place the butter, sugar and orange zest in the food processor and process until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, with the machine running. Finally, add the nut mixture back to the processor along with the melted chocolate. Pulse until blended.

Pour the batter into the spring form pan and bake for about 35 minutes, until the center puffs up and a tester comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes before sifting the cocoa powder. Enjoy!

Baked Tilapia, Lemon Spaghetti, Broccoli and Green Beans

This meal makes for a very beautiful plate! Using the freshest of foods whenever possible really does infuse the flavors of your meals. Even though you have three parts to this meal, it is simple to put together. Keep in mind that any of these three parts can be served with other sides or your main dish. The spaghetti makes 6 side dish servings and the broccoli/green beans make 4 side dish servings.

Ingredients (Tilapia)

* 2-3 Tilapia filets
* Fish Seasoning: ½ teaspoon each of chili powder, garlic powder, salt and black pepper

Ingredients (Lemon Spaghetti)

* 2/3 cup olive oil
* 2/3 grated Parmesan Cheese
* 1/2 cup lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
* 3/4 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
* 1 pound dried spaghetti
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
* 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Ingredients (Broccoli and Green Beans)

* 8 cups broccoli florets
* 1/2 pound green beans, rimmed
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried red pepper flakes
* 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste

Let’s begin with the fish. Lightly drizzle the filets with olive oil. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with the seasoning mixture and bake in the oven at 400F for 18-22 minutes or until it flakes easily.

Let’s prepare the Lemon Spaghetti. In a bowl, whisk the oil, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add in the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water, and add the spaghetti to the lemon sauce, tossing with the basil and lemon zest. Add 1/4 cup of the pasta water at a time to moisten. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.

In a large pot of salted boiling water, add the broccoli and cook just until the color brightens (about 2 minutes). Transfer the broccoli to a bowl of ice water to cool then drain and set aside. In the same pot of boiling water, cook the green beans about 4 minutes. Transfer to a boil of ice water to cool then drain and set aside. In a large sauté pan, heat the oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Add in the broccoli and green beans, along with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the veggies are heated and crisp-tender. Season with more red pepper flakes, salt and pepper if needed.
Enjoy!

Grilled Shrimp with Arugula Pesto

Pesto is extremely easy to make and very versatile (and freezes well). You can serve it with toasted Italian bread or top it over pasta. Adding shrimp (or any other meat) to this meal makes for a light weeknight dinner that is healthy and filling.

Ingredients (Pesto)

* 2 cups (packed) fresh baby arugula
* 1 garlic clove
* 1/2 cup olive oil
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
* 12 oz pasta (your choice)

Ingredients (Grilled Shrimp)

* 1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil
* 1 pound jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined
* 2 tablespoons salt
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Let’s get started. First, place a pot of water on the stove, bring to a boil, and cook your pasta of choice according to package directions.

In a food processor, blend the arugula and garlic until finely chopped. With the machine still running, slowly add the olive oil until blended. Transfer the pesto to a bowl and mix in the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix over your choice of cooked pasta.

Prepare an indoor grill (our outdoor if you prefer) on medium high heat with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Brush 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the shrimp, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the shrimp until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
Plate the shrimp over the arugula pesto pasta and enjoy!

Roasted Eggplant Pasta with Goat Cheese

Who doesn’t love Eggplant Parmesan? This recipe reminds me of just that, without all of the frying and breading! You cannot see the eggplant in this dish, but trust me, you certainly can taste it. The goat cheese crumbled on top adds a nice creamy texture!

Ingredients:

* 2 small, firm eggplants, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
* 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
* Salt and freshly ground pepper
* 6-8 garlic cloves, cracked from the skins
* 1 lb penne rigate pasta
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped
* 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
* 20-25 fresh basil leaves, shredded
* 2 cups Goat Cheese, crumbled

Let's cook! Turn on the oven to 425F while you cut up the eggplant and crack the garlic. Place the garlic and eggplant on a baking sheet (you may need two). Brush the eggplant and garlic with 1/2 cup olive oil then lightly add salt and pepper. Roast for 18-20 minutes.

Cook your pasta according to package directions. While the eggplant is roasting and the pasta is cooking, chop up the onion and basil. Here is a trick I use when cutting fresh basil. I gather several leaves together and roll them up. Then slice. You have nice little strips of basil when you are finished.

Ok! Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sauté the onions. Meanwhile, the eggplant should be finished. Take it out and place it into a food processor and process into a smooth paste. Add the paste to the onions and stir in the tomatoes. Adjust salt and pepper as needed and heat the tomatoes. Right before serving, stir in the basil then top with the goat cheese. Enjoy!

Winter Minestrone

I love wintertime. And I love all of the soups that come with this season. Since we are nearing the end of winter in Georgia, I really wanted to share this Italian classic with you. There are as many ways to make minestrone as there are cooks who make it, but this version was inspired by the one Food Network chef Giada de Laurentiis makes (with a few tweaks, of course). It is a very nice “comfort type” soup.

Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 carrots, peeled, chopped
* 2 celery stalks, chopped
* 3 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, coarsely chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 pound Kale, stems trimmed, leaves coarsely chopped
* 1 russet potato, peeled, cubed
* 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
* 1 fresh rosemary sprig
* 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
* 2 (14-ounce) cans low-sodium beef broth
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
* Salt and Pepper
* Parmesan Cheese

Let’s get started by heating the oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion, celery, pancetta and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 10 minutes. Add in the kale and potato and sauté for 2-5 minutes. I actually covered the pot at this point to help the greens wilt down. Add the tomatoes and rosemary sprig (I de-leafed mine first). Simmer until the greens are wilted - about 10 minutes.

While the greens are wilting down, blend 3/4 cup of the beans with 1/4 of the broth in a processor until almost smooth. Add the pureed mixture, remaining broth, remaining beans and a nice sprinkle of Parmesan Cheese to the vegetable mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 30 minutes until the potato pieces are tender, stirring occasionally.
Ladle the soup into bowls, top with some parsley, and most importantly, Enjoy!

Quick Aussie Meat Pie

I am not sure what I am more excited about - to share this recipe with you, or to find out from my Australian friends if this anywhere close to what they would consider a meat pie. This recipe comes to you by way of Rachael Ray and this is her "quick" version of an Australian Meat Pie. And to be honest, it is very similar to a Sloppy Joe, and very tasty!!!

Ingredients:

• 2 Sheets Puff Pastry, defrosted, but kept chilled
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted
• 1 1/2 lbs ground chuck
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons flour, all purpose
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 rounded tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 rounded tablespoon tomato paste
  
• 1 cup of beef stock or broth
• 1 tablespoon grill seasoning (I actually mixed up my own - 1 tsp each of sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder)
• ketchup for garnish (which I forgot)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives (which I didn't use)

Let's cook!

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the thawed but chilled pasty sheets into 4 squares each (total of 8 squares if you cook both sheets of puff pastry at the same time). Season the squares with salt and pepper. Bake the pastries for about 12-15 minutes until fluffy and golden brown!

Meanwhile, heat a skillet with the olive oil and butter and add to that the ground chuck and brown. (NOTE: The recipe did not say to drain the liquid from the cooked meat, however, I did. Just cuts down on the amount of grease.)

While the meat is browning, in a separate bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth and tomato paste and set aside.

Back to the meat! Toss in the onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until tender. Next add in the flour and mix it into the meat and onions. To the meat and onions, add in the Worcestershire/broth/tomato paste/brown sugar mixture and incorporate. Finally, add in the grill seasoning. Once everything is hot, you are good to go!

Let's plate it! Place one square of the puff pastry in a bowl. On top of that, add some of the meat mixture. Add ketchup if you prefer, and top with another puff pastry. Enjoy!!!


I have to say, this recipe is a keeper. But, I am VERY interested to see how this measures up to the wonderful Meat Pies my friends in Australia make! I want to hear from you!!!

Thanks for reading!

Sausage, Mushroom, Olive Polenta "Lasagna"

Is it breakfast? Dinner? I will let you decide because it can go either way! We made this recipe Saturday night for dinner and it is very versatile! It comes to you by Rachel Ray and has 5 different versions that change the taste of the dish!

This meal can easily be made into a vegetarian meal! Here is what you do: Omit the sausage. Swap Dry White Wine for the chicken stock/broth, and add 2 additional portobello mushrooms and 1 jarred roasted red pepper (Drained and Chopped).

Let me make one note before beginning - the olive tapenade can be omitted if you prefer. That was one of the versions presented and we decided to make it that way. So, let's see what the ingredients are to make it with the sausage.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 lb sweet bulk sausage
• 1 portobello mushroom, stem removed and thinly sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves chopped
• 2 fresh rosemary sprigs, leaves removed and chopped
• 4 tablespoons store bought olive tapenade (if you want to make your own like I did, see this post)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• Salt and Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
• Zest and juice of one lemon
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
• 1 24oz tube prepared polenta, cut into 21 disks about 1/4 inch thick
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  

Preheat the oven to 450F.

Preheat a large skillet with the oil and butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter melts, add in the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Once the sausage starts to brown, add in the portobello mushrooms and incorporate with the meat. Next add in the onions, garlic, and rosemary. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Finish cooking the sausage and once the mushrooms and onions have wilted, add in the stock/broth and lemon juice. Bump up the heat to high and cook for 3-4 minutes until the liquid has almost evaporated. Give everything a taste and adjust salt/pepper/red pepper flakes if needed.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together the following: Ricotta Cheese, 1 egg, lemon zest, Parmesan Cheese, bread crumbs, and the olive tapenade.

NOTE: Before I continue... if your tastes prefer, you can omit the olive tapenade and use pesto in it's place. Or remember, you don't even have to use either of those!!!

Brush a 8x8 baking dish with a little olive oil and place 7 of the polenta disks on the bottom of the dish. Divide the cheese mixture into thirds as well as the sausage mixture. Now you will layer like a "lasagna". First 7 disks of polenta, 1/3 cheese mixture, 1/3 sausage mixture. Repeat two more times, finishing with the sausage mixture. When you are finished, top with the mozzarella, cover with foil, and bake 15-18 minutes until everything is nice and hot!

The last thing is to enjoy! Like I said, this dish really works for breakfast or dinner. The photo doesn't make this meal look like anything snazzy, but let me tell you, it is so yummy. You can really taste all of the elements to this dish! I hope you will give it a try!

Thanks for reading and I hope you try something new for dinner tonight!