Eggplant Caponata

INGREDIENTS

2 cups olive oil
2 lbs. eggplant, cut into 1″ cubes (1-2 medium sized eggplant)
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 package celery, roughly chopped
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tbsp. tomato paste, thinned with ¼ cup water (substitute ketchup)
1 cup crushed canned tomatoes
6 oz. green olives, pitted and roughly chopped
½ cup white wine vinegar
½ cup golden raisins (red is ok too)
¼ cup salt-packed capers, rinsed and drained
5 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. finely grated unsweetened chocolate
1  cup finely shredded basil
2 tbsp. pine nuts
Mini crostinis- toasted

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Churros con Chocolaté

INGREDIENTS:

Churro Dough:

1 cup water
6 tbsp unsalted room temp. butter
2 tsp instant espresso powder
Pinch salt
1 cup flour
2 eggs at room temp.
Pastry bag
Large start piping tip
Canola oil
Scissors

Cinnamon- Sugar Coating:
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
½ cup sugar

Chocolate Dipping Sauce:
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
½ cup heave cream
1 tbsp room temp. butter

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Badam (Almond) Kulfi

Ingredients:
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz) 1 cup heavy cream
½ cup milk
½ cup almonds (if you don’t have enough add some almond milk)
½ cup pecans (or substitute with whatever nuts you want- pistachio, walnuts)
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1  cup sugar (taste the mixture while it’s hot and add sugar as needed)

*add a pinch of saffron into the milk if you want. I didn’t have saffron so I didn’t include it. 



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Sweet Peach Tea

Yields: 8 Servings

INGREDIENTS

7 bags Earl Grey tea

1 lemon, sliced
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and cut in chunks
4 cups boiling water
8 cups ice cubes
2 peaches, peeled and diced
1 peach, sliced
½ cup sugar (or ¼ cup sugar and ¼ cup agave nectar)- adjust as wanted
8 sprigs mint

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Tofu Parm

{Parul's dish}

Makes 4 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 25-30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs (Italian with Parmesan cheese)

2 eggs

1 (12 ounce) pack of extra firm or firm tofu (organic preferred)

1 bottle of tomato sauce

5 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

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Asian Salad

Yields 6-8 servings

• ¼ cup bok choy (Chinese cabbage)
• ¼ Radicchio (or purple cabbage)
• 1 cup any lettuce, mixed greens (chopped)
• 1 cup grated carrots
• ½ cup edamame
• 1/4 cup bean sprouts (adjust amount to suit your taste)
• ¼ cup peanuts (chopped)

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Spinach-Cheese Swirls

This recipe is from the back of the box with minor changes.  It was too hectic with finding and making the ugly sweaters and our husbands joining us that I had to cheat.

Thaw: 40 mins Prep: 20 min Bake: 15 min  Makes: 20 pieces

INGREDIENTS

1 sheet Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets (2 sheets in a package)
1 egg
1 tbsp water
½ cup shredded Muenster cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 green onion, chopped (I sautéed in butter but you don’t have to)
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1 package (about 10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained

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Onion Tart

Ingredients

Ingredients 

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled (could probably use less butter and a healthier version)
• 5 tablespoons ice cold water
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter(I used one tablespoon and it was plenty)
• 2 1/2 pounds sweet onions, thinly sliced
• 6 thyme sprigs (or chives or whatever you like with onions)
• 2 tablespoons crčme fraîche (hard to find so use heavy cream with dash of lemon juice)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon of milk

Preparation 

Make the Dough: 

In a bowl, whisk the flour with the salt. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Drizzle the water over the flour and stir gently just until incorporated; gently press to form a dough. Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

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Parul's PECAN PIE

CRUST
1 cup all- purpose flour
½ cup shortening (minus a little bit)
1/4 tsp salt
2 TBS water (cold!)
*I actually used ¼ cup shortening and it worked fine.

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Asian Lettuce Wraps

Asian Lettuce Wraps:
The only thing missing from this recipe was a topping of crunchy noodles or peanuts. You can also ditch the lettuce and serve over rice for a more filling meal.

Ingredients
•16 Boston Bibb or butter lettuce leaves (any lettuce works)
•1 pound lean ground beef*
•1 tablespoon cooking oil
•1 large onion, chopped
•2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
•1 tablespoon soy sauce
•1/4 cup hoisin sauce (Less for vegetarian version)
•2 teaspoons minced pickled ginger
•1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
•Asian chile pepper sauce (optional)- sriracha sauce is great! Add as much or as little as you like.
•1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
•1 bunch green onions, chopped
•2 teaspoons Asian (dark) sesame oil
•4 scrambled eggs (optional)

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Homemade Hummus

When hummus is this easy to make, you'll never want to buy hummus again!

Ingredients
1 (19 ounce) can garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
red chili pepper to taste
red pepper flakes to taste

Directions1.In a blender, pour garbanzo beans with reserved liquid,lemon juice, tahini, chopped garlic, salt, & red pepper. Blend until creamy and well mixed.
2.Transfer the mixture to a medium serving bowl. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and pour olive oil over the top.

I love this recipe because it allows you to get creative and add anything you want. Next time I want to try homemade jalepeno hummus and artichoke hummus (Gee loves artichokes)! Enjoy : )

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SPINACH POTATO FRITATTA

Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 small red potatoes, sliced
• 1 cup torn fresh spinach
• 2 tablespoons sliced green onions
• 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
• salt and pepper to taste
• 6 eggs
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• Ketchup (optional)

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Homemade Pizza Dough

For 1 pie (about 10 inches):

INGREDIENTS:

1 cereal bowl flour (about 1 ½ cups). For a healthier recipe, substitute ½ wheat flour, and ½ white flour

1 tablespoon oil (olive is best, but canola is ok too)
1 teaspoon yeast
¾ cup warm water

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon sugar- OPTIONAL

½ teaspoon garlic powder (finely chopped fresh garlic works as well)- OPTIONAL

½ - 1 teaspoon cumin- OPTIONAL

½ -1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes- OPTIONAL

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Magic Cookie Bars

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (they come crumbed in a box or you can get Honey Maid and crush them finely)
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup flaked coconut
1 1/3 cups sweetened condensed milk (low fat is ok too)

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Parul’s recipe: Chole Tacos

Chole Tacos

Chick peas-fresh or canned (If fresh chick peas, soak overnight in water and cook in pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles).
Onions
Tomatoes
Garlic
Salt
Turmeric
Red Chili pepper
Lemon juice or lime juice
Cilantro
Ketchup (1 or 2 squirts)
Salsa
Lettuce
Mexican Cheese
Jalapeños (optional)
Oil (olive or canola)
Taco Shells (Flat Bottom are best)

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