Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients

• 2 eggplants, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 12 oz can tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp pepper
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter
• 32 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
  

Place eggplant slices in colander and sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 30 minutes. Saute onions, basil, bay leaves, oregano, and parsley in oil until onions are soft. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, honey, lemon juice, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer for 30 minutes while covered. Add garlic and simmer for 10 more minutes. Take out bay leaves. Rinse eggplant slices, pat dry with paper towels. In a bowl, combine eggs and pepper. In another bowl, place bread crumbs. Dip eggplant slices into eggs, then breadcrumbs, then in skillet cook halfway in butter for 3 minutes on each side. In large baking dish, layer eggplant, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. Repeat layers. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 375 for 35 minutes.

Original recipe taken from here.

Piyaju/Pakora II

Ingredients

• 1 cup besan (chickpea flour)
• Few tbsp oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1-2 chili peppers, chopped
• 1/2 cup water
• 3-5 onions, chopped

Mix all ingredients to form a batter. Drop spoonfuls in hot oil. Deep fry. Drain on paper towel. Serve hot with chutney. (Can use vegetable pieces like cauliflower or potato also.)

Baked Saucy Chicken

• 1 chicken, cut into pieces
• 1 Tbsp flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/8 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp vinegar
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp wasabi sauce
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tsp mustard oil
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper

Whisk together water and flour on stove. Add brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, lemon juice, and wasabi sauce. Bring to boil and cook a few minutes until sauce thickens. Add chopped onion, mustard oil, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Place chicken pieces in baking dish and cover with the sauce. Marinate 2-4 hours in the fridge. Take out of fridge for half hour before baking. Bake at 400 degrees for ~45 minutes (check for done-ness).

Modified from this recipe.

Spinach-Cheese Pastry

• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 egg
• 1 puff pastry sheet
• 1/2 block cream cheese (or neufchatel)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1 package chopped spinach (10 oz.)

Beat water and egg. Brush onto puff pastry sheet. Mix cream cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and spinach together. Spread over puff pastry sheet. Roll the sheet tightly with spinach mixture inside. Slice into 1/2 inch slices. Place slices on baking sheet, spiral side facing up. Brush with egg mixture. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes.

Honey Apple-Pear Peanut Butter Tart

• 1 puff pastry sheet
• 3 fruits (any combo of apples and pears)
• 2 Tbsp honey (and extra for drizzling as a topping)
• 1/2 heaping cup peanut butter
• 2 Tbsp sugar

Head peanut butter in microwave until soft and liquidy. Add honey. Spread mixture over puff pastry sheet. Layer with apples and pears. Drizzle with extra honey and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for ~35 minutes.

Original recipe.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Spread

Too hungry to take pictures before I ate. But this is a quick and yummy recipe:

• 2 lbs chicken breast
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (I used Frank's Red)
• 4 Tbsp honey (I used Trader Joe's desert mesquite honey)
• 2 Tbsp vinegar
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt

Cube chicken and boil for about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let it cool, then chop/shred into small pieces. Melt butter in a saucepan, add the hot sauce, honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add shredded chicken, and heat till the chicken is warm again. Makes really good sandwiches.

Original recipe is here.

Shepherd's Pie

...or maybe it's called Cottage Pie? Serves 15.

Potato layer:

• 10-12 medium small to medium sized potatoes
• 3 Tbsp butter butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 small onion, VERY finely diced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used the Mexican 4 cheese mix)
  
• salt and pepper to taste

Vegetable layer:

• 1.5 to 2 bags (12 oz.) of mixed veggies (diced carrots, peas, corn)
• 2 Tbsp oil

Meat layer:

• 3 medium sized onions, chopped
• 2 and 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2-3 Tbsp chili sauce
• 1 can (14 oz.) vegetable broth
• cumin, coriander, cajun seasoning, salt, pepper -- to taste

Steps 1-3 can be going on at the same time in 3 different pots/pans.

1. Potato layer: Boil whole potatoes with the skin on for about 20-25 minutes until cooked and soft. Mash. Add diced onions, butter, milk, salt, pepper. Set aside.
2. Vegetable layer: Cook vegetables in a oil. Add some salt if needed.
3. Meat layer: Brown onions in oil. Add beef and season with spices. Once browned, drain out excess fat. Add flour, chili sauce, vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer.
4. Layer meat in a large casserole dish, then the vegetables, then the potatoes. Garnish with another half cup of shredded cheese if you'd like.
5. Bake at 375 deg for 20 minutes.

Recipe modified from the one here.

Oatmeal Cookies

One of the best oatmeal cookie recipes I've found.

• 1 cup butter, melted
  
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
  
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups oats

Mix butter, sugar, and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs, add vanilla. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon separately. Then mix in with the other mixture. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes. Makes ~3 dozen cookies.

Original recipe was found here.

Red Velvet Cake II

I used this recipe for my friend's bridal shower (I used it for cake and cupcakes). But among all the chaos during the last minute bridal shower preps, I forgot to take pictures.

Enjoy.

• 2.5 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1.5 cups oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 oz. red food coloring
• 1 Tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cream cheese frosting:

• 1 package 8oz. cream cheese
• 1 cup butter
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4-6 cups powdered sugar (depending on how you like the consistency)
  

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all dry cake ingredients. Mix all wet ingredients. Slowly add the dry mixture to wet mixture until all the lumps are out. Split into two 9 inch cake pans and bake for 30-35 (check with toothpick). For cupcakes, bake about 20-25 minutes, but check with toothpick. For cream cheese mixture, beat all ingredients. Frost cake after completely cooled.

Brown Sugar Pecan Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2-1 cup pecans, crushed/chopped

Cream butter and brown sugar. Add egg, vanilla, beat. Mix all dry ingredients except pecans. Slowly add to wet ingredients. Mix in chopped pecans. Drop spoonfuls on cookie baking tray. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Recipe from this link.

Apple Walnut Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oi
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1-2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 4 cups chopped, peeled apples
• 1 cup crushed/chopped walnuts
  

Mix sugar and eggs. Add oil, vanilla, mix. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg. Slowly add to sugar mixture. Stir in chopped apples and walnuts. Pour into greased and floured baking pan (13x9). Bake at 350 for ~55 minutes (check with a toothpick). Cool on a wire rack. Cut into small sized bars. Recipe from this website.

Sauteed Chicken with Green Peppers and Onions

• 2 pounds chicken breasts, chopped/cubed into very tiny pieces
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1-2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
  
• 1.5 green bell peppers, sliced thinly
• 3 tsp minced garlic
• 1 onion, sliced thinly
• 3 Tbsp dry oregano
• 1 cup chopped scallions/green onions
• 2 cups of water

Season chicken in lemon and black pepper. Pan fry on one side in a little bit of olive oil and butter while seasoning the uncooked side with oregano. Flip and season the other side. Cook until brown on both sides. Add sliced green peppers, onions, scallions, and salt. Add 2 cups of water, cover and simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes. Recipe modified from this one.

Buffalo Wings

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup hot sauce (I used Frank's Red Hot)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 pounds of chicken wings

Stir butter, hot sauce, black pepper, and garlic powder on low heat, save for later. Mix flour, chili powder, and salt together and coat the chicken wings. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Bake chicken at 500 degrees for 20 minutes (turn after 10 minutes). Coat with hot sauce.

Sweet Corn Muffins

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 3.5 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil

Mix all dry ingredients, add wet ingredients. Pour into cupcake liners. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Turns out really yummy/moist if you do 20 minutes instead of 25. Original recipe found here.

Apple Cheddar Sandwich

Who would have thought this combination exists and is actually good? As simple as a slice of cheddar cheese with sliced apples on bread (I used Arnold's multi grain sandwich thins). Toasted.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

This is an easy recipe if you have box mixes lying around.

• 1 box brownie mix (or your own recipe)
  
• 1 box chocolate chip cookie mix (or your own recipe)
• Vegetable oil, water, butter, and eggs called for on the brownie and cookie mix boxes
• Your favorite frosting (Betty Crocker rainbow chip!!)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 13x9inch pan. Make brownie batter as directed and spread in pan. Make cookie dough as directed. Drop round spoonfuls of cookie dough all around the the pan. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost with frosting or chocolate fudge.