Roasted Eggplant Dip

I love eggplant but don't always know how to use them. Ina Garten has a great and simple roasted eggplant dip that is great for a summer bbq or picnic.

2 medium eggplants, peeled
1 red bell pepper, seeded
1 red onion, peeled
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
3 tablespoons chopped parsley, plus extra for garnish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut the eggplant, bell pepper, and onion into 1-inch cubes. Toss them in a large bowl with the garlic, olive oil, cayenne and salt and pepper. Spread them on a baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes, until the vegetables are lightly browned and soft, tossing once during cooking. Cool slightly.
Place the vegetables in a food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the lemon juice and tahini, and pulse 3 or 4 times to blend. Taste for salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and add the chopped parsley. Garnish with extra parsley

Baby Dutch Pancake

We go to a local pancake house all the time and order the Dutch Pancake. I saw this recipe from Martha Stewart and thought I would try it. My husband said this was the best breakfast I have ever made him. So here it is..thanks Martha!

P.S. it's so easy!!!

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425°. In a medium cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium; set aside.
In a blender, combine eggs, milk, flour, salt, vanilla and 1/4 cup sugar. Blend until foamy, about 1 minute. Pour batter into skillet; bake until pancake is puffed and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
Working quickly, dot pancake with 1 tablespoon butter, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and lemon juice. Slice into wedges, and serve immediately.

Dumplings and Berries

I just made this, and had to put it in right away. It's amazing. Berries are my absolute favorite summer treat and I used fresh ones instead of frozen like Martha Stewart called for.

Enjoy!

1 pound frozen or fresh mixed berries
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
6 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Picture: Martha Stewart

Directions
In a medium skillet, cook berries, lemon juice, 4 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 cup water over medium until slightly thickened, 11 to 13 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar; add melted butter and buttermilk, and stir until a moist dough forms. Dividing evenly, spoon 6 dollops of dough over fruit. Combine cinnamon and 1 teaspoon sugar, and sprinkle over dough.
Cover pan tightly with foil, and cook over medium-low until dumplings are set and tops are dry to the touch, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

I made this for a superbowl party last weekend, and it was a total touchdown. Everyone wanted the recipe and it tastes exactly like buffalo wings.

The best part, it only takes 5 minutes to cook!

photo and recipe courtesy of KRAFT

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, cubed
1-1/2 cups finely chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup Blue Cheese Dressing
1/2 cup hot pepper sauce for Buffalo wings
2 stalks celery, finely chopped

MIX all ingredients in medium microwaveable bowl.
MICROWAVE on HIGH 5 min. or until cream cheese is melted and mixture is heated through, stirring after 3 min.
SERVE hot with crackers, chips or celery sticks.

Orecchiette with Roasted Broccoli and Walnuts

This pasta is amazing. The roasted walnuts and broccoli give it a great unique taste. This is also amazingly easy, whole meal was done in about 30 minutes! (recipe and photo courtesy of Real Simple)

12 ounces orecchiette or some other short pasta

1 bunch broccoli (1 1/2 pounds), cut into small florets

1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/4 cup grated Parmesan (1 ounce)

Heat oven to 400° F. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 3/4 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot.Meanwhile, on a rimmed baking sheet, toss the broccoli, walnuts, oil, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Roast, tossing once, until the broccoli is tender, 18 to 20 minutes.Toss the pasta with the broccoli mixture, butter, and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. (Add more water if the pasta seems dry.) Sprinkle with the Parmesan before serving.

Baked Mac and Cheese

This is probably the best baked mac and cheese I have ever had.
It is Alton Brown's who is one of my fav on the Food Network.
It calls for Panko bread crumbs, but I used regular, and it was still amazing.
Enjoy.

Ingredients
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
black pepper

Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup bread crumbs

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees .
In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter.
Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes.
Make sure it's free of lumps.
Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika.
Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.
Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish.
Top with remaining cheese.
Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat.
Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

The best Blondies!

So I never made Blondies before but always wondered about them.
I had guests over this weekend and decided to try bakingblonde's recipe
she had on her blog. I (and my guests) immediately fell in love with these
amazing treats. I added semi-sweet chocolate chips and pecans but I am
seeing the possibilities are endless.

Basic Blondies
6-7 TBS butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder (optional, creates lighter blondie texture)

Preheat oven to 350.Line an 8x8 pan with foil and lightly spray with PAM.
In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter. Allow to cool for 5 mintues.
Mix the brown sugar with the melted butter and beat until smooth.
Beat in egg and then vanilla. Add salt, stir in flour and baking powder (if using).
Mix in any additions (some ideas below).
Pour into prepared pan and use a greased spatula to evenly spread
mixture in pan and level the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set in the middle.
Cool before cutting.