Preheat oven to 450. Cut 3 baby eggplants (about 1 ½ lbs) into 2"x1" wedges. Toss with enough olive oil to lightly coat the eggplant pieces (about 2 Tbsp), making sure not to soak the eggplant. Fold in fresh herbs (here, a few sprigs each marjoram, oregano, and thyme), then place in a single layer… Continue reading Oven-roasted eggplant
Tag: 2016
Persian spicy sesame carrot salad
We tried this recipe from The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia. Peeling 1 ½ lbs carrots into ribbons was time-consuming, but the marinade was quick and easy. We found it a little too spicy, so the next time we may reduce the crushed red pepper from 1 tsp to ½ tsp. The recipe is… Continue reading Persian spicy sesame carrot salad
Italian eggs in purgatory
We had half a baguette leftover, so I tried using it in lieu of Italian bread. Turns out a baguette is too narrow to nest an egg. To make the sauce, heat a small pot and add 1 tsp olive oil. Sauté 1 minced shallot; when fragrant, add a few cloves minced garlic and 1… Continue reading Italian eggs in purgatory
Lebanese roasted eggplant and chickpea stew (maghmour)
We followed this recipe: http://www.slowburningpassion.com/maghmour-the-moussaka-from-lebanon-that-will-make-you-happy/. We also used canned, drained chickpeas. Our minor modifications: instead of 1 tsp smoked paprika, we used ½ tsp each paprika and smoked chipotle pepper; we used 6 julienned fresh mint leaves in lieu of dried mint; and instead of adding water towards the end, we added ½ cup of… Continue reading Lebanese roasted eggplant and chickpea stew (maghmour)
Italian-style pasta with roasted eggplant and crispy garlic
We tried this recipe from Aida Mollenkamp: http://saltandwind.com/recipes/38-late-summer-roasted-eggplant-pasta-recipe. Our modifications: to avoid having unused ingredients, we increased the spaghetti to 1 lb (16 oz), tomato purée to 20 oz, balsamic vinegar to 1 ½ Tbsp, and sugar (we used white sugar) to 1 ½ tsp. We also used a mix of fresh thyme and fresh… Continue reading Italian-style pasta with roasted eggplant and crispy garlic
Mexican-style cinnamon sugar tortilla chips
We had leftover flour tortillas, so we tried out this recipe, which is a healthier version of buenelos: http://www.spiciefoodie.com/2012/05/04/healthy-cinnamon-sugar-chips/. However, instead of tossing the oiled, baked chips in cinnamon sugar, we tossed pieces a little vegetable oil, then added the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat the pieces before baking. We also sprinkled extra cinnamon sugar on… Continue reading Mexican-style cinnamon sugar tortilla chips
Cuban black beans and rice with bacon (moros y cristianos)
Our favorite version of this dish is from Larios on the Beach, a South Beach restaurant owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan; we loved its drier texture and hint of bacon fat. So we tried their moros recipe from The Estefan Kitchen cookbook, available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/045122518X/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_y3yfxbXGVV5BK (Apr. 2016)
Cuban churrasco
We followed this recipe but did not purée the marinade ingredients. http://icuban.com/food/mobile/churrasco_cubano.html After marinating the steak overnight, we cut it into four serving size pieces. We pan-seared each piece and then finished them (in a 9x13 baking dish) in the oven at 350 for about 10 mins. (Apr. 2016)
Huevos in a hole
We tried this recipe from the Pioneer Woman, except that we used leftover flour (instead of corn) tortillas: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/huevo-in-the-hole/. Very tasty, but be warned that the tortillas can burn easily in butter, so keep your burner on medium (or lower) heat. (Apr. 2016)
Caramelized pears a la mode
We tried this Chuck Hughes recipe that involves butter, brown sugar, pears, and a splash of bourbon. We garnished with Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream and crumbled Biscoff (in lieu of graham crackers). Recipe here: http://m.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/chuck-hughes/caramelized-pears.html (Apr. 2016)
Cooking Adventures 