Chocolate Frogs

Just for Fun I thought I'd show the Chocolate Frogs that we made (we're big Harry Potter fans around here.) You can buy the frog candy molds on Amazon for $2 each. They make 11 frogs each and can be reused over and over. I just melted white chocolate and dyed it with food coloring.

Quinoa with Garbanzo Beans and Tomatoes

I know I said I would never use ingredients that I couldn't pronounce, but since I recently learned how to pronounce Quinoa (Keen-wa) I'm using this recipe. I signed up for the Iron Chef Challenge with my health insurance company. They tell me a "secret" ingredient to use during the week and I have to give it a try. The first week of the challenge was Quinoa. Turns out Quinoa is hard to find here in town. But Fresh Value does have it and I'm pretty sure any Whole Foods type store would have it as well. It can be found near the rice, since it is also a grain. Quinoa is also Gluten free for anyone on special diets for Celiac problems. Quinoa is cooked just like rice. I did mine in my rice cooker and it turned out perfectly.

This can be made as a side dish or a vegetarian main dish. The lime juice gives this a really fresh taste.



Ingredients

* 1 cup quinoa
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1 3/4 cups water
* 1 cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
* 1 tomato, chopped
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 3 tablespoons lime juice
* 4 teaspoons olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
* 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer, and rinse under cold, running water until the water no longer foams. Bring the quinoa, salt, and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. (Or do this step in a rice cooker.)
2. Once done, stir in the garbanzo beans, tomatoes, garlic, lime juice, and olive oil. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley or cilantro to serve.

Eldorado Cheese Casserole

1 lb. Hamburger or Turkey Burger
Brown meat and add:
2 Tbsp. minced onions
1/2 Tsp. garlic salt
1 15 oz. red enchilada sauce

Simmer for 5 minutes then add:
1 Cup sliced olives
1 Cup sour cream
1 Cup cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese
1 small can green chilies

Spray a 9X13 pan and layer tortilla chips, then meat mixture, then grated cheese. Repeat layers. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

25 Common Cooking Mistakes

I found this article about the mistakes we all tend to make while cooking. Maybe you have never made any of these mistakes, in which case, you have truly earned your chef hat! I for one have made several of these mistakes. Though, I'm a really fantastic measurer!

25 Cooking Mistakes

Eggplant Parmesan

I got an eggplant in my Bountiful Basket today. I didn't know what in the world to do with eggplant. I don't think I've ever even eaten eggplant in my whole life. So I did what anyone would do and I Googled Eggplant Recipes (actually Easy Eggplant Recipes...I do like to keep it simple!) This recipe was fantastic! Either Eggplant is an amazing veggie with a bad reputation or else the recipe is just awesome, I don't know which. But give this a try and see if you don't feel like giving Eggplant another chance.


Ingredients

* 1 beaten egg
* 1/4 cup fat-free milk
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper
* 1 cup crushed saltine crackers (28 crackers)
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
* 1 medium eggplant, sliced 1/4 inch thick (1 pound total)
* Nonstick cooking spray
* 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (3 ounces)

Directions

1. In a small bowl combine egg, milk, and pepper. In another bowl stir together cracker crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and dried parsley flakes.

2. Dip eggplant slices in the milk mixture to coat, then dip both sides in the cracker mixture.

3. Lightly coat a 2-quart rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange eggplant in dish.

4. In a bowl stir together tomato sauce, oregano, and garlic; pour over eggplant.

5. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 40 minutes or until eggplant is tender. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes more. Makes 4 servings.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1/2 C. butter
1 C. Sugar
2 eggs
1 C. mashed ripe bananas (3-4)
1/4 C. milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 C. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 C. chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips

Cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and beat. Add bananas, milk, and lemon juice. Sift dry ingredients and add nuts. Mix everything together. Bake in well greased loaf pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Makes 1 loaf.

Tip: Black Pepper

Tip #9: Throw out that nasty old pre-ground black pepper you've been using and buy a real pepper grinder or at least one like the one on the right in this picture. You will be amazed that you can really taste a difference. Don't believe me? Try it tomorrow morning in your scrambled eggs. Maybe I should take my own advice and throw out my old ground pepper too...I haven't used it in years though, I swear!