Chili Pepper Dinner

The time has come for us to host our "Chili Pepper" themed dinner. We have a few more people coming this time so I decided to make 3 dishes. I will make a Grilled pepper popper recipe using jalapenos. A chocolate ancho-chili flourless cake and some Aztec chocolate bark.

Pics and recipes coming soon!

Tis the season

I was looking for some Christmas dessert ideas and came across these cute cupcakes. Need ideas for that holiday party? Check these out!

Christmas tree cupcakes

Snowman cupcakes
Rudolph the reindeer cupcakes

Polar bear cupcakes

Puppy cupcakes

Blue snowflake cupcakes

Veggie Soup

This is a recipe from Ellie Krieger. We fell in love with this soup, it's tasty, easy and healthy. Only 140 calories per serving (1 1/2 cup) This recipe will make 6 servings, when I make it I tend not to really measure but I definitely double it. This way we can have leftovers for awhile. Brilliant for a night when you don't feel like cooking!

Ingredients

1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium canellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
2 carrots, diced (about 1/2 cup)
2 stalks celery, diced, (about 1/2 cup)
1 small zucchini, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
32 ounces low-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can no salt added diced tomatoes

1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan, optional

Directions

In a small bowl mash half of the beans with a masher or the back of a spoon, and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, garlic, thyme, sage, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the broth and tomatoes with the juice and bring to a boil.

Add the mashed and whole beans, cook about 3 minutes more.

Please excuse the paper towel in this photo ;-)

Sesame Lamb Meatballs with Minted Yogurt Dip

Ingredients

1/3 cup minced onion
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried mint, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
a pinch cinnamon
1 pound ground lamb

1 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
1 large egg, beaten lightly
2 tablespoons dried currants
1/4 cup black sesame seeds*
1/4 cup white sesame seeds, toasted lightly

minted yogurt dip:
2 cups plain yogurt
1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

To make the meatballs:

In a small non-stick skillet cook onion and garlic in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened.

Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in mint, salt, allspice, and cinnamon.

Add lamb, bread crumbs, egg, and currants and combine well. Form level tablespoons of lamb mixture into 1 1/4-inch meatballs, arranging on a tray as formed.

In a small bowl roll half of meatballs, 1 at a time, in black sesame seeds until coated, transferring to a rack set in a shallow baking pan. Coat remaining meatballs with white sesame seeds in same manner, transferring to rack. Meatballs may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered loosely.

Preheat oven to 450°F.
Bake meatballs in upper third of oven 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden and just cooked through

To make the yogurt dip:

In a fine sieve set over a bowl drain yogurt, covered and chilled, 3 hours. Discard whey in bowl and transfer yogurt cheese to bowl. Yogurt cheese may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.

Savoring Morocco

It was another successful dinner, well almost, this time the theme was Morocco! Everyone's dishes turned out great except yours truly. Well one of my dishes was good however the Bistilla wasn't and I blame it on the recipe I used. I feel that the measurements were way off!! So with that I will not be posting the recipe but I will show you the pics....because it looked good!

Moroccan Dinner

Bistilla

Lamb meatballs with Mint Yogurt Dip
Chicken and Couscous salad

Chicken Tagine


Next month: Chili Peppers!

I have never really been a big fan of squash..zucchini, butternut, pumpkin, yada yada yada...but as I get older so do my taste buds I guess, because now I enjoy most of them. A friend of mine made this dish for our "Gourd" themed dinner and it was so good I had to have the recipe. It is a simple recipe from a popular recipe site and I didn't change much besides the name. Be prepared to see spaghetti squash in a whole new way because this dish is delicious!!

Spaghetti Squash with a Greek Kick!

Ingredients

1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons sliced black olives ( Kalamata if you have them)
4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Lightly grease a baking sheet, or put a piece of foil on baking sheet. Makes clean up a lot easier.
Place spaghetti squash cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet, and bake 40-45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a sharp knife can be inserted with only a little resistance. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add garlic, and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.

Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash, and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, feta cheese, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

"Gourd" dinner wines!

Our "Gourd" themed dinner was great and we had so much great food but we also had great bevi's too! Here are the wines and beer we enjoyed that evening!

Pumpkin Ale

Buffalo Bill's Brewery

Macon -Villages

Chardonnay

Sterling Vineyards

Meritage 2006
Chateau Potelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Yellow Tail Reserve

Shiraz 2008

Bogle Vineyards

Old Vine Zinfandel 2007

Sterling Vintner's Collection

Shiraz 2007

La Olma

Garnacha 2007

Ecco Domani

Pinot Grigio 2008