Eggplant Ricotta Bake Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 eggplant
• 1 1/2 cup(s) onion(s), chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 2 cup(s) cheese, ricotta, low-fat
  
  
• 1 1/2 cup(s) cheese, mozzarella, part-skim, grated
  
  
• 3/4 cup(s) wheat germ
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon basil, dried
• 3 large tomato(es), sliced

Preparation

1. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Slice the eggplant into 1/3-inch circles. Place on cookie sheet. Put a few grains of salt on each slice.
2. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F. Saute onions and garlic until soft. Combine the cheeses.
3. Combine wheat germ and spices. Coat a large baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Layer ingredients this way: eggplant, wheat germ, cheese, tomato, eggplant, tomato, wheat germ, cheese. Cover pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
4. Uncover and bake 5 minutes. Serve warm. Reheats beautifully in the microwave oven.




 (credits)

Summer Fruit

Source: weelicious.com via Kate on Pinterest

Instead of a fruit salad I am going to make these for out next summer party. I think they would be really cute in a vase like a flower arrangement.

Fried Chicken

One of my favorite meals growing up was Mom's fried chicken.  Growing up in the south this is a staple meal at the weekly dinner table.  Mom used a dash of this and that.  Dipped the chicken in water, then in the flour mix and laid the piece of chicken in an iron skillet full of hot oil.

I was watching "The Chew" on ABC and they prepared this version of fried chicken so I am copy/pasting it here for future use.

Carla Hall's Fried Chicken 

Ingredients

• Dry Rub:
• 1 tablespoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
• 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
• 1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 small Organic Chicken (broken down into 10 pieces)
• To Fry:
• 3 Eggs
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1/4 cup Water
• Flour (to batter)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Peanut Oil (to fry)
• 2 tablespoons Cornstarch

Step 1 
Ingredients
1 tablespoon Salt
1 tablespoon Black Pepper
1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
1 tablespoon Onion Powder
1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
1 small Organic Chicken (broken down into 10 pieces)

Instructions
 In a mixing bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Combine the spice mixture and chicken pieces in a plastic zip bag and toss to coat and refrigerate overnight. 


Step 2
Ingredients
Peanut Oil

Instructions
Preheat 1/2-inch of Peanut Oil in a cast iron skillet to 360F.

Step3
Ingredients
3 Eggs
1 cup Buttermilk
1/4 cup Water
Flour (to batter)
2 tablespoons Cornstarch
Salt
Pepper

Instructions
Lightly beat the eggs and combine with the buttermilk and water in a shallow dish. In another shallow dish, add the flour, cornstarch and then season with salt and pepper. Dip each piece into the buttermilk mixture and then coat in flour. Fry pieces until golden brown on all sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
  
Step4
Remove to a wire rack to drain excess oil, then serve.

Since today is National Heart Disease I guess I should mention this is now a meal we have a couple times a year instead of weekly.  You must have it with mashed potatoes.  Yummy!

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Here are sites worth reading about fried chicken. 

  Honorable mention and thanks for sharing some great tips for making fried chicken.

http://www.spicelines.com/2006/10/recipe_southern_fried_chicken_1.htm

http://www.marthastewart.com/318608/sallis-fried-chicken

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Fried-Chicken-Carla-Hall

 

Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
¾ cup olive oil
Juice from 1 lemon
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
½ cup sun dried tomatoes
¼ cup tomato juice
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Dash Worcestershire sauce
Dash Tabasco sauce
12 leaves fresh basil
Salt and pepper

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until fairly smooth. A temporary emulsion should form. Adjust the seasoning and hold at room temperature. Stir the dressing well and adjust the seasoning again before serving. The dressing should be made at least 30 minutes before use to allow the flavors to combine

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1212769

Puff Pastry - Recipe Detail - Cream Cheese Chocolate Chunk Pastries

Puff Pastry - Recipe Detail - Cream Cheese Chocolate Chunk Pastries

Hot Fudge Sauce

1 1/2 cup Pure Cane Sugar
1 cup Cocoa
1 1/4 cup Evaporated Milk
2/3 cupt light corn syrup
2/3 cup butter
2 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

1) Combine sugar and cocoa in small saucepan;
stir in evaporated milk and corn syrup.
2) Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.
Boil and stir 1 minute.
3) Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla, stirring until
butter is melted.
4) Serve warm over ice cream.

Deen Bros' Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges Recipe

Deen Bros' Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges Recipe - ABC News

Servings: 4

Difficulty: Moderate

Cook Time: 30-60 min

Recipe from The Deen Bros. Take it Easy; Ballantine Books 2009.

Ingredients

10 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut lengthwise into wedges

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cinnamon. Add the potato wedges and toss to combine. Season with the salt and pepper.

Spread the potatoes in an even layer on a baking sheet. Roast the potatoes, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tender. Serve hot.