Thanksgiving Salad Dressing

Adapted from Southern Living magazine
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup cranberry sauce (whole berry)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and pour over salad.

Bread Pudding

10 slices bread
1/2 cup butter
4 eggs
5 cups milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4-5 peeled and cored sliced apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread bread with butter and cut into 1/2 inch wide strips.Beat eggs until frothy, stir in milk, sugar, salt and vanilla.  Add bread and apples.  Pour into well buttered 2 1/2 quart dish or large pie plate. Place this in a pan of hot water. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

The Original Remsen Avenue Sugar Cookies

1 cup Crisco
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
3 or 4 tablespoons orange juice

1 tablespoon cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sugar mixed together

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine Crisco with beaten eggs and sugar until smooth.  Add baking powder, vanilla, salt and orange juice.  Form batter into a ball, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate until cool.
Mix together 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 3 tablespoons sugar in a shallow bowl and reserve to top each cookie before it is baked.
Take one quarter of the dough and roll out on a floured surface until about 1/4 inch high. Cut with cookie cutter. Take cut out shape and press in cinnamon/sugar mixture. Remove and place on a cookie sheet.  Use the remaining dough in the same way.
Place each cookie on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Place cookie sheet in  350 degree oven and bake approximately 15 minutes or until cookies are brown on the sides. Cool and remove. 

Honey Cake

1 cup strong coffee
1 3/4 cups honey
3 tablespoons cognac
4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds
1/2 cup white raisins
1/4 chopped candied citron

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease and flour either two 9x5 inch loaf pans or a bundt pan.
In a 2 quart saucepan, combine coffee and honey and bring to a boil. Let cool and stir in Cognac.
In a large bowl, beat eggs. Stir in oil and brown sugar.
In another large mixing  bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon,cloves,nutmeg,and ginger.Stir in nuts,raisins, and citron.
Stir the flour mixture and honey mixture alternately into the egg mixture.Pour the batter into the pan(s). Bake for70 minutes or until cake is done. Serve at least 24 hours later to allow flavors to develop.

Cole Slaw

Based on Ben's Deli's Cole Slaw

1 small head green cabbage
2 tablespoons finely minced onion
2 tablespoons finely minced green pepper
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 cup mayonnaise
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2-3 tablespoons white vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients together, except for shredded cabbage.  Pour dressing over cabbage. Allow to marinate in refrigerator at least several hours.

Cipolline Agro Dolce

Adapted from The Essentials of Tuscan Cooking Class at The Institute of Culinary Education

2 lbs. cipolline onions
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prepare a large bowl of ice water.
Blanch onions in boiling water for 2 minutes.  Remove with slotted spoon and place them in ice water.
Remove when cool and peel the first layer of skin and stem.
In a large baking dish or metal pan, mix the onions, sugar, vinegar, olive oil and salt. Make sure onions are coated evenly.
Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until onions are well caramelized. Turn onions occasionally and be careful not to burn them.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

From simplyrecipes.com
Ingredients

• 3 vanilla beans
• 1 cup vodka
• glass jar with tight fitting lid

1 Use kitchen scissors or a sharp paring knife to cut lengthwise down each vanilla bean, splitting them in half, leaving an inch at the end connected.
2 Put vanilla beans in a glass jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid (mason jars work well). Cover completely with the vodka.
3 Give the bottle a good shake every once in a while. Store in a dark, cool place for 2 months or longer.
Lasts for years. You can keep topping it off with vodka once in a while as you use it, just remember to give it a good shake.
You can also make vanilla sugar by putting a split vanilla bean into a jar of white, granulated sugar. Great way to infuse the sugar with vanilla flavor for baking.

Egg Barley parmesan

1 12 ounce package egg barley
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
pepper to taste

Boil egg barley according to package directions. Drain.
Place in serving dish.  Add all other ingredients and mix. Serve warm.

Leftover Turkey Asian Salad

Adapted from Fresh Market

1 small head cabbage, shredded
2 carrots, shredded
1 bunch green onions, diced
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 pound cooked turkey breast, cut in cubes.
1 cup Chow mein noodles

Dressing
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Shred cabbage, carrots, and green onions. Place in large bowl.  Add cubed turkey breast and chow mein noodles.
Prepare dressing.  Whisk together peanut butter, brown sugar, ginger, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil until smooth.  Reserve dressing until ready to serve.  Pour over salad ingredients and toss.

Reduced Calorie Eggplant Parmigiana

3 eggplants, unpeeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices (Sicilian eggplant is the sweetest)olive oil
kosher salt
2 lb container part skim ricotta cheese
1 lb part skim mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup grated parmesan cheese


Tomato Sauce
1 large can crushed tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 tspn. dried basil
1/2 tspn. dried oregano
1/2 tspn. sugar
1 tspn. salt
1 clove garlic, crushed

Oil a foiled lined baking pan or cookie sheet.  Place sliced eggplant in a single layer on pan.  Broil until brown on each side. Flip when done on one side.  When both sides are done, do the next batch of eggplant until all are browned on both sides.
Put ricotta cheese into a bowl.  Add salt to taste.  Reserve.
Grate mozzarella cheese and reserve.

Make tomato sauce.  Combine tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, garlic,oregano, basil, and sugar in a saucepan. Heat and stir until blended. Keep on low heat for fifteen minutes. Cool.

Assemble casserole:  Coat the bottom of a large casserole with tomato sauce.  Place a single layer of broiled eggplant.  Put a large spoonful of tomato sauce on each slice.  Sprinkle on parmesan cheese.
Put a dollop of ricotta cheese on each slice.  Cover layer with mozzarella cheese.  Repeat process until the final layer.  Do not use ricotta cheese on the final layer. Only use tomato sauce, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for an hour, or until heated through.
You may freeze the casserole after assembling and bake it after defrosting.  Allow to bake uncovered for the last fifteen minutes to brown top layer of cheese.

Low Cal Turkey frame soup

1 turkey frame leftover from cooked turkey
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, diced
1 large onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 parsnip, peeled and diced
1 small cabbage,  sliced thin
1 tablespoon kosher salt
ground pepper, to taste
Bottled water to cover

Heat olive oil in large soup pot.  Add carrots, onion, celery and cook until soft.  Add turkey frame, parsnip, cabbage,salt, pepper and water.  Bring to a boil.  Lower heat to a simmer. Skim soup.  Allow to cook 2 hours.
Remove turkey frame from soup.  Take turkey meat from frame and chop into small pieces.  Place turkey meat back in soup. Cool in refrigerator overnight or several hours.  Remove fat from surface.  Reheat and serve.

Lime and Avocado Slaw

From Fresh Market

	1/4 cup fresh lime juice
	zest of 1 lime
	2 teaspoons sugar
	3 cups napa cabbage, thinly sliced
	2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
	2 Florida tomatoes, seeded and chopped
	1 avocado, halved, pitted, and diced      Place cabbage, cilantro, tomatoes and avocado in bowl. Mix lime juice, zest of lime and sugar.  Pour over cabbage mixture.

The Big Blintze

Adapted from a recipe by Jane Eisner

Batter:
1/4 pound butter
2 eggs
½ cup sugar
¼ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
Filling:
2 pounds farmer cheese, or 1 pound farmer cheese and 1 pound cottage cheese
2 eggs
¼ cup sugar
Juice of one lemon

1) Mix the wet batter ingredients, then add the sifted flour and baking powder.  Make this in a food processor, so that the batter is smooth and fluffy. Pour a little less than half the batter into a greased 9-by-13 inch casserole dish, spreading evenly across the bottom.
2) Mix together ingredients for the filling, and spread evenly over the bottom layer of batter.
3)  Cover the filling with the remaining batter.  Place small blobs of the batter gently on the filling, then try to smooth them together with a small spatula or butter knife. (That’s why it’s best to have a little more batter to work with on top.)
4) Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes. Let cool completely before serving; if you can, refrigerate the casserole. May be served warm or cold.

Read more: http://blogs.forward.com/the-jew-and-the-carrot/138415/#ixzz1caoTDY3c

Caramlized Brussel Sprouts

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Serves 2-4, adapted from Eat.Live.Run
Ingredients:
1 lb brussels sprouts
1 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
sea salt, to taste
2 tbsp maple sugar or brown sugar
1/4 cup dried cranberries
Method:

1. Slice the brussels sprouts very thinly so that they are almost feathery.
2. Heat the olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet. Saute the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the brussels sprouts and continue sauteeing for 4-5 minutes or until bright green and tender.
3. Add the sea salt and sugar and toss together. Finish by adding the cranberries.

Joanne Bruno adapted this recipe.  Find more of her delicious ramblings over at her blog: Eats Well With Others.

Easy cranberry relish

3 cans whole berry cranberries
1 small can fruit cocktail, drained
1 small can crushed pineapple
1 small can mandarin oranges
2 tablespoons chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)

Mix all ingredients together. Chill and serve.

Watermelon Salad at EAT, Robert Irvine's Hilton Head restaurant

Ingredients

For the vinaigrette:

• 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves, from about 3 or 4 sprigs
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup grapeseed oil

For the salad:

• 1 head arugula, soaked to remove all grit, stiff spines of leaves removed, dried in a salad spinner, and torn into bite-sized pieces
• 1 small red onion, sliced thin
• 1 small seedless watermelon, such as Crimson Sweet (or your choice, as long as the seeds are removed) cut into 1-inch cubes or into 1-inch spheres with a melon baller
• 3 ounces feta cheese, cubed

Directions

Prepare vinaigrette just before use. Through the feed opening of a running blender, add 1 at a time: champagne vinegar, lemon juice, chopped mint, salt and pepper. Leaving the blender running, add the oil in a slow stream. Adjust seasoning, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Toss together arugula and onion. Fold in watermelon. Gently stir in enough of the vinaigrette to coat. Top with feta cheese. Serve with any extra dressing on the side.

Asian Soba Noodles

1 12 ounce package Soba noodles
Salt
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 inch piece of fresh ginger, minced
Strips of carrot and peeled cucumber

Cook Soba noodles according to package directions. Use at least one tablespoon salt in the boiling water.
Drain noodles. Cool
Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar garlic and ginger until smooth.  Pour over Soba noodles just before serving.  Top with carrot and cucumber strips.

Broccoli Slaw

1 lb. broccoli slaw (Trader Joe's)
Small red onion, diced
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Dressing
1/4 Kraft lite salad dressing
2 or 3 tablespoons sugar
salt and pepper
3 tablespoons vinegar

Mix broccoli, onions, peppers,carrots, raisins and almonds together.  Mix dressing ingredients.  Toss and refrigerate.

Green Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk and Warm Spices

From the blog http://www.joanne-eatswellwithothers.com/
Serves 4, adapted from Molly Wizenberg's Orangette

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• pinch of nutmeg
• black pepper, to taste
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cups French green lentils
• 1 1/4 cups light coconut milk
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste

Ingredients

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is translucent. Turn the heat down to medium. Add the thyme, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and a pinch of black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is slightly browned and very soft.
2. Add the stock and the lentils. Bring to a simmer and cook for 25-30 minutes or until lentils are tender.
3. Add the coconut milk to the soup. Stir well. Cook for about 15 minutes to blend the flavors. Taste and adjust the salt as necessary. Serve.

White Acre Pea Salad

1 pound fresh white acre peas (purchased at Hilton Head Farmer's Market at Honey Horn)http://www.farmersmarkethiltonheadisland.com/
water to cover
1 tablespoon salt
black pepper
1/2 can mandarin oranges
2 tablespoons juice from mandarin oranges
3 tablespoons finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons dried cranberries

Boil white acre peas with 1 tablespoon salt for 30 minutes.
Drain.  Place diced onions in bowl and put hot white acre peas on top.  Mix in mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, salt and pepper.  Add juice. Refrigerate. Bring back to room temperature before serving.

Pumpkin Sweet Potato-Coconut Soup

http://judyskitchen.blogspot.com/ Adapted from Bobby Flay

SPICY RELISH: 1-1/2 tsp. canola or olive oil 1-1/2 tsp. unsalted butter Pinch of red pepper flakes 1/4 of a medium sweet potato, peeled, diced Sea salt and black pepper to taste 2 Tbsp. freshly chopped parsley Heat oil and butter over medium heat in a small, heavy skillet (cast iron is perfect). Add red pepper flakes; heat for 10 seconds. Add diced sweet potato and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Cover skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 15 minutes. Uncover. Increase heat to high and cook till potatoes are golden brown, 5 – 7 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in the parsley. SOUP: 1-1/2 tsp. canola or olive oil 1/2 small onion, chopped 1” piece fresh ginger, peeled then grated (to yield 1 tsp. grated ginger) pinch red pepper flakes 1-1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 cup water 1 cup pumpkin (I used fresh roasted pumpkin, but canned is fine.) 3/4 of a medium sweet potato, peeled, chopped 3/4 cup lite coconut milk 1-1/2 tsp. honey pinch cinnamon 1/2 tsp. sea salt and 1/4 tsp. black pepper (taste and adjust, adding more if needed) In a 2- to 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and ginger; cook till soft, 5 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds. Add stock and water; bring to a boil. Add pumpkin and sweet potatoes; bring to a simmer. Cook till veggies are soft, 20-30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Puree with immersion blender (or transfer mixture to a blender and process until smooth then return to saucepan). Simmer over low heat. Whisk in coconut milk, honey and cinnamon. Cook until thickened and warmed through. Taste soup. Season as desired with additional salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls; top with a spoonful of the spicy relish. Yield: 2 servings (Double ingredients to serve 4)

Cauliflower With Cumin and Yogurt

Adapted from Cook This Now by Melissa Clark. Copyright © 2011. Published by Hyperion. Available wherever books are sold.

Ingredients

serves 2, active time 10 minutes, total time 30 minutes

• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Plain yogurt, for serving
• Chopped fresh mint leaves, for serving
• Pomegranate seeds, for serving

Procedures

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Toss the cauliflower with the oil, cumin seeds, salt, and pepper. Spread the mixture in an even layer on a large baking sheet. Roast, tossing occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender and its edges are toasty, 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Whisk a pinch of salt into the yogurt. Dollop the yogurt on top of the cauliflower and strew the mint and pomegranate seeds over the yogurt.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Adapted from The Sunset Cookbook. Copyright  2010. Published by Oxmoor House.

Ingredients:
* 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
* 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
* 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon chili sauce
* 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
* 1/4 cup canola or grapeseed oil
* Salt
* 1/2 pound asparagus, bottoms trimmed and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
* 2 navel oranges or 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin orange slices, drained
* Chinese noodles
* 6 cups finely shredded cabbage
* 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
* 1 large firm-ripe avocado, pitted, peeled, and cubed
* 4 green onions, trimmed and sliced diagonally
* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, chili sauce, and ginger. Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking constantly. Season with salt. Set dressing aside.
2. In a 2- to 3-quart pan over high heat, bring about 1 quart water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, then plunge asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
3. Cut off and discard ends from oranges. Following curve of fruit, cut off peel and outer membrane. Slice oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, then cut rounds into quarters. Set aside. Or use canned mandarin oranges.
4. In a large serving bowl, toss cabbage, chicken, and asparagus with dressing. Top with avocado, orange slices, and Chinese noodles, then garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Toast sesame seeds in a nonstick frying pan over medium heat, shaking often, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.

Lentil salad

1 16 oz. package french lentils
1 large red pepper, either from a jar of peppers with vinegar or saute a pepper
1 small onion, finely diced
3 carrots, diced and oven-roasted (roast carrots on an oiled baking pan at 375 until browned and soft)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil lentils according to package directions.
Drain. Immediately place lentils over onion and pepper in a serving bowl.
Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.
Pour over lentils. Mix in diced oven roasted carrots
Let marinate for at least 6 hours in the refrigerator before serving.

Roasted Eggplant, Char Siu Style

From The NY Times Food and Drink Magazine
Mark Bittman

2 lbs. eggplant, sliced
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon five spice powder

Combine all ingredients except eggplant.  Toss eggplant with mixture and marinate at least 1 hour. Roast at 400 degrees, turning occasionally, until tender, about 30  minutes.