Spinach & mushroom frittata

In a frying pan, put a Tblsp. olive oil and a tsp. butter & heat until VERY hot. Add 1/2# sliced mushrooms and 1/2 cup sliced onions - stir occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, a pinch of thyme & a dash of cayenne & a tsp. of worcestershire sauce - continue until the mushrooms & onions are nearly cooked. Toss a few handfuls of fresh baby spinach on top of the mushrooms, cover and cook a few minutes until spinach wilts.

Crack a dozen eggs in a bowl, add 4 Tblsp. water & season with S&P, pinch of cayenne & any blend herbs/spices you like. With a wire whisk, beat eggs thoroughly.

Heat a nonstick 10" pan that's been sprayed with nonstick spray. Pour in the eggs and as they're cooking, 'lift' the sides of the cooked eggs, allowing the uncooked eggs to slide underneath. Carefully continue this, making sure the eggs don't get TOO scrambled up.

When eggs are fairly cooked, spoon the mushroom mixture evenly over the top of the eggs. Place under the broiler (not TOO close to the heat) and continue cooking until the top is set, checking often to make sure it doesn't overcook. Remove from heat. Top with shaved swiss or gruyere cheese (as much as you like!) and return to broiler until the cheese melts.

Slide frittata onto a plate - wait a minute or 2 and then slice into wedges.

Bacon cauliflower frittata

Have ready: 3-4 cups cooked, chopped cauliflower.

Saute 8 slices of chopped bacon - half way thru cooking time, add 1/2 cup diced onion and continue cooking until onion is soft & bacon is done. Drain and pat grease. Set aside.

Crack a dozen eggs in a bowl, add 4 Tblsp. water & season with S&P, pinch of cayenne & any blend herbs/spices you like. With a wire whisk, beat eggs thoroughly. Stir in a tblsp. chopped parsley.

Heat a nonstick 10" pan that's been sprayed with nonstick spray. Pour in the eggs and as they're cooking, 'lift' the sides of the cooked eggs, allowing the uncooked eggs to slide underneath. Carefully continue this, making sure the eggs don't get TOO scrambled up.

When eggs are fairly cooked, spoon the cauliflower mixture evenly over the top of the eggs. Place under the broiler (not TOO close to the heat) and continue cooking until the top is set, checking often to make sure it doesn't overcook. Remove from heat. Top with shaved colby-jack, cheddar or whatever kind of cheese you like (and as much as you like!) and return to broiler until the cheese melts.

Slide frittata onto a plate - wait a minute or 2 and then slice into wedges.

PB cup-cheesecakes

These are individual cheesecakes, baked in cupcake papers, with a crust, a Reese's cup on top of the crust, then covered with cheesecake batter. After they're baked & cooled, a spoonful of chocolate ganache puts the proverbial icing on the cake!! Recipe will be posted soon! :)

Bolognese sauce

In a large saucepan, heat 4 Tblsp. olive oil, add:

4 tblsp. chopped bacon (pre-cooked)

1 cup grated celery

1 cup grated onion

1/2 cup grated carrots

6 cloves smashed, minced garlic

Saute over med. heat until fragrant and vegetables are cooked & translucent.

Add 1# ground round & 1/2# ground veal or pork (or combination)

Continue cooking, breaking up meat as it browns, stirring often.

Once meat is cooked, add a large can (16 oz) of crushed tomatoes and a large can (16 oz.) of plum tomatoes (with juice), breaking up tomatoes .. and a small can (6 oz) of tomato paste. ( If desired, add a half cup of wine - I leave it out.)

Season with a couple tsps. of basil (fresh or dried), salt & pepper to taste, 1/2 tsp. oregano, couple tsps. of chopped parsley, a few shakes of cayenne.... Cover and simmer on med-low heat for 1-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Check for seasonings - stir in 1/2 cup cream (heavy cream or half and half) to sauce. Add some sauce to cooked pasta, tossing to cover - add more after plated. Serve with or without shaved parmesan cheese.

Chicken curry

Heat a wok or large pan with 4 Tblsp. vegetable oil. Coarsely chop an onion & 4 cloves of garlic and saute over med-low heat, stirring often, until softened.

In a small bowl, make a spice paste using:

2 Tblsp. water

1 teasp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. ground turmeric

1 tsp. curry powder

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Add spice paste to the onion mixture and stir to incorporate thoroughly.

Add 1-1/2# boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1" pcs.) - raise heat a bit and stirfry, turning occasionally, until sides are beginning to cook. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook 15 minutes.

While chicken is cooking, chop a green bell pepper into 1/2" squares. Also, chop 2 tomatoes (if fresh aren't available, canned ones will do).

Add pepper and tomatoes to cooked chicken, stir well. Stir in a teasp. or sriracha or any type of hot red chile paste (if you don't have that, use 1/4-1/2 teasp. of crushed red pepper or cayenne). Taste for seasoning and add more S&P if needed.

Cover and cook 10 minutes, stirring now and then. Chop a handful of fresh cilantro or parsley and stir into chicken before serving.

This is great served over cooked basmati rice (or regular rice or cooked couscous).

Cakies!!

Many call these Whoopie Pies but that name doesn't work here, so: cake + cookies = CAKIES !!

This recipe makes 16-18 cakies. You could probably make them 1/2 the size, but you'll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 large baking sheets.

1.) In a small mixing bowl, combine:

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

SET ASIDE.

2.) In another mixing bowl, combine:

2 cups flour

1/2 unsweetened cocoa powder

1-1/4 tsp. baking soda

SET ASIDE.

3.) In a large mixing bowl, combine:

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup brown sugar

On medium speed of a mixer, mix for 3 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down sides frequently.

Beat in: 1 large egg

Mix for another minute, scraping sides of bowl.

Alternately add the reserved buttermilk mixture (1.) & reserved flour mixture (2.) to the creamed butter mixture (3.), incorporating them until all 3 are thoroughly combined. Batter is thick!

Drop HEAPING Tblsp. of batter (gently release into little rounded mounds) onto prepared sheets - 8 to 9 per sheet, leaving space between each.

Bake both sheets at the same time (racks in oven should be spaced apart to allow for circulation) - Bake for EIGHT MINUTES - then quickly open the oven and switch positions of the sheets- close oven door and bake for another 4-5 minutes. Test cakies - they'll spring back when gently touched on the tops. Remove from oven and immediately transfer to wire racks. Cool completely. Take half the cookies, invert them and place a generous dollop of frosting into the center (heaping Tblsp.) - cover with another cookie to sandwich the 2 together.

FROSTING:

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat for 3 minutes on medium speed:

1/2 cup softened butter

1-1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 C. marshmallow 'Fluff'

Chocolate (Coke) Cake

In a small saucepan, heat 1/4# butter, 1 cup Coke, 3 Tblsp. cocoa that's been mixed with 1 Tblsp. vegetable oil (mix it into a paste). Bring to a slow boil - add 1 cup miniature marshmallows and remove from heat. Stir occasionally until marshmallows are melted. Set aside until mixture is completely cool.

Mix dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl and set aside:

2-1/3 cups flour

3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

Make cake:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9" cake pan.

In a large mixing bowl, beat until fluffy (with whisk or electric mixer):

1/2 cup soft butter (or use 1/2 butter and 1/2 margarine)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups sugar

Beat in:

2 eggs

3/4 cup buttermilk

Add half the dry (flour/cocoa, etc.) mixture and stir well -

Add the cooled cola mixture.

Add the remaining half of the dry mixture (flour/cocoa, etc.)

Stir mixture thoroughly & slowly for 3-4 minutes.

Spoon into the prepared pan & bake for 40-50 minutes until center is done. Test with toothpick. When done, cool on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes. Spread frosting over warm cake. Cool completely before serving. I usually refrigerate the cake, but it's not necessary.

FROSTING:

In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly:

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup Coke

1 teasp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup Hershey's chocolate syrup

3 cups powdered sugar