Wilted Spinach Salad

This recipe is from the Dec issue of Bon Appetit.

1 bag baby spinach
1 red onion
4-5 oz. feta cheese
4-5 tbs. olive oil
2-3 tbs. sherry vinegar (you could use red wine vinegar too)
salt and pepper

Place spinach in large bowl.
Cut onion in half and then into 1/2" slices. Saute onion over medium heat in 2 tb olive oil until soft and lightly browned. Add onions to spinach and toss well.
Add remaining olive oil, sherry vinegar and feta cheese to pan and allow feta to soften and melt slightly. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour feta mixture over spinach and toss again well.

-tresjolie

Asparagus Parmesan

Ingredients:

2.5 pounds of fresh asparagus
Olive Oil
Seasoned Italian Bread Crumbs
Parmesan Cheese

Prepare:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Cut bottom third (or less) off asparagus stalks
Rinse in cold water

Lay asparagus in 9x13 baking pan (I use a stone)
Drizzle with a little olive oil.
Roll aspagus around so that they are lightly coated.

Sprinkle lightly with seasoned Italian breadcrumbs
Sprinkle lightly with grated Parmesan Cheese.

Roll asparagus around so that all stalks are lightly coated with breadcrumb/cheese mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes (uncovered) in 350 degree F oven.

Enjoy!

Rudy

Tamari Roasted Almonds

Here is my DH's recipe for his tamari roasted almonds. He just dictated it to me so I hope it works out OK... We use San-J brand Tamari soy sauce.

Two pounds unroasted unblanched almonds
¼ cup tamari soy sauce (or just enough to coat almonds)
1 tbsp sea salt

Directions:Pre-heat oven to 450-500 F (or your maximum) Spread almonds out on a large flat baking tray/roasting pan. Lower temp to 200 F when when temperature is reached. Wait two minutes then insert the tray on a middle rack. Let them roast for approx 15-20 mins

In the meanwhile put tamari and salt in a medium sized pot. Take out almonds and pour them into the pot and toss them in the tamari /salt mix till they’re coated evenly

Spread them back on the tray and leave them in the oven for an hour at 200F.

SMAAKIT

Cheese Sauce

Here's one i got on the net, it is amazing.

ADD a tbsp of dry mustard, and a tbsp of Worcester sauce. a dash of nutmeg too. Trust me on this :) Ready in ten minutes!

2 tablespoons butter/margarine (replace with vegetable oil if you're feeling health conscious
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup milk
1 cup grated cheese

Directions Heat the butter/margarine/oil over in a small saucepan over low heat until it's completely melted. Add the flour, salt and pepper. Stir until the mixture is completely smooth.

The ingredients you've just added may become lumpy. Just keep stirring. Add the milk. Stir some more. Add the cheese and heat it over .medium heat. Keep stirring until the cheese is completely melted.

I love it on a baked potato with steamed broccoli. Sometimes I make some shells, and just smother them with this. Eat & enjoy. Also makes an awesome dip. If you don't want it that thick add more milk :)

Alicia

Triscuits and Cheese Appetiser

Here is something ........so simple....but so damn good...

Rosemary and Olive oil Triscuits
Spreadable cream cheese
Roma tomatoes sliced thin
Green onion sliced thin rings
Cracked black pepper

First the triscuit, then the cream cheese, 1 slice of Roma, about 2 onion slices, and cracked pepper to top. I can make a whole tray here, and set them out, and they will be GONE before I can get one.

RomanShopper

Black Eye Pea Soup

I made a great soup tonight (New Year's Day). See, we won't EAT black eyed peas, but you know, scared not to. lol

I cooked the peas in the pressure cooker in beef stock, a bit of onion, and minced garlic. Then 1 can of Hunts tomatoes with garlic and oregano, a handful of dried okra, a handful of rice, half a cup of chopped spinach, 1/2 tsp of pepper and sea salt

It was **GOOD** about as good a soup as any, and extremely low fat, if any.

RomanShopper

My Texas Aunt Annie's Lentil Soup

We love this soup! We omit the dill and the butter

1 lb lentils
2 cups finely chopped onions
2 cloves garlic minced
3 ½ quarts (14 cups) cold water
1 lb lean ground beef
2 oz butter (1/2 stick)
2 tsp salt
1 tlb dill seeds
1 tsp black peeper
1 15 oz tomato sauce
6 oz spaghetti ½ inch length
Scallions for garish

Lentils, garlic, onions and water. To simmer. 2 hours over low heat

Sauté meat and butter.

Add salt, meat, tomato sauce, pepper after the 2 hours. Then simmer for another hour.

Add pasta and cook for 12 – 15 minutes.