Eggplant Tahini and Roasted Pepper Bread

When you roast eggplants the flesh becomes very soft and sort of similar in texture to mashed up bananas so I figured that I could make Eggplant Bread. I thought I’d make the bread a little sweet and mostly savory. I thought roasted peppers went really well here to add interest and I also used Tahini instead of butter for that hummus kind of Flavor. The bread is very unique and moist. If you like zucchini breads, banana breads, honey breads and hummus then you should be a fan of this unique bread too! You can roast whatever kind of peppers that you are in the mood for this recipe.

Ingredients for about 10 servings.

3 eggplants

2 lemons (just the fresh squeezed juice)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon course sea salt

1/2 cup tahini

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup roasted Anaheim chili peppers –  skin, seeds and core removed and chopped

1/2 cup roasted red bell peppers – skin, seeds, and core removed and chopped

1 garlic clove – ground to paste

1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper (Aleppo pepper is fruity and mild with low heat…Spanish Nora Pepper is similar…If you don’t have just leave out and substitute 1/4 teaspoon black pepper)

1/2 teaspoon course sea salt

2 xtra large eggs – slightly beaten

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 cups flour

non stick canola spray

Instructions

Set oven to 375 degrees F.

Cut eggplants in half…place on baking sheets and score them like fruit.

Drizzle the lemon juice from the lemons on the eggplants.

Drizzle the eggplants with olive oil and sprinkle with about a teaspoon of sea salt.

Put them in the oven and in about one hour they should be done and look similar to this.

When cool enough to handle scoop the eggplant flesh out into a large bowl.

Set the oven to 350 degree F and spray a loaf pan with non stick spray.

To your large bowl of eggplant mix in the remaining ingredients by hand in the order they are written.

Pour batter in loaf pan and bake until done…about an hour.

Eggplant Tahini and Roasted Pepper Bread

It’s unusual, unique delicious and very moist!

A guilty pleasure with Jalapeño Cream Cheese…

The Forking Truth

Lidia’s Marinated Winter Squash

I recently watched Chef Lidia Bastianich prepare Butternut Squash with an Agrodolce sauce (sweet and sour sour). She fried the squash on both sides and then marinated the squash with the sauce. I thought it was very unusual and I don’t recall having squash prepared in such a way. I thought Id give it a try.

Ingredients for about 8 servings

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon course sea salt (1/4 for recipe and 1/4 to sprinkle on squash)

6 garlic cloves – sliced very thin

1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

2 lb butternut squash

1 cup vegetable oil

10-20 basil leaves – Torn well or chopped

Directions

In a small fry pan simmer the vinegar, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt and reduce by half. Add the garlic slices.  Put to the side and refrigerate when you can.

Peel Squash. Lidia uses a knife to trim the squash shell off. I did one with a knife and it was somewhat difficult. I used a carrot peeler on my second squash and i thought it was much easier. Use whatever is easier for you. For the recipe Lidia suggest to cut the squash slices in one inch pieces and cut the rounds in half.

Put a cup of vegetable oil in a bigger fry pan on medium high heat and fry the squash for three minutes a side or until fork tender and flip squash pieces and fry the other side for two or three minutes more.

Put the fried pieces of squash on a paper towel lined pan or sheet tray. Salt the squash.  Repeat with the squash till done.

In a pan or tray lay out the squash. spring with the basil and olive oil and drizzle the marinade.

Cover tightly with plastic wrap.

The squash needs to marinate at least three hours. Overnight is suggested.

Lidia’s Marinated Winter Squash

The Forking Truth

Spicy Tomato Jam

I had a bunch of tomatoes that weren’t the best and I thought they’d be great as jam and they are. The two fried serrano peppers I added turned out absolutely perfect. I got heat but not too much and can taste all the flavors. You can alter the amount of heat for your taste. This jam will be delicious on burgers, sandwiches, cheeses and turkey.

Ingredients for somewhere around 30 servings

3 1/2 lb tomatoes – top button and skin removed, rough chopped

1 apple – peeled, cored and chopped

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 serrano peppers – fried and finely chopped

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon coriander

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon course sea salt

Directions

All the ingredients go in a sauce pot. Put the pot on medium high heat and when it starts to boil turn it down to medium heat. Stir occasionally. Turn the heat down again so it simmers. Let it go till it reduces till it’s thick or to your liking.

Spicy Tomato Jam

Mighty Forking Tasty!

The Forking Truth

Forking Delicious Baked Crispy Cheddar Cauliflower

I came up with an easy and lighter way to prepare a crispy cheesy cauliflower that everyone will love! It’s a little sharp, a little tangy with a mild heat. It’s very tasty.. I used white cheese but with the seasonings I used it looks like orange cheese. Six servings only contain a total of 4 ounces of sharp cheddar cheese. No other fat is added and no other salt because it’s salty enough from the cheese and pepper sauce.

Ingredients for about 6 servings

1 medium size head of cauliflower – broken down into florets

4 oz sharp cheddar cheese – shredded

3/4 cup panko

3 Tablespoons cayenne pepper sauce – Franks Red Hot is Preferred

1 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

non-stick spray – neutral flavor is preferred – canola or vegetable

Directions

Set oven to 375 degrees F

In a medium bowl add the cheese, bread crumbs and all the dry seasonings and mix well. Then set to the side.

In a large bowl add the cauliflower. Drizzle the pepper sauce all over the cauliflower and mix it well so the cauliflower is coated all over with the sauce.

Spread the cauliflower on a baking sheet in one layer that was sprayed with non-stick spray.

Top the cauliflower with the cheese crumb mixture and place in the oven.

It will be done in 30 – 45 minutes. Remove when it looks like this to you and the cauliflower is cooked all the way.

“I Forking want some Cauliflower”

Forking Delicious Baked Crispy Cheddar Cauliflower

It not heavy but tasty. Just about everyone will enjoy this dish!

The Forking Truth