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Mezze Platter

Mezze is an assortment of small dishes or appetizers commonly found in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern diet.  What dishes are included in Mezze differ from region to region.  Hummus, pita and breads, various salads, cheeses, olives, dolmas, sausages, vegetables prepared in various ways, dips, etc....  are common components of a Mezze Platter.

My Mezze Platter Included:

Hummus, pickled beets, toasted pita bread, feta cheese, pepperocini peppers, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, and black olives.

hummus

• 1 can (16 ounces) chickpeas, drained
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• olive oil
• water

blend all ingredients in a food processor. add olive oil and water -a little at a time- to get desired consistency. you can add other ingredients for something a little different. my favorite addition is cilantro.

posted by: artichoke72 at 23:23 | link | comments |
all recipes, vegetarian recipes

Cole Slaw with Vinegar Dressing

I have been craving cole slaw and made this last night.  My grandmother always made a vinegar dressing for her cole slaw and I loved it.  She still won't share her recipe with me, so I came up with this version.  It is still pretty yummy. 

You can add sugar to the dressing if you like yours a little sweeter.  You can also add a bit of chopped onion and/or green bell pepper to your slaw.  You can also only use green cabbage instead of both green and red.  The color of the red cabbage does seem to muddle the color of the finished product.

Cole Slaw with Vinegar Dressing

1 head green cabbage, shredded
1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
3 carrots, peeled and shredded

dressing ingredients:
1/2 cup vinegar
3 T. canola oil
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. celery salt
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Combine the veggies in a large bowl.  Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a seperate bowl.  Pour dressing over veggies and toss well.  Cover and refrigerate an hour or up to a day before serving.

posted by: artichoke72 at 16:41 | link | comments |
all recipes, vegetarian recipes

Thai Green Curry with Chicken and Bamboo Shoots

This is a curry I threw together for lunch today.  It was so easy and delicious.  Today I used fresh bamboo shoots that I got at the Asian market for my curry.  Fresh bamboo definitely has a more distinct flavor than canned bamboo shoots. 

The Maesri Curry Pastes are so amazing and functional.  There are so many flavors available and directions are on the can (although I always deviate from their instructions...don't be afraid to experiment).  You can take a can of curry paste, mix it with coconut milk and add any meat and/or veggies you have on hand to make wonderful curries.  Great for weeknight dinners.

Thai Green Curry with Chicken and Bamboo Shoots

1 can Maeri Green Curry Paste
1 can coconut milk
1 - 2 chicken breast(s), thinly sliced
1 can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
1 bell pepper (green or red), seeded and sliced
Fresh Thai basil leaves (to taste)
Fish sauce (optional and to taste)
Sugar (optional and to taste)

Combine the green curry paste and coconut milk in a large pan or wok over medium high heat.  Let the mixture come to a slight boil and then add the sliced chicken.  Let the chicken cook until it is no longer pink and then add the bamboo shoots and bell pepper.  Simmer about 5 minutes (or longer to let the sauce thicken up some).  Stir in the Thai basil and fish sauce and sugar, if using.  Serve with rice or rice noodles.

posted by: artichoke72 at 15:08 | link | comments |
all recipes, asian recipes