Fluffy baked falafel

If you like more texture, you can leave your chickpeas a little crunchy rather than cook them through but be warned they may not hold together as well. 1 cup of dried chickpeas 3 cloves garlic ½ a small Onion 1T coriander 1T cumin 1t Harissa 1T tahini ¼ C parsley 2T sesame seeds (toasted…

Smoked salmon poppers

The smokey protein of the salmon helps offset the spicy pepper poppers. Regulate the heat as needed. 6 jalapenos 1/2C cheddar, gouda or fontina cheese 2T cream cheese 1/2c hot smoked salmon, flaked 1T hot sauce or salsa 1T dill or cilantro, chopped 1/2c flour 1 egg, beaten with a splash of milk 1C breadcrumbs…

Ploughman’s cheddar dip

This hearty cheddar dip incorporates elements of a ploughman’s lunch. 1T butter 1 onion, chopped 1 C dried apple, chopped ¼C ale 2T apple cider vinegar 2t mustard 1C cheddar cheese 1T sour cream ¼ c milk at room temperature Toast of a stout bread Preheat oven to 350.  Melt butter in a saucepan.  Add…

Corn Stuffed Chilies

These make a great substitute for chili rellenos which take way more effort and have far more calories.  Sometimes I use an egg as a binder and sometimes I mix in a melting cheese to keep the filling together.  I personally think the combination of fresh cheeses give it a bright, light flavor which I…

Mussels allium

This dish may be prepared a la minute, chopping ingredients as you go.  If you have especially hairy mussels that need a lot of attention you may want to clean them before beginning the preparation.  Otherwise, they can be cleaned while the sauce is simmering.  Hardcore onion lovers should not strain out the solids. You…

Oyster relish

The ingredients you would use to dress a traditional potato salad pair wonderfully with fried oysters. Serve either as an appetizer or main dish. 1 hard boiled egg 1 celery stalk 1T white onion 1 pickle Mayo to taste Finely chop up all solid ingredients or puree in a food processor.  Add enough mayo to…

Garlic oven fries

These oven fries satisfy as a healthy side dish that can be served with formal and informal meals alike. They can even stand in as an appetizer. 2T mayonnaise 2T Greek yogurt 2 garlic cloves, grated Zest and juice of 1 lemon 2T olive oil 2T rosemary or thyme, or a combination of the two,…

Salmon burgers

The similarities to the classic smoked salmon preparation are not a coincidence. Serve this pescatarian pleaser as a great substitute for appetizer meatballs or hamburgers. The key is to cut the salmon into small dice.  Never puree the salmon in a food processor no matter what the recipe says.  Cutting it into small chunks preserves the…

Hot and sweet shrimp

Serve these hot and sweet shrimp as either as an appetizer or a light but satisfying meal.  If preparing as an appetizer, pay more attention to the size of the shrimp you use and how you cut the fruit and jalapeno, as you will want them both uniform and small enough to fit into one…