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Showing posts from April, 2012

Roasted Vegetable and Beef Moussaka

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Moussaka is a Mediterranean dish that is traditionally made with eggplants and ground beef.  I found a vegetarian recipe for roasted vegetable moussaka that I thought looked so pretty with all the different colors, but I also wanted some protein in it so I could eat it as a main dish so I combined it with a more traditional type of moussaka.  The end result turned out very nicely and I'll definitely be making it again. Roasted Vegetable and Beef Moussaka serves 6 1 small eggplant, sliced 1 medium zucchini, sliced thickly 1 onion, cut into small wedges 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped coarsely 2 garlic cloves, chopped coarsely, divided 1 lb fresh lean ground beef 5 tbs olive oil 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme salt and pepper 14 oz canned chopped tomatoes in juice 10 fluid oz strained plain yogurt 2 eggs 2 oz feta cheese Put eggplant, zucchini, wedged onion, bell pepper, and half the garlic in a roasting pan.  drizzle over the oil,

Pink Lemonade cupcakes

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I found this recipe, of all places, in the magazine my utilities company sent me.  I've tried several recipes form their recipe collection of all have been pretty good.  This turned out really good but soooooooo tart! I'm posting the adjusted recipe with cut backs on pink lemonade mix. Pink Lemondae Cupcakes (24 cupcakes) 1 cup butter, softened 1 3/4 cups sugar 1/8 cup powdered pink lemonade mix 4 large eggs 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 cup milk cooking spray Pink Lemonade Frosting Preheat oven to 340 degrees. Cream butter, sugar and lemonade mix at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy Add eggs, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition In small bowl, combine flour, baking pwoder and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Place cupcake paper sin two 12-cup muffin pans and coat with cooking spray

Spinach and Feta Swirls

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This appetizer or side dish is yummy and pretty.  I combined two different recipes in order to come up with this one.  Made this two times now and always very satisfied with the result. Ingredients: 1 lb fresh baby spinach, chopped or 1 10 oz package frozen spinach 1 small onion, chopped finely 4 oz feta 1 egg, beaten 1 tbs. fresh dill, chopped 2 tbs. fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped salt and pepper 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 400F and lightly grease one baking pan. 2) Sautee onion in about 1 tbs olive oil in a large skillet.  Add fresh spinach with just water from leaves and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until wilted.  If using frozen spinach, cook until no longer in chunks.  I've done it with fresh spinach or frozen spinach and I personally think the fresh spinach is easier. 3)Allow to cool.  Drain spinach and onion mixture in a kitchen towel.  Combine spinach, onion, dill, parsley, egg, feta, and salt and pepper. 4)Un

Another food blog?!

I come from a culture where recipes aren't really written down. In Vietnam, girls learn how to cook from watching and helping their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers in the kitchen. Unfortunately, that tradition is hard to maintain when your parents immigrated to the US as war refuges and your grandparents live in France. But I'm lucky to be able to enjoy food from several different cultures. Vietnamese food we ate at home, American (and also Italian, Tex-Mex, Greek) from eating out and growing up in America, and French food from my grandparents and mother's side of the family who live in Paris. I wanted to have a place where I can share and keep the recipes I've learned from my mother, family, recipe books, or online recipe sites that I want to remember.  The name of my blog comes from a very special type of Vietnamese salt and pepper called Muoi Tieu Hue.  It's from the central region of Vietnam that my father is from.  It is salt and pepper that is smoked f