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A couple of years ago I purchase Tortas de Aceite from an online purveyor of Spanish Food and they were wonderful! I thought the tortas would arrive stale and dry as they were imported from Spain. I was wonderfully surprised by the and unique and delicious crump and the combination of savory and sweet. Sterling was immediately enamored of these wonderful treats.
Tortas de Aceite or Oil Cakes are from Spain or more closely Seville. Because tortas are made with Olive Oil instead of other types of fats they are a very healthy, light alternative dessert; the ingredients are simply flour, water, yeast, olive oil and the crispy cakes are finished with sugar and a variety of seeds or herbs. I like a sweet and salty combination that wraps its way around the tongue in a complex way that a singular flavor set could not.
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There is an absolutely wonderful sauce served with Schwarma in Lebanese Restaurants. I love it! Lebanese Yogurt Garlic Sauce is not only a must on Shwarma but makes an exceptional dip with vegetables and flat bread. Garlicky and satisfying this dip is based in healthy yogurt and is very easy to make.
I usually use fat free, Greek Style Yogurt because it is creamy, delicious and very good for you. Yogurt Vegetable sticks such as red peppers, celery, carrots and snap peas are each equally at home with this wonderful dip. [...]
The most wonderful time of year is when fresh tomatoes arrive in the garden but just a bit before that some pretty darn good ones arrive in the store. Tomatoes are wonderfully delicious, sweet and juicy and full of good for you stuff.
Extremely simple to prepare and a real treat is a fresh tomato pie. Flaky pastry filled with tomatoes and topped with cheese makes for a wonderful light lunch and is perfectly complimented by a salad of Spring greens. [...]
The ideal meal, in my opinion, is one that you can pick up with your hands, is full of flavor, satisfies compliment wine and make my guest say “Yum Yum”. Piquillo Rellano Crostoni meet all of my criteria!
Piquillo Peppers “Little Beaks” are grown in Northern Spain and provide a mildly piquant unique taste. These little peppers are roasted over open coals and are both deliciously sweet and savory. Piquillo Peppers have a thin flesh which is perfect for stuffing. I love to make Piquillo Rellano with a variety of different fillings but the little peppers are especially good with Chevre.
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 I love to make hummus, it is easy, very good for you and has a high satiety value. Hummus is an excellent, low fat, high energy food perfect as a light meal or for an appetizer. There are a ton of ways to “customize” hummus depending upon taste and other things being served with it. I like to make a Lemony Hummus and equally love a Garlicky Hummus. It’s just good food! [...]
I love easy recipes with a big payout! These Green Onion Appetizers are made using ready made crescent dough, cream cheese and green onions. A few ingredients, quickly mixed together, placed inside some buttery crust and baked until golden brown. A few minutes from refrigerator to oven and people love them! Long on flavor, short on effort and buttery, cheesy gooey always seems to satisfy! [...]
Yummy Artichoke Dip, so easy to prepare and is a great make ahead appetizer for holiday gatherings.
I changed my dip up a bit recently, experimenting with the seasonings and ratios a bit, served this version at the shop and it was a hit!
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I love onion dip, who doesn’t? But the California dip made with onion soup mix is very salty, and frankly a bit tired. I created this variation which is full of onion flavor, a lot less sodium and is delicious. The dip mix can be made in advance and quickly stirred in sour cream a couple of hours before you are ready for dip. It also makes a wonderful sandwich spread. [...]
There is a spice mix called Old Bay which was designed for seafood and chicken. A few years ago I heard about the seasoning and went to the market looking for it. Our local markets, along the beef coast, didn’t carry the seasoning. When I finally found it I was a bit taken back by the $9.00 price tag for a seasoning I had never tasted, wasn’t sure I would use on seafood which I rarely cook. As I have a very well stocked spice cabinet I was sure I could come up with something that would work. [...]
Wonderful crackers are a must for entertaining or simply to use with a cheese board. There are lots of quality crackers on the market but I like to take a few extra minutes to make my own. Crackers are very easy to make and have a rustic, home-made look to them. Whenever I serve crackers I have created they are a hit and people are usually a bit surprised I made them. Not sure why, it’s easier than baking a cake!
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