Falafel, Hummus & "Tzatziki"

The other day (or so) the Hubs said proudly that he uses the food processor more than I do. Well that won’t do, challenge accepted, and completed with making falafel, and hummus. Everybody knows you can't have falafel without a sauce, "tzatziki" was the way to go!

What is falafel, think of a chickpea (garbanzo bean) meatball of sorts, filled with spices, onion, and well goodness. Hummus is like a dip or spread, depending on thick or thin you make it,  pureed chickpeas, oil, and seasonings. “Tzatziki” is a dipping sauce is plain yogurt, lemon juice, and spices.


Falafel, crockpot style:
This is a doubled recipe, so it’s easy to cut in half for trying the first time. If reducing by half just use white onion.

30 oz chickpeas (canned or if using dried make sure you have soaked them according to directions)
½ onion
4 green onions
2-4 minced garlic, depending on how much you like
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2-3 tsp coriander, I added more.. I roll like that
½-1tsp black pepper
½ -1 tsp cayenne pepper
Splash or two of lemon juice
1 C bread crumbs
Oil for bottom of pot
Small bowl with oil
Crockpot
Food Processor


Blend onion, garlic, eggs, lemon and spices in food processor
Blend drained chickpeas, and mix
Add breadcrumbs, mix
Place oil in bottom of crockpot, swirl to spread it around
Form mixture into squished golf ball sized patties
Dip each side in oil, and place in crockpot (its ok to overlap)
Cook on high about 3 1/2hrs or until brownish gold

Hummus

15oz chickpeas (can or soaked per directions if dried)
1-2 tsp cumin
½ tsp salt
1 clove crushed garlic
1-2tsp tahini, plain sesame seeds work fine, or can omit
1 tbsp oil
If using canned chickpeas, drain but reserve the liquid.

In a blender or food processor combine garbanzo beans, garlic, cumin, salt and olive oil. Blend on low speed, gradually adding reserved bean liquid (water is fine), until desired consistency is achieved.

"Tzatziki" Sauce

Why the quotations? Simply because there is no cucumber in it.. I know. It really is a dill yogurt sauce but it does the trick. Also this way you don't have to worry about straining your yogurt.

8oz plain yogurt, if you want thick use greek
1/2-1 tbsp lemon juice, depending on the tartness preference
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped*
3 cloves pressed garlic

Combine all together. It does make you feel better to sing "cu-cumbah, cu-cumbah, cu-cumbaahhh" as you are stirring it. Well, maybe that is just me :P

*I didn't have fresh dill, so I just kept sprinkling dill in till I got the taste I liked.

　

Crockpot Italian Chicken in Cream Sauce

This is absolutely delicious, I served it with mashed potatoes and corn. However it would go great with any side dish.

Here is the official recipe:

6 skinless boneless chicken breasts
1/4C melted butter
1 .7oz pkg italian salad dressing mix
1 10 3/4oz cream of mushroom soup
1/2c dry white wine (or apple juice)
1/2 of 8oz tub chive onion cream cheese

Put chicken in crockery pot
Melt butter add italian dressing
Mix in rest
Pour over chicken
Cook low 4-5hrs


When I made it first I doubled the recipe, and I used chicken tenders instead of chicken breasts.
For the amount of meat I needed it was actually cheaper, and gave better portion sizes for children.

Now when I make this again (because I will make it again) I will leave out the apple juice (or white wine) so the sauce will be thicker, as it was a tad runny. I also used cream of celery soup, simply because I wanted to.
I also found that cooking it on low, the time needed to be longer for my crockpot and for the amount of food I had in there.

Hope you enjoy :0)

Tomato Soup Spice Cake

I always wanted to make a tomato soup cake. I was nervous, so I made it for a church fellowship meal. This way we could all share in my baking experement haha. I will say out of my 9x13 tray there were only four small peices left.

Ok  confession time I didn't make this from scratch. Yes I cheated I used a cake mix. Let me tell you this cake made me work. The oven ignition went out so I had to take the cake for a walk across the street and bake it in the church oven. I did also mix it all by hand. So can I call it semi-homemade? ;P

1pkg Spice Cake
1 can tomato soup (10.75oz, the small one)
1/2 c water
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350F
Grease and lightly flour  a 9x13 dish (or two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans)
Mix eggs, water, soup, and cake mix
Pour into prepared pans
Bake 25 minutes or until done (my 9x13 took exactly 25mins)
Cool on wire racks 10 minutes
Remove from pans and cool completely (I left mine in pan)
Frost with cream cheese icing

Almost Lasagna

I love pasta, I love lasagna, I hate making lasagna. When I found this recipe I knew I just had to try it. It is exactly "almost lasagna", plus the addition of lots of veggies. Yum. This is also a fast recipe to put together. Literally I had all ingredients cooked, and ready to place in the oven in under 15mins.

1 pound elbow macaroni, cooked, (or other similarly shaped pasta-like small shells)
1 pound ground meat, cooked and drained if needed  (or beef, chicken, sausage or tofu crumbles)
1 jar pasta Sauce, (26 ounces)
 Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 pound ricotta cheese (cottage cheese works too)
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 cups frozen veggies (optional)

Cook pasta according to directions
Cook meat, drain if needed
Mix eggs, and ricotta (cottage cheese) together
Add pasta sauce, meat and veggies to pasta
Mix in egg and cheese mixture to pasta
Add half of pasta mixture into a 9x13 pan
Top mixture with 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese
Add remanding pasta, and top with remanding cheese
Bake in a 350 oven, 20mins with foil over dish, and for another 20mins with foil removed

Cheesy Bacon Cabbage

We all know that cheese and bacon can make anything (ok almost anything) taste better. So why not add this dynamic duo to some cooked up cabbage. I mean adding cabbage makes this a very healthy meal right ;P

6 slices bacon
1 head cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese

Fry the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp.
Remove to paper towels to drain, then crumble and set aside.
Pour off bacon grease, reserving about 1tbsp in the pan.
Fry the cabbage in the bacon grease over medium heat until cabbage is tender, or to your desired degree of doneness.
Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper.
Top with shredded cheese and crumbled bacon.

Oatmeal Cake

I know it sounds weird but it is good, trust me you'll like it. Now the cake does rise, just not as much as a regular cake. This cake will fall a little if you have a crazy 4yr old who has the urge to stand beside the oven and jump while you are washing dishes. Don't fret it will still taste great, you'll just have the topping settle in some sections a little in some areas.
If you would rather not use the topping you can opt for a brown sugar icing, or whatever you think would go great with it.
Happy baking!!

CAKE:
1 1/2 cups boiling water

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

Optional: add 1C of raisins, chocolate chips, nuts etc.

Preheat oven to 350F and  grease a 9 x 13 pan.

In a small bowl, pour boiling water over oats. Mix well, and cool. In a large bowl, combine butter or margarine, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. 
Add cooled oatmeal mixture, and stir to combine. 
Pour batter into pan.
Bake for 35 minutes.  Start on topping.             

TOPPING:

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 cup flaked coconut (can omit)

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup cream (or milk)

Combine  white sugar,  brown sugar, coconut, melted butter or margarine, vanilla, and cream in a mixing bowl.
Remove cake from oven, and turn on broiler.
Drop mixture by small spoonfuls on top of cake. Spread evenly and carefully.
Broil for 1to 3 minutes, until topping is bubbling and lightly browned. 

*If you double the topping adjust butter and cream as needed to your liking.             

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Yum, yum, yum. I know I am an odd duck, but I love brussel sprouts. Usually I just boil them and eat them with delicious cheese sauce, however I now love roasting them in the oven. It’s super simple!!

1 - 1 1/2 pounds brussels sprouts, ends trimmed, and yellow leaves removed (defrosted frozen ones work great too)
3 tablespoons olive oil (vegetable oil works fine)
About 1 teaspoon kosher salt
About 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400F
Toss brussels in oil, salt and pepper
Place on pan. For easier cleanup try using a silicone baking pad or parchment paper.
Place in oven.
Bake for about 30-45mins till dark in colour.
You may want to shake the pan every 5-10mins to make sure they don’t stick to the pan, and for even baking.
Remove once done and serve right away. Trust me they are good!!