22 November 2007

Gingerbread Stuffing

I don't know if I should post this, since it is still in the oven - 3 minutes to go - and hasn't even been tasted yet. The idea of gingerbread + bacon in stuffing came from my new food hero, Nigella Lawson, but I didn't really follow her recipe - just used it as a springboard. Another disclaimer: it's not really stuffing, it's technically dressing. I don't stuff turkeys. Just people.

1 recipe gingerbread (Joy of Cooking's is awesome - but I used half the amount of sugar, butter, and molasses)
5 apples - Granny Smith or eating apples (I used a variety)
2 onions
8-10 stalks celery
1-2 cups chicken broth
6 strips bacon

1. Dry out and crumble up gingerbread. Chop apples, celery and onions.

2. In a large frying pan or griddle, fry the bacon. Crumble and set aside. Drain *most* of the fat out of the pan. Add onions to the pan and saute in a little bacon fat until translucent. Add apples and celery; saute 5-10 minutes longer. Add gingerbread crumbs and bacon; stir to combine. Moisten with chicken broth.

3. Transfer stuffing to 9x13 pan, bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

OK I just tasted some... it is amazing. Try this at home.

06 November 2007

Mint Hummus Dip - from Martha

1/2 c. olive oil, divided
1 onion, coarsely chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 c. fresh mint, coarsely chopped
1/4 c. parsley, chopped
3 T. fresh lemon juice
coarse salt
black or cayenne pepper

1. Heat 1/4 c. of the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions for 8 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes more. Add garbanzo beans and cook for 3 minutes more. Remove from heat and let cool 10-15 minutes.

2. Place mint, parsley, lemon juice, salt and garbanzo bean mixture in food processor or blender (on my blender, the "chop" mode works well) and begin to mix. While the machine is going, pour in the remaining 1/4 c. (more or less) olive oil in a slow steady stream. Remove from blender, add pepper and taste to adjust seasonings.

3. Serve warm, drizzle some olive oil on top and more cayenne pepper, or if you used black pepper, sprinkle paprika on top... something red. :)