Category Archives: Recipes

Eggplant Parmesan the right way

I love eggplant parm but in most recipes 2 things happen.  1)   It turns out soggy not crispy, and 2)  it tastes eggy.  Both of these are bad.  Both get a fix here but it takes time THAT’S WORTH IT!

2 medium or large eggplants
1 -2 cups of Parmesan cheese
2 cups of mozzarella
2 eggs
1 cup cream
2 cups bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups flour (add a tablespoon of salt and pepper and mix ‘er up)
large can of crushed tomatoes
1/2 habanero chopped
olive oil
2 or so garlic cloves chopped
time (not the spice, you’re gonna need some time to make all this)

Peel the eggplant and slice into 1/4 inch pieces longways (thin = crispy).  Spread them out of 2 large baking pans and salt them well on both sides.  Put another baking pan on top and something heavy (cast iron skillet, lots of books etc.) on top of that.  About an hour later tilt the pans into the sink to drain off the liquid that comes out.  Some people do this because they say it’s less bitter.  I’ve never noticed a difference.   I do it because it removes internal moisture.  Less moisture = crispy.  Rinse the eggplant under cold water and pat dry.  Set up 3 stations on plates or wide bowls to dip these little guys in.  First plate has the flour/salt/pepper mixture.  Second plate – eggs and cream.  Third plate has Parmesan and bread crumbs.  Spread oil on your baking pans and don’t be stingy. Oil= crispy.  Dip the eggplant in the flour (both sides), then the egg mixture, then the bread crumbs and parm and place on the pans (side by side, not stacked).  Bake at 350 forever.  Or until golden brown, whichever comes first.  It really does take around 45 minutes or so.  The goal is to make the inside soft and the outside crispy.  I also spray them with a spray oil before I put them in.  Your call, you need to flip them 1/2 through cooking time, so it’s not 100% necc.  Just makes them more CRISPY!  Meanwhile, make the sauce!  Add olive oil to a pot (not iron – the acid in the tomatoes will react and give it an off taste), add garlic and some salt.  Cook garlic and habanero for a few minutes – don’t burn he garlic!  When you see the slightest amount of brown on that garlic add the can of tomatoes right away.  Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for at least a half hour.  Assembly time!  In the bottom of a casserole dish put a little olive oil, then layer the eggplant, Mozzarella cheese, eggplant, Mozzarella cheese, eggplant, Mozzarella cheese, eggplant, you get the idea.  I often stack two layers side by side, otherwise the height of the dish gets a little crazy…  bake at 500 until the cheese gets brown on top.  Pull it out, pour over your hot sauce and slap your Italian mother for not making it this way when you were growing up!

 

 

 

Haitian Spaghetti

Can I be clear about this?  Just do it.  Yes – the ingredients seem weird for spaghetti but this is so good you’ll probably finish up dinner and go online to donate to these deserving people!  I’ve had this in Haiti and I can tell you – it’s authentic (minus a rooster crowing in the background while you’re preparing it)!

1lb spaghetti
4 tablespoons canola (or any other neutral) oil
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon garlic
1 cup white onions
1 teaspoon thyme (fresh, chopped)  You can use dried.  It’s gonna be ok.
5 or so Hot dogs sliced into 1/2 inch circles
1 ½ tablespoons chicken bouillon powder or a cude
salt (to taste)
½ cup reserve pasta water
1/4 chopped habanero

Directions
Boil the pasta in salted water.  Set a side some pasta water when draining

Heat oil and fry your sliced dogs!  then add tomato paste.  You’re basically frying the paste too.  Isn’t this fun?!  Keep going for about 5 minutes – you’ll see a few black specks, then you’ll know it’s time.

Add garlic, onion, thyme, habanero and hotdogs and cook for 4 minutes while stirring to blend.

Add chicken bouillon and stir.

Add pasta and stir to blend while gradually adding a little pasta water.  You don’t want it to be liquidy – just a bit more moist…

Lower heat and cover and cook for another 4-5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot.  Start speaking Creole!

Blazin’ Fast Flat Bread

 

Blazin’ Fast Flat Bread
Author: Saucy Bugger
Serves: 4
It’s dinner time but you forgot to bake the bread today, didn’t you? We’ve got your back, no worries. This is a fast, healthy flat bread that will be finished before dinner is done! If you have time to let it rest longer, it only gets better.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 habaneros, diced
  • 1/2 an onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450. Mix flour and salt, then add 1 1/2 cups water, mix until it is fairly smooth and thin. Cover and let it sit as long as you can (at least 10 minutes). The batter should be about the consistency of thin pancake batter.
  2. Put oil in cast iron skillet with onions, rosemary and habaneros and put in oven for 5 minutes. Take it out of the oven, pour in the batter and bake 30 to 40 minutes. Flatbread will be crispy and brown when done. Pass it around and enjoy!!!!!

This is one of those recipes where you’re just gonna have to trust me. What am I talking about? Uh, well, you’ll find out when you read the ingredient list.

Ingredients: the salad (this is a main course my friend, and this is a meat eater talking)

1 habanero diced
1 cup quinoa
2 to 3 cups potatoes
1 pound green beans (not the canned kind, what are you thinking??? cut them up too)
2 cloves of garlic unpeeled
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup stemmed kale (chopped)
3 scallions, chopped
1 avocado, sliced
1 lemon

Dressing:

1/4 cup red wine vinegar (no other kind works)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions:

Turn that oven on the 400 and line your baking sheet with parchment. Toss the hab, green beans, potatoes and garlic cloves in the oil and add some salt and pepper.

Cook for 15-20 minutes (check them at 10) and flip them.  Cook until the potatoes are brown and beautiful and cooked through. Cook the quinoa (follow the directions on the bag).

Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients and whisking, then add the garlic (peeled first) and squish it into the dressing.

Add everything else to the bowl, serve warm, then write me a letter telling me how now you love Kale.

Kick Butt Chicken

Kick Butt Chicken
Recipe Type: Main
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 40 mins
Serves: 4
You want love in a pan. Here’s love in a pan baby.
Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 habanero, minced
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
  • 3 tbsp flour
  • 1 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Put chicken in a pan and season with salt and pepper. Sauté veggies and habanero in oil. Pour over chicken and bake for 20 minutes. Heat the butter and add the garlic, cook for a minute and add flour and mustard, cook for 3-4 minutes, pour in milk while constantly stirring. Season with salt and pepper and a dash of nutmeg. When chicken is done, pour over cheese mixture and broil for 5 minutes until golden. Serve with rice or noodles and don’t go near the scale for at least a week!

 

SERIOUS Vegan Hell Fire Chili

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Medium Shallotts, chopped
5 Habaneros, chopped  (or more, how brave are YOU?)
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped (see the color thing we’re gong for)
4 Cloves of Garlic, minced
2 Teaspoons Ground Cumin
1 Can of Red Kidney Beans, drained
1 Can of Cannellini Beans, drained
1 Can of Black Beans, drained
1/2 Chipotle Pepper
2 28oz Cans of crushed

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan and add onion and bell peppers.  Cook 10 minutes.  Add garlic, cumin, and habaneros, cook for 5 more minutes.   Add everything else, bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.  Feel the heat my friend.  Feel the heat.

Killer Queso

1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 to 1 habanero (depending on how hot you want it!), diced
1 plum tomato, diced
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Melt butter over low heat.  Add habanero, cook for 2 minutes.  Stir in flour and cook for a couple minutes until golden (not browned).  Stir in cream and cook 3-5 minutes stirring frequently until thicker.  Don’t boil!  Stir in cheese.  Add tomato, worchestershire and salt to taste.  Serve with torilla chips.  Enjoy!

Scoville Scale in a nutshell

The Scoville scale is a measurement in heat units created by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912.  Basically, it’s a numerical rating to determine how hot each pepper is.   The actual number of Scoville heat units indicates the amount of Capsaicin in each pepper.  Capsaicin is the natural chemical found in hot peppers that hits the mucous membranes and fills your mouth with love.  HA!  The habanero is the hottest natural pepper.

 

Penne Perfection

 

Penne Perfection
Author: Saucy Bugger
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 4
Perfection on a plate.
Ingredients
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 slices prosciutto, chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced (1 if you have a meeting in the morning)
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 pound box penne
  • 1-3 habaneros (depends on the level of perfection you’d like to achieve)
  • 1/2 cup cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
Instructions
  1. Bring a large salted pot of water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente, reserve a cup of liquid before draining. Meanwhile, cook garlic, prosciutto, pepper flakes and habaneros in oil for a couple of minutes. Add a bit of reserved liquid to stop the garlic from cooking before it browns. Add all other ingredients including pasta. Add enough liquid to thin the sauce. Salt, pepper, perfection my friend.