Appetizer: Chick-Pea Salad
2 cups canned chick-peas, washed and drained
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Place washed and drained chick-peas in a small bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and shake well. Just before serving, pour over chick-peas and toss.
The Skinny: Chick-peas are supposed to be good for you.
Main Course: Pastitsio
1 pound ziti macaroni
1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped 1 pound ground lamb (you may substitute pork or beef if you wish)
2 cup canned tomatoes, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
Ground black pepper
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Bring to a boil 6 cups of water. Place ziti in boiling water for about 7 - 9 minutes, drain and set aside. Meanwhile heat 4 Tbsp. of the olive oil in a large skillet and brown onions. Add lamb and **** until done when no more pink remains. Stir in tomatoes, garlic, oregano, cinnamon and salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half the bread crumbs and the egg and set aside.
Cream Sauce
4 cups milk
2 Tbsp. butter
6 eggs
1 Tsp. salt
1/2 cup flour
Combine 3 cups milk and butter in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat. Beat in the eggs until mixture is frothy. Add remaining milk and salt and continue to beat. Slowly add flour while continuing to beat. Slowly pour in heated milk mixture and bring to a boil. When mixture starts to thicken, remove from heat and set aside.
To make the Pastitsio, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with the remaining bread crumbs. Place half of the ****ed ziti along the bottom, followed by the meat mixture. Pour half the cream sauce over meat followed by 1/3 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Place the rest of the ziti over the cheese followed by the remaining cream sauce and cheese. Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares and serve.
The Skinny: We made this the other night with low-fat milk and egg substitute. It was good but was missing a little anticipated richness and flavor. Perhaps you could use mostly egg substitute but throw in a couple of real eggs to help with the richness and flavor.
Glazed Carrots
6 cups carrots cut into 1-inch diagonal slices
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. salt
**** carrots on stovetop in a small amount of salted water until tender, drain water. Combine orange juice, nutmeg, brown sugar and cornstarch and mix until smooth. Pour over carrots and **** for several minutes until mixture thickens, add butter and toss. Serve hot.
The Skinny: Use your favorite sugar substitute.
Dessert: Walnut Butter ****ies
1/2 pound butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
Melt butter and place in a large bowl to cool. Add sugar and baking powder and mix well. Add flour one-half cup at a time and beat with a hand mixer in between additions. The dough will start to get thick. Stir in walnuts and mix. Take about 1 - 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into 2-inch logs and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 - 18 minutes or until lightly browned. Allow ****ies to cool and sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Make about 2 dozen ****ies.