Basic Cookie Dough

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar (granulated or powdered
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder

Mix butter with sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until well mixed. Add flour and baking powder and blend well. Refrigerate overnight in a airtight container.

Its not very sweet at all. So you can add honey, walnuts. choco chips etc etc to make any version of cookies.

Bake at 425 for about 5-8 minutes.

Orange Cake

See Lemon Cake.
Replace Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice with twice the amount of orange zest and orange juice (Additionally I used some of the strained pulp as well).
Also I added 1/4 cup more sugar.

Lemon Cake

Step 1:

2.5 Cups Flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp salt

Mix the dry ingredients together and keep aside.

Step 2:

1 Cup Butter
1.5 Cup Sugar

Beat the above together.

Add 2 large eggs and 2 egg yolks
+ 1 tsp vanilla essence
+ 1.5 tsp lemon zest ( grated lemon peel)

Whisk above to together well into a smooth mix.

Now Slowly beat in 1/4 cup freshly squeezed and strained lemon juice. It may look like its going to curdle but beat it into a smooth mix.

Step 3 :

At this point fold in the dry mix along with 1/2 cup of milk alternating the two to get a nice even batter.

Step 4 :

Pour into a greased baking dish and bake at 425 for 25 minutes.

For the Topping:

Chopped fresh strawberries
1 Cup Fat free whipped cream. ( I used cool whip)
1 tbsp sugar

Mix the above in a bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

After cake is done and cooled down, evenly spread this on top of the cake and refrigerate until you serve. Alternately you can split the batter to make two small cakes and use this as a layer in between.

Baked Spicy Enchilada Casserole

For 2 People:

2 medium Zucchini's chopped into small pieces.
1 medium size Onion
2 Green Chillies
1 Cup mushrooms sliced
1 medium Capsicum chopped into small pieces.
1 cup diced Fire roasted vine tomatoes

Salt, Pepper, Chipotle Chile powder, garlic powder, pinch of oregano : To Taste

7 small Corn Tortillas

2 Cups of Mix of Grated Jack and Cheddar Cheese.

1 Cup Enchilada Sauce from Trader Joes (I used the red one)

How to:

1. Pre-heat Oven to about 350 degrees.
2.In a skillet, heat a little bit of oil and add green chillies and Onions first followed by the rest of the vegetables.
3. Add the To taste seasonings and cover and cook for 5-7 minutes.
4. On an open flame, lightly cook the tortillas and keep aside.
5. Grease a deep enough baking dish lightly with olive oil.
6. Assemble all the components in the following order in nice layers: Enchilada Sauce, Tortilla, Vegetables, Cheese, Tortilla.
7. above teh last layer of tortilla, a thinner layer of sauce, veggies and cover completely with cheese.
8. Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes.

Voila !!! Serve hot and enjoy.

Chocolate-Banana Cake

You need:

1.25 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs
2 bananas
1.5 cup milk
1/2 cup oil

How to:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together and keep aside.
2. Whip all the wet ingredients together.
3. Slowly fold in the dry ingredients mixed.
4. Pour in a greased baking tray.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 400 for about 40 minutes.

Enjoy !

Summer Salads !

Courtesy New York Times.



http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=global-home

hmmm..

Jacob's Creek

Reserve

Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage 2002