Hairy Hot Dogs

Ingredients

1 package turkey hot dogs

Uncooked spaghetti

Preparation

1.Cut the rounded tip off the hot dogs, then cut into thirds.

2.Carefully slide uncooked spaghetti noodles through the ends of the hot dogs so that equal amounts of spaghetti remain on either side. Each hot dog piece should fit about 6-8 strands.

3.Place spaghetti dogs in a large pot of gently boiling water. Cook on a low simmer for 10-15 minutes.

4.Remove from water and slice each hot dog piece in half.

5.Check to make sure pasta within the hot dog is fully cooked. If necessary, place in pot for a few more minutes.

6.Serve hot with ketchup or tomato sauce.

Vegan Pizza

Ingredients:
Flour: 2 cups.
Instant yeast: 1 1/2 tsp.
Warm water: 1 cup plus about 1/3 cup.
Sugar/honey: 1 tsp.
Salt: 1/2 tsp.
oil: 1 tsp.(can add more if you are not calorie conscious)
Cornflour: Little to sprinkle and grease your hands.( If you have cornmeal then Great! its the reason for that extra crunchiness).
A tough spoon.

How I make
1.Measure 2 cups of flour into a bowl and add 1/2 tsp salt to it. (never put salt to yeast).

2.Mix with a spoon.

3.Pour 1 cup warm water into a cup, put in 1 1/2 tsp yeast.

4.And 1 tsp sugar or honey and give it a stir.

5.Make a well in the middle of the flour and pour this into it.

6.Mix with a spoon.

7.You can see that the dough does not come together, so need more water...add about 1/3 cup of water (or as needed). Always the amount of water could be more or less than the recipe...so use accordingly.

8.Again mix well with the spoon ofcourse....tough spoon!...my kids love this part...mix..mix...the dough will be very sticky  and loose at this point

9.The dough will be just a little bit sticky.

10.Now time to bring out your hands....take 1 tsp of ghee (I use that to get an Indian flavour, if you have olive oil use it) and smear your fingers with it.

11.And knead it into the dough.  because your hand is greased with oil, it makes it easy to knead the dough and bring it together. Knead for 2 or 3 minutes...thats it! The dough is not hard at all....its a bit loose dough.

12.Put into the oven and close the door....just like that no covering with a towel or anything....I simply put it in my oven and let the yeast rise.

13.After about 1 1/2 hours (its summer here) it will be well risen. The dough will be very loose and it might stick to your hand.

14.I usually bake pizza on my baking sheet....you can use your favorite...either a pan or pizza pan...Sprinkle some cornflour or cornmeal. I used cornflour

15.Plop the pizza dough on to this.

16.Again sprinkle some cornflour on top of the dough and grease your hands with it....remember I told you that dough might stick and never mind.

17.With your hand, gently shape the dough into a big round.....this is the fun part for my kids and they do this most of the time. If you want a thinner crust....spread into a very large round or square or oval....since I like it a bit soft and spongy, I maintain a certain thickness. Yes my never fail pizza dough is ready to go.

18.Brush ghee or olive oil before you set the topping and cook/bake...enjoy!

Chicken Burger

Ingredients

3 lbs. boneless chicken breast

Healthy handful of cilantro – chopped

4 oz. Monterey Jack cheese – shredded

Dashes of ground cumin

Dashes of garlic powder

1 tsp. of brown sugar

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

Zest and juice of 1 lime

1 lb. bacon

Your favorite bread for the burger

Sliced avocado – for the burger

Sautéed Onions:

1 large Spanish onion - sliced

1 jalapeño – chopped with seeds

1 tablespoon of vinegar

1 tsp. brown sugar

1 tablespoon ketchup

Drizzle of olive oil

Preparation

1.Prepare the bacon and set aside. Reserve some of the bacon fat to cook the burgers in.

2.Cube the chicken breast and place in a food processor and give a few good chops. Do not over process the meat.

3.Add the cilantro, shredded cheese, lime zest and lime juice. Add all of the seasonings and mix well.

4.Form into the desired size burgers.

5.Heat a large frying pan with the drippings from the bacon and a little drizzle of olive oil.

6.Carefully, place the burgers in the hot frying pan and let the burgers get a nice golden color on one side before flipping.

7.Sautéed Onions:

8.Heat a griddle or large frying pan or griddle with a drizzle of olive oil.

9.Place the sliced onions and jalapeño in the pan to sauté. Allow the onions to get a beautiful golden color.

10.Place the onions and jalapeño in a small serving platter.

11.Mix together the vinegar, brown sugar and ketchup in a small bowl. Add to the onions and jalapeño and toss.

12.Build your Burger:

13.Toast the bun and top with the burger, bacon, avocado and onions. Try a little mayonnaise on your burger; it is a nice change from ketchup.

Caramel Pudding

Ingredients

8 oz can condensed milk

1 cup whipping cream

vanilla wafers

Preparation

1.Directions

2.Put the can of condensed milk in a medium sauce pan.

3.Fill with enough water to cover the can.

4.Bring to a boil & cover & boil milk in the can for 3 hours.

5.Once the milk is done, preheat oven to 425.

6.Open can of milk & put into a pie plate.

7.Cover with foil, place in a shallow pan of water and bake until thick, about an hour. Remove foil & cool.

8.Once cool, mix the caramelized milk with whipped cream.

9.Layer dish with vanilla wafers. Chill before serving.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 cups flour
• 5 cups rolled oats (measure 5 cups then blend in blender into fine flour)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 24 oz. chocolate chips
• one 8 oz. Hershey’s Bar

Instructions

1. Cream together butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla.
2. Mix in the dry ingredients.
3. Add chocolate chips and grate the Hershey Chocolate Bar into the cookie dough.
4. Roll into small balls onto greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

Chocolate Poke Cake

Ingredients:
Flour: 2 cups.
Cocoa powder: 1/2 cup.
Baking Soda: 1 1/2 tsp .
Salt: 1/2 tsp.
Butter: 1 stick (100 gms)
Sugar: 2 cups.
Eggs: 2.
Vanilla: 2 tsp.
Warm water: 1 cup.
Buttermilk: 1/2 cup.

Boiled Frosting:(Martha Stewart's boiled chocolate frosting)
Butter: 1 stick (100 gms)
Cocoa powder: 1/4 cup.
Cream: 1/2 cup.
Vanilla extract: 2 tsp.
Powdered sugar: 2 cups.

Method:
Please bring all ingredients to room temperature and preheat oven to 180 degree C. Butter and flour the pan and keep aside.
Cream butter, then add 2 cups of sugar and cream well. Add 2 eggs and cream again. Add vanilla extract and salt and cream again for a minute.

1.Add 1/2 cup of cocoa powder

2.Add 2 cups of flour.

3.And the baking soda.

4.The buttermilk; (no buttermilk at hand, no problem....just pour 1/2 cup milk into a cup and add 1 tsp vinegar to it...mix and let it stand to curdle...your homemade buttermilk is ready.

5.And lastly the warm water. Note: If the batter is very thick, add warm water accordingly.

6.Mix, mix, and mix....then pour the chocolate goodness into the greased baking pan.

7.And bake...at 180 degree C for 35-40 min....if you are baking in an 8 inch pan...then you need two pans and more baking time.

8.While the temptress is in the oven, lets make the frosting. Into a sauce pan, add the butter, cocoa powder, and cream and mix well and bring it to a boil, stirring all the while...preferably in medium heat.

9.Remove from heat add vanilla and powdered sugar.

10.And whisk, whisk, and whisk...until you get this!! let it stay for a while, until the cake is out of the oven.

11.Allow the cake to cool down a bit.

12.Then poke it all over .....my kids were having fun....they had no school today, because of heavy rain...and so was in the kitchen!

13.Now pour the warm holy goodness....(give the batter-pan to the kids...its their reward)

14.Get the cake drenched in the chocolate goodness....since my kids call this cake "celebration cake" celebration what??? no-school-celebration ha!....I sprinkled some sprinkles....just for fun...you can top it with chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles...anything!

French Toast

Ingredients

4 slices whole wheat french bread, 1 ½ ″ thick

2 large eggs

2 large egg whites

1/4 cup low fat milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 pinch nutmeg

Preparation

1.Heat oven broiler and toast bread on each side.

2.Spray a large, square baking dish with cooking spray.

3.Whip eggs, milk, cinnamon and nutmeg together and pour into another square baking dish. Soak bread for 2 – 3 minutes per side so that the pieces soak up the egg mixture. You should have very little egg mixture left.

4.rrange bread in your baking dish and bake for 25 – 30 minutes at 350 degrees until egg is set and bread is no longer mushy.

5.Serve with syrup, jam or powdered sugar.