Here is the ratatouille recipe with my modifications.

Spicy Ratatouille

Olive oil
3 cloves of garlic minced
3 tsp dried parsley
A few shakes of dried basil
A few shakes of dried oregano
1 large egg plant cut into small pieces
Salt (desired amount)
Rosemary (desired amount)
Thyme (desired amount)
Black pepper (desired amount)
Cayenne pepper (desired amount, I would go easy on this)
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup feta cheese
2 medium sized zucchini sliced
1 large onion
1 ½ -2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms
1 red pepper
1 can of diced tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the bottom and sides of a large casserole dish with olive oil. Heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic until lightly browned. Add the parsley, basil, oregano, salt, and egg plant. Cook until the egg plant is soft (about 10 minutes).

Place the egg plant mixture into your casserole dish in an even layer. Sprinkle with a few tbsp of parmesan cheese and feta cheese (and more of the same herbs if desired). Spread zucchini over top. Salt and sprinkle with more cheese (and herbs if desired). Continue layering like this with the rest of the vegetables (except add the tomatoes last).

(ratatouille before baking)

Bake in your preheated oven for about 45 minutes.

(ratatouille after baking)

I served the ratatouille with some garlic bread, and spicy sausages. It can also be served with pasta or rice.

( ratatouille on warm garlic bread yummy:P )

(ratatouille pasta dish (with the leftovers)

I morphed the recipe greatly.

The soup turned out super yummy. It makes quite a big pot of soup. Enough for about 6 very large servings.

Cauliflower, Cheddar and Parmesan Soup

olive oil

2-3 white onions (diced)

1-2 stalks celery (diced)

2 cloves garlic (diced)

5 medium sized pealed potatoes

½-1 head cauliflower

2 vegetable bullion packages (made according to box)

4 cups boiling water

salt

pepper

parsley

basil

garlic powder

savory

Oregano

cheddar cheese (grated)

parmesan cheese (grated fresh)

Prepare all vegetables. In a large pot coat the bottom with olive oil. On medium heat place the onions and garlic in the pot. Brown. Add the celery. Cook for several minutes. Now add the potato. Prepare the vegetable bullion according to box directions (I used ¾ cup water for each package of bullion). Add your prepared vegetable bullion mixture to the cooking vegetables. Cook the vegetables for 10-12 minutes. Add all the spices and herbs (be generous with these especially the salt). Now add the cauliflower. Cook for 10-15 minutes. Pour the vegetable mixture into a blender or food processor. Whiz for a few seconds. Then place back in pot. Do this until all the soup has been in the blender (I used a separate pot to pour my blended soup into). Once all the soup is blended on low heat add the cheeses continue to stir until melted. Sample the soup. If it is zesty enough serve if not add more of the same spices and cook for several more minutes.

I served this soup with some home made tortilla chips, and some fresh vegtables.

Enjoy J

Yesterday I was feeling ambitious (in the kitchen that is). I decided to search for a recipe for chicken breast to make for dinner. I found one that I liked on this website: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Garlic-Lemon-Double-Stuffed-Chicken/Detail.aspx. The recipe is for garlic and lemon stuffed chicken. It is a unique recipe and super yummy.

As usual I morphed the recipe greatly. Here is my morphed version.

Garlic Lemon Stuffed Chicken

Olive oil (for baking dish)

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (thawed)

4 tsp light cream cheese

4 medium thickness slices of cheddar cheese

¼-½ cup milk

¾ cup seasoned bread crumbs

2 garlic cloves minced

One white onion diced

1 tsp Garlic powder

Salt

Black pepper

Paprika

7 tbsp lemon juice

½ cup parmesan cheese

4 tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a medium sized baking dish with some olive oil.

Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally, almost right through. In the middle of each breast place: a slice of cheddar cheese, cream cheese, a few pieces of minced garlic, and a few pieces of onion.

In a separate bowl place the milk. Coat each breast in milk (on the outside). Brushing them with milk might be a good way to do this.

In a separate bowl combine the bread crumbs, and parmesan cheese.

Now coat each breast with the bread crumb mixture. Place each breast in to your baking dished after it is coated.

In a separate bowl combine the 4 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic powder. Stir. Drizzle the mixture over the chicken breasts. Sprinkle any remaining bread crumbs over this mixture. Finally sprinkle some paprika and salt on top. If there is any onion remaining scatter it around the chicken breasts. Also if there is any milk remaining drizzle it around the chicken breasts.

Place dish in the oven and bake for 40-60 minutes.

Serve with potatoes or rice. (I served mine with potato). J

This afternoon I was in the mood for cooking. I decided to make something that I had not made before; meatballs. I found a recipe in a Company’s Coming Casseroles cook book by Jean Pare page 75. I modified the recipe greatly. Here is my version.

Meat Balls

1 lb lean ground beef

1-11/2 cubes of cheese bread (any bread will do)

¼ cup water

1 ½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

Tomato soup 10 oz

Horseradish 1 tsp

Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp

1 egg

1 stalk green onion cut into small pieces

¼ cup water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl combine the beef bread cubes, water, onion, salt, pepper, and eggs. Knead until well mixed. Make balls and place in a heated frying pan. Brown. Place in a casserole dish.

In a bowl combine the tomato soup, horseradish, worse shire sauce and ¼ cup of water. Mix well. Place over the meatballs. Bake for about 35 minutes.

I decided to serve the meatballs with spaghetti and garlic bread.

Here is my own spaghetti sauce recipe.

Spaghetti Sauce

½ lbs lean ground beef

1 medium sized onion

1 medium sized tomato

1 red pepper

1 stalk of celery

2 handfuls of fresh spinach

Several shakes of salt

Several shakes of pepper

A few shakes of: garlic powder

A few shakes of: basil

A few shakes of: parsley

A few shakes of: red pepper flakes

A few shakes of oregano

Your favorite spaghetti sauce ( I use Classico Vodka Pasta Sauce) 700 ml

In a large frying pan, brown the ground beef. Add the onion. Add all the herbs and spices. While these are cooking prepare the vegetables (chop to desired size). Gradually add to your frying pan. Let the vegetables cook as long as possible 10 minutes min, 15-20 minutes preferred. Add your favorite spaghetti sauce. Bring to a boil. Boil for several minutes. Simmer (if needed).

Serve with your favorite spaghetti noodles.

Simple Garlic Bread

Cheese bread

Garlic Powder

Olive Oil Margarine

Grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place desired amount of cheese bread on a cookie sheet. Spread desired amount of margarine over the bread. Sprinkle garlic powder over. Place a small-scant amount of cheddar cheese on top of each piece of bread. Bake in the over for about 6 minutes.

Below are a few images of the dinner.

Enjoy.