Whole-Wheat Pasta with Roasted Eggplant and Tomatoes

One of my best friends gave me a cookbook last year for my birthday. Thanks Meg! I have tried a few recipes, but found this one to be a favorite. This dish is healthy and has lots of flavor. Enjoy. ~Ali

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds eggplant, peeled in alternating stripes and cut into ¾ inch pieces

1 large onion, halved and cut into 1/2-inch wedges

2 pints cherry tomatoes

Coarse salt and fresh ground pepper

¼ cup olive oil

¾ pound whole-wheat penne

¼ cup sliced pitted kalamata or oil-cured black olives

½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a medium roasting pan, combine the eggplant, onion, tomatoes, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and oil; toss well to coat. Roast until tender, tossing mixture halfway through, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water; drain the pasta, and return to the pot.

Add the roasted eggplant mixture, olives, and parmesan. Toss to coat, adding ¼ to ½ of the reserved pasta water, if desired-I RECOMMEND. Serve immediately, sprinkled with more cheese.

Banana Nut Muffins

I love waking up to the scent of muffins on the weekend…especially in the colder months.
You have to try making these Banana Nut Muffins. They are very simple and tasty. Have a great week. ~Ali

Ingredients

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tbsp espresso or strong coffee (optional)

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 1/2 cup of flour

1 cup chopped walnuts (toasted or raw)

Directions

No need for a mixer with this recipe.

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.

2 Mix in the sugar, egg, espresso and vanilla.

3 Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.

4 Add the flour, mix until it is just incorporated. Fold in the chopped walnuts.

5 Pour mixture into a prepared muffin tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, it's done. Cool on a rack.

Makes 12 muffins.

Ang's Cuban Ropa Vieja

Since moving to the Keys I've tried lots of Cuban food and new dishes. Ropa vieja translates to "old clothes" in Spanish. It's because the shredded beef looks like frays on old clothes. It's traditionally served over white rice with black beans. This slow cooker recipe is easy, different, and delicious. Hope you like it! Ang

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 pounds beef flank steak
1 cup beef broth
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 small onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar

Directions
1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.

2. Transfer beef to a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar. Stir until well blended. Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for up to 10 hours. When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.

Laura's Jalapeno Poppers

Ingredients

-18 jalapeños
-one tub whipped cream cheese (for best results use a flavored variety like chives!)
-one pack bacon

Directions

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

-Wearing kitchen or medical gloves, deseed and slice jalapeños in half lengthwise (so it creates a little canoe!). After washed and cut, put 1 tsp- 1 tbls of cream cheese into the inside of each jalapeño. Take bacon, cut each strip in half and wrap around jalapeño. Secure with toothpick if needed.

-Bake for 20-35 minutes until jalapeños have lost their bright green coloring and bacon is cooked through. The brighter the jalapeño, the spicier it will be!

Quick Queso & Lori's Margarita

Quick Queso
Mix 1 cup of salsa with 1/2 of Velveta package. Cook in microwave for 3-5 minutes. Stir well and serve! Enjoy. ~Ali

Margarita
1/2 cup tequila
1/2 cup Triple Sec
3/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup sugar

Put all ingredients together in a shaker. Shake really well with 2 cups ice. Makes about 2 1/2 margaritas.

Applesauce

I made applesauce with my class last week! The kids were very excited that I brought my crock-pot to school. This is a perfect idea if you have extra apples from apple picking. Enjoy! ~Ali

Ingredients

8-10 apples
cinnamon
sugar
1 cup water

Directions

1. Chop up apples into small bits.
2. Place apples and 1 cup of water in crock-pot.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar to taste.
4. Cook on l0w for 3 hours.

Pigs in a Blanket

These are perfect for football games and little kids! The "wrapped up" dog was an attempt of a mummy! Enjoy. ~Ali

Ingredients: 8 hot dogs, 4 slices American cheese, each cut into 6 strips and 1can (8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls.

Directions

-Heat oven to 375°F. Slit hot dogs to within 1/2 inch of ends; insert 3 strips of cheese into each slit. -Separate dough into triangles.
-Wrap dough triangle around each hot dog. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, cheese side up.
-Bake at 375°F for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.