Sweet Corn Cake

"A Mexican sweet corn cake with a spoon bread consistency."

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1/3 cup masa harina
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 1/2 cups frozen whole-kernel corn, thawed
* 1/4 cup cornmeal
* 1/3 cup white sugar
* 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl beat butter until it is creamy. Add the Mexican corn flour and water and beat until well mixed.
2. Using a food processor, process thawed corn, but leave chunky. Stir into the butter mixture.
3. In a separate bowl, mix cornmeal, sugar, cream, salt, and baking powder. Add to corn flour mixture and stir to combine. Pour batter into an ungreased 8x8 inch baking pan. Smooth batter and cover with aluminum foil. Place pan into a 9x13 inch baking dish that is filled a third of the way with water.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven F (175 degrees C) oven for 50 to 60 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Use an ice cream scoop for easy removal from pan.

Easy Indian Butter Chicken

This is a recipe I have perfected over the years and passed onto many others. The sauce is perfect when creamy and not too thick or too thin. The level of salt and spices can be suited to your taste. Garam and tandoori masala can be found in the ethnic aisle of your grocery store.

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1 cup butter, divided
* 1 onion, minced
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
* 3 cups heavy cream
* 2 teaspoons salt
* 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 1 teaspoon garam masala
*
* 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons tandoori masala

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook slowly until the onion caramelizes to a dark brown, about 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile melt the remaining butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat along with the tomato sauce, heavy cream, salt, cayenne pepper, and garam masala. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low; cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then stir in caramelized onions.
4. While the sauce is simmering, toss cubed chicken breast with vegetable oil until coated, then season with tandoori masala and spread out onto a baking sheet.
5. Bake chicken in preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 12 minutes. Once done, add the chicken to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes before serving.

Easy Baklava

This is simple and easy. Serve it in cupcake papers. It freezes well, too.

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1 pound chopped mixed nuts
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
* 1 cup butter, melted
* 1 cup white sugar
* 1 cup water
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. Toss together cinnamon and nuts. Unroll phyllo and cut whole stack in half to fit the dish. Cover phyllo with a damp cloth while assembling the baklava, to keep it from drying out.
3. Place two sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the prepared dish. Brush generously with butter. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture on top. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with about 6 sheets of phyllo. Using a sharp knife, cut baklava (all the way through to the bottom of the dish) into four long rows, then (nine times) diagonally to make 36 diamond shapes.
4. Bake in preheated oven 50 minutes, until golden and crisp.
5. While baklava is baking, combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Stir in honey, vanilla and lemon zest, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
6. Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the syrup over it. Let cool completely before serving. Store uncovered.

Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin

In Hanover, Massachusetts, Kristen Croke relies on a handful of ingredients for this moist and tender main course. 'When there are just two of us for dinner, I prepare one tenderloin and marinate the other in the freezer for later use,' she explains.

INGREDIENTS
* 5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 2 teaspoons brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
* 2 (1 pound) pork tenderloins

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first six ingredients; add pork. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
2. Drain and discard marinade. Place the tenderloins in an 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 425 degrees F for 25-35 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees F. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with pan drippings.

Mulligatawny Soup I

The name Mulligatawny comes from 2 oriental Indian words meaning 'pepper water' and curry is the particular ingredient that gives this incredible soup such a delicious flavor...so I'm told. This old recipe was given to me long ago.

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 2 stalks celery, chopped
* 1 carrot, diced
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
* 4 cups chicken broth
* 1/2 apple, cored and chopped
* 1/4 cup white rice
* 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half - cut into cubes
* salt to taste
* ground black pepper to taste
* 1 pinch dried thyme
* 1/2 cup heavy cream, heated


DIRECTIONS
1. Saute onions, celery, carrot, and butter in a large soup pot. Add flour and curry, and cook 5 more minutes. Add chicken stock, mix well, and bring to a boil. Simmer about 1/2 hour.
2. Add apple, rice, chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme. Simmer 15-20 minutes, or until rice is done.
3. When serving, add hot cream.

Chicken Pot Pie IX

"A delicious chicken pie made from scratch with carrots, peas and celery."

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
* 1 cup sliced carrots
* 1 cup frozen green peas
* 1/2 cup sliced celery
* 1/3 cup butter
* 1/3 cup chopped onion
* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
* 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
* 2/3 cup milk
*
* 2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C.)
2. In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
3. In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Carrot Cake III

"I've tried many carrot cakes, and this is my favorite recipe. If you don't like pecans, feel free to leave them out."

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 4 eggs
* 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
* 2 cups white sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3 cups grated carrots
* 1 cup chopped pecans
*
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 4 cups confectioners' sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4. To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Frost the cooled cake.