Puff Pastry - Either store bought or homemade. Here's a good recipe.
2 T Olive Oil
3 Leeks, sliced thin
4 t mixed, fresh herbs (basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, your choice)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
3 Tomatoes, sliced
4 Cloves garlic
1/2 c Parmesan Cheese
Rinse a baking sheet and let the excess water drain off. Do not dry.
Roll the pastry into a 16x12 inch rectangle, 1/4" thick. Place the dough onto the wetted baking sheet.
Preheat an oven to 400 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over moderate heat. add the leeks, herbs, salt and pepper and cook until softened and starting to turn golden. 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cook for one more minute then remove from the heat.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the pastry. Place the leeks over the cheese and then top with the sliced tomatoes, overlapping slightly. Turn the corners and edges of the pastry over the filling. Brush the entire dish with olive oil. Bake until the pastry is golden and crisp, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with extra cheese and herbs if desired.
Stuffed Peppers
1 lb ground beef
2 c cooked rice
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, minced
2 ribs celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tomatoes, chopped
Herbs and spices of your choosing - basil, oregano, thyme are great candidates
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 c grated cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese
4-6 Bell peppers
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Brown the beef over medium heat. Scoop out of the pan and set aside. In the same pan, without wiping out the beef fat, sautee the onions, carrots, celery and garlic until just softened. Add the cooked beef and rice to the pan and cook until everything is well heated. Add the tomatoes. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes until slightly reduced. Season with herbs, salt, and pepper to taste.
Meanwhile, cut the tops off the peppers and scoop out the seeds and ribs. Stuff the peppers with the beef mixture and top with some of the cheese. Place the stuffed peppers in a baking pan that will just hold them all.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the peppers have softened and the cheese is melted and beginning to brown. Serve immediately and/or freeze for winter.
Variation: Substitute the beef for lamb, the cheddar or Monty for feta and use basil and mint for the herbs for a middle eastern twist on the dish.
Baked Peppers for Summer Lunch
From Nigel Slater's Tender
2-4 Large Peppers
Small or Cherry Tomatoes, chopped
Olive OIl
Basil
Salt
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Cut the peppers in half lengthwise. And place into a roasting pan large enough to hold all the pepper halves.
Place 1-2 basil leaves in each pepper. Then fill each pepper with chopped tomatoes, sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil. Bake until the peppers and tomatoes are soft and blistered, about 45 minutes. Serve with a fresh baguette.
Cauliflower and Potato Curry
4-6 medium potatoes, cut into chunks
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 onion, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red pepper, coarsely chopped
1 large can tomatoes
1 T coriander seeds
1 t cumin seeds
1 1/2 T curry powder
Salt and Pepper
Cayenne Powder
1 bunch cilantro, chopped
In a heavy skillet over high heat, toast the coriander and cumin seeds until fragrant. Remove from the heat and grind. Set aside.
In a large pan or wok, heat some oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions just begin to sweat. Add the peppers and toasted spices and cook until the peppers are just beginning to soften. Add the can of tomatoes, curry powder and potatoes. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to maintain a lively simmer. Cook until the potatoes are just tender. Add the cauliflower, season with salt and pepper to taste, and simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Add cayenne powder to your desired spice level. Stir in the cilantro and serve over rice.
Tomatillo Corn Salsa
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Corn
Serrano and hungarian peppers
red onion
Husk and wash the tomatillos. Boil the tomatillos and corn in water for 5 minutes. Let cool. Chop onions and tomatoes. Put tomatillos and peppers into a food processor. Pulse until a nice chunky consistency is made. Take corn off of the cob. Add all ingredients to a bowl and ENJOY! NOM!