Cook Without Book

Yield:  22 servings (serving size: about 1/4 cup dip and 8 chips)        Ingredients Chips: 22  (6-inch) corn tortillas, each cut into 8 wedges Cooking spray 1 teaspoon   salt Dip: 1 1/4 cups   (5 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup   (2 ounces) grated Asiago cheese, divided 1/2 cup   fat-free sour cream 1 tablespoon   minced fresh garlic 1  (14-ounce) can hearts of palm, drained and chopped 1  (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry 1  (8-ounce) block fat-free cream cheese, softened 1  (6.5-ounce) tub light garlic-and-herbs spreadable cheese (such as Alouette Light) Preparation Preheat oven to 375°. To prepare chips, arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat wedges with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with salt. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until wedges are crisp and ligh...

Veggie Stack with Basil Prep: 20 minutes; Marinate: 20 minutes; Cook: 8 minutes. 1/2 cup   red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons   honey 1 tablespoon   finely chopped garlic 2 tablespoons   olive oil, plus more for brushing grill 1/4 teaspoon   salt 1/4 teaspoon   pepper 1  (10-ounce) eggplant, cut crosswise into 12 (1/4-inch-thick) slices 1  (5-ounce) yellow squash, cut crosswise into 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices 1  (5-ounce) zucchini, cut crosswise into 8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices 3/4 cup   uncooked couscous 1  small red onion, cut into 4 (1/4-inch-thick) rings 1  vine-ripened tomato, cut crosswise into 4 slices 1/2 cup   (2 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella, divided 1/4 cup   chopped fresh basil, plus additional leaves for garnish Preparation 1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients. Reserve 1/4 of vinaigrette. Add eggplant, squash, and zucchini. Let stand 20 minutes. 2. Bring 1 cup water to a...

Potato And Chive Cakes Shallow fried chive flavoured potatoes cakes. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg -  Ingredients • Potatoes,boiled, peeled and mashed 4-5 medium • Chives,finely chopped 8-10 • Salt to taste • Mozzarella cheese 2-3 tablespoons • Red chillies,finely chopped 2 • Fresh parsley,chopped 2 tablespoons • Cornflour/ corn starch 1 tablespoon • Oil For shallow frying Method Place potatoes, chives, salt, mozzarella cheese, red chillies, parsley and cornflour in a bowl and mix well. Divide the mixture into eight equal portions and shape them into patties. Refrigerate for thirty minutes. Heat oil in a shallow non-stick pan. Place the patties in it and shallow-fry till golden and crisp from both the sides. Drain on absorbent paper. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

Baked Bean Enchiladas Some delicious enchiladas baked with mozzarella. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Baked beans 3/4 cups • Corn tortillas 6 • Olive oil 1 tablespoon • Cooked rice 1 cup • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 2 tablespoons • Green capsicum,chopped 1 medium • Mozzarella cheese as required Tomato sauce • Olive oil 1 tablespoon • Onion ,sliced 1 medium • Garlic,chopped 6 cloves • Tomatoes,pureed 3 medium • Red chilli flakes 1 teaspoon • Mixed herbs 1 teaspoon • Sugar 1 teaspoon Method Preheat oven to 180°C. Heat the tortillas lightly in a non stick pan. Heat 1 tbsp oil in another non stick pan. Add onion and saute for 1 minute. Add garlic and saute till soft. Add fresh tomato puree and mix well and continue to saute. Add red chilli flakes, mixed dried herbs, salt and sugar and mix...

Cheese, Chilli And Olive Quesadillas Cheesy and tasty – olives add a nice flavour and crunch. Cooking Time:  10-15 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  10-15 minutes   Category:  Veg Ingredients • Mozzarella cheese as required • Feta cheese as required • Fresh red chilli,seeded and chopped 1 large • Black olives,seeded and chopped 8-10 • Olive oil 1/4 cup • Tortillas 6 • Onions,finely sliced 2-3 medium • Fresh coriander leaves,chopped 2 tablespoons Method Heat oil in a non stick pan and keep a tortilla on it. Slice mozzarella cheese and keep a few slices on the tortilla. Spread a few black olives. Cover with another tortilla. Break a little feta cheese and place over the second tortilla. Sprinkle onions, some fresh red chillies and some coriander leaves. Cover with a third tortilla. Sprinkle olive oil over and around the tortilla and press lightly. When the underside turns golden, gently tur...

Pepperoni Pizza Pocket Prep 20 min Cook 30 min Yield: 4 servings Level: Easy Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for brushing 1/2 small onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon tomato paste One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon sugar Salt and freshly cracked black pepper 4 to 6 leaves fresh basil, torn All-purpose flour, for dusting 1 pound pizza dough, divided into 4 balls 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella 12 ounces pepperoni, thinly sliced Grated Parmesan, to taste Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add in the tomato paste and saute for 1 more minute. Stir in the diced tomatoes, sugar and season with salt and pepper. Add the torn basil leaves and bring to a slow simmer. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes while you make your pizza pocket. Roll out the dough b...

Alfa Alfa Sprouts Open Sandwich ( Vitamin A and Calcium Rich Recipe ) The arabs call these sprouts ‘the father of all foods’! sprouts are fortified with good amounts of nutrients making it a super healthy food. This sandwich cuts down on the second slice of bread, as it is an open sandwich. Colorful peppers, olives, sprouts, tomato and cheese baked on a footlong make it an extremely tasty meal! Preparation Time:  15 mins Cooking Time:  6 mins Makes 4 open sandwiches Ingredients To Be Mixed Into A Marinade 1 1/2 tbsp   vinegar 1/2 tbsp   olive oil 2 tsp   sugar a pinch of  salt To Be Mixed Together For The Grilled Capsicum Mixture 2 cups  red , yellow and green  capsicum  , cut into thick stripes 1/2 tbsp   olive oil salt  and powder to taste Other Ingredients 2  whole  wheat (gehun)  footlong , into half horizontally 1/2 tsp   olive oil 1 cup   tomatoes  slices 6 tbsp   a...

Asparagus Bruschetta ( Microwave Recipe) Crispy french bread slices topped with asparagus and cheese. The bruschettas can be served as a snack or as an accompaniment to soup. Choose slender, bright green asparagus to make these bruschetta. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  1 mins Makes 4 bruschettas Ingredients 4   baguette  slices 24   asparagus spears , cut into 50 mm.(2") long 2 tbsp   grated mozzrella cheese 1 tsp   chopped parsley 1 tsp   butter dry red chilli flakes (paprika) salt  to taste Method In a microwave safe bowl, add the asparagus spears alongwith 1 tablespoon of water and salt and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Remove and keep aside. Mix together the butter and parsley and apply the mixture on one side of each of the 4 slices. Place the buttered slices on a shallow microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 30 seconds. Arrange 6 asparagus spears on each slice, top with the gra...

Broccoli, Cheese and Chilli Quesadillas Maize flour and whole wheat flour add a healthy twist to the tortilla tale! and i’m sure you’ll love these – who doesn’t, when good taste comes with health! these tortillas can be made in bulk and stored in the deep freezer. Use them to make as many dishes as you like -- i have used them to make quesadillas and enchiladas, and even baked them to make chips etc – there are uses galore for this healthy and filling mexican delicacy. I have used an uncommon veggie like broccoli in this recipe, to harness its unique taste. The stuffing is simple and easy-to-make, yet very delicious. Cheese is rich in protein and calcium but very fattening, hence i have only used it in moderate amounts, and that too i’ve used mozzarella cheese that is low in calories and fat compared to cooking cheese. Preparation Time:  10 mins Cooking Time:  10 mins Makes 4 quesadillas Ingredients 8   tortillas  ( Exotic Diabetic Recipe ) To Be Mixed ...

                Bread Pizza - Instant gratification!!!                                    There is no food in the world which could make you feel so happy and content than a snack..and that too on a Sunday..after that heavy lunch and a relaxing nap!! I am sure most of you are nodding your heads now;-).I wish someone would wake me up with steaming hot cup of chai and a plate of..anything would do yaar..finger chips,banana chips,pazham pori,onion pakodas..the list is endless.But I don't have that luxury,so I make myself happy by making something myself.Hubby is not too fond of deep fried snacks and always insists that I try and make some non-fry alternatives.Oh how do I make him realize that there isn't any no-fry version to match that piping hot molagu bajji..!!! There is no particular recipe for this one.Just go ahead and add whatever toppings...

Pesto Toast Ingredients: Flavorful pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese make these toasts super tasty. Cooking Time:  15-20 minutes Servings:  4   Preparation Time:  15-20 minutes   Category:  Veg • Basil leaves 2 cups • Pine nuts(chilgoza) 1 teaspoon • Parmesan cheese powder 1 tablespoon • Garlic 7-8 cloves • Olive oil 1/2 cup • Salt to taste • Edible camphor 1/2 teaspoon • Bread slices 8 • Mozzarella cheese,grated 3/4 cup Method Preheat the oven to 180°C. To prepare pesto sauce, grind parmesan cheese and pine nuts to a coarse powder. Add garlic cloves and continue to grind for a few seconds. Add basil leaves, olive oil, salt and peppercorns and grind into a coarse paste. Cut bread slices into roundels with a round cookie cutter and arrange them on a baking tray. Toast them lightly in the preheated oven. Apply the pesto sauce on the bread roundels and sprinkle mozzarella cheese...

INGREDIENTS Olive oil 1 lb lean ground beef 1/2 medium onion, diced, about 3/4 cup 1/2 large bell pepper (green, red, or yellow), seeds and veins removed, diced, about 3/4 cup 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 28-ounce can tomato sauce 1/2 6 oz can (3 oz) tomato paste 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes 2 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried oregano 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (preferably flat leaf), packed 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning Pinch of garlic powder and/or garlic salt 1 Tbsp red or white wine vinegar 1 Tbsp to 1/4 cup sugar (to taste, optional) Salt 1/2 lb dry lasagna noodles (requires 9 lasagna noodles - unbroken) 15 ounces Ricotta cheese 1 1/2 lb (24 ounces) Mozzarella cheese, grated or sliced 1/4 lb (4 ounces) freshly grated parmesan cheese Cooking Utensils Large skillet (for browning beef, onions, green pepper) 8 to 12 Qt pot (for noodles) 3 to 4 Qt pot (simmer sauce) 13" x 9" x 2" lasagna pan (preferably a pyrex or stainless la...