Greek butter cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 powdered sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in the almond extract. Blend in the flour to form a dough. you may have to knead by hand at the end. Take about a teaspoon of dough at a time and roll into 'S' shapes. Place cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned and firm.

Oatmeal whole wheat banana muffin

3 mashed ripe bananas
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 egg
3/4 cup fat-free milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 375º.
2. Combine bananas and next 4 ingredients (through vanilla) in a medium bowl; mix well, and set aside.
3. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife. Whisk together flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a small bowl.
4. Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until they are just combined.
5. Spray 12 muffin cups with cooking spray (or use paper liners), and spoon 1/3 cup batter into each cup (cups will be full).
6. Bake 16 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Kapros-tejfolos gombaleves - Hungarian mushroom soup

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups chopped onions
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
3 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup sour cream

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onions in the butter for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute for 5 more minutes. Stir in the dill, paprika, soy sauce and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
In a separate small bowl, whisk the milk and flour together. Pour this into the soup and stir well to blend. Cover and simmer for 15 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
Finally, stir in the salt, ground black pepper and sour cream. Mix together and allow to heat through over low heat, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add lemon juice. Do not boil. Serve immediately.

Double chocolate cherry cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup dried cherries


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In large bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; stir into the butter mixture until well blended. Mix in the chocolate chips and cherries. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for about 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or just until set. Cool slightly on the cookie sheets before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 48 cookies.

Mushroom gruyere strata

1 teaspoon olive oil object

1 1/2 cups thinly sliced shallots

6 cups sliced cremini mushrooms (about 14 ounces)

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

12 (1-ounce) slices hearty white bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 9 cups)

Cooking spray

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Gruyère or other Swiss cheese

1 2/3 cups fat-free milk

3 eggs

3 egg whites

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots; sauté 3 minutes or until translucent. Add mushrooms, and sauté 7 minutes or until mushrooms release moisture. Cool slightly. Stir in parsley.
Arrange half of bread in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top bread with half of the mushroom mixture and 1/2 cup of shredded cheese. Repeat layers with remaining bread, mushroom mixture, and 1/2 cup cheese.
Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (through pepper), stirring with a whisk; pour evenly over bread mixture. Cover with foil coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 8 hours.
Preheat oven to 350º.
Remove strata from refrigerator, and let stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Bake strata, covered, at 350º for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes or until set and golden brown. Sprinkle with chives, if desired.

Split pea soup

8 c. vegetable broth

2 c. dried green split peas

2 c. chopped celery stalks

2 c. chopped onions

2 tsp thyme leaves

2 bay leaves

2 c. chopped carrots

4 garlic cloves minced

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp oregano

2 1/2 c chopped potatoes

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 pinch cayenne pepper

10 oz frozen peas

In a large pot bring to a boil broth, split peas, celery, onion, thyme and bay leaves. Reduce heat and simmer covered about 20 min or until split peas are a little soft. Add carrots, garlic, basil and oregano, bring to a second boil then continue simmering covered until split peas are very tender and are dissolving to form a thick broth. Add potato and simmer until potato is tender but still firm. Turn burner to lowest heat, add soy sauce, cayenne and peas. Heat gently stirring until peas are tender.

Coconut lime cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
3 teaspoons grated lime rind
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted unsweetened coconut

Beat butter and sugars at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add grated lime rind and lime juice, beating until blended.
Combine flour, baking soda, coconut, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended.
Divide dough into 3 equal portions; roll each portion on wax paper to a 12-inch log. Cover and chill 8 hours.
Cut each log into 1/2 inch slices (about 28 slices), and place on lightly greased baking sheets.
Bake at 350º for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.