Crazy spaghetti

Chickpea fries

Chickpea fries are a healthy alternative to french fries, with the added bonus of protein and fibre.  These european street food delicacies are also known as "panisses" or "panelle" depending on who you talk to.  I have found several recipes online for chickpea fries, and they all vary slightly, but the basis is the same: chickpea flour.

Chickpea fries
1 1/4 cup chickpea flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
3 1/2 cups cold water
1 tsp salt
- Combine in stainless steel pot on high heat and whisk gently to prevent sticking.
- Once mixture begins to boil and thicken (3-4 min), reduce heat  to med and switch to wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

From the basic recipe above, you can get creative and add flavours and ingredients that you like, such as:
- garlic
- parsley
- rosemary
- lemon rind
- paprika
- curry
- pepper
- cayenne pepper

Add any (or none!) of the above ingredients, stir to combine and continue stirring to prevent sticking.
When mixture pulls away from the sides of the pot like dough, transfer to a parchment lined rimmed sheet pan.
Spread mixture evenly, then refrigerate or freeze until set (4hrs - up to 24hrs)
Cut into fry shapes about 3" long.
Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet with some vegetable oil - approx 350' for 30min, or until golden brown, turning the fries over once or twice along the way.
Serve with dip of your choice.  Suggestion: marinara sauce

Pizza monkey bread

I was inspired by a post for pizza monkey bread online, so I set about to make it - Heather style!  I typically make my own pizza dough with my bread maker, but you could buy a ready-to-mix kit with the dough mix.  The important part is that you use uncooked dough NOT pre-baked pizza shells.

Pizza dough recipe for my bread maker:
1 cup water
1 Tbsp shortening (I used butter)
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 3/4 cups white flour (I used whole wheat instead)
1 1/4 tsp yeast

Combine all ingredients and set the bread maker to the dough setting.  My dough was ready in 2 hours.

Next, roll out the dough as thin a possible.  Then cut the dough into 2" squares.

Pizza fixin's - you can use whatever you like inside the pizza balls.  Don't overload it or you'll never get the ends sealed.
I used: tomato pizza sauce, cooked spicy sausage bits, caramelized diced onions, red pepper diced and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Next, dip the dough ball in a bowl of melted garlic butter and place in a bundt cake pan.  This step ensures that the pizza balls don't stick together when baked.

Bake at 400' for 30min.  Turn onto a serving dish.  Serve with warm marinara sauce (I used the leftover  pizza sauce).

Enjoy!

Glory Bowl dressing

Glory Bowl salad dressing

1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes (found a most heath food stores)
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup tamari or soy sauce
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp Tahini or peanut butter
1 1/2 cup veg oil
Add everything except oil together in a blender.  Give it a whirl until mixed.  Add oil slowly while blender is running.

Banana Bread

Banana Bread
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup softened butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (3-4 med)
1/3 cup water
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour (sub: whole wheat flour)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1/4 cup brown sugar for topping (optional)
1/4 cup coconut for topping (optional)

Grease or spray bottom of loaf pan 9x5x3
Mix sugar & butter, stir in eggs until blended. Add bananas and water and beat 30sec. Stir in dry ingredients until moistened. Gently fold in nuts and/or choc chips. Pour in pan. Sprinkle brown sugar and/or coconut for topping. Bake at 350' for 1hr - 1hr15min until stick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool in pan 5min, remove from pan and cool completely before serving.