Falafel is a Middle Eastern food made with garbanzo beans in some regions and fava beans in others. They are vegetarian and deep fried. You can bake them is you want but be careful they do not come put dry. Here is what you are going to need for these:

Serves eight

FOR THE SAUCE:
½ cup Tahini (sesame paste)*
½ cup plain yogurt
2 garlic cloves
2 TBS lemon juice
½ tsp. salt

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until you have a smooth, creamy sauce.
*You can find Tahini in most grocery stores in their International aisle.

FOR THE FALAFEL:
2 cups garbanzo beans – soaked for 24 hours
1 small onion – peeled and quartered
4 garlic cloves – peeled
1 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
4 to 6 TBS flour
1 handful parsley
½ handful of cilantro

Place the soaked garbanzo beans in a pan and cook for about 10 minutes – until softened but not completely cooked through. Drain them and place them in a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and process until smooth. Taste the processed garbanzos for salt and re-adjust. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

COOKING & ASSEMBLINGTHE FALAFEL:
2 cups vegetable or canola oil
8 Pita pockets
24 slices cucumber
24 slices tomato
8 lettuce leaves

Heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees.

While the oil is heating, make your patties. You can make them as big or small as you want. I use my cookie scoop, make a ball and then flatten it slightly.

Place the patties in the hot oil and cook a few at a time – making sure not to overcrowd your pan. Once browned and crisp, remove the patties from the oil and place them on a paper towel lined plate. Keep them warm in the oven (set the oven on warm setting).

Cut a pita pocket through the middle and smear with Tahini sauce. Place the lettuce leaf, cucumber, tomato and falafel inside. Drizzle with a little more Tahini sauce and serve. Enjoy!

Falfel with Tahini sauce no bread – CALORIES 410.50.; FAT 18.71 grs (sat 2.63; mono 7.20; poly 7.29); PROTEIN 15.91 grs ; FIBER 10.87 grs; CARBS 47.98 grs; CHOLESTEROL 0.91 mg; IRON 5.29 mg; SODIUM 516.22 mg; CALCIUM 187.68 mg

Baked Falfel with Tahini sauce no bread – CALORIES 347.49.; FAT 11.63 grs (sat 1.61; mono 3.80; poly 4.94); PROTEIN 15.91 grs ; FIBER 10.87 grs; CARBS 47.98 grs; CHOLESTEROL 0.91 mg; IRON 5.29 mg; SODIUM 516.22 mg; CALCIUM 187.68 mg

Print the Falafel with Tahini Sauce Recipe Here

Serves four

FOR THE CHOPS:
4 pork chops – about ½ inch thick
1 ½ tsp. curry
1 ½ tsp. ground cumin
1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
¾ tsp. thyme
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 TBS olive oil + 2 TBS for frying

Place the curry, cumin, garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix. Add 1 TBS olive oil and form a paste. Rub the pork chops on both sides and let them sit a room temperature for about 10 minutes.

Heat a large skillet. Add the remaining 2 TBS of oil. Place the pork chops in the skillet and cook them until the bottom has formed a brown crust – about 5 minutes. Depending on the thickness of your pan, work on medium-high to medium heat. Flip the chops. Once that side has developed a crust – about another 5 minutes – flip them again. Do this for a couple of times.

To test if your pork chops are done, insert a meat thermometer close to the bone. It should register 160 degrees. Or, cut close to the bone. You should have clear juices running. Serve with the mango salsa. Enjoy!

CALORIES 266.07.; FAT 13.7 grs (sat 3.3; mono 7.86; poly 1.55); PROTEIN 34.23 grs ; FIBER 0.88 grs; CARBS 2.01 grs; CHOLESTEROL 75.84 mg; IRON 1.5 mg; SODIUM 941.78 mg; CALCIUM 27.56 mg

FOR THE SALSA:
1 small mango – peeled and cubed
½ red onion – finely chopped
2 radishes – finely sliced
1 TBS chopped cilantro
½ lime – juiced
½ tsp. salt

Place first four ingredients in a bowl. Mix. Add lime juice and salt. Mix well and set aside.

CALORIES 48.88.; FAT 0.33 grs (sat 0.05; mono 0.07; poly 0.04); PROTEIN 1.23 grs ; FIBER 1.08 grs; CARBS 11.27 grs; CHOLESTEROL 0.00 mg; IRON 0.69 mg; SODIUM 299.58 mg; CALCIUM 37.12 mg

Print the Curry Pork Chops with Mango Salsa Recipe Here

This recipe is a perfect fusion of Latin chiles with American BBQ sauce. It delivers a variety of flavors and is absolutely a pleasure to eat! Beef ribs are a lot meatier than pork ones but can also be a lot tougher. You have to cook them very slowly and for a long time. Here is what you need for these:

2 beefy racks of ribs
2 pasilla chilies
2 California chilies
4 arbol chilies
3 TBS salt + 1 tsp. for the chilies
2 TBS cumin
1 TBS black pepper
4 garlic cloves
BBQ sauce of your choice

Place the dry chilies in a skillet and turn on the heat. Press the chilies on the hot skillet and allow them to char and blister a bit. Move them to a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Weigh them down with a small plate and allow the to re-hydrate for about 20 to 30 minutes. Once hydrated, stem and seed the chilies. Place them in a blender with 4 garlic cloves and 1 tsp. salt. Blend until you have a smooth paste, adding a little of the soaking water if necessary.

Remove the fascia from the back of your ribs by sliding a small knife under it to separate it from the bone and pulling on it to tear it away. Rinse the ribs and place them in a pan.

Mix together the remaining salt, pepper and cumin. Sprinkle the rub on both sides of the racks and rub it in with your fingers. Smear the ribs with your chili paste.

Heat your grill. If you have a gas grill, turn off half of the burners once it is hot. If you have a charcoal grill, pile the hot coals to one side – using a metal tool. Place the ribs, bone side down on the lit side and sear them. Once seared, move them to the unlit part of the grill. Cover the grill and cook the ribs in indirect heat for a good 2 hours.

Slather the ribs with BBQ sauce and allow them to cook for another 30 to 45 minutes. The longer they cook the more tender they will be. Remove the ribs from the grill and serve. Enjoy!

Print the Grill Beef Ribs Recipe Here

Traditionally, Russian dressing is made from yogurt or sour cream. However, this is a perfectly acceptable way to make it. You can use this as a salad dressing or as a sandwich spread. Here is what you need for this:

Makes about 1/2 cup
3 TBS mayonnaise
1 TBS ketchup
1 tsp. relish or finely chopped pickles
½ tsp. prepared Horseradish
½ tsp. finely chopped white onion

Place all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Refrigerate for about 2 weeks in a covered container.

2 TBS – CALORIES 50.38; FAT 3.82 grs (sat 0.61; mono 1.02; poly 1.99); PROTEIN 0.25 grs ; FIBER 0.09 grs; CARBS 4.18 grs; CHOLESTEROL 3.11 mg; IRON 0.06 mg; SODIUM 138.96 mg; CALCIUM 5.08 mg

Print the Russian Dressing Recipe Here

This sauce is absolutely wonderful. The amazing combination of spices, nuts and chilies makes this a deep and bold sauce. It takes a lot of work but it is well worth it! Here is what you need to do for this:

Makes 6 cups

6 ancho chili pods
6 guajillo chili pods
6 arbol chili pods
½ cup raisins
8 garlic cloves
1 medium white onion – peeled and quartered
3 medium plum tomato
3 to 4 medium tomatillo
1 inch piece cinnamon stick
1/8th tsp. anise seeds
1/8th tsp. coriander seeds
1 TBS sesame seeds
4 cloves
1 tsp. dried oregano
½ tsp. dried thyme
1 TBS vegetable shortening or lard
½ cup raw almonds
½ cup walnuts
¼ cup raw peanuts
1 corn tortilla
½ cup soaking liquid
2 cups chicken stock
5.5 oz. Mexican drinking chocolate (1 round tablet) or 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate

Remove the seeds and stem from the dry chili pods. Place them in a dry skillet and toast them until starting to blister. Place in a bowl. Add the raisins to the skillet and cook for a few minutes until puffed. Add to the chilies. Cover with boiling water and weigh down with a plate. Allow soaking for about 30 minutes.

While the pods are soaking, add the garlic and onion to the skillet. Cook until charred on all sides. Set aside. When garlic is cool enough, peel it. Add the tomatoes to the skillet. Repeat the process.

Add the sesame seeds, anise, coriander and cinnamon to the pan. Toast for a couple of minutes – until fragrant – stirring constantly. Place in a mortar or coffee-grinder with the cloves and turn into a powder.

Add shortening to the skillet and melt. Add the nuts and brown. Set aside. Add the tortilla to the shortening and brown well.
Place the hydrated chilies and raisins in a blender with ½ a cup of soaking liquid. Blend well. Transfer to a sieve and strain into a bowl. Rinse the blender and add all of the other ingredients – except the chocolate – and blend. Pass through a sieve into the same bowl where the chilies are. Mix sauce well.

Place the sauce in a large pot – it will spatter so be careful – and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

You can keep this sauce for up to 6 months in the freezer.

Print the Mole Sauce Recipe Here

Ganache refers to a smooth covering that is used to frost deserts. It is very easy to make. Here is what you will need for this:

8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate – chopped
1 TBS butter
1 cup heavy cream

Place the chocolate and the butter into a bowl. Bring the cream to an almost boil – when you start seeing little bubbles you are done. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and butter. Let it sit for a couple of minutes – untouched.

Whisk the chocolate and cream until it turns even and smooth.

Print the Chocolate Ganache Recipe Here

Here’s a very easy recipe for making your own cranberry sauce at home from scratch. Quite effortless for a great result! Try it out, you will be pleasantly surprised! Here is what you need for this:

1 cup orange juice
1 cup sugar
12 oz. fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon orange zest

Place orange juice and sugar in a pan and dissolve the sugar, stirring constantly. Add the cranberries and cook, stirring occasionally, until berries start to pop. Add the zest. Bring to a soft boil. Remove from heat and place in a glass container. Refrigerate

Print the Orange Cranberry Sauce Recipe Here

Chimichurri is an Argentinian green sauce made from parsley and a lot of garlic. You will find it everywhere steak is grilled in Bolivia. It is great with beef but also with chicken and pork. Chimichurri is very easy to make and is at its best when fresh. However, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. It will lose its natural dark green color but will be OK to eat.

¼ cup packed, finely chopped, fresh flat parsley leaves
4 garlic cloves – minced
¼ tsp. oregano
1 TBS minced white onion
½ green chili pepper – seeded, membrane removed, minced
¼ cup white vinegar
2.5 TBS water
¼ cup olive oil
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Black Pepper

Place all of the ingredients except for the oil in a bowl. Slowly whisk in the oil. Add salt and pepper. Let sauce sit for at least 30 minutes so flavors will meld.

1/8 of Chimichurri- CALORIES 70.51; FAT 6.824 grs (sat 0.94; mono 4.93; poly 0.73); PROTEIN 0.31 grs ; FIBER 0.5 grs; CARBS 1.87 grs; CHOLESTEROL 0.00 mg; IRON 0.32 mg; SODIUM 174.82 mg; CALCIUM 9.58 mg

Print the Chimichurri Sauce Recipe Here

A coulis is made from vegetables and fruits to enhance dishes. It is typically made from berries. This particular one is made from strawberries. Here is what you need to do for this:

1 cup strawberries – hulled and halved
1/4 cup sugar
Water to cover the berries

Place the strawberries in a pan and cover with enough water. Add the sugar and mix. Simmer for about 25 minutes. Strain the fruit and press well. Make sure you do not discard any pulp and get rid of all seeds.

Return strained strawberries into pot and simmer until reduced and thickened. Cool down and use for drizzling on desserts.

Print the Strawberry Coulis Recipe Here

This recipe comes from one of our YouTube viewers. It is amazing. The combination of flavors are just spectacular. Here is what you need for this:

1 cup diced avocado – about 1 small one
1 cup peeled and diced pear
1 TBS finely chopped jalapeño
1 TBS finely chopped red onion
2 TBS lime juice
Salt

Place all ingredients in a bowl. Toss carefully and enjoy!

Print the Pear & Avocado Salsa Recipe Here