Skillet Moussaka

I worked in downtown Detroit for many years, my office being but two blocks from Greek town. I thus became something of an expert on Greek food.

Moussaka is a favorite of mine and I’ve made several casseroles over the year, but this recipe is a good but quick substitute. It comes together quite fast, and tastes surprisingly good.

Great for a quick meal.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium eggplant, peeled and diced.
• 1 1/4 pound ground beef
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon allspice
• dash pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup milk
• 4 ounces shredded Monterey jack or mozzarella cheese, grated
• chopped parsley (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Peel and cut eggplant into diced chunks about 1/2 inch each.
2. Brown beef with garlic in skillet; drain.
3. Add eggplant, tomato paste, water, oregano, salt, onion powder, cinnamon, ground ginger, allspice, and pepper.
4. Cook about 10 minutes or until eggplant is tender.
5. Combine milk and egg in small bowl. Set aside.
6. Melt butter in small saucepan. Add milk mixture. Cook over low heat stirring constantly until thickened
7. Power white sauce over meat mixture. Top with cheese.
8. Place skillet in oven about 6 inches from broiler and broil on high for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is browned. If you don’t want to turn oven on, you can cover the skillet and just cook until the cheese melts.
9. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top if desired.

SERVES: 6

NOTES: You can make a traditional roux of flour and butter if you wish instead of the egg, but the carbs will be higher.

SOURCE: Low Carb Yum

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Lemon Crock Pot Cake

This is a good serviceable dessert. It comes together easily and of course takes care of itself in a slow cooker. The flavor is quite good, the texture fine.

You can add a fruit puree as a topping, or whipped cream. A ganache might be quite effective as well.

This looks rather plain, but dressed up with a topping, it becomes a fine company dessert.

Enjoy.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cup almond flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

3 tablespoons sweetener of your choice

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional)

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup whipping cream

Juice from two lemons (about 2 tablespoons)

Zest from two lemons

2 eggs

TOPPING:

3 tablespoons granulated sweetener of your choice

1/2 cup boiling water

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine almond flour, coconut flour, sweetener, baking powder, and xanthan gum in medium bowl.
2. Whisk together butter, whipping cream, lemon juice, zest and egg in large bowl.
3. Add dry mix to wet mix and combine until well blended. Spread into 2-4 quart slow cooker crock lined with aluminum foil.

TOPPING:

1. Combine all topping ingredients in bowl and pour over cake batter in crock.
2. Cover crock pot and cook on high setting about 2-3 hours or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
3. Serve warm with fresh fruit and whipped cream, if desired.

SERVES: 8

NOTES: Since slow cookers come in so many sizes and powers, it’s rather difficult to give the correct time for cooking. But since slow cooking is slow, you have plenty of wiggle room. Just start checking early and every fifteen minutes or so after the first hour and a half or so.

SOURCE: Lowcarbyum

Plum Chutney*

Not everyone is a chutney fan, but I love the stuff. It goes so well with pork and chicken I find and the blend of sweet and sour is particularly enticing with meat that has minimum individual flavor.

This is quick to do up, and I popped mine into a hot water bath for 10 minutes just to be sure.

It made four half pints.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 C  plums, seeds removed (I used red plums!)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar (I used stevia)
• ³⁄₄ cup cider vinegar
• 1 cup golden seedless raisins
• 2 teaspoons salt
• ¹⁄₃ cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 3 tablespoons chopped crystallized ginger
• ³⁄₄ teaspoon cayenne

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine sugars and vinegar in a large saucepan. (Note: I did not add the stevia until after everything had cooked down. Even though it is heat stable, I decided to add it at the end.)
2. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugars dissolve.
3. Add remaining ingredients; mix well and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and cook gently 45-50 minutes until thickened.
5. Stir often to keep chutney from scorching.
6. Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.
7. Place in hot water bath and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove and cool. Check each for proper seal.
8. Store for 4 weeks before opening.
9. Store opened jar in refrigerator.

SERVES: 4 half-pints

NOTES: I reduced the brown sugar by half in the recipe. You need not peel the plums, Just remove the pit and chop roughly.

SOURCE: Food.com