Eggless banana -ricotta mousse

Simple , dense and creamy , this mousse recieves its creamy texture from fresh rikotta and ripe bananas . It contains a small amout of cream and shredded unsweetened coconut for texture . I like to use fresh grated coconut and dust the dessert with shaved semi sweet chocolate . The original recipe is garnished with chocolate sticks and candied cherries , any way is just great.

Serves 6

La Cucina Italiana

1/2 lb fresh ricotta

2 ripe bananas , peeled

1/3 cup sugar

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 cup heavy cream , whipped

 GARNISH

4 oz shaved semi sweet chocolate  OR

24 chocolate sticks

6 candied cherries

In a food processor , combine the ricotta with the bananas until perfectly smooth and combined. Turn the mixture into a large bowl and stir in the sugar , coconut , lemon juice and half of the cinnamon .

Gently fold the whipped cream into the ricotta mixture , being careful not to deflate it . Distribute among 6 dessert cups.

Sprinkle the top of each dish evenly with the remaining ground cinnamon and the shaved chocolate or the chocolate sticks and cherries .

Serve immediately or refridgerate for up to 4 hours.E

Polka Dot Shortbread

These all butter cookies are dressed up with little dots of jam and lemon curd ( omit the lemon curd for an eggless cookie ). The cookies have a great sandy texture from the addition of rice flour , which I love.

Martha Hall Foose

Makes 16 cookie wedges

1 3/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1/4 cup rice flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup ( 2 sticks ) unsalted butter , cold cut into small pieces

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbs seedless raspberry jam

2 tbs lemon curd ( or omit for eggless and increase jam by 2 tbs)

Preheat oven to 325*F

In a food processor fitted with the metal blade , blend flours , sugar and salt . Add butter and vanilla and pulse several times to form a dough . Press dough into an 8 inch tart pan with removable bottom or into a 1/4 inch thick round on to a parchment lined baking sheet . Score the dough to mark 16wedges . Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile fill 2 small piping bags or sandwich bags with the jam and lemon curd.

Remove shortbread gfrom oven . With a wooden dowel or spoon handle , make small divots around the surface of the dough, pressing about half way through the dough. Fill some dots with the jam and lemon curd. Return to oven and bake 10 more minutes, or until golden around the edges. Be careful not to let them get too dark; just the edges should begin to brown . Cool in pan on rack .Remove from pan and cut along the scored marks.

Lemon -soy vinaigrette

This winning dressing from Chinois on main , Santa Monica is the perfect combination with the stir fried lamb , however I often make this dressing to dress a mescalun salad and it works great, as well as with grill seafood.

Makes about 3/4 cup

3 tbs rice wine vinegar

2 tbs peanut oil

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs sesame oil

1 1/2 tbs fresh lemon juice

salt and freshly ground pepper

In a small bowl , whisk all the ingredients together until combined . Cover and refridgerate up to 1 day .

Stir fried lamb with Lemon -soy vinaigrette, Chinois on main

Chinois on Main in Santa Monica has been around for two decades. The  restaurant is owned by the famed chef Wolfgang Puck and serves fusion Asian with California fresh produce . The lemon soy vinaigrette served with this dish makes an excellent salad dressing , so keep it on hand.

Chinois on Main , Santa Monica

6 appetizer servings

4 shallots , minced

1 red jalapeno pepper with seeds , minced

2 green jalapeno peppers with seeds , minced

5 garlic cloves , minced

1 tbs plus  1 tsp peanut oil

1 1/2 lbs lean ground lamb

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro plus 1/4 cup whole leaves , for garnish

1/4 cup chinese pickled cabbage

1/2 tsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

18 radicchio leaves

1/4 of a small red onion , sliced crosswise 1/8 inch thick

1/4 of a small white onion , sliced crosswise 1/8 inch thick

Lemon soy vinaigrette

In a medium skillet cook the shallots ,red jalapeno , half of the green jalapenos and garlic in 2 tsp of peanut oil , stirring over low  heat until softened , about 5 minutes .Set aside to cool.

In a bowl , combine the cooled vegetable mixture with the ground lamb and mix throughly . Add the chopped coriander , pickled cabbage , soy sauce , salt and pepper .

In a large skillet , cook the lamb mixture in the remaining 2 tsp peanut oil over high heat , stirring well to break up clumps until browned , about 4 minutes . Drain and set aside .

Place 3 radicchio leaves on each plate and fill with lamb mixture . Combine the red onion , white onion , fresh coriander leaves and the remaing green jalapenos ;sprinkle on top of the lamb . Serve drizzled with a few tablespoons of lemon soy vinagrette ;serve the remaing dressing on the side.

Wild Asian Salad , Chopstix LA

Chopstix in Los Angeles CA serves a great mix of  Asian food fused with good all American ingredients . Here is a salad resplendent with fresh herbs and vegetables coupled with wild rice . This salad is so delicious and wholesome you may feel satisfied with just the one dish.

Chopstix LA

Serves 6 to 8

1/2 cup slivered , blanched almonds

1 cup wild rice, cooked and cooled

2 cups plus 2 tbs vegetable oil

10 wonton skins , cut into 1/4 inch wide strips

2 oz rice vermicelli , cut with scissors into 3 inch lengths

3 1/2 tbs fresh lime juice

2 tbs light brown sugar

2 tbs fish sauce ( or soy sauce )

1/2 tsp chili sauce

1 tbs minced fresh ginger

1/4 cup minced fresh basil

2 tbs minced fresh basil

2 tbs minced fresh mint

1 lb spinach , stems , stems removed , cut into 1/8 inch strips

1 cup mung bean sprouts

1 large red bell pepper -cored , seeded and cut into 1/8 inch strips

1 package ( 3.5 oz ) enoki mushrooms ( optional ) , trimmed and seperated.

Preheat the oven to 350*F . On a baking sheet , bake almonds until lightly golden , about 5 minutes . Set aside.

In a medium saucepan , heat 2 cups of the oil over moderately high heat until shimmering . Scatter the wonton strips over the surface of the oil and cook , stirring frequently , until light golden and crisp , about 4 minutes . Drain on paper towels . Fry the rice noodles one handful at a time till they puff . Drain.

In a medium bowl , combine the  remaining 2 tbs oil , lime juice , brown sugar , fish sauce , chili sauce , ginger , basil and mint.

To serve , combine the almonds , wild rice3 , spinach , bean sprouts , red pepper and mushrooms in a large bowl . Toss the dressing and gently fold in the wontons and rice sticks . Serve immediately.

Roasted Snapper with Tahini Chilli sauce

Here is a fresh and hhealthy approach to Lebanese cooking . The snapper is first roasted with some aromatics and then dressed with a slightly spicy creamy sauce made with Tahini paste , a sesame seed paste so flavorful you will forget its good for you. This makes a great week night supper as it takes about half an hour to prepare.

Two  2 lbs snapper

1 tbs grated fresh ginger

2 tsp ground sweet paprika

2 onions , sliced

1/4 cup water

 TAHINI CHILLI SAUCE

1/2 cup tahini

1 tbs honey

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup water

1/2 tsp  hot sauce

Preheat oven to 375*F . Brush a deep oven proof dish with melted butter or oil. 

Score each side of snapper in a diamond pattern . Rub with ginger and sprinkle with paprika.

Place half the onions in the prepared dish . Add fish and cover with remaining onions . Add water , cover dish and bake 30 minutes or until fish flakes when tested with a fork.

To make tahini  and chilli sauce. Heat ingredients until warmed through .

Remove fish from dish and serve with sauce.

Grilled basil -marinated swordfish

This dish is equally delicious with salmon or halibut. The simple marinade is so flavorful that no sauce is required to emellish the seafood.

Serves 8

Bon Appetit

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 tbs Dijon Mustard

3 tbs fresh lemon juice

3 large garlic cloves , minced

1 1/2 cups sliced fresh basil leaves

 8    8 oz swordfish steaks (1 inch thick )

 Lemon wedges and fresh basil sprigs for garnish

Whisk olive oil , vegetable oil , Dijon mustard , fresh lemon juice and minced garlic in a large bowl . Stir in sliced basil . Arrange swordfish in single layer in shallow glass baking dish . Pour marinade over . Cover and refridgerate 3 hours turning occasionally.

Prepare barbecue  (medium -high heat ) . Remove fish from marinade . Grill fish until cooked through, about 7 minutes per side . Transfer fish to plates . Garnish with lemon wedges and basil sprigs.

Sam’s spicy grilled shrimp

It is always such a treat to cook shrimp on the barbecue. Quick to prepare and so easy to purchase already peeled and deveined. This recipe has Asian and western influences, the only thing I changede was the hot sauce, I prefer Sriracha , hot sauce for this , but Tobasco works well too.

Serves 8

Sam Warriner

1/2 cup soy sauce ( Pearl River is my pick )

1/2 cup light soy sauce

5 tbs Cajun seasoning mix

1/4 cup oriental sesame oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tbs minced fresh ginger

2 tsp dry mustard

2 tsp hot pepper sauce , see note

32 uncooked large shrimp , peeled ,deveined , tails intact

Whisk together first 8 ingredients in a large bowl . Add shrimp ; stir to coat . Let stand 30 minutes.

Prepare barbecue (medium -high heat ) . Remove shrimp  from marinade and grill until pink and cooked through, about  2 minutes per side. Transfer to platter.

Eggless warm upside -Down Mocha cake

For coffee lovers this warm coffee flavored cake is heaven sent. It really is more moist and fudgey than cake reminding me of coffee flavored brownies.

Jennifer Honeycutt

Serves 8

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup sifted cake flour

2 tbs baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

1 oz baking  chocolate

2 tbs butter

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

4 tbs cocoa

1 cup cold coffee

3 tbs powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350*F and grease an 8 by 8 by 2 inch pan.

Mix and sift together the sugar , flour ,salt and baking powder. In a small saucepan over water , melt together the butter and chocolate . Blend in milk and vanilla . Mix well. Stir in the dry ingredients and pour into the baking pan.

Mix the brown sugar , granulated sugar and cocoa in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the cake. Pour the coffee evenly over the top . Bake for 40 minutes.

Turn warm cake out of pan , sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve immediately.

Grilled Portabello Mushroom Salad

La Fiammetta restaurant in San Franscisco , California serves this delightful mushroom salad that will not allow you to miss the meat. Portablla mushrooms are so hearty and filling , besides being delicious.

Serves 2

LA FIAMMETTA RISTORANTE , CA

1 lb portabello mushrooms  (about 4 ) stems removed and halved lengthwise and caps cut into 1/2 inch thick slices

1/4 cup extra virgin oil

1 bunch arugula , washed , dried and cut into bite sized pieces ( about 3 cups)

1 small head frisee , torn into bite sized pieces

1 small head radicchio , torn into bite sized pieces

DRESSING

2 garlic cloves , minced

6 tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme

1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary

1 tbs finely chopped fresh sage

2 tbs finely chopped flat leaf parsley

2 tbs balsamic vinegar

Brush mushroom stems and slices with oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat a well seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot and grill mushrooms in batches until tender, 2 minutes each side. Transfer mushrooms with tongs to a plate.

In a large serving bowl combine greens.

DRESSING

In a large heavy skillet cook garlic in 2 tbs of oil over moderate heat until softened. Remove skillet from heat and stir in remaining dressing ingredients.

Add mushrooms to dressing and season with salt and pepper.

Arrange mushrooms on greens and drizzle with hot dressing.