OK, GardenLad, I don't know that these exactly belong on a pumpkin thread but digressing from the topic is pretty routine around the forum, so here we go. I'm including all my notes on the recipes. Both are "works in progress" so maybe my additions will be helpful too. Torta with Pesto, Tapenade & Sun Dried Tomatoes Original Source: www.fabulousfoods.com Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- Pesto 1 1/2 cups fresh basil 3 large garlic cloves 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup Pine nuts (pignolia) -- OR walnuts 1/2 cup olive oil salt and pepper -- to taste Olive Tapenade 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives 3 large garlic cloves -- peeled 2 teaspoons capers 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaf -- (or 1/4 tsp. dry) 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaf -- (or 1/4 tsp. dry) 1/8 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil salt and pepper -- to taste Sun Dried Tomato Purée 1 10-12 oz. jar oil packed sun dried tomatoes 1 large garlic clove 2 tablespoons olive oil (reserved from tomato jar) Cheese Layer 8 oz. goat cheese 2 packages cream cheese -- (8 oz.) 1 cup butter Pesto Layer: Put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor or blender and purée. Slowly pour in the olive oil while continuing to blend. Olive Tapenade Layer: Put all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor or blender and purée. Slowly pour in the olive oil while continuing to blend. Sun-Dried Tomato Purée Layer: Drain the tomatoes, reserving 2 tablespoons of the oil. Put all ingredients, including reserved oil, in a food processor or blender and purée. Cheese Layer: Put all ingredients in a food processor or blender and purée. Line either one large (6 cup) or two small (3 cup) molds with dampened cheesecloth, leaving enough cloth hanging over the edges to later cover the top. If you don't have any molds, be creative - a flower pot works well or use small deep bowls, or even a rinsed out coffee can. If you want to be decorative, arrange whole basil leaves, whole olives and/or whole sun dried tomatoes in the bottom of your mold (this will become the top of your dish when it is unmolded). Layer in thin layers, alternating between the cheese mixture and a topping mixture until mold is filled. Cover top with the excess cheesecloth hanging over the sides. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least six hours or overnight. To unmold, unfold cheesecloth covering the top of the mold and hang it over the edge. Place a plate over the open end of the mold and invert. Carefully peel the mold off the mixture, then carefully remove and discard the cheese cloth. Serve with crackers or a fresh baguette. Changes I made: I used my own homemade pesto recipe and some California Harvest kalamata olive tapenade I had on hand. In the Sun Dried Tomato Purée I cut the olive oil to 1 T. and enhanced the tomatoes by soaking some additional plain dried tomatoes in boiling water, draining them and blending them in with the rest. Next time I might try a little added tomato paste instead. For the cheese layer I used 2 3.5 oz. Crottin Montcevri, 1 package of light cream cheese, 1 container mascarpone cheese (both 8 oz. size) and cut the butter to 1/2 cup. I used a 7-inch springform pan, but I'm going to try to freeze this. If it works, I'll make 3 2-cup molds. I also want to cut back on the oiliness of the layers. I want a bit fresher taste. I think I'll use just the oil that adheres to the tomatoes and cut the other T. plus drain the pesto and the tapenade a bit in a fine mesh sieve before using. Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Cheese Spread Recipe By : Unknown Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 8 ounces sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed -- drained 1 tablespoon oil -- (from tomatoes) 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato halves 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 4 ounces butter -- softened 1/2 cup sour cream 20 ounces cream cheese 4 cloves garlic -- peeled 1 1/2 cups basil, fresh 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup pine nuts 2 tablespoons olive oil -- OR for garlic, basil, lemon juice, pine nuts, olive oil substitute 8 oz. my own pesto base 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper -- to taste Pour boiling water over plain dried tomatoes. Let sit until soft then drain. Reserve 2/3 cup cream cheese. Place remaining cream cheese, sour cream and butter in food processor. Blend until fluffy. Place in bowl and set aside. Blend pesto base, Parmesan cheese and 1/3 cup cream cheese in food processor. Place in bowl and set aside. Scrape bowl and chop drained sun-dried tomatoes (both plain and oil). Add 1 tablespoon tomato oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar and 1/3 cup cream cheese. Blend until smooth. Grind in salt and pepper to taste. Put saran wrap on the bottom of 4 4-inch springform pans (or 1 7-inch springform or line a 1 1/2 quart pan or bowl). Layer 1 pan at a time. Layer 1 cream cheese mixture, layer 2 sun-dried tomato, layer 3 cream cheese mixture, layer 4 pesto, layer 5 cream cheese mixture. Cover with "sticky" saran wrap and refrigerate overnight. Finish other pans the same. When unmolded, top can be decorated with pinenuts, basil leaves, sun-dried tomato pieces if desired. Cover with foil and freeze extra pans. Yield: "5 cups" - - - - - - - - - - - - Christmas 2004: I cut butter drastically, added sour cream, elimated tomato paste and used plain sun-dried tomatoes instead, added balsamic vinegar. For tomatoes in oil I used T.J.'s 8.5 ounce jar. I divided recipe among 4 Wilton mini-springform pans; served 2 and froze 2. Small sizes are nice for buffet service.

Along with what colleenoz mentioned about the iron in your spinach and dressing it with vinegar/lemon juice, steam it or cook it quickly in the microwave - DON'T BOIL IT. After 10-minutes of boiling, 3/4 of its phytonutrient content will have leached into the cooking water. The greener the color of the cooking water, the more nutrients you have lost. You'd be better off drinking the water than eating the spinach. It's also been shown that we cannot absorb some of the most important nutrients in salad greens unless the dressing, or the meal it's eaten with, contains some type of fat. "Olive oil, according to a 2012 Purdue University study, does the best job of making those compounds more bioavailable. It takes almost seven times more soybean oil, by contrast, to get the same results. Soybean oil is the most common oil in commercial salad dressings." So make your own dressing with unfiltered extra virgin olive oil. "Clarifying extra virgin olive oil filters out half its bionutrients, including a beneficial compound squalene, which has been shown to help fight cancer and protect the skin from UV damage." The traditional Greek salad dressing: Drizzle your greens with extra virgin olive oil and finish with a few squirts of lemon juice and a grind or two of salt and pepper. I also like to substitute black pepper with nigella seeds (freshly ground) for a new and interesting flavor, and a new favorite - dried papaya seeds (freshly ground) which has a peppery flavor and lots of health benefits.

Perfect timing! I was roasting garlic for bread today and thinking I should roast some extra garlic to make a chicken dish! What lovely recipe. Think I am going to try it out this weekend. Thanks!

With butter as a reduction, with pork, scallops, etc... Here are two T&T (except I used pork, not lamb) Lamb Chops with Balsamic Reduction By: PGRAYMENDOZA "This recipe for lamb chops is a favorite in my house. It is an easy and quick recipe for two people (we eat two chops each). Rosemary and thyme give it great flavor. If you double the recipe, remember that the sauce will take longer to reduce." Ingredients 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary 1/4 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme salt and pepper to taste 4 lamb chops (3/4 inch thick) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup minced shallots 1/3 cup aged balsamic vinegar 3/4 cup chicken broth 1 tablespoon butter Directions In a small bowl or cup, mix together the rosemary, basil, thyme, salt and pepper. Rub this mixture onto the lamb chops on both sides. Place them on a plate, cover and set aside for 15 minutes to absorb the flavors. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place lamb chops in the skillet, and cook for about 3 1/2 minutes per side for medium rare, or continue to cook to your desired doneness. Remove from the skillet, and keep warm on a serving platter. Add shallots to the skillet, and cook for a few minutes, just until browned. Stir in vinegar, scraping any bits of lamb from the bottom of the skillet, then stir in the chicken broth. Continue to cook and stir over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half. If you don't, the sauce will be runny and not good. Remove from heat, and stir in the butter. Pour over the lamb chops, and serve. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Balsamic-glazed scallops Total time: 10 minutes Servings: 4 16 sea scallops (about 1 1/2 pounds) Sea salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste 1/4 cup top-quality aged balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon very sharp Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce Dash cayenne 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon chopped chervil 1. Rinse the scallops and remove any white membrane. Pat dry and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside. 2. In small bowl, whisk the vinegar, mustard, tamari and cayenne. Set aside. 3. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully lay the scallops into the sizzling butter and cook until crusty brown on the first side, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn each scallop over. 4. Immediately pour the vinegar mixture over the scallops. Cook them 2 to 3 minutes, until just cooked through. Spoon the remaining glaze around the scallops and sprinkle with the chervil. Serve immediately. Each serving: 262 calories; 29 grams protein; 7 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 13 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 86 mg. cholesterol; 353 mg. sodium.