Cuisine: Carrot Pear Gingerbread

I bought some pears today that smelled amazing and were incredibly ripe. I was eager to have them tomorrow as a snack or part of my lunch. They were in the bag with other vegetables for dinner and ended up getting crushed. I, too, was crushed. So I ended up making up this tasty dessert instead.

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Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground clove

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup molasses, dark

3/4 c boiling water

1 stick butter, softened and sliced

3/4 cup brown sugar, dark

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 carrots, shredded

2 pears, pealed, cored and sliced

1 tablespoon ginger, crushed

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Directions

Heat oven to 350.

In a bowl sift together flours, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

In a separate bowl, whisk together molasses, water, and butter. Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla.

Add flour mixture to molasses mixture and combine. Slowly fold in carrots, pears, and ginger until fully mixed together.

Pour batter into a 9X9 buttered pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes.

Cuisine: Mmm....Curtido

I make this dish A LOT. In fact, my husband jokes that it's one of the only things I make when we have company. He's not wrong, but why would I make something else when this is so damn good.

I got the idea of this recipe from loving the curtido you put on pupusas. (I still haven't mastered those yet. Soon. Very soon.) It can be altered very easily. I sometimes put equal parts rice vinegar, cider vinegar, and lime juice. That tastes a little more central European than this version.

This version is a great balance of ingredients. It's just slightly sour, a little bitter, and all goodness. Enjoy and let me know how you innovate on this dish. The possibilities are endless.

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Ingredients

• 1 head green cabbage, quartered, cored and sliced very thinly (Do not use a food processor or shredder. Those damage the leaves little too much.)
• 3 carrots, 1 sliced with a vegetable peeler, 2 shredded with a grater
• 4 large cloves garlic (or 6 small), minced
• 4 jalapenoes, cored, seeded and minced
• 1 yellow onion, sliced finely
• 4 medium tomatoes, cored and sliced lengthwise finely
• 3-4 limes, juiced
• 1-2 lemon(s), juiced
• 2 tablespoons (or more) salt
• pepper and hot paprika to taste
  

Directions

Mix all ingredients together. Let sit for at least one hour. Enjoy!

It's even better the next day.