Tasty and Easy Recipes

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh basil
3 cloves garlic
1.5 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1.5 tablespoon Romano cheese
1 (16-ounce) package very thin spaghetti

Method:
Prepare the basil by rinsing it and tearing off the leaves. Discard the stems.
Chop the garlic in a food processor or blender. Add the basil and salt. Process. Add the olive oil. Process until smooth.
At this point you can put the pesto aside for later use, or freeze it. When ready to serve, mix the butter or margarine into the pesto with a fork and blend well. Blend in the cheeses. Set aside.
Make the spaghetti according to the package directions. Drain.
Mix the pesto into the pasta.

Ingredients:
5 cups dry rice, preferably Basmati
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
1 tbsp. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. powdered saffron
2 tsp. boiling water

Methods:
In a bowl, wash the rice 3 times and then soak for 1 hour in lukewarm water to cover mixed with 2 tbsp. of the salt.
Pour 10 cups water in a nonstick pot, add the remaining 2 tsp. salt and bring to a vigorous boil.
Drain the water from the presoaked rice and add the rice to the boiling water.
Stir, cover and bring back to a boil, boiling for 3 to 4 minutes. The rice
should move freely and float to the top of the pot.
Drain the rice in a colander, rinse with lukewarm water and taste. If the rice is salty, rinse with more water. In a large nonstick pot, melt the butter; add 1-cup water and stir.
Set aside half of this mixture. Add the yogurt to the butter remaining in the pot and stir well. Gently spoon the rice on top of this mixture,forming a cone.
Cover. Cook on medium heat until steam is visible, about 15 minutes.
Cook for 15 minutes more, then turn the heat down to low and pour the remaining butter mixture over the rice. Wrap the lid of the pot tightly with a kitchen towel to prevent the steam from escaping and cook for another 45 minutes.
Spoon 1 cup of rice from the top of the pot onto a plate and mix gently with the saffron mixture. Set aside. Mound the rice in the shape of a cone on a serving platter.
Add saffron rice to the top before serving. Remove the crust from
the bottom of the pan and serve separately, cut into squares or
wedges.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup water
4 tablespoons margarine, melted
2 cups brown sugar
3-1/2 cups boiling water

Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and 1/3 cup cocoa. Stir in the water, margarine, and nuts. The batter will be very thick. Spread batter in a 9″x13″ baking dish.
Mix brown sugar with 1/2 cup cocoa and sprinkle over batter.
Place pan in oven and then pour boiling water over the batter. Bake for 45 minutes. Bubbles will appear around the edges. The top will be firm but will “float.”
Serve warm.