Mushroom Mozzarella Cheese Tart Recipe

My husband Lulu is addicted to anything with puff pastry dough. Because of the horrible windy weather, I decided to prepare my version of (vegetarian) chicken soup for the soul in the form of individual mushroom and mozzarella tartlets accompanied by a bowl of warm corn chowder. It’s the perfect prescription for this cold, gray day.

This savory tartlet consists of 4 layers. First, I baked the puff pastry shells separately in the oven. I cooked the first layer of soy chorizo along with tomato paste and tomato sauce (you could also add ground beef for extra flavor if you don’t need it to be vegetarian). The second is sautéed large button mushrooms in butter and the last one is thick mozzarella slices. The result is spectacular and is really enhanced pairing it with corn soup and garlic cheese bread. You won't be disappointed!

Mushroom Cheese Tart (Savory Tart Recipe)

Making savory tarts is pretty simple. All you need is a crust, a filling and usually a cheese topping. I pair these tarts with a green salad, which make a healthful, tasty, light meal.

I prepared a vegetarian tart with California Lavash pizza lavash as the pie crust. I put together two layers of lavash for sturdiness. The filling is a combination of caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, marinara sauce and soy chorizo. I garnished the tart with goat cheese topping and shredded Parmesan.

I've really enjoyed cooking with California Lavash breads; check back again tomorrow and see another new recipe using the delicious soft flatbread! And don't forget to enter our giveaway this week. Just click the "like" button below and you’re entered in the contest! At the end of the week, we’ll pick three winners at random who will win two bags of whole wheat, original, spinach and pizza lavash. You’ll l♥ve it!

Cold Pasta Salad Recipe

Cold pasta salad is usually made with mayonnaise dressing. One member of my family is allergic to eggs, so this recipe suits her perfectly; as no eggs are used. Even though there are no eggs, I wanted the dressing to be creamy and flavorful, so I mixed in goat cheese with the usual vinaigrette ingredients. For a little extra kick, I added onions cooked down in white balsamic vinegar.

I used cork-screw-shaped pasta, but any other shape such as bowties, shells or penne would work as well. In addition to the diced tomatoes and steamed zucchini, I added black lentils and pan-seared tofu to give this vegetarian pasta dish some protein. Cooking does not always have to be complicated. If you have fresh ingredients and a lot of love, you’ll have a wonderful meal. Bon appétit!
 

Potato Cutlet Recipe (Indian Snack)

Aloo cutlets are pancake-shaped snacks made of potato (aloo means "potato" in Urdu). Indian cooking rarely uses eggs as a binder so to make sure the patties don't break, soaked bread is added to the potato mixture. It's an easy vegetarian snack that satisfies my family's cravings. To make the cutlets a more complete meal, I added protein-packed chana dal (garbanzo lentils). I flavored these appetizers with a little ginger, turmeric and amchur (mango powder) to balance the flavor of the cutlets.

We often make a huge batch of cutlets on Saturday mornings with the girls. They’ve gotten so good that they pretty much do it on their own. Once they’re done cooking, we usually just serve them with a bowl of sour cream. Yum!

Savory Cheesecake Appetizer Recipe

Lulu's aunt, Nikhat Auntie, sent us a jar of delicious homemade mango chutney. I couldn't resist experimenting with it. From past culinary concoctions, I've found that mango chutney pairs wonderfully with goat cheese. It made sense to mix both flavors in a savory cheesecake.

I dressed them in mini molds and served them as appetizers. I used shortbread cookie for the crust and also added pomegranate to play with the sweet, savory and tart flavors of the cheesecake.

It was a hit! These appetizers can be prepared in advance, plus they don't require any baking time, meaning I'll be making them quite often. That is, if Lulu's aunt sends me some more of her amazing chutney!