Like music, food is a way to share culture and heritage without the need for words. The different ingredients and combination of spices can create thousands of dishes with varying flavors. This week, we’ll be using two recipes submitted by friends, which I’ve recreated, that are extremely delicious and quite easy to make.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Monkey Bread
This recipe was recommended by a friend in the Real World Connections high school program. After her excited look and explanation of what Monkey Bread was, I had to take a few minutes to try this recipe out for myself. And to be frank, it was a lot of fun to make. This is definitely a sweet treat that is enjoyable to eat and even more pleasing to share with friends on a cool, spring night.
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Serves: Many
Ingredients:
2 Cans Refrigerated Biscuits, cut the dough into quarter sized pieces
½ Cup Butter Melted
¼ Cup Brown Sugar
½ Cup White Sugar
½ Cup of Peanut Butter
1 Cup of Jelly
6 Teaspoons Heavy Cream
¾ Cup of Powdered Sugar
¼ Cup of Amaretto (Optional)
Prep:
• Lightly and evenly coat the refrigerated biscuits in the melted butter.
• Mix together the Brown Sugar and White Sugar in a bag and coat the refrigerated biscuits liberally.
• Place in a greased oven-proof pan or cast iron skillet and top with Peanut Butter and Jelly evenly.
Cook:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cook for 20 minutes uncovered or until golden brown.
Post Prep:
• Whisk together Heavy Cream, Powdered Sugar, and Amaretto together and drizzle over the warm biscuits.
• Enjoy with friends.
Chickpea Burgers
Burgers without meat would be a travesty to many people, but this recipe is a favorite of mine. One of my friends made this for me once when we were chilling on a summer evening. It tastes amazing on toasted bread or over rice. Actually, served with just a side of avocado, it is a delicious treat that is fresh and tasty at the same time.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5-6 minutes
Serves: 2-3
Ingredients:
• 1 Carrot, grated
• 2 Cloves of Garlic, diced finely
• 1 Can of Chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 Egg
• 2 Tablespoons of Flour
• 1 Teaspoon of Cumin
• 1 Teaspoon of Coriander
• 1 Teaspoon of Paprika
• Salt and Pepper
• Oil
Prep:
• In a food processor or blender, mix together the Chickpeas, Garlic, Coriander, Cumin, Paprika, Salt and Pepper until it forms into a paste-like consistency. Then add the Egg, Flour, and Carrot and continue to process until it becomes evenly mixed and has a thick consistency.
Cook:
• On a stove, heat a pan to medium-high and lightly fry a ladle of the mixture for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
And there you have it, two tasty recipes that are both easy to make and wonderful to snack on with both your friends and family. As always, have fun in the kitchen, keep engineering those recipes and make sure you always have time for good eats!
