EGGPLANT/BRINJAL DISH
Albanian Name: Imam Bajalldi)

Cooking Instructions:
Clean the Egg Plant and peel into strips. On one side cut a hole lengthwise, removing some flesh. Keep the flesh and chop it finely. Chop 1 large onion in thin strips and fry. Add the chopped Egg Plant and fry it too. Add chopped garlic, tomato puree and chopped parsley. With this mixture stuff the Egg Plant and put them in the oven to bake. Add water if necessary. U MAY ADD IN SALT AND GREEN CHIILIES TO TASTE..

CHILLED YOGURT AND CUCUMBER
Chilled yogurt and cucumber… superb for hot summer days can also be used as a dip…
2 Cucumbers, peeled and grated
1 Garlic Clove, peeled and crushed
2 LG cartons of Greek Style yogurt
1/2 cup water (optional)
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp dill, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
Chopped walnuts
(optional:
Mix the crushed garlic and salt together and add to the grated cucumber. Put the yogurt in a large bowl and mix in the cucumber mixture. Depending upon the consistency and flavor of the yogurt you may wish to optionally thin-down the yogurt with the water. Taste and adjust seasoning. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with chopped dill and the crushed walnuts if using. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

ALBANIAN WALNUT CAKE WITH LEMON GLAZE

Cake Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 cups white flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 TBS lemon rind, grated
1 cup walnuts, toasted and finely chopped

Ingredients for Glaze:
3/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp ground allspice
dash of ground cloves

Preheat the oven to 350°. For the cake, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy and then mix in the eggs. Blend the yogurt with the buttermilk. Sift together the dry ingredients and add them alternately with the yogurt mixture into the egg mixture. Stir in the lemon rind and walnuts. Pour the batter into a buttered 9 x 13 inch baking pan and bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. The cake should still be moist.

Meanwhile, make the glaze by simmering together all the ingredients, covered, for about 15 minutes. When the cake is done, remove it from the oven, turn the oven off, pour the glaze over the hot cake, and return it to the oven for about 10 minutes

ALBANIAN APPETIZER
Tirana Furghes with Peppers (Albanian Name: Fergesė e Tiranės me speca)

Servings: 4
Ingredients:
Green or Red Peppers, half- pound
Red Tomatoes, one pound
Salted Cottage Cheese or Greek Feta Cheese, half-pound
Flour, one tablespoon
Butter, one quarter-pound stick
Virgin Olive Oil, 3 tablespoons
Add Salt, Black Pepper, and Chili Pepper to your taste

Cooking Instructions:

Peel the skin off the tomatoes and peppers. Sauté them in a saucepan for 5-7 minutes only in the olive oil and then set them aside to cool down for 15 minutes. Dice them the way you like. In another saucepan, melt the butter. Add flour, cottage or Feta cheese, and black pepper, salt and chili pepper to taste. Mix all the ingredients together and place them in saucepan. Put saucepan in a preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes. Take out and serve immediately.