three-layer pudding pie

My most devoted reader requested a recipe. Well, by most devoted, I mean second or third most devoted out of obligation. (My sister.)

For New Year's Eve I made my impressive-in-presentation-but-ridiculously-easy-to-make pudding pie. It always gets compliments and this year someone even asked me if it was a french silk pie.

Ingredients

1 tub cool whip

1 package instant pudding (chocolate)

1 graham pie crust (pre-prepared, of course)

1 package of heath bar crumbles (found in the bakery section near the chocolate chips or you can ground up a candy bar)

Make the pudding, which gives you two cups. Separate one cup and spread in the crust as the bottom layer of the pie. Sprinkle Heath Bar crumbles. Next mix the remaining pudding with one cup of the cool whip. Spread as the next layer. Finally, spread the remaining Cool Whip as the top layer and sprinkle with more Heath Bar crumbles.

meatballs

When I began this blog, my aspiration was to learn traditional Indian recipes from my Mom. It was quite touching, really. Well, clearly it's evolved into more of a 'I'm trying to make the tastiest possible meals in as little time as possible' and I've gone astray from my original objective.

Luckily, my Moms was in town for about a week before Christmas and I did take advantage of learning exactly one dish. Meatballs. I heart meatballs. Especially Goan-style meatballs. They were surprisingly easy to make and turned out delicious.

Ingredients

1 pound ground chicken

1 tablespoon garam masala

1/3 cup finely minced onions

2 cloves garlic

1/3 cup chopped coriander leaves

1/4 cup chopped mint

1/3 cup zucchini

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/2 tablespoon salt

a few drops of lime

Mix all ingredients together. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn meatballs and bake another 15 minutes.

I love, love, LOVE these meatballs. My Mom did tell me to tweak the recipe to my tastes. Meaning add more onions or less salt, etc. You can eat them with some rice, throw them into a pita or naan with some raita, or just eat them plain.