If you've got a favourite recipe you'd like to share with us send it in and we'll give it a go. Here are those received to date.

Swooning Imam - Phil Kakulas

Quail a la Julian - Julian Wu

Pollo Verde Almendrado - Brian Waldron

Cowtown Screws And Nuts - Annette Kerr

Calf's Head - Annette Kerr

White Gazpacho - Brian Waldron

Phil Kakulas: Swooning Imam

The Islamic leader was said to be so overcome with delight on eating this dish he swooned. It is a simple but delicious dish that perfectly demonstrates the Gestalt effect - that is that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This version comes from one of my favourite cookbooks - The Complete Middle East Cookbook by Tess Mallos.

Ingredients :

8 long and slender eggplants of medium size
salted water
3 onions
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
3 tomatoes, peeled (or substitute a can of chopped toms)
1/4 cup parsley
salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
pinch of sugar
1/2 cup of water

Method :

Prepare eggplants by peeling off strips of skin lengthways at intervals to give a striped effect. Cut a deep slit in each eggplant lengthwise stopping just short of top and base. Place in cold, salted water for 30 mins to extract the bitterness then drain and dry.
Cut onions into slender wedges and cook in half the oil until transparent. Add garlic, cook for 1 min then remove from stove and transfer to bowl with the chopped tomatoes, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.
Place remaining oil in pan and fry eggplants on high heat until browned but still firm. Remove pan from heat and turn eggplants so the slits face upwards. Spoon vegetable mixture into eggplants forcing as much in as possible.
Spread remaining filling on top. Add lemon juice, sugar and the 1/2 cup of water and cover tightly. Cook over gentle heat for 45min until tender.
Can be served hot, warm or cold - it works all ways, accompanied by cous cous, crusty bread and some greens.

Serves 4

Julian Wu: Quail a la Julian

Marinade:
Soy sauce
Sake
rice wine or sherry
Grated or sliced ginger
5 spice powder
Honey (you can use sugar, but honey tastes better)
Onion, spring onions, or leeks( Sliced finely or chopped.)
Spiced Salt (freshly ground pepper, (preferably Szechwan, but black will do),
a little 5 spice powder and salt briefly heated in a wok or frying pan at high temperature to release the aromas).

Can't give exact quantities, but I start off with 1 cup of sake, then add soy until the flavours are balanced, this usually varies between 2/3 to 3/4of the amount of alcohol to soy, but depending on the choice of sake, or sherry, and the saltiness of the soy, it's gonna vary. What can I say? Taste it and judge for yourself.
Next get a knob of ginger about the size of a teaspoon and slice it or grate it then whack it into the marinade, then add a little 5 spice powder,probably about 1/2 a teaspoon, taste it and if you think it needs it then add a little more.
Finally add a little sugar or honey to counter the saltiness, but don't add too much, the marinade shouldn't actually taste too sweet, this should be a couple of tablespoons. But once again, the tastes of the other ingredients will dictate how much you add. Taste it again. If it tastes good, it should be alright.
Finally if you want you can add a little chopped onion, spring onion, or leeks.
Marinate the birds for a couple of hours (halve or quarter first depending on if you use pigeons or quails). Then grill them (over charcoal of course), basting with the marinade, or deep fry and serve with some spiced salt.
In the past I've served this with a salad made from ripe tomatoes with rocket and basil leaves, dressed in an oil and lemon juice dressing with satisfactory results.

Brian Waldron: Pollo Verde Almendrado

(Chicken in Green Almond Sauce) Mexico

From Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz's "The Book of Latin
American Cooking".

½ pound chicken cut into serving pieces
¾ pint chicken stock
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 ounces parsley, coarsely chopped
2 ounces coriander, coarsely chopped
1 heart of Cos lettuce, coarsely chopped
1 or 2 fresh hot green chillies OR
2 canned jalapeno chillies, OR
3 canned serrano chilies
4 ounces almond meal
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil (or lard)
Salt

Put the chicken pieces into a heavy casserole with the stock, bring to the boil,
reduce the heat, and simmer gently, covered, for 45 minutes, or until tender.
Lift the chicken out onto a platter and set aside. Keep the stock. Rinse and
dry the casserole.

In a blender or food processor combine the onion, garlic, parsley. Coriander,
lettuce, chillies and almonds and reduce to a coarse puree.

Do not over blend as the finished sauce should have some texture, not be
entirely smooth.

Heat the oil or lard in a large heavy pan and pour in the puree, which will be
almost paste like because of the almonds. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly
with a wooden spoon, for 3-4 minutes over moderate heat. Add the chicken
pieces, cover, and simmer just long enough to heat the chicken through.

If you like, you can adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding some of the
reserved chicken stock.

Serve with rice, salad, beans and guacamole as you like.

(Serves 6)

Annette Kerr: Cowtown Screws and Nuts

From Tastes and Tales from Texas with LOVE

Seasoning Sauce
1.5 cups bacon dripping
1 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons tabasco
1 tablespoon garlic powder

Cereal mix
1 box cheerios
1 large bag pretzels
1 box corn chex
1 box wheat chex
1 box rice chex
1 bag fritos
4 cups nuts, any combination (no discrimination)
Combine cereal mix in 2 large roasting pans, pour seasoning sauce over top and mix well. Bake at 225 degrees for 2-3 hours.

Annette Kerr 2: Calf's Head

Dig a hole 18 inches deep and wide enough to accommodate the head, allowing enough SPACE for a good layer of coals. Build a big fire in the hole and burn down to coals. When head is cut off slaughtered calf, leave enough skin to wrap or fold over neck opening. Wrap head in wet burlap sack. Put heavy wire securely around the head, strong enough to lift cooked head from hole.
Shovel some coals out of the hole, leaving a good layer on the bottom.
Place head in hole. Shovel live coal all around head and on top, then a layer of ashes on top, followed by a good layer of dirt so that it is completely sealed off and no air can get in. Let cook for 12 hours.
Remove from hole with wire. Remove sack and skin and it's ready. All parts are there, cooked to a turn.
Yum

::Index::

Brian Waldron: Garlic and Almond Soup
(White Gazpacho)

A soup which is greater than the sum of its parts
Ingredients:

4 thick slices of white bread, crusts removed (about 200g)
200 g blanched almonds
3 garlic cloves
150 ml good olive oil
2 tsp salt
5 tblsp vinegar
200 g white seedless grapes
About 1 litre water

Method

1. Soak the bread in water, remove and drain and put into blender.
2. Add peeled garlic cloves, blanched almonds and blend into a smooth
puree (adding a little water if necessary.
3. With the motor running, add the oil in a thin steady stream.
4. Add the salt and vinegar.
5. Add water until the puree has a soupy consistency (your preference,
but should be relatively thin)
6. Chill and add whole grapes to each bowl when serving.

Serves four.