Burgers, Pie, Anise Cookies

(2)DEAR SOS: Do a vegetarian a favor and please print the recipe for the vegetable burgers sold at Mrs. Gooch’s Natural Foods Market in Glendale.

--JENNIE

DEAR JENNIE: The recipe should also interest nonvegetarians looking for a healthful alternative to meat. Lecithin, one of several phosphatides (found in egg yolk, soy beans and corn), and powdered kelp, a seaweed, can be found at most health food stores. But these ingredients are optional.

GOOCHBURGERS 1 cup bulgur wheat 1 cup hot water 1 onion, finely diced 4 cloves garlic, pressed, or 1 tablespoon dried flakes 1 tablespoon oil 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2 teaspoons dried celery flakes, finely ground 2 tablespoons dried mushrooms, finely ground 1 cup rolled oats, finely ground 1 tablespoon lecithin granules 1/2 cup ground almonds 1/2 cup ground toasted hazelnuts 1 teaspoon kelp powder, optional 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper Vegetable stock or water

In large bowl, soak bulgur in hot water 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in skillet saute onion and garlic in oil 10 minutes.

To soaked bulgur, add thyme, oregano, celery flakes, mushrooms, oats, lecithin, almonds, hazelnuts, kelp, salt and pepper. Add onion mixture and mix well. Add vegetable stock, 2 tablespoons at time, as needed to moisten. Let stand 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Form into patties. Gently fry patties in oil until browned on both sides, or bake at 350 degrees 10 to 15 minutes until browned and done. Makes 7 patties.

Each serving contains about: 242 calories; 348 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 12 grams fat; 29 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams protein; 1.47 grams fiber.

DEAR SOS: Perhaps this is the recipe Miriam wanted in January. This Kahlua Pie is delicious.

--TAWNY

DEAR TAWNY: Thanks. Let’s give it a try.

KAHLUA PIE 4 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin 3/4 cup Kahlua Sugar 4 egg yolks 4 egg whites 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream 1 (9-inch) pie shell, baked Shaved unsweetened chocolate

In top of double-boiler off heat, soften gelatin with Kahlua until dissolved. Add 1/4 cup sugar and egg yolks and set in bottom of double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Warm, stirring constantly, until thickened. Cool.

Beat egg whites in large bowl until frothy. Add salt and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup sugar. Whip 1 cup whipping cream in separate bowl until stiff. Place on top of egg whites. Add cooled Kahlua mixture and gently fold together.

Refrigerate until mixture holds definite mound shape when dropped from spoon. Pile into pie shell and refrigerate 30 minutes before serving. Beat remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream until stiff. Spoon over pie and sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Each serving contains about: 615 calories; 255 mg sodium; 250 mg cholesterol; 40 grams fat; 40 grams carbohydrates; 10 grams protein; 0.09 grams fiber.

DEAR SOS: Is there a chance you could find the Anise Cookies recipe you printed about 10 years ago? They are great served with Champagne.

--IRENE

DEAR IRENE: Is this the one you want? It’s easy and, yes, excellent with wine or Champagne.

ANISE COOKIES 4 eggs 1 1/4 cup sugar 3 cups sifted flour 1 1/2 tablespoons anise seeds, lightly crushed

Beat eggs with sugar--about 30 minutes by hand or 10 minutes with electric mixer. Mixture should be almost white and thick enough to ribbon. Sift flour again and add to egg batter, little at time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in anise seeds.

Drop dough by teaspoons 1 inch apart onto greased baking sheet. Let dry uncovered at room temperature overnight. Bake at 300 degrees until golden, about 10 minutes. Makes 7 dozen.

Each cookie contains about: 30 calories; 3 mg sodium; 10 mg cholesterol; 0 fat; 6 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram protein; 0.03 gram fiber.