Friday, December 24, 2010

Kale Sausage Eve Stoup

1 link Polish sausage 
1 large bunch kale rinsed and chopped 
1 large can (2 small cans) red kidney beans
1 large can (2 small cans) stewed tomatoes
1 med/small yellow onion
2 cloves garlic (less or more to taste)
1 cup carrots
1 cup celery (optional)
2 boxes of chicken/beef/veg stock (apx 8 cups)
1 package of tri-color spiral pasta 

1) Chop all meat/vegetables
2)Fry up sausage then toss in kale
3) Add all other ingredients let boil for 1-2 hours OR toss in crock on high for about 2 hours. (this is for best flavor results)
4) Add pasta 
5) Enjoy!!!


Friday, November 19, 2010

Chocolate Carmel Brownie Bars

2 cup sifted all-purpose flour 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
2/3 cup butter 
2 cup packed brown sugar 
2 eggs 
2 tablespoon vanilla extract 
3 chocolate Carmel bars king size- Hersheys or Carmelos
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Measure flour, baking powder, and salt and sift together. Set aside. Melt butter, add firmly packed brown sugar and mix well. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, making sure you are mixing well. Spread half of mixture in 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Break Carmelo bars into scored pieces. Evenly space candy  over bar mixture.

Pumpkin Trifle

1 (14-ounce) packages  spice cake mix plus ingredients to bake it.

1 (5.1-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (30-ounce) can pumpkin pie filling

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping



Directions

Bake the spice cake mix according to the package directions; cool completely. Meanwhile, prepare the pudding and set aside to cool. Stir the pumpkin pie filling, sugar, and cinnamon into the pudding. Crumble 1/4 - 1/2 the spice cake into the bottom of a large, pretty bowl. Pour 1/4 - 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the spice cake, then add a layer of whipped topping. Repeat with the remaining spice cake, pudding, and whipped topping. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours prior to serving. You could serve the trifle can be layered in a punch bowl, or even make your Spice Cake from scratch.

Green Bean Casserole

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms have released their liquid, about 10 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream or cream of mushroom soup, add the remaining thyme and rosemary and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the green beans and stir well. Put the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with the French fried onions, and sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan. Bake until everything is hot and bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Pumpkin Apple Pie

Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  •  1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 egg
  • 1 14 oz can pumpkin pie filling 
  • 1 21 oz can of apple pie filling 
  • 1 5 oz can evaporated milk
  • 1 9 inch unbaked pie crust
Pre Heat oven to 425*F. Mix sugar salt and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl. Add egg and beat slightly. Add pumpkin and evaporated milk and blend well. Spread apple pie filling in ire crust. Gently pour pumpkin pie mix over the apple pie filling in the crust. Bake pie for 15 min at the 425*F, then drop the heat down to 350*F and continue baking for 35-40 min or until a knife inserted in the pie center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 2 hours before serving. Do not place it in the fridge to cool, it could crack allow it to cool at room temp for 2 hours.

Trader Joe's Lavender Body Oil


Love this product! It outlasts showers! Feels great- Especially out here in the desert where winters are so dry.
Priced at $5.99 buy only @ Trader Joes

chocolate rice milk

1 c brown rice
6 c water (+4 c to add later)

~boil then turn the heat down to low. (like you normally cook rice) leave for 3 hours.

~after the 3 hours, using a stick blender, blend the rice and water together.

~strain out the rice pulp (i've heard of people using the rice pulp to make rice crackers, i haven't tried it though)

~ add in your extra 4 cups of water and blend

you could stop here and have plain rice milk. we like chocolate though. yummy.

1 recipe plain rice milk
1/3 c honey
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp organic raw sugar
1 tbsp blackstrap molasses
1/2 tbsp real salt
1/2 tbsp vanilla 

dump it all in the bowl and blend.

super yummy! take that, monsanto!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

super fluffy biscuits

1 1/2 c all purpose flour + extra for the counter
1/2 c ground flax seed
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1tbsp raw sugar
1/3 c butter, softened
1 c milk

~ preheat oven to 425*
~ mix all the dry stuff in a bowl
~ rub in the butter
~ mix in the milk
~ turn the dough out onto the counter. if it's really wet, add some more flour.
~ knead/fold in half 15-20 times. (this makes the flaky layers!)
~ press to about 1 inch thick.
~ use a jar/glass to cut out the biscuits
~ bake for 15-20 minutes

Monday, November 8, 2010

Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

½ cup butter
½ cup granulated cane sugar
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg + 1 egg white
½ teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
½ cup brown rice flour
¼ cup potato starch
¼ cup sweet rice flour
½ teaspoon xanthan gum
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ cups gluten-free oats
½ cup baking raisins

Cream the sugars and butter until fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time and thoroughly incorporate into the batter.  Stir in the vanilla last.

In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients (except oats), mixing well.  Stir into the creamed mixture until integrated.  Stir in the oats and raisins.  Cover the bowl and chill until cold, at least 2 hours. 

Preheat oven to 350 F for static ovens or 325 F for convection.

Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place at least 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until lightly brown.  If you can wait, let them cool on a wire rack before removing.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Aioli Potato Salad (Vegan)

Many vegan recipies have waaaaay to many spices that I dont have on hand and substituting one for another doesnt always work (says my garbage disposal )  So here, a tasty simple vegan recipe.

Aioli Potato Salad

5 or 6 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes
Tap water for boiling plus a Tablespoon of white vinegar
2 stalks of celery, sliced vary thin
½ a small onion, minced
About 6 baby dill pickles, chopped
½ can whole black olives, diced **canned pre-dicted olives are squishy and salty**
½ a cup Zesty Garlic Aioli (Wildwoods)
1 - 2 Tablespoons Veganaise
2 teaspoons mustard
Salt to taste




Put a pot of water + the vinegar on the stove to boil.

Peal and cube the potatoes and add to the water once its started boiling. Boil for 15 minutes *Set the timer*

While the potatoes are boiling dice your celery, onion, baby dills and black olives. Place them in a large bowl and add the Aioli, Veganaise and mustard. Stir well and set aside.

When the timer goes off drain the potatoes immediately and run them under cold tap water until they are cool to the touch. Drain for a few minutes to dry them out well.

Dump the potatoes in the bowl with the veggies and Aioli. Stir gently to cover everything with the Aioli. Taste and salt as needed.

Cover and put in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour before serving. Makes 6 servings (ish)

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Date Bars

8oz chopped dates
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 raisins

1 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup butter melted

Cook dates with 1/2 cup orange juice in saucepan 5 mins or until thickens. Stir in remaining juice and raisins.

Combine oats, flour, baking soda, sugar in bowl. Stir in melted butter.
Press 2/3 of oat mix into bottom of a 8" or 9" square pan. Spread date filling over crust. Sprinkle remaining crust on top.

Bake at 375 for 20 mins

Friday, October 22, 2010

no corn syrup pecan pie

i'm intimidated by pie crust so i cheat and use a store bought crust (not pillsbury though, don't worry.)


1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tablespoon flour (any flour will do)
1 tablespoon milk (you could use non-dairy milk, i don't think it would matter, it's just for the moisture)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans

  1. preheat oven to 400* 
  2. beat the eggs until they are foamy 
  3. stir in the melted butter; stir in the flour and sugars; stir in the milk, vanilla and nuts
  4. pour into your pie shell and 
  5. bake @ 400* for 10 minutes to get the top crusty then @ 350* for 30-40 minutes until it's done

Dump Cake

1 box cake mix- white or yellow
2-4 cans of your favorite pie filling, or make yours from scratch
1 cup melted Butter
1 cup chopped nuts optional

Pre Heat your oven to 350*F. Grease a 13 by 9 baking dish. Pour your pie filling into the dish. Sprinkle the cake mix over the pie filling and cake mix. Then sprinkle the nuts to top it all. Pour the butter all over the to of the filling, nuts and cake mix. Bake for 35 min give or take. 

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Baked Pumpkin Seeds






Wash & Dry (Pat dry it good enough. You just want extra water on them.)
Melt together 1 stick of butter & 4 TBS salt
Take off heat
Add in 3 1/2 cup seeds
Soak over night

Heat & stir till butter is melted again
Pour off excess liquid
Put seeds on cookie sheet and bake at 300F for 30 mins

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Gluten-Free Banana-Walnut Muffins

wholeliving.com

With fiber-filled rice flour, potassium-rich bananas, and cholesterol-fighting walnuts, these gluten-free muffins trump breakfast bars.  Muffins can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 day.




Makes 1 dozen
  • 1 1/4 cups brown-rice flour (bobsredmill.com)
  • 1/2 cup toasted walnuts, finely ground
  • 1/2 cup potato starch (bobsredmill.com)
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour (bobsredmill.com)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum (bobsredmill.com)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, separated
  • 1/2 cup safflower oil
  • 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups mashed overripe bananas (3 to 4)
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with baking cups. Whisk together brown-rice flour, ground walnuts, potato starch, tapioca flour, baking powder, xanthan gum, and salt. Whisk together yolks, oil, sugar, bananas, and vanilla. Fold flour mixture into banana mixture.
  2. Whisk whites until stiff peaks form. Working in 3 batches, fold whites into batter. Fill each baking cup with batter. Bake until light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 22 to 24 minutes. Let cool slightly. Turn out muffins onto a wire rack, and let cool completely.

homemade pizza

i make this pizza at least once a week. it's so easy.

1.) mix together the sauce
2.) mix/roll out the crust
3.) put the sauce/toppings on the crust
4.) bake until the cheese is brown



sauce:
half an onion - chopped and fried in butter(fry the onion in the pot and put everything else in on top)
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 6 oz can tomato paste
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

mix everything together and let it simmer with a lid on while you make the crust

preheat the oven to 450*

crust:
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c ground flax seed
(or 3 cups total of your favorite flours) 
2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of baking soda
3 tbsp butter (softened)
1 c ice water

whisk together all the dry stuff.
rub in the butter until it's pea size-ish.
mix the ice water in with a wooden spoon

rub butter in your 14"x20"cookie sheet

roll the crust out in the pan.

add your toppings.

bake until it looks done. like 10-15 minutes. it depends on how many toppings you put on.

fridge to table -> 30 minutes

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

broccoli cheddar soup

Ingredients:1 stick butter
2/3 c flour
1 onion
1qt 1/2&1/2
1 qt stock (i use chicken, but use what you like)
3 lg carrots
2 heads of broccoli
16 oz extra sharp cheddar cheese block (pre-shredded doesn't melt the same and is yucky)
1/2 tsp nutmeg

4 basic steps:
1.) make a roux
2.) mix the stock and 1/2&1/2
3.) cook the veggies
4.) blend


- chop the onion, in a small pan sweat the onion with about a 1tbsp of butter
- while the onion is cooking, make the roux (turn the stove on LOW and leave it there until the soup is ready.)
- melt the rest of the butter in a big soup pot. when the butter is melted, stir in the flour.
- pour in the stock and 1/2&1/2. stir
- set your timer for 20 minutes, stir once in a while
- while you are waiting, peel and shred the carrots and chop the broccoli
- when the timer goes off, dump in the cooked onion, shredded carrots and chopped broccoli, stir
- set your timer for another 20 minutes
- while you are waiting this time, shred the cheese.
- when the timer goes off, use your immersion blender and chop up the veggies.
- then mix in the cheese slowly so it has time to melt. (if you blend after you put the cheese in, your blender could get gunky.)
- stir in the nutmeg (ew. nutmeg? yes. trust me.)

this recipe makes enough for about 10 servings. we eat half and freeze half. the frozen half is poured into a 12 cup and a 6 cup muffin tin. i put the muffin tins in the freezer over night and in the morning i pop them out and put them in a ziploc.

fridge to table --> 45 minutes.