A bean dip that's sorta like hummus -- but different.
1 16-oz can chickpeas (garbanzos), drained and rinsed
1 16-oz can Great Northern (white) beans, drained and rinsed
2 TB cashew butter*
1/2 small clove of fresh garlic, minced
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash or other salt-free herb seasoning
1/8 tsp dried thyme
Juice of 1-2 small lemons (about 4 TB)
1-2 TB sesame oil
1 TB olive oil
Lemon slices
*Can easily make your own cashew butter by processing raw or roasted cashews in a food processor until smooth.
Process all ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Chill and serve with lemon slices.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Nature's Candy
This is the Lisa's Pie Crust recipe from The American Vegetarian Cookbook from the Fit for Life Kitchen by Marilyn Diamond. I just decided to roll them into candies. There's a variation I came up with noted below.
1/3 cup sunflower seeds, unsalted (raw or roasted)
1/2 cup sesame seeds (hulled or unhulled)
2/3 cup of whole almonds
1 cup raisins
1 cup soft dates, pitted
1/3 cup dried, shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1. Grind seeds, nuts and coconut to a fine powerd in a food processor.
2. With food processor running, add raisins and dates, a bit at a time. When the mixture starts balling up to one side of the processor bowl, it's ready to roll.
3. Roll into one-inch balls.
4. Optionally, roll balls in carob power or cinnamon to coat. Adds a nice finish to the candies.
Variation:
Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup unsalted nut butter in place of some of the dried fruit. The dough will be softer.
1/3 cup sunflower seeds, unsalted (raw or roasted)
1/2 cup sesame seeds (hulled or unhulled)
2/3 cup of whole almonds
1 cup raisins
1 cup soft dates, pitted
1/3 cup dried, shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1. Grind seeds, nuts and coconut to a fine powerd in a food processor.
2. With food processor running, add raisins and dates, a bit at a time. When the mixture starts balling up to one side of the processor bowl, it's ready to roll.
3. Roll into one-inch balls.
4. Optionally, roll balls in carob power or cinnamon to coat. Adds a nice finish to the candies.
Variation:
Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup unsalted nut butter in place of some of the dried fruit. The dough will be softer.
Carob Candies
Great powerpack for the road. I would know because I excercise a lot. No, really. :-)
1 cup honey or brown rice syrup
1/2 cup carob powder
2 TB canola oil
1/2 cup nut butter (peanut, cashew, etc.)
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup dried, shredded coconut (unsweetened)
Optional ingredients to push these over the edge:
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1. Bring honey / syrup, carob powder and oil to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Let boil for one minute.
2. Remove from heat, quickly stir in vanilla then oats & coconut (and craisins and pecans, if using)
3. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto was paper.
4. When cool, lightly wet hands and roll each lump into a ball.
Freeze to keep fresh. Bring to room temperature prior to serving. Makes about 20-24.
1 cup honey or brown rice syrup
1/2 cup carob powder
2 TB canola oil
1/2 cup nut butter (peanut, cashew, etc.)
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup dried, shredded coconut (unsweetened)
Optional ingredients to push these over the edge:
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1. Bring honey / syrup, carob powder and oil to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Let boil for one minute.
2. Remove from heat, quickly stir in vanilla then oats & coconut (and craisins and pecans, if using)
3. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto was paper.
4. When cool, lightly wet hands and roll each lump into a ball.
Freeze to keep fresh. Bring to room temperature prior to serving. Makes about 20-24.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Dad's Cream of Tomato Soup
My Dad has two great recipes: tomato soup and pot roast.
2 cups milk (any kind)
2½ cups canned whole tomatoes*
2 TB flour
1 TB sugar
1 thin slice of onion
1 tsp pepper
2 TB melted butter or margarine
1 tsp salt (optional)
Dash garlic salt or powder
Dill, fresh or dried
*I once used fresh tomatoes from our garden--it was awful. Perhaps we should have cooked them first...
1. Heat milk in saucepan.
2. Put remaining ingredients into the blender. Cover and process to purée ‘til smooth.
3. Remove cover and slowly add hot milk into mixture while processing.
4. Reheat over low on stove.
5. Garnish each bowl with dill.
Serves 4.
2 cups milk (any kind)
2½ cups canned whole tomatoes*
2 TB flour
1 TB sugar
1 thin slice of onion
1 tsp pepper
2 TB melted butter or margarine
1 tsp salt (optional)
Dash garlic salt or powder
Dill, fresh or dried
*I once used fresh tomatoes from our garden--it was awful. Perhaps we should have cooked them first...
1. Heat milk in saucepan.
2. Put remaining ingredients into the blender. Cover and process to purée ‘til smooth.
3. Remove cover and slowly add hot milk into mixture while processing.
4. Reheat over low on stove.
5. Garnish each bowl with dill.
Serves 4.
Bean Curd With Spicy Sauce
From the World Of The East cookbook. This dish is delicious and takes only about 10 minutes to make.
Sauce:
2 tsp cornstarch
½ cup Vegetable Stock
½ tsp salt (optional)
½ tsp sugar or honey
1 Tb sesame oil
1 tsp chilipaste or szechuan sauce
2 Tb soy sauce (or tamari)
Mix together the cornstarch and the vegetable stock until smooth (using a fork or small whisk works best). Mix in all the other ingredients.
Tofu:
2 Tb oil
3 scallions (green onions), sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, minced
1 lb tofu
1. Heat oil in wok or frying pan.
2. Stir fry garlic and ginger in the oil for 10 seconds.
3. Add scallions, stir fry 5 seconds.
4. Add tofu, stir fry 1 minute. Turn heat to low.
5. Stir the sauce and pour it over the tofu. Mix gently and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce thicken, stirring gently now and again.
Serve over rice or other whole grain.
Sauce:
2 tsp cornstarch
½ cup Vegetable Stock
½ tsp salt (optional)
½ tsp sugar or honey
1 Tb sesame oil
1 tsp chilipaste or szechuan sauce
2 Tb soy sauce (or tamari)
Mix together the cornstarch and the vegetable stock until smooth (using a fork or small whisk works best). Mix in all the other ingredients.
Tofu:
2 Tb oil
3 scallions (green onions), sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger, minced
1 lb tofu
1. Heat oil in wok or frying pan.
2. Stir fry garlic and ginger in the oil for 10 seconds.
3. Add scallions, stir fry 5 seconds.
4. Add tofu, stir fry 1 minute. Turn heat to low.
5. Stir the sauce and pour it over the tofu. Mix gently and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce thicken, stirring gently now and again.
Serve over rice or other whole grain.
Chickpeas With Coconut
A co-worker many moons ago gave me several recipes from a cooking class she took with Catherine Devine M.Ed. Since I was vegetarian during my son's formative years, this is one of his home cooking favorites.
2 cups potatoes, diced
¼ cup canola or olive oil
4 cups cooked chickpeas
1 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
1 Tb ground coriander
Juice of 1-2 limes
1 cup grated unsweetened coconut
½ cup water
2 tsp turmeric
½ tsp salt (optional)
2 fresh hot chili peppers (jalenpeños, etc.)
Steam the diced potatoes in a vegetable steamer until tender. Sauté the cooked potatoes in oil until they begin to brown. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes, until the coconut is softened. Serves 8.
2 cups potatoes, diced
¼ cup canola or olive oil
4 cups cooked chickpeas
1 tsp fennel seeds (optional)
1 Tb ground coriander
Juice of 1-2 limes
1 cup grated unsweetened coconut
½ cup water
2 tsp turmeric
½ tsp salt (optional)
2 fresh hot chili peppers (jalenpeños, etc.)
Steam the diced potatoes in a vegetable steamer until tender. Sauté the cooked potatoes in oil until they begin to brown. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes, until the coconut is softened. Serves 8.
Cold Sesame Noodles
A co-worker gave me this recipe years ago from a cooking class she took from Catherine Devine, M.Ed. It's always a big hit.
¼ cup hot water
6 Tb tamari (for this recipe, soy sauce is a so-so replacement for the tamari -- which you can get in most supermarkets)
3 Tb tahini (ground sesame seed paste)
3 Tb vinegar
2 Tb peanut butter
1 lb soba noodles or whole wheat spaghetti or fettuccini
1 Tb roasted sesame oil
2 Tb hot roasted sesame oil OR szechuan sauce
¼ cup sesame seeds*
2 scallions, chopped
1. While water is boiling for noodles, whisk the honey or sugar in hot water until fully dissolved.
2. Add the remaining liquid ingredients and whisk again into a blended sauce.
3. Lightly toast the sesame seeds by placing them in a single layer in a dry skillet over a low flame. Stir often to prevent burning. They are roasted when they begin to brown or when you begin to smell them. (You can skip roasting the seeds; raw unhulled sesame seeds are nearly as good.)
4. Follow the package directions for cooking the noodles. It's better is the noodles are not too mushy.
5. Rinse the pasta with cold water, then toss the noodles with the sauce and top with seeds and scallions. Chill or serve warm. Also good with some steamed cauliflower and red pepper tossed in.
¼ cup hot water
6 Tb tamari (for this recipe, soy sauce is a so-so replacement for the tamari -- which you can get in most supermarkets)
3 Tb tahini (ground sesame seed paste)
3 Tb vinegar
2 Tb peanut butter
1 lb soba noodles or whole wheat spaghetti or fettuccini
1 Tb roasted sesame oil
2 Tb hot roasted sesame oil OR szechuan sauce
¼ cup sesame seeds*
2 scallions, chopped
1. While water is boiling for noodles, whisk the honey or sugar in hot water until fully dissolved.
2. Add the remaining liquid ingredients and whisk again into a blended sauce.
3. Lightly toast the sesame seeds by placing them in a single layer in a dry skillet over a low flame. Stir often to prevent burning. They are roasted when they begin to brown or when you begin to smell them. (You can skip roasting the seeds; raw unhulled sesame seeds are nearly as good.)
4. Follow the package directions for cooking the noodles. It's better is the noodles are not too mushy.
5. Rinse the pasta with cold water, then toss the noodles with the sauce and top with seeds and scallions. Chill or serve warm. Also good with some steamed cauliflower and red pepper tossed in.
Carrot and Coriander Soup
From The Best of Vegetarian Cuisine
This has been a favorite for a long time. An impressive dish to serve guests. (They’ll think you’re a gourmet cook.) Serves 4-6.
3 TB butter/margarine
12 ounces carrots, diced
3 celery ribs
3 to 3 ¾ cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
1 Tb finely chopped fresh cilantro (or 1-3 tsp ground coriander)
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
1. Melt the butter in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan, but do not let it brown.
2. Sauté the carrots and celery in it over gentle heat for a minute or two, stirring and turning to coat them with butter.
3. Add the ground coriander and cumin, turn the heat up a little and fry for another 3-4 minutes, stirring fairly vigorously.
4. Pour in the stock, bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Let cool a little.
5. Put through a blender and return to a clean saucepan. Reheat gently. Add the chopped or ground coriander and serve hot, garnished.
This has been a favorite for a long time. An impressive dish to serve guests. (They’ll think you’re a gourmet cook.) Serves 4-6.
3 TB butter/margarine
12 ounces carrots, diced
3 celery ribs
3 to 3 ¾ cups vegetable stock or chicken stock
1 Tb finely chopped fresh cilantro (or 1-3 tsp ground coriander)
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
Chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
1. Melt the butter in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan, but do not let it brown.
2. Sauté the carrots and celery in it over gentle heat for a minute or two, stirring and turning to coat them with butter.
3. Add the ground coriander and cumin, turn the heat up a little and fry for another 3-4 minutes, stirring fairly vigorously.
4. Pour in the stock, bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Let cool a little.
5. Put through a blender and return to a clean saucepan. Reheat gently. Add the chopped or ground coriander and serve hot, garnished.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Alz Chili Lime Dressing
This is pretty close to the TGI Friday's and Pick Up Stix lime-cilantro dressing that I'm addicted to (and is a pain in the butt to try and buy from either of these restaurants).
1/4 to 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (can do a mix of lime and lemon juice).
1/3 cup honey
1/4 to 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, packed
1 small clove fresh garlic, minced
3/4 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 large fresh jalepeno, chopped roughly
1-2 dried Arbol chilies (optional)
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tsp corn syrup
1 package Splenda
About 1/3 cup Newman's Lime dressing*
Kosher salt to taste
*I think this optional; maybe just adding some more lime juice will do the trick, but I really think this makes it closer to the restaurant version.
Mix all in blender or food processor until smooth. Keeps in refrigerator for about a week or so. May be able to freeze in portions; I have not tried that yet.
1/4 to 1/3 cup fresh lime juice (can do a mix of lime and lemon juice).
1/3 cup honey
1/4 to 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, packed
1 small clove fresh garlic, minced
3/4 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 large fresh jalepeno, chopped roughly
1-2 dried Arbol chilies (optional)
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tsp corn syrup
1 package Splenda
About 1/3 cup Newman's Lime dressing*
Kosher salt to taste
*I think this optional; maybe just adding some more lime juice will do the trick, but I really think this makes it closer to the restaurant version.
Mix all in blender or food processor until smooth. Keeps in refrigerator for about a week or so. May be able to freeze in portions; I have not tried that yet.
Big Homer’s Spicy Red Sauce
Sonia’s Uncle Homer made this sauce for Thanksgiving last year. I pried the recipe out of him. :-) Amazing and addictive.
One pound tomatoes
One pound tomatillos
15 dried Arbol chilies
2 cloves fresh garlic
2 eggs
2 tsp chicken granules
1 to 1 ¼ cups olive oil
Boil tomatoes, tomatillos, chillies and garlic until soft. Put in blender and add eggs and chicken broth granules. Process in food process until smooth.
Put olive oil in a large pot. Whisk in above mixture and cover pot. Cook on medium heat, covered, 15-20 minutes. Every few minutes stir down mixture and recover. It is normal for it to start boiling up the sides of the pot. Cool and serve with chips. Freezes well.
One pound tomatoes
One pound tomatillos
15 dried Arbol chilies
2 cloves fresh garlic
2 eggs
2 tsp chicken granules
1 to 1 ¼ cups olive oil
Boil tomatoes, tomatillos, chillies and garlic until soft. Put in blender and add eggs and chicken broth granules. Process in food process until smooth.
Put olive oil in a large pot. Whisk in above mixture and cover pot. Cook on medium heat, covered, 15-20 minutes. Every few minutes stir down mixture and recover. It is normal for it to start boiling up the sides of the pot. Cool and serve with chips. Freezes well.
Shiela’s Holiday Cookies
My friend Shiela shared these cookies with David and me last Christmas. I think David got to eat one. :-) Freeze them to keep them fresh; they defrost quickly.
2 cups pecans
2 cups cake flour
2 sticks butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar (or 1/2 cup powdered sugar)
About 1/2 cup powdered sugar for coating cookies
Finely grind pecans in food processor.
Sift flour and add to ground pecans. Pulse a few times to mix.
Cream 2 sticks butter with ¼ cup sugar (or ½ cup powdered sugar) in mixer.
Add 2 tsp vanilla.
Add the flour/pecans and mix well.
Chill dough for 30 minutes to an hour to make it easier to handle. Then roll into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg for 25-30 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Carefully remove cookies with spatula into bowl of powdered sugar and coat while still warm. Cool on rack. (I just sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar while they are on the cookie sheet because they kept crumbling on me. Perhaps because I used regular flour and not cake flour.)
NOTE: Shiela recommends that you split the dough into two lumps and chill in separate containers. This way if the bowl you're working out of begins getting too warm while you're shaping the dough, you can slip it back into the refrigerator and work out of the other bowl.
2 cups pecans
2 cups cake flour
2 sticks butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar (or 1/2 cup powdered sugar)
About 1/2 cup powdered sugar for coating cookies
Finely grind pecans in food processor.
Sift flour and add to ground pecans. Pulse a few times to mix.
Cream 2 sticks butter with ¼ cup sugar (or ½ cup powdered sugar) in mixer.
Add 2 tsp vanilla.
Add the flour/pecans and mix well.
Chill dough for 30 minutes to an hour to make it easier to handle. Then roll into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 300 deg for 25-30 minutes until lightly browned around the edges. Carefully remove cookies with spatula into bowl of powdered sugar and coat while still warm. Cool on rack. (I just sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar while they are on the cookie sheet because they kept crumbling on me. Perhaps because I used regular flour and not cake flour.)
NOTE: Shiela recommends that you split the dough into two lumps and chill in separate containers. This way if the bowl you're working out of begins getting too warm while you're shaping the dough, you can slip it back into the refrigerator and work out of the other bowl.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Alz Vegetarian Chili
One recipe Alz Chili Spice Mix (recipe on this site)
1 package soy “meat” crumbles
½ large onion, chopped
2 large elephant garlic cloves, chopped (or one whole bulb)
2 cups fresh or frozen corn sweet corn
3 large fresh jalepenos, chopped roughly
½ cup sweet pepper (red, yellow and/or orange), chopped
2-4 TB Canola oil
One 6 ounce can tomato paste
12 oz water
One 8 ounce can tomato sauce (I use no salt)
One 10-15 ounce can diced tomatoes (I used one that had green chilies in it)
1 TB Worcestershire sauce (you can buy a vegan version)
One 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
6 bay leaves
Kosher salt to taste (optional -- or let each person add their own to their serving)
Sautee onions, garlic, peppers and corn in canola oil until softened. Add crumbles, sprinkle with 1/2 of spice mix, turn up heat and fry for a few minutes.
Reduce heat to lowest setting. Add remainder of ingredients and stir well. Cover pot and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Serve hot over rice or pasta. NOTE: Chili actually tastes much better the next day reheated. I cool it completely, place in 2-4 cup containers, freeze all but the amount I want to eat in the next day or two. But that's me. :-)
1 package soy “meat” crumbles
½ large onion, chopped
2 large elephant garlic cloves, chopped (or one whole bulb)
2 cups fresh or frozen corn sweet corn
3 large fresh jalepenos, chopped roughly
½ cup sweet pepper (red, yellow and/or orange), chopped
2-4 TB Canola oil
One 6 ounce can tomato paste
12 oz water
One 8 ounce can tomato sauce (I use no salt)
One 10-15 ounce can diced tomatoes (I used one that had green chilies in it)
1 TB Worcestershire sauce (you can buy a vegan version)
One 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
6 bay leaves
Kosher salt to taste (optional -- or let each person add their own to their serving)
Sautee onions, garlic, peppers and corn in canola oil until softened. Add crumbles, sprinkle with 1/2 of spice mix, turn up heat and fry for a few minutes.
Reduce heat to lowest setting. Add remainder of ingredients and stir well. Cover pot and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Serve hot over rice or pasta. NOTE: Chili actually tastes much better the next day reheated. I cool it completely, place in 2-4 cup containers, freeze all but the amount I want to eat in the next day or two. But that's me. :-)
Alz Meat Chili
One recipe Alz Chili Spice Mix (recipe on this site)
1 – 1-1/4 pounds ground meat (I used about 1/2 Angus beef, ¼ lamb, ¼ pork, but any ground meat you like)
½ large onion, chopped
2 large elephant garlic cloves, chopped (or one whole bulb)
2-4 TB Canola oil
One 6 ounce can tomato paste
12 oz water
One 8 ounce can tomato sauce (I used no salt)
One 10-15 ounce can diced tomatoes (I used one that had green chilies in it)
One cup fresh or frozen corn or one 15oz can sweet corn
One 4 ounce can green chilies
One 4 ounce can chopped jalapeños, drained
1 TB Worcestershire sauce
One 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
6 bay leaves
Kosher salt to taste (optional -- or let each person add their own to their serving)
Sautee onions and garlic in canola oil until softened. Add meat, sprinkle with 1/2 of spice mix, turn up heat and fry meat until brown and cooked completely.
Reduce heat to lowest setting. Add remainder of ingredients and stir well. Cover pot and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Serve hot over rice or pasta. NOTE: Chili actually tastes much better the next day reheated. I cool it completely, place in 2-4 cup containers, freeze all but the amount I want to eat in the next day or two. But that's me. :-)
1 – 1-1/4 pounds ground meat (I used about 1/2 Angus beef, ¼ lamb, ¼ pork, but any ground meat you like)
½ large onion, chopped
2 large elephant garlic cloves, chopped (or one whole bulb)
2-4 TB Canola oil
One 6 ounce can tomato paste
12 oz water
One 8 ounce can tomato sauce (I used no salt)
One 10-15 ounce can diced tomatoes (I used one that had green chilies in it)
One cup fresh or frozen corn or one 15oz can sweet corn
One 4 ounce can green chilies
One 4 ounce can chopped jalapeños, drained
1 TB Worcestershire sauce
One 15 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
6 bay leaves
Kosher salt to taste (optional -- or let each person add their own to their serving)
Sautee onions and garlic in canola oil until softened. Add meat, sprinkle with 1/2 of spice mix, turn up heat and fry meat until brown and cooked completely.
Reduce heat to lowest setting. Add remainder of ingredients and stir well. Cover pot and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Serve hot over rice or pasta. NOTE: Chili actually tastes much better the next day reheated. I cool it completely, place in 2-4 cup containers, freeze all but the amount I want to eat in the next day or two. But that's me. :-)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Alz Chili Spice Mix
For my version of the chili David and I loved from Sam's BBQ in Chula Vista I created this spice mix. Use fresh spices. Only know it's cumin powder by the label and not the scent? Chuck it and go to the store!
2 tsp Chipotle powder
1 tsp Poultry seasoning
¼ cup chili powder (plain ground chili powder, not a mix)
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Ground cumin
1TB Oregano
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 TB Brown sugar (packed)
1 TB Paprika
1/2 tsp Cayenne
1 tsp Ground pepper
¼ tsp allspice
¼ tsp ground cloves
A key ingredient, 6 whole bay leaves, will be added to the chili while it's simmering.
2 tsp Chipotle powder
1 tsp Poultry seasoning
¼ cup chili powder (plain ground chili powder, not a mix)
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Ground cumin
1TB Oregano
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 TB Brown sugar (packed)
1 TB Paprika
1/2 tsp Cayenne
1 tsp Ground pepper
¼ tsp allspice
¼ tsp ground cloves
A key ingredient, 6 whole bay leaves, will be added to the chili while it's simmering.
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