Creamy Quinoa Tabouleh

2 c. sprouted chickpeas

2 1/2 c. water

1/4 c. tahini

1/4 c tahini

1/4 c. sliced burdock

1/4 c. lemon juice

2 tsp sea salt

1 c. cherry tomatoes, halved

1 Tbsp nama shoyu

2/3 c. mint, chopped

1/3 c. diced cucumber

1/3 c. chopped parsley

1 Tbsp garlic

1 tsp minced jalapeno

1 tsp minced ginger

1/2 c. olive oil

1 c. sprouted quinoa

In a blender combine chickpeas and water. Blend well. Pour the chickpea mix into a fine sieve over the sink. Rinse the chickpea mix and pour it back into the blender. Add the tahini, burdock, lemon juice, sea salt, and blend until creamy. Transfer blender contents into a serving bowl and fold in the cherry tomatoes, 1 Tbsp nama shoyu, mint, cucumber, parsley, garlic, jalapeno, ginger, olive oil, and quinoa. Serve.

Raw Mashed Potatoes

3 c. chopped cauliflower

1 c. cashews

1/2 c. lemon juice

1/2 c. fresh thyme, chopped

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 Tbsp celtic seasoning

Blend cauliflower using a little lemon juice and add remaining ingredients.

Gravy (this is also great as a salad dressing)

1/4 c. miso

1 Tbsp red wine

1/3 c. chopped onion

1 minced shallot

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1/4 c. orange juice

1/3 c. olive oil

1 Tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp jalapeno

1 Tbsp nama shoyu

1 Tsp minced ginger

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp sesame seed oil

Combine all ingredients and blend until creamy.

Raw Chili

1 portobello mushroom, finely chopped

1/2 c. minced celery

1/2 c. chopped red onion

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 c. almonds, soaked 4-6 hours

1 c. chopped carrots

1 1/2 c. sun-dried tomatoes, soaked

2 c. water, fresh or from sun-dried tomatoes soaking liquid

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 c. nama shoyu

1 clove garlic

2 Tsp fresh oregano

1 Tbsp cumin

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp agave

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Place mushrooms, celery, onion, and bell pepper in a large bowl. Pulse almonds and carrots in food processor until a chunky consistency is achieved, add to bowl. Blend remaining ingredients until smooth, add to bowl and mix all ingredients until well combined. Warm in dehydrator prior to serving.

Sour Cream

2 c. cashews, soaked 4-6 hours

1 c. water

1/2 c. olive oil

3 Tbsp lemon juice

1 1/2 tsp. sea salt

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Guacamole

2 c. avocados

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. chopped green onions

1/2 c. fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tsp minced jalapeno

1/2 c. chopped tomato

1 1/2 tsps sea salt

1/4 c lime juice

In a mixing bowl mash avocado and olive oil with a wooden spoon, and in rapid, circular strokes, whip until fluffy. Fold in green onions, cilantro, jalapeno, tomato, salt, and lime juice.

Thai Salad

2 handfulls mixed greens

1/2 c. finely diced pineapple

1/2 c. soaked, finely sliced sun-dried tomatoes

1 avocado, sliced

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 red bell pepper, cut into long, thin strips

1/2 c. thinly sliced young coconut meat

1/2 c. chopped curried cashews

1/2 c. creamy thai dressing

Cilantro leaves for garnish

Place a handful of mixed greens int he center of each plate. Top with pineapple, sun-dried tomatoes, and avocado. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with red bell pepper, coconut, and curried cashews. Drizzle dressing generously over top just before serving.

Chopped Curried Cashews

3 c. cashews, soaked 1-2 hours, drained, and toasted

1 Tbsp agave

2 tsp maple syrup

1 tsp curry powder

1/4 tsp cayenne powder

3/4 tsp sea salt

In a large bowl, coat dehydrated (or toasted) nuts with agave and maple syrup. Add curry, cayenne, and salt. Mix until well coated. Spread on screens, dehydrate for 2 days. Transfer cashews to a large bowl and separate by hand. Return to dehydrator screens and dehydrate 2 more days (or skip all the dehydrating and toast them for a few minutes.)

Creamy Thai Dressing

3/4 c. sesame oil

1/2 c. nama shoyu

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. lime juice

1 Tbsp maple syrup

3 tsp red chili flakes

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 c. chopped cashews

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

June Blinn’s Chocolate-covered Cherry Cookies

1 ½ c. flour
½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp soda
½ c. butter or margarine, softened
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 ½ tsp vanilla
1 10-oz jar maraschino cherries (about 48)
1 6-oz package semisweet chocolate pieces
½ c. Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

Stir together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and soda. Cream butter or
margarine and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Gradually add dry
ingredients to creamed mixture; beat till well blended. Shape dough into 1-inch balls;
place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press down center of dough with thumb. Drain
maraschino cherries, reserving juice. Place a cherry in the center of each cookie. In small
saucepan, combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk; heat till chocolate
is melted. Stir in 4 tsp of the reserved cherry juice. Spoon about `1 tsp frosting over each
cherry, spreading to cover cherry (thin frosting with juice if necessary). Bake in 350 oven
for 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Candied Yams and Apples

6 yams
4 apples
1 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
2 tablespoons conrstarch
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Peel and cut yams into desired size pieces. Place in a large saucepan and cover with water; cook until tender. Peel and core apples and cut into wedges. Arrange yams and apples in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. In a medium saucepan combine orange juice, orange peel, cornstarch, melted butter, brown sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thickened. Pour sauce over top. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until apples are tender.

[note: when I made this I made 1 1/2 times the amount of sauce b/c my yams were pretty good. The proportion worked well.]

Brazilian Limeade

A friend made this for a baby shower I hosted recently. It was delicious.

Serves 4

2 limes
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk (I never really measure this. I just taste it)
3 cups of cold water
Ice

Wash limes thoroughly. I wash mine in a little dish soapy water to get all the wax and bacteria off. Cut off the hard ends and slice each lime in to 4-8 wedges (it depends how much you trust your blender). Place limes in a blender with the sugar and water, pulse 5 or so times. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or remove rinds. Then add sweetened condensed milk to taste. Serve over lots of ice.