Sweet Potato Salad

3 large sweet potatoes

3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (red wine of golden balsamic work)

2 Tbsp orange juice

2 Tbsp real maple syrup

1 tsp dijon mustard

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 large Granny Smith apple, cored and cubed

1/2 c dried cranberries (make sure they are the no sugar kind)

1/4 c pecans, soaked and dried, then toasted and coarsely chopped

Directions:

Wrap the sweet potatoes in foil.  Bake them at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Remove from the oven and let cool.  Peel potatoes, and cut into cubes. 

Whisk together the vinegar, orange juice, maple syrup, mustard, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.  Slowly whisk in the olive oil until well-blended.  Set aside.

Add the apple, dried cranberries and pecans to the sweet potatoes.  Toss gently with the dressing.  Serve warm or chilled.

Cucumbers with Vinegar

Slice cucumber
3/4 c roasted garlic rice vinegar
1/4 c water
Salt and pepper

Mint Brownies

1 cup   flour

1 cup   sugar

½ cup butter/margarine, softened

4 eggs

1 ½ cups (16 oz. can) chocolate syrup

Heat oven to 350. Grease 13x9x2 inch pan. In large bowl beat first 5 ingredients until smooth. Pour into pan; bake 25-30 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched (top may still appear wet). OR, I usually just use a boxed brownie mix and bake as directed. Cool completely in pan. Spread mint cream layer on cake; chill. Pour chocolate topping over dessert; cover and chill.

Mint Cream Layer

In small bowl combine 2 cups confectioner sugar, ½ cup butter/marg. (soft), 1 T water, ½ t mint extract and

3 drops green food color; beat until smooth.

Chocolate Topping

In small microwave-proof bowl melt 6 T butter/ marg. and 1 cup mint or semi-sweet chocolate chips on High for 1-1 ½ min. or just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred.

We love eating these when they’re cold—the top is like candy! Although they're also good freshly made and gooey.

Quick Hamburger/Hotdog Buns

2 T yeast
1 c plus 2 T warm water
1/3 c oil
1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 t salt
3-3 1/2 c flour

Dissolve yeast in water. Add oil and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes. Add egg, salt and flour to make soft dough. Knead 3-5 minutes. Do not let rise. Shape into 12-16 flattened balls or snakes. Place 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheet. Cover and let rest 10 minutes (while oven is preheating). Bake at 425 degrees for 8-12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

For Scones or Navajo Tacos: Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into 3-inch squares for scones or 5 inch circles for Navajo tacos. Fry in hot oil and drain on plate covered with paper towels. Serve with butter and honey or jam (scones). Serve with chili, lettuce, grated cheese and Ranch dressing (Navajo tacos).

From "Centsible Meals," by Lorae Bowden

Soaked Pancakes

(4.5) 1.5 cups water

(5)    1.5 T. whey (or vinegar, yogurt, etc)

(1.5)  ½ cup oatmeal

(1)    1/3 cup cornmeal or rice flour

(1.5)  ½ cup other whole grain flour (I often blend black-eye peas and millet)

(3/4)  ¼ cup ground flax seeds

Mix and soak 24 hours at room temperature.

When ready to cook, mix the following dry ingredients and add with wet:

(1.5 T)  1.5 tsp baking powder

(1 T)     1 tsp baking soda

(1 T)     1 tsp sugar

(1/4 t)   Sprinkle of salt

(3)        1 egg

(3/4)      ¼ cup oil

Cook like normal pancakes. We like to top ours with yogurt, apple sauce, and bananas or other chopped fruit.

I usually triple this recipe (numbers in parenthesis) and it lasts our family for 2-3 breakfasts. I like the pancakes fresh, so I just refrigerate any leftover batter we don't use and cook it fresh for the next meal.


Soaking is supposed to make the grains easier for our bodies to digest. You can make this gluten-free, depending on the grains you use.

Apple Kuchen

1 pkg yellow cake mix*
1/2 cup butter, softened (or ghee or coconut oil)
1 21-oz can apple pie filling**
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 egg
Ice cream or whipped cream, optional for serving

Preheat oven to 350. Place dry cake mix in a medium bowl and cut in butter as you would for pie dough. Pat mixture lightly into a 9x13 pan, building up the edges slightly. Bake for 10 minutes.

Arrange apple pie filling over warm crust. Blend the sour cream and egg, then drizzle over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until top is set.

Serve warm or cold, plain or with ice cream or whipped cream. Makes 15 servings.

*Yellow Cake Mix, for a less sweet treat
2 1/2 cups flour (I used 2 c. whole wheat, 1/2 cup white)
1/2-3/4 cup sugar
3 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt

**Apple Pie Filling
1/2 cup sugar
2 T plus 3/4 t cornstarch
1  t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
1/4 t salt
1 1/3 cup plus 2 T water (or juice, if using bottled apple slices)
1 1/4 t lemon juice

Mix and cook until thick. Add 2 quarts (drained) apple slices or similar amount of sliced apples.

We got this recipe from our neighbor and we all love it. It's very sweet! We always have it with ice cream or whipped cream. Lared made it with 2 bottles of peaches yesterday and it was delicious.

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe https://www.melskitchencafe.com/cashew-chicken-lettuce-wraps/

I have been excited to try these lettuce wraps for a while and I'm so glad we finally did! This recipe is very different from my other lettuce wrap recipe, which is also wonderful. The whole family enjoyed them. Ben even asked if he could take the leftovers for lunch. There was just enough to feed the family for one meal and one lunch for Ben. We'll be doubling the recipe from now on! We didn't have anything else in addition to the lettuce wraps, but they would be good served with a side of fresh fruit or simple roasted broccoli. The recipe is also pretty quick to put put together, which is always nice.

Preparation Time: 15 - 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup finely diced yellow or white onion
• 1 cup finely diced (or shredded) carrots
• 3-4 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into small pieces
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (Use gluten-free Tamari sauce if desired.)
• 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/2 cup chopped raw cashews (lightly toasted, if desired)
• Bibb or green leaf lettuce leaves for wrapping
• Chopped cucumbers and tomatoes for serving

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and add the onion and carrots. Add the garlic, salt and pepper and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the vegetables start to soften.
2. Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and pepper and add to the skillet with the onions and carrots. Cook, stirring often, until the chicken pieces are cooked through, 4-5 minutes.
3. Stir in the soy sauce and maple syrup and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, letting the soy sauce and maple syrup bubble and simmer.
4. Stir in the cashews, cooking until they are just heated through. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
5. Serve in lettuce leaves topped with tomatoes and cucumbers, which add a nice crisp and fresh element to the dish!

NOTES:

Trust me that the cucumbers and tomatoes really make this dish shine. 

Additionally, really important, if you aren’t using low-sodium soy sauce, you’ll probably want to omit or reduce the salt from the recipe.