focaccia or panini? yes.

We have a friend from Italy who says there are places in Italy where focaccia is what we know as a panini.  That is kind of cool, because if you ask me, focaccia is the best kind of bread for a panini.  And if you ask him this recipe produces authentic tasting focaccia.

"neiman marcus" cookies

I got this recipe about 15 years ago,  It was being spammed around the email world claiming that some lady had been tricked into paying $450 for the recipe so she was getting them back by emailing it to the world for free.  The claim was totally false but the cookies are totally good. 

I think the recipe has been propagated fairly widely but I still get asked for it on a regular basis.  Yes, it is the one with blended oatmeal.

freezing cookie dough

Nothing is worse than wanting to use that yummy cookie dough from the freezer and pulling out a brick of it that takes hours to defrost.

okara oatmeal cookie

Lovin' these oatmeal cookies.  They are healthy and delicious and if you want a little more health try adding some ground flax and wheat bran. Okara is soybean meal. It is a good source of protein and high in fiber.

quinoa salad with tempeh nuggets

tempeh bake

Another family favorite. Tempeh is a fantastic source of protein. It has a nutty flavor and a firm texture. This recipe is from The Tofu Cookbook, which I love.

sweet cinnamon quinoa

I found this recipe online and loved it. We really love quinoa at our house and this is a fantastic way to enjoy it for breakfast.

pumpkin pie filling

This is a great vegan pumpkin pie filling. Delicious and very easy. Try doing things a little differently with the spices or top with pecans and enjoy.

pie crust - vegan

This recipe is awesome for a great vegan pie crust but it also works well with adding vegan chocolate chips and forming into dough balls.  Cook them as cookies or just enjoy them raw.  

you have been chopped!

Welcome to Chopped! The rules are simple - you have 15 min to create your dessert masterpiece and you must use every ingredient in the basket. Today’s mystery ingredients are…

...cinnamon...canned pumpkin...nutella...and golden raisins. Time starts now.

red bean chocolate cake

Last week I was visiting a dear friend and she mentioned something about putting beans in her cakes. Seriously--white beans for lighter cakes, red/kidney beans for chocolate cakes. I was completely fascinated with this idea and knew I would try it. Can I just say....AMAZING?!!  I have had my sister's cakes that call for soy flour and tofu, so I was not very skeptical when this idea was shared. But this cake has NO FLOUR and it is GOOD! And my 7 year old daughter who will only eat a bean if she's forced, LOVED this cake. Oh wait, it's because she had no idea there were any beans in the cake...and when I told her, she wanted more and asked if I was teasing her. "The cake with the beans in it tasted wonderful"

gruel

This gruel will have your orphans saying "please sir, may I have some more?"

I found this recipe in a book published in 1714. I was captivated by this book. One of the more notable recipes I stumbled across called "Ricketty Drink" calls for 300 live wood lice, and boasts "Tis almost infallible for weak children".

carrot cake-whole wheat

i have been making this carrot cake for almost 9 years and my whole family loves it...it is very healthy, (except for the the cream cheese frosting, but hey....what's a little cream cheese?)  this also makes excellent muffins. so go on, try this one if you want something moist, more on the healthy side and that has a good spice to it...my paper recipe is so well used, there are stains all over it. about time to type it up!

flax seed bread

My dad introduced me to this recipe and I love it. It is a really good hearty and healthy bread.  It is made with whole wheat flour and it is full of flax seed which is very high in omega 3's and in dietary fiber. I love a slice of this lightly toasted with a little home made applesauce, avocado or almond butter. It goes with just about anything.

cheescake trifected - cake, sauce and crust!

I have been working on perfecting the art of cheesecake for... oh... about 3 years.  Finally, I think I can say, as far as we are concerned - it has been achieved.  (Of course, it probably won't stop me from tweaking.)

fresh salsa

This is a wonderful quick fresh salsa recipe. The ingredients are simple enough to grow in your own garden. You can vary all of these ingredients to your own taste. Enjoy it on a home made burrito or with a bowl of corn chips. It is awesome.

greengo sauce

so, dressings & sauces of any variety are often not healthy, making you feel like you can only take a small amount. this is an awesome sauce/dressing that is healthy, yummy and has nice 'kick'. I love to have this on salad or in a burrito.

flour tortillas

I had been on the search to find a good tortilla recipe that wasn't too high in fat, is versatile enough that I can use straight whole wheat flour, white flour, spices, flax, or whatever I think sounds good for my meal... I came across a 'Texas' tortilla recipe and have been playing with it for over a week. it's been a fun week, with many tortillas consumed by my entire family, with the exception of you cali people. :)

ginger tofu

This is an excellent recipe to go with stir fried veggies on a bed of brown rice. We love stir fries, especially because you can modify and experiment with different sauces and ingredients and change up the veggies with whatever your in the mood for or whatever is in season.