Oven Grilled Veggies

Here's a yummy way to enjoy the ranch mix I just gave you - and so easy!


Oven-Grilled Veggies

3 potatoes, chopped
1 sweet onion, chopped
1 head broccoli, chopped
3 tablespoons Ranch dressing dry mix
1 teaspoon salt, salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

Servings/Yield: Servings: --
1.Preheat oven to 400 and grease a large cookie sheet.:
2.Scrub and chop vegetables into bite sized pieces.:
3.Mix all well and spread out on cookie sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes.:

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Location:Memphis Ave,Pensacola,United States

Ranch Dry Mix

Very weird picture... Just found it on the internet and thought it was too funny to pass up and it really fits the spirit of this post!

How can I express to how exciting and versatile this recipe is?! It's worth a million bucks! Don't you love Ranch dressing? So many people do, but some want a "veggie version," so here goes... :-)

Ranch Dry Mix

1 tablespoon sesame sprinkle* or Veggie Parmesan
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon parsley
½ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon cheese flavor powder (opt.)
1 pinch celery seed
1000 milligrams vitamin C (yes, I mean a pill!)

1.Blend all until smooth.

5 oz tofu 2 T water 1/2c vegennaise 2 T mix - Stir all together by hand.
OR
1/2 c sour cream (I like Tofutti soy), 1/2c vegennaise, 1/4 c water, 2 T mix - Stir all together by hand.

Here's a link for the sesame sprinkle recipe: http://www.thevegetariancookingschool.com/recipe_pages/recipe_pasta_zesty_sprinkles.htm

To the gluten free crowd, with love.
Also, this is a great seasoning to use on all sorts of recipes (upcoming!) that can be very low fat - though the dressings listed about are lower fat and higher fat in that's order, you could create nearly fat-free things that still use this amazing taste.


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Location:Greenwell St,Pensacola,United States

Kale - How to Love it!

Kale is one of those foods that I have a hard time liking... and is one of my favorite foods at the same time. Kinda' weird, I know. I guess tofu is the same way. Some foods were just born ugly - and, therefore, need just the right touch to be delicious. It really isn't a matter of hiding the taste to tolerate kale, but understanding it's complexity enough to really enjoy it.

A couple of tips for kale: 1. It's bitter, which is the typical least-favorite-flavor, so counter it with sour and salty, or even sweet. 2. It can have hard stems - check and remove of necessary. 3. It is quite tough and overpowering in texture, so you'll need to shout it out with something really interesting... Sour and spicy or salty and sweet.


Greek Kale Sandwich

1 leaf Kale
1 roma tomato, sliced
1 slice sweet onion
2 tablespoons Greek Tahini Dressing (see below)
2 pieces whole grain bread

Servings: 1
Toast bread and spread with the dressing. Stack on the veggies and enjoy!


Greek Tahini Dressing

4 teaspoons plain yogurt
4 teaspoons sesame tahini
1 teaspoon lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon fresh basil, chopped fine
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon sugar

Can use a quarter to half the amount of dried basil instead of fresh basil.
Mix all well and serve chilled


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Location:Memphis Ave,Pensacola,United States

Quick Prep Lentils

A couple months back I needed to take a dish to a little end-of-term potluck with some fellow nursing students. Since I'm a veggie-gal, I frequently find that the only things to eat at these gatherings are desserts, so I try to take something filling. Besides, I think that people are curious about what vegetarians eat and so try to take something interesting and repeatable.

Unfortunately I was so super busy (imagine that!), preparing for a test, chasing chickens (three little human ones), and so many other things. So before collapsing into bed (to be ready to arrive at "work" at 6:30), I threw a few things to a crockpot and let 'er simmer! Be forewarned, if you have well-circulating central air, this recipe can be cruel. :-)

Thankfully, my rushed attempt turned put quite satisfying!


Quick and Delicious Lentils
1 pound lentils
8 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 onion, chopped, optional
1 can tomato paste

To prepare this in a crockpot overnight: stir the tomato paste into water, enough to smooth any lumps. Combine all and crockpot on low overnight.
To prepare in 30-40 minutes on the stove top: Bring all but tomato paste to a boil on high. Turn down to medium heat and boil until lentils soften, 25-40 minutes. Mix tomato paste with a little water and stir in. (If you add tomato paste too soon, it may prevent the lentils from becoming soft.)

Enjoy!

Gluten free! And this one of those recipes you can fill your belly with guiltlessly as it is way heavier in nutrients than just "calories."


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Location:Greenwell St,Bellview,United States

Gluten Free Waffles

WARNING - for some reason these waffles work only about 50% of the time! I will let you know when I figure out why. They are amazing when they work. 

I've had so many requests for gluten-free recipes... I wonder if this recent plague is really a "new" thing or this is one of the unknown conditions, that (for lack of understanding and, therefore, treatment) was previously called a sensitive stomach or "sickly" or failure to thrive (and death!) or other complaints in history. Just a thought... What are you're thoughts on this?

Rice Waffle Dry Mix

Always spray waffle iron with nonstick skillet spray like "Pam" before baking the first waffle, and periodically if you do many in a row.

2 ½ cups brown rice, dry
¾ cup tapioca , dry
3000 mg vitamin C
1 cup sweet rice flour
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons xanthan gum

1.Blend brown rice, tapioca, and vitamin C in a strong blender or coffee mill until very smooth. Then sift through flour sifter, reblending or discarding pieces.:

2.Mix all together thoroughly.

3.For one large, four-piece waffle, add 1-2 tablespoons of oil and 1 1/2 cups of water to 10 tablespoons of dry mix, stirring quickly. Bake in waffle maker for about 10 minutes.

PS: This dry mix is handy to have because they get hard and not very good later on. These are best warm and yummy!

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Location:Florida 30,Pensacola,United States

Banana Sabbath Morning

Nothing better for a quick Sabbath morning breakfast than delicious, nutritious granola. :-) This is delicious and filling on-the-go layered with ripe banana slices and plain or vanilla yogurt.


Banana Granola - Yum!


3 bananas, peeled
½ cup oil
½ cup sugar, your choice of sweetener.
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons banana flavoring
1 large box Old Fashioned Oats
1 cup pecans, chopped

Try tossing in a few freeze dried bananas!!

1. Blend bananas, oil, sugar, salt, and banana flavoring unit smooth, about 30 seconds.
2.Pour mixture over oats and pecans. Mix well and spread on cookies sheets or dehydrator silicone sheets.
3.Preheat oven to 250. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent burning. Or "cook" in dehydrator at 145 overnight.
4.Cool completely and store in airtight containers. Freezes well, too!

Black Beans and Mercy

A few years ago, when my husband was planning for a leadership training retreat weekend for our church in Texas, he and his team searched for a place to hold it, and finally settled on a little spiritual retreat center a couple of hours away called Mercy Retreat Center.

When I began to work with them on a menu for our group, I figured that they'd need some "mercy" - and creativity - to come up with that many vegetarian meal ideas. To my surprise and admiration the lady in charge was gracious, patient, and super creative. One evening she created this tasty dish. Our group really enjoyed it, and it's far more filling than your typical side dish. It's a great "stick with you meal" for a hot Texas (or Florida!) afternoon.

Black Bean Salad

3 cans black beans, do not drain
5 roma tomatoes, chopped
5 limes, juiced
½ red onion (I used sweet white)
1 avocado, chopped
3 cups cilantro, chopped
pico de gallo seasoning, to taste
fajita seasoning , to taste

Combine all and serve!!

This is gluten free and an awesome meal to fill your belly for weight loss... Definitely one of those dishes you can eat a good amount of without exceeding your "calories." :-)

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Location:Greenwell St,Pensacola,United States

Cheaper, Better Milk, Part 3

So this recipe takes the cake for easy and is one of the cheapest, too!

I think it might be a new family pick. Hubby brags on it. Two littlest guys love it on cereal and in smoothies and drink it (chilled) by the bucketful. Oldest boy likes it on cereal, but feels it should be sweeter to drink alone. If you can get coconut milk at Walmart or an Asian store for $0.99-$1.50 per can, this stuff is priced amazingly!

Coconut Milk
1 can coconut milk (full fat)
2-3 tablespoons sugar (your choice sweetener)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla, (optional, clear is prettiest)
14 1/2 cups water and ice

1. Blend all with about 3-4 cup of the ice and water in a blender or by hand until smooth, about 30 seconds.
2. Combine all in a gallon pitcher and enjoy!

Gluten free, not low-fat, but fine and super healthy in moderation and for growing kids!


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Location:Florida 30,Pensacola,United States

Mother's Day Special

I want to dedicate this post and this recipe to one of my favorite people ever - my mommy! I love you, Mom! Have I told you lately that you are one if my very favorite people and usually the first pick of someone I'd like to spend the day with?! You, Mom are my first inspiration to healthy eating and living and you continue to inspire me with ideas and a passion for food as a ministry to love people with.

Happy Mothers' Day!!

The boys insisted that I put this in "my book" (a work in progress - if you'd like to volunteer to help make it a reality, let me know.) with the insistence that I title "Mom's Best." - I guess it is a winner. You know it's a winner when it (VEGAN) can be prepared in the ice cream maker, then frozen in the freezer, and pulled out and eaten immediately - still smooth and creamy!

"Mom's Best" Strawberry Ice Cream

1 cup cashews, raw
1 cup Better Than Milk Powder
½ cup Hershey's Strawberry Syrup
⅔ cup Sugar
½ - 1 cup Strawberries
water

1. Blend Cashews and Better than Milk powder in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water until smooth.
2. Combine all but strawberries and add water to about 5 cups. Blend.
3. Blend in strawberries briefly (can cut or smash to preference).
4. Process in ice cream maker according to manufacturer instructions.


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Location:Windstone Dr,Pensacola,United States

Cheaper, Better Milk, Part 2

Here is a delicious, nutritious milk substitute to add to your repertoire!
This is good enough for cooking and cereal like it is, but it's wonderful when made in a soy milk maker! If you are able to do this, blend almonds in 1/2-1 cup of the water before you put it in the compartment, then add the sugar, salt and flavoring at the end. You may even want to strain a second or third time through a cheese cloth for pure excellence.
Almond Milk
½ cup almonds
1 tablespoon sweetener, optional or double
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 cups hot water
1. Blend almonds in 1 cup of the water until very smooth. combine all and blend again until smooth.
2. Boil for 1 minute, cool enough to touch and squeeze through cheese cloth.
3. Chill and enjoy!

Gluten free and comparable in fat, calories, to store bought options

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Location:Indiana 9,Morristown,United States

Meatless Loaf - Yum!

Back to the land of the living (and internet access) after a wonderful weekend at the camp (Timber Ridge) of many childhood memories. I had so much fun sharing and making new memories with my boys while Mike shared leadership training seminars with a great little Indiana church leadership team. Now we're with Mike's folks for a couple of days enjoying family time.
A few days ago a new blog follower, Sandy, requested an old recipe I had shared with her... A family favorite that I haven't made in a long time. Here is the most delicious "meatloaf" I've ever had. It's not an original, my mother made this regularly as we were growing up and I don't know where she got it. I do not know of a gluten-free way to make this one. For those who wonder abut the weight-loss compatibility of this, it is cholesterol free, and much lower in fat, etc. than real meatloaf. I'm sure you'll enjoy it, and it makes great company food!
Sweet & Sour Burger Loaf
1 medium onion, chopped
6 slices whole grain bread, crumbled
1/4 cup margarine
1 pound Griller Crumbles (by Morning Star Farms, in the freezer section)
1 cup cheese, grated (works nicely with my favorite "cheese," Daiya.)
½ t. garlic powder
½ t. sage
4 eggs, or egg replacer
SAUCE;
½ c. ketchup
½ c. water
½ c. brown sugar
1. Saute the bread/butter/onions. Combine with the burger mixture. Mix well with hands and pat into a 9 inch greased pan. Top with the sauce.
2. Sauce: Mix the ketchup, water, and sugar together and pour over casserole. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
We grew up using Redi-Burger by Worthington foods (in a can), but Griller Crumbles are much easier to find and they're a bit cheaper, so that is what I use now.
http://www.daiyafoods.com/
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Location:Indiana 9,Morristown,United States

Sweet Peppers, Well-Done

For some reason I have no interest in blogging the typical blog... So here's a very special recipe, instead.

Sweet Peppers

2 peppers (one large red and one smaller brown), about 350 pounds
1 Wooden furniture set, prepared with structure
72 suitcases full of various bright cotton clothes and absorbent materials
100 gallons of love and patience
A few yearsful of miracles and dreams
1 Bradley book
1 Facebook pageful of pregnancy wives tales

Mix together lovingly and thoughtfully, bruising and stretching the smaller pepper slightly. Wrap tightly and roast in a warm, dark space until the shiny white top begins to get fluffy and browned and flips upside down, about nine months.

Deliver in a safe location, and wrap in memorable blankets to prevent cooling

Viola! Your own sweet baby Pepper!

Welcome, my nephew, Levi Peppers, 8#5oz, May 4 at 1:00am!!


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Location:Indiana 9,Morristown,United States

Cheaper, Better Milk - part 1

Some of you have asked me how you can consumer fewer dairy products. It's good science that says that the calcium in milk products isn't as accessible (because of the type of calcium and protein and the amount of phosphorus), the fat, the cholesterol, the potential disease, hormones, etc. Whatever your reason for wanting to do fewer dairy products, these days there are lots of options. Actually, there always have been, but most of us had no clue.

We built strong, healthy boys around here on very little "dairy." I'm also convinced that after so many pregnancies, I'd be one big momma if it weren't for this same simple fact - we just try to eat and drink other things most of the time. But you need options to do that, right? So I'll try to provide some over time.

Milk costs, what? $4 a gallon? "Silk" (soy milk) is tasty to many, but it costs at least $5 a gallon. There's a product called "Better than Milk" that is a convenient powdered soy milk (great for trips) and lots of other choices at the grocery, but I'm a student on a budget. This translates into I'm broke.

So do I still have options? Yup - you have the ones that have been there since your grandma was in (cloth) diapers!

Here's the first one, which gets an A by my eight-year-old. To me the textures a bit heavy and the flavor a bit plain, but I've never been a rice milk girl. The boys all drank it willingly, and they liked the unstirred goo at the bottom the best. It's reminiscent of some cinnamon drink I had in Puerto Rico once...???

 $0.65 a gallon - not bad!

1 cup cooked brown rice
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
8 cups water
2 teaspoons vanilla, optional - clear color is best

1.Blend, blend, blend.:
2.Chill and shake before serving.

Tell me what you think!
Melanie