Recipes

Our family has a saying that if you starve yourself long enough anything tastes good.  We often wonder if the things we eat really taste good or if we have just starved ourselves way too long.   We took this pecan loaf to a potluck and one of the teenage guys who worked at a steak house and prided himself on being a meat connoisseur said, “Man, this is killer meatloaf!” and went back for seconds.  We left him in blissful oblivion and felt much better about our taste buds.

Pecan Loaf

2 cups pecans

1/4 tsp. garlic powder or fresh pressed garlic clove

1./2 cup celery

2 cups whole grain bread crumbs

2 cups basmati rice

1/2 tsp sage

1 medium onion

2 cups tomatoes

2 Tbs. Bragg Liquid Aminos

Bring rice to a boil in 4 cups of water. Cook for 30 minutes then let sit for 15 minutes with lid on. Place pecans in food processor or blender, grind to a fine meal and pour into a bowl. Then add finely chopped tomatoes. Dice and steam saute' onions and celery in a small amount of distilled water.  Combine rice, onion, celery, tomatoes, seasonings and bread crumbs with pecan mixture and mix well.  Spread into a lecithin-coated loaf pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Spread ketchup over the top and bake for 15 more minutes. Let the loaf sit for 15 or 20 minutes before serving to help it set. 

If I know that I am going to be tempted to give in to unhealthy sweets I bring these along.

Power Bars

1 cup dates
1/2 cups pecans or almonds
1 cup raisins
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup carob powder or to taste
1/4 cup sesame seeds

Place all ingredients into food processor using S blade. Process until dough consistency. If it is too crumbly add more dates or raisins. If its too sticky add more nuts. Press into pan. You can have fun with this recipe by adding coconut, sunflower seeds, hemp, or chia seeds.

No Bake Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup finely ground almonds, sunflower seeds, or macadamia nuts
1/4 cup coconut flour or finely ground dried coconut flakes (optional, you can add more ground nuts)
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla
6 tablespoons coconut oil  (you can do half soft butter)
3 tablespoons raw honey
You can add: carob chips, chocolate chips, raisins, dried cherries, cranberries, or sesame seeds etc.

Grind almonds and add to oatmeal and coconut mix, then add vanilla coconut oil and honey.  Mix well, then add carob chips or raisins.  I sometimes add carob powder to these for variety.  You can also eliminate the oatmeal and add more nut flour to have a gluten free cookie.

Put on wax paper covered cookie sheet and chill in the refrigerator. 

Peppermint Carob Oatmeal Bars

1 cup pitted dates
1 cup raisins
1 cup almonds
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried coconut flakes
1/4 cup carob
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 tablespoons raw honey

Place dates and raisins in food processor and blend into small pieces. Add the almonds, oats, coconut and carob.  Blend until the mixture resembles bread crumbs.  Add the extracts and honey. Check the texture by taking a small amount into the palm of your hand and roll into a ball.  If the mixture is too crumbly add more honey or apple juice.
Either press into a pan or form into balls


Carrot Juice

It is best to vary what you are putting in your juice each day to get a wider variety of nutrients.
My favorite combination is:
5lbs. carrots
4 granny smith apples or 3 granny smith and 1 sweeter apple
1 lemon including peel
1 small beet or 1/2 large beet, peeled
You can add any veggies to this.  I often use green pepper, cucumber, or celery

Wash carrots and fruit. Cut ends off of carrots. I don't core my apples and I leave the peel on the lemon.  This makes 2 quarts of juice. So Yummy!

Tip: To make juicing faster and easier I buy my carrots for the week on the weekend and get them washed and cut right away. Let them sit and dry out a bit then put them in gallon zip lock bags and store them in the refrigerator.  I use one bag of carrots each day.


Green Smoothie

1 bunch red grapes
1 banana
1 ripe pear or sweet apple
spinach or lettuce
1 cup ice
1 cup water

Put fruit, ice, and water in blender (not juicer). Blend on high. Add spinach or other greens. You can add any fruit and any greens.  I put my fruit in first and then fill the rest of the blender up with greens. Add water to the consistence that you like.

Here is a list of  fruit and greens I have used:

frozen mixed berries
dates
pineapple
peaches
apples
grapes
bananas
pears
kale
spinach
swiss chard
mustard greens
dandelion greens
cucumber
green pepper
Parsley
celery cut in about 2 inch pieces
You can add Barley Max or Greens First powder to these for added nutrition.

Have fun creating! These are so healthy and actually taste really good.  Wow! Imagine that!

Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing

2 cup of strawberries
2 T. raw apple cider vinegar
2 T. lemon juice
Dash of salt
Stevia to taste

Throw everything in the blender.

French Dressing

1/2 cup catsup  (I buy the sugar free catsup from the health food store)
1/2 cup raw apple cidar vinegar
1/2 cup raw local honey
1 cup cold pressed oil
dash of salt
Half a small onion or more if you like onion

Blend all in blender

Almonnaise

1/2 C. almonds
1/2 C. water
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbls. vinegar
2 tsp. honey
1 clove garlic
cold pressed oil about 1/2 c.

Blend in blender: almonds then add all ingredients except oil. Blend with lid on. Drizzle oil in through the hole in the lid. Add until no more oil can blend in.  I pour half in a bowl with chili powder and cumin to taste. I add cilantro to the remainder in the blender and blend for a second or two.  Makes a great dip for potato wedges or veggie sticks. I have also left out the garlic and added honey or dates and cinnamon to make a dip for apple wedges.