Creamy Cauliflower Parsley Sauce

Jack pot - this does not taste healthy but it must be based on the ingredients it is!

1 Medium yellow onion diced

2 Large cloves of garlic (roasted)

1/2 Cauliflower head

1 Stalk of celery chopped

1 Cup of vegetable broth

(or 1 Cube and water)

1/2 Cup 2% Milk

1 Tbsp butter

2 Tsp dried parsley

(fresh if you have!)

Salt and pepper

Directions: Brown the onion over medium heat with salt and pepper, (think half way to french onion soup browned) add 1 stalk of celery chopped. Add chopped cauliflower and vegetable broth. Simmer until cauliflower is fork-tender. Add roasted garlic and parsley then let cool a bit. Season with some more pepper and mix in a blender with milk and butter until smooth.


I would have substituted the butter for 1/2 an avocado but there was none to be found - oops!


Bye-bye fatty alfredo this is de-light-ful. Garnish with parsley. I served mine over brown rice spaghetti.

Meatless Monday Mexican Salad

I know it's Tuesday but Monday just sounds better here…

This is a delicious quick meal that is perfect for week nights!

Ingreedients:

Leafy salad mix
Bell pepper
Tomato
Cucumber
Celery
Corn
Black beans
Avocado
Cheddar cheese

Dressing:

Half 2% plain yogurt
Half salsa

PB&J Granola Bars

Natural peanut butter and home made raspberry jam granola bars with dried apricots, sunflower seeds, and roasted slivered almonds = Oh yes I did!!! MmmmHmmmm. They are really good.

They are no-bake and keep in your freezer until enjoyed. 

1 Cup of rolled oats

1 Cup of diced dried apricots 

(rehydrate in boiling water if too dry)

1/4 Cup roasted sunflower seeds

3/4 Cup roasted slivered almonds

2/3 Cup peanut butter

1/4 Cup of jam

Directions: Roast seeds & nuts at 350 for about five minutes on parchment paper. Add to oats and dried fruit in a bowl.

Heat up PB&J in a saucepan and mix dry and wet ingredients. Press down tightly in a square baking dish lined with parchment paper. Cover with tin foil and chill in the freezer at least 15 minutes before enjoying.

Best bars for back to school! I'm sure almond butter would do the trick here too :) 

Cheeky Monkey Cookies

The name came from my granny. To her, there was no such thing as a baby - they were a cheeky monkey and that title got carried through all the life stages right to adulthood. If she liked you, you were a cheeky monkey - if she didn't… well let's keep this entry PG.

I invented these cookies for two cheeky monkeys in my life - my nephews. One being allergic to peanuts I had to x the peanut butter in my favourite flour less cookie recipe. This recipe felt like a science experiment from the porportions to the cooking time - trial and no error these have a rich, deep flavour and a crunchy outside with a chewy middle. All things you would want in a cookie in your mouth.

You ready for this?

                                                                                  Ingredients:

                                                                                   1/2 Cup brown sugar

                                                                                   1/2 Cup butter (or margarine)

2 Eggs

1 Medium rype banana

1 1/2 Tsp vanilla

1 1/2 Tsp baking soda

1 Tsp fresh graded ginger

1/4 Tsp cinnamon

3 Cups of rolled oats

1/4 Cup of cocoa (I used nesquik)

1/2 Cup white chip pits

1/3 Cup unsweetened shredded coconut

A pinch of salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Bake 1/2 small spoonful on parchment paper, gently press down with a fork, and bake for 10 minutes. It seems like a lot for such small cookies but they really need the extra time to cook through - and none of mine burnt with the parchment paper. The sugar seemed to have crystallized a bit on the outer edges of the oats and was magical.

Summer nights and cookie delights!

Baked Vegan Zucchini Boats

My dad brought me a lovely medium sized zucchini from their garden last weekend so I started brainstorming! I came across stuffed baked zucchini's and used it for cooking guidelines.

Measurements are pretty much non-existent this time so read with a grain of salt. I don't actually understand that analogy…










1 Medium sized zucchini
i
1 Small yam finely diced (corn sized)
1/4 Cup corn
3/4 Cup black beans
1/2 Celery stalk diced
1/2 Diced zucchini flesh
1/4 Avocado diced

1 Tsp chill powder
1/4 Tsp of cumin
Salt and pepper
Olive oil


Direction:
Preheat oven to 400. Mix yams with a couple pinches of spice and olive oil (4:1 ratio of chill powder to cumin). Bake in oven for 10 minutes then add corn for 10 minutes. Take out the inside of the halved zucchini and bake inside face-down on parchment paper with a little olive oil for 11 minutes.

In a frying pan heat up chopped zucchini, celery, yam, corn with a little olive oil and pinches of powder. Add black beans to heat.

Spoon filling into the zucchini and bake cut side up for 10 minutes at 350. Garnish with fresh avocado cubes and salsa.

Actually a very simple and quick recipe. The zucchini was not mushy at all and the flavours were really comforting for health food! I would consider using a chunky marinara instead of salsa too.

Fresh Ginger and Dried Blueberry Cookies

…and peanut butter, and oatmeal, and cinnamon, and… you get the idea! Tough coming up with a name that sounds good and highlights the ingredients I tell ya! Especially on a Friday morning but baking these after a long hard week was a great escape. Just in time for family gatherings over the weekend too! Everyone benefits.



1/4 cup of butter (or margarine)
1 Cup of peanut butter (natural)
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1 Tsp vanilla
1 Inch finely graded ginger
1/2 Tsp of cinnamon
1 1/2 Tsp baking soda
2 Eggs (free range)
3 Cups rolled oats
3/4 Cup dried blueberries
A pinch of salt!





Dairy & Gluten free (because there's at least one in every family) and could easily be made vegan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 7 - 10 minutes on parchment paper depending on the size. I lean towards smaller sizes because these are pretty dense (and delicious) cookies.

Fresh Fruit Salad

Who doesn't like fruit salad, especially in the summer? It's so simple and easy to forget about but it's really refreshing and tasty! Sweet tooth be-gone!

















There's no limits and I could have kept buying more and more, like pineapple and strawberries today at the market but this is what ended up in my fruit cups!

Mango
Blueberries (fresh/local)
Green Grapes
Gala Apple











Slice! Dice! Done!
Perfect for summer picnic's :)