CRUNCHY AVOCADO SALAD

Crunchy Avocado Salad
Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay, 2008

Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
2 ripe beefsteak tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup pitted nicoise olives, roughly chopped
1 cup canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed and drained again
2 tablespoons roughly torn flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces blue corn tortilla chips

Directions:
Gently toss the avocados, tomatoes, olives, chickpeas, parsley, vinegar, olive oil, cumin, paprika, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Crumble the chips over the top and serve.

BLACK BEAN VEGGIE ENCHILADAS

Black Bean Veggie Enchiladas
Adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 tbsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp ground red pepper
2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
12 corn tortillas*, warmed
1 cup enchilada sauce*
1/4 cup nutritional yeast



Directions:
In a large skillet, saute the onion, green pepper and mushrooms in oil until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the beans, corn, chilies, spices and cilantro; cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
Spoon 1/2 cup bean mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.
Top with enchilada sauce and n. yeast or cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 12 enchiladas.

*Sauce ingredients:
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup chili powder
2 cups vegetable stock
10 ounces tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a medium saucepan heat oil, add flour, smoothing and stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook for 1 minute. Add chili powder and cook for 30 seconds. Add stock, tomato paste, oregano, and cumin. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken and smooth out.
Yield:2 1/2 cups of sauce

*Tortilla ingredients:
2 cups masa harina
1 1/2 to 2 cups water

Directions:
To make 12-14 tortillas, start with putting 2 cups of masa flour in a large bowl. (Hint: for added "lift" you can mix in 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.) Add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of very warm water to the masa flour (according to the directions on the package, some brands may call for different amounts of water). Mix in and let sit for 5 minutes or so. Begin working the masa with your hands to make the dough. Work the dough for several minutes. Press the dough with your fingers and the palms of your hands as if you were kneading bread dough. If at any point through the tortilla making process the dough seems too dry or too wet, add a little more water or masa to the dough.

Pressing the Tortillas:
I don't have a tortilla press so I use a 1 gallon zip lock bag.
Slit one side of the bag, place a ball of the dough in the center of the bag and roll with a rolling pin to approximately 6"

Cooking the Tortillas:
Heat a griddle or a large skillet on high heat. Working one at a time, hold a tortilla in your hand, carefully removing the wax paper on each side. Allow the tortilla to rest half on your hand, and half hanging down, and gently lay the tortilla down on to the skillet. Start working on pressing the next tortilla. Cook the tortilla on the hot pan for 30 seconds to a minute on each side. The tortilla should be lightly toasted and little air pockets forming.

BLUEBERRY BANANA WHOLE WHEAT PANCAKES (vegan)

Blueberry Banana Whole Wheat Pancakes (vegan)

Ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp baking powder, yes 2 tbsp

1/8 tsp salt

1 cup almond milk

2 tbsp canola oil

1/4 cup blueberries

1/4 cup banana, diced in about 1/4'' pieces

Directions:

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until well mixed.

Mix in the almond milk and oil and beat together until batter is smooth.

Fold in the blueberries and banana.

Drop 1/4 cup of batter at a time onto a hot oiled griddle, or well greased frying pan over medium high heat. When bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, approximately 3 minutes, flip, and cook the other side for another 2 minutes. Enjoy!

STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients:

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

12 medium portobello mushrooms, stems removed and saved

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

2 tbsp olive oil

1/3 cup bread crumbs

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 500*

Saute onions, peppers, garlic and chopped stems in the oil.

Add the spices and cook till tender.

When peppers are tender put them in a food processor with the bread crumbs and pulse till blended.

Stuff mushrooms with filling and bake in a oiled iron, or heavy bottom stainless steel skillet for 20 min. (I use the same skillet I saute in).

ASIAN PASTA SALAD

Asian Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

8oz pound spinach fettuccine pasta

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons raw sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup chopped red pepper

6 green onions, sliced

1/4 cup purple cabbage

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup almonds, chopped

Directions:

Cook noodles until just tender. Rinse under cold water. Drain well and transfer to large serving bowl.

Combine sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and salt in bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add to noodles.

Add vegatables and mix well. (Salad can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Sprinkle chopped almonds over salad and serve.

(Shown with sweet potato fries.)