Organic Granny

So, summer is almost over.  I have hardly used my solar oven because of gardening, writing, what-have-you.   I love the idea of the Sun Oven: not heating up the house, not having an electric bill that includes cooking (or other things like dehydrating or baking), and just being outside in my backyard a little more often than I have been.   So, today, another warm day with a blue sky and direct sunlight, seemed like the time to do some sun oven baking of this intriguing garlic cookie recipe.  I have browsed the internet and considered various garlic cookie recipes, but none of them really appealed to me.  Then I thought of the super healthy Maple Walnut cookies that Dr. Neil Nedley recommended in the cookbook that went with his Depression-- The Way Out program that my husband and I helped to facilitate in our community a few years ago. WALNUTS-- THE BRAIN NUT   The walnuts and flaxseed in the vegan cookies are high in omega-3 polyunsaturated fats and fibre.    In 

The other day a fellow commented that "a day without garlic is not much of a day at all!" I happen to agree with this statement and rejoiced when my husband brought home some mushrooms, because then we could have GARLIC Mushrooms!  Pity, my husband went for a long bikeride and missed the small batch that I cooked up today (I'm not all that mean-- there are still some fresh ones in the fridge for him to cook up for himself if he so chooses.)  You can find a photo of some browner mushrooms below-- yours are more apt to turn out like these. I think the mushrooms he brought home were Baby Bellas, a smaller take on Portobellas.  Did you know that Crimini are an even smaller version of Portobellas? In any case, they slice up rather raggedy and don't have that cute picture appeal when cooked that little white mushrooms do. But they taste very delicious... tender and with that umami taste-- "umami" is gourmet for "je ne sais quoi". 

I checked to see what I had in the fridge.  Lots of greens (chard, etc.), a couple of zucchinis and 2 large carrots that seem to be coming to the end of their days (a little spongy shall we say?) I am all for NO FOOD WASTE-- use it or compost it, and we were hungry. So, I googled CARROT BURGERS and actually came across a delicious recipe that also uses 1/4 C. of walnuts (meaning you don't have to go and buy a large bag-- you can buy yourself a small quantity from the health store bulk bin) and 1/2 C. Panko-- something I have never bought, but I did have some finely grated soda crackers sitting in a container in the fridge that I used in lieu of panko in some other recipe-- they work well for us.  I didn't have fresh cilantro, but I did have some basil-- yes, I know they are not too similar-- not at all-- but it was a taste of herb we were after, right?  And I had everything else right here available. I stuck it all into the food processor, and presto, it was easy t

I am cooking up and submitting this recipe because I have a library book that has this recipe in it and I want to remember it.  The book is One-Dish Vegan Revised and Expanded Edition: 175 Soul-Satisfying Recipes for Easy and Delicious One-Pan and One-Plate Dinners and I highly recommend it. I do a number of subs for things I don't have in the house/fridge (example, I don't have baby spinach, I would never buy pine nuts, and I don't really like red pepper all that much). I do find, however, that many recipe-makers tend to have a very tasty outcome and that is what I go for! INGREDIENTS: 8 - 12 oz of Penne pasta, uncooked (I am using brown rice penne- gluten-free) 1/4 C. water 5 Garlic cloves, minced 12 oz Baby Kale (or other greens on-hand, such as chard or spinach), chopped coarsely 1/4 tsp Chipotle Pepper powder ( or 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes) 1/2 C. Vegetable Broth (such as Golden Bouillon) 1 15-oz can of Chickpeas or 1 1/2 C. cooked Chickpeas 1/2 C.

Are you looking for a way to use up all those zucchinis and/or basil in some kind of delicious one-dish meal?  Well, look no further... here is a delightful vegan pasta dish that will satisfy your hunger and your taste buds. The following vegan (no animal products) dish is also oil free, so it is pretty low fat but you will think it is full of cheese.  You will see why!  This recipe feeds 4-6 adults. INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 C. cooked or canned Cannellini Beans  or other White Beans 1/2 C. Vegetable Broth  3 T. Fresh-squeezed Lemon Juice 3 T. Nutritional Yeast 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder Salt  1/4 C. Fresh Basil (minced) 16 oz uncooked  Linguine 2 medium size Zucchini cut into long   thin  strips METHOD: Blend up (or use a food processor) the beans, broth, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, garlic powder and salt.  It should be smooth and creamy, the texture of regular cheese sauce (or as close as you can get. Stir the minced basil into the sauce and set aside. C