Ginger Orange Ice-cream Sandwiches

Ginger Orange Ice-cream Sandwiches

(makes about 26 cookies)

3 cups almond flour

1 tbsp flaxseed meal

1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp white pepper

2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tbsp coconut flour

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup sunflower oil

zest of 2 Valencia oranges

3/4 cup agave nectar 

1 tsp vanilla extract

1.5 cups dried cherries

Preset the oven to 350 F.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the agave nectar and orange zest and stir, then allow to sit for a few minutes. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and mix well. 

Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the agave and orange zest and stir well. When thoroughly mixed, pour the wet ingredients into the dry bowl. Stir. Add the cherries. Combine well. 

Scoop onto a parchment covered cookie sheet (about 2 tbsp per scoop). Bake for 17 minutes. 

Remove and allow to cool on a drying rack. 

Now, for the ice-cream portion, I recommend grabbing some So Delicious Brand Coconut Ice-cream and spreading a generous spoonful in between two of the cookies. Enjoy!

Almond Sesame Bites

These cookies (vegan and gluten free) have been approved by my roommate as her favorite cookies I've made yet. They are soft, subtly sweet, well-textured, and delicious. Try them with chocolate chips or dried fruit for a little extra sweetness.




Almond Sesame Bites


2.5 cups blanched almond flour
2 tbsp coconut flour
4 tbsp sesame seeds
1/2 tsp celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 tbsp almond extract
optional additions: 1/2 cup chocolate chips, vegan chocolate chips, dried fruit

Mix the first six ingredients together. Add the liquid ingredients. Mix well. Scoop 1 tbsp drops onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 350 F for ten minutes. Enjoy!

Ginger Zaps

In an attempt to give folks a taste of that decadent ginger cookie recipe I made before - but one that's more in line with the sorts of offerings I like to make here. This one is simple, easy to bake, gluten-free, and dairy-free. If you're curious, do a taste test. See the real difference between butter in baking and not. :)

Ginger Zaps

2.5 cups almond flour
1/4 tsp celtic sea salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup plain applesauce
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3 tsp ground ginger
3/4 tsp white pepper
20 g crystallized ginger, minced (optional for a little more kick)

Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients. Mix well. Fold in crystallized ginger.
Set oven to 350 F.
Drop 1 tbsp dollops of dough onto a parchment-paper covered cookie sheet, leaving about an inch between them.
Bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the cookies are browned.
Allow to cool for about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer them to a cooling rack.

Go on. :) Have a peace!

PB2 and Chocolate Cookies

For Easter, my wonderful parents sent me a basket complete with my favorite vegan chocolate, a pair of adorable socks with bunnies on them, and something I'd never seen before - powdered peanut butter! I know! Crazy!

Now, I was faced with an important decision - what to do with this exciting new discovery? And the answer was an obvious one. Chocolate peanut butter cookies! Of course!

These are soft, delicious, and practically beg you to eat them. They are also gluten-free and vegan, as I made them. If you are not concerned with vegan-ness, you can use normal chocolate chips. :)

PB2 and Chocolate Cookies

3/4 cup brown rice flour
1/3 cup coconut flour
2/3 cup plain applesauce
1/3 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup PB2 (powdered peanut butter)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp arrowroot
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 sliced almonds
1 cup sunspire vegan chocolate chips


Mix dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients. Mix well. Fold in almonds and chocolate chips.
Set oven to 350 F.
Scoop out 1 tbsp dollops of dough onto parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Flatten the dough a bit with a fork, as the cookies will not really change shape while baked.
Place cookie sheet on top rack of the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes. Allow to cool for about two minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a cooling rack.

Go on! Have a peace! Enjoy!

Garlic-Herbed Personal Flatbread Pizzas

Yeah, you heard me. Personal pizzas - and more? They're vegan and gluten free, though you wouldn't know it to taste them. Enjoy these delicious pizzas with your friend or loved one (just don't tell them how easy they are to make)!

Herbed Flatbread (vegan and gluten-free)
(makes 4)


1 cup almond flour
1/3 cup brown rice flour
1 tbsp coconut flour
1/2 tsp herba salle
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp white pepper
2 tsp powdered garlic
1 tbsp chia seeds
2 tbsp poppyseeds
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp olive oil


Add dry ingredients (except sesame seeds and poppy seeds) into a food processor and pulse until all elements ground. Empty ground ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add seeds. Add wet ingredients and stir well with a fork. Keep stirring until the dough forms one thick ball. Split the dough into four equal balls. Place one ball of dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll out, between the parchment paper, until the flattened round is about 1/4 inches thick. Feel free to cut to shape once it's flattened and press the cut bits in around the edges. It's not going to change shape once it bakes, so what you start with will be what you get. 


Bake at 300 F for about 25 minutes or until browned. 


Tomato and Basil Flatbread Pizza
(makes 4)

8 tbsp homemade pesto (recipe below*)

4 herbed flatbreads (recipe above)

2 tomatos, sliced thin

4 tbsp fresh basil

8 cloves garlic minced
1/2 onion, diced and caramelized

1/2 cup shredded white daiya cheese

*Simple home-made pesto
3.5 packed cups fresh basil leaves
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp celtic sea salt
1/4 cup ground raw cashew

Combine basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, salt, cashews in a blender and blend until smooth. When the mixture is completely smooth, add the pecorino and pulse the blender until it has been incorporated into the mix.*


Heat oven to 400 F. 


Place two flatbread rounds on one parchment paper-covered cookie sheet. 
Spread 1 tbsp pesto on each round. 
In a small bowl, stir 1 tbsp pesto, 1 tbsp shredded basil, and 2 cloves garlic minced. 
Add a layer of the basil/garlic/pesto mix, then slices of tomatoes (I used three thin slices per flatbread). Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, then sprinkle caramelized onions over top of the cheese (or vice versa as you like). 
Bake on the top rack of your oven for about 8 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

The Most Decadent Oatmeal Cookie

In honor of a beautiful French period play I initiated at my theater company, I decided - for once - to step off the path a bit and design a cookie with a little je ne sais quoi and a lot of decadence. And so, I present, the most decadent oatmeal cookie that I have ever tasted. This is not for the faint of heart, nor is it recommended for massive consumption. What it is is a treat - a delectable one - to tingle your taste buds and make your guests quiver with joy. And yes, this time there's butter.

The Most Decadent Oatmeal Cookie
(makes 32)

1 3/4 tbsp unsalted butter, separated
3/4 cup unsalted melted butter
2 cups slivered almonds (toasted)
1/2 tsp salt, separated
1.1 cups whole wheat baking flour
1 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, separated
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp white pepper
1.5 tsp fresh lemon zest
3 tsp honey
2.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup applesauce
2 egg whites (+ 1/8 cup egg whites)
2 cups dried fruit of your choice (I used a combination of dried apples, peaches, pears, and raisins)
1 3/4 cup rolled oats (toasted)
45 oz crystallized ginger, chopped finely

Place slivered almonds on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil with 1 tbsp butter and broil for about 5 minutes, checking regularly, until the almonds have toasted. Take out, mix up the almonds, shake the pan a couple times, and then put it back in for another minute.
Place old fashioned rolled oats on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil with 3/4 tbsp butter and broil for about 5 minutes, checking regularly, until the rolled oats have toasted. Take out, mix up the oats, shake the pan a few times, then put back in for another minute.
Set the oven to 385 F.
Combine flour and 1 cup brown sugar in one bowl, plus all the dry ingredients.
Soften butter in a medium sized bowl. Add wet ingredients.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir well.
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place tablespoon sized droplets of dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until browned.
Allow to cool for two minutes on the cookie sheet, before removing to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Chips and Dip (the healthy & vegan way)

A healthy, filling option for your next peckish afternoon or house party. The crackers are delicious on their own - salty and flavorful - but with the dip they are even better! Go on! Have a peace.



Herbed Crackers (vegan and gluten-free)


1 cup almond flour
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1 tbsp coconut flour
3/4 tsp dried lavender
3/4 tsp dried rosemary
3/4 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp herba salle
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tbsp poppyseeds
2 tbsp roasted sesame seeds
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp olive oil


Add dry ingredients (except sesame seeds and poppy seeds) into a food processor and pulse until all elements ground. Empty ground ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add seeds. Add wet ingredients and stir well with a fork. Keep stirring until the dough forms one thick ball. Split the dough ball in half, placing each between dual sheets of parchment paper. Roll out, between the parchment paper, until each ball is about 1/4 inch thick round. Feel free to cut to shape once it's flattened and press the cut bits in around the edges. It's not going to change shape once it bakes, so what you start with will be what you get.


Slice the dough into the size crackers you want. I cut about 2 inches wide and 3 inches long. 


Bake at 300 F for about 30 minutes or until browned. 


Vegan Veggie Dip


~8 oz steamed spinach
~6 oz steamed baby kale
~6 oz steamed broccoli 
~6 oz steamed cauliflower
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup TVP (textured vegetable protein)
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp celtic sea salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp white pepper (for a kick)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup red onions
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup shredded white daiya cheese for folding in, 1/2 cup for topping


Caramelize red onions with olive oil. 
Quick soak cashews in boiling water for twenty minutes.
Set oven to 350 F.
Blend cashews first, then add the rest of the ingredients to a food processor and blend til smooth. 
Pour into a heat safe serving dish, fold in ~1/2 cup white daiya cheese. Top with ~1/4 cup white daiya cheese. 
Bake at 350 F for about 10 minutes, or until cheese topping has melted. 
Serve warm with crackers.

Double Chocolate Ginger Biscotti

These crisp and crunchy cookies are zesty, and lightly sweet. They have received the coveted two thumbs up, one mouth full award from my very palate-clever roommate.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!

Double Chocolate Ginger Biscotti

6 tablespoons vegan margarine, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
1.5 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp flaxseed meal

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger

4 tbsp green tea
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2.25 cups whole wheat baking flour

1 tsp almond meal

75 g 72% dark baking chocolate, melted

80 g semisweet chocolate baking chunks, melted

80 g semisweet chocolate chips (mini ones preferred)

40 g dried edamame

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat together the margarine, sugars, and soy sauce. Add in the vinegar, flaxseed, tea, ground and minced ginger, baking soda, and baking powder. Sift in the flour and almond meal, and beat until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and edamame. Drop the dough, in tablespoon drops (shaping slightly into squares if you like, onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake for ~14 minutes, remove and let cool on the cookie sheet for about three minutes before moving to a drying rack. Enjoy warm. Go on, have a peace!

Rosemary-Cherry Cindy Flatirons

A while ago, I promised my long-time and wonderfully supportive reader Cindy Cupcake a healthy cookie recipe named after her. I have been experimenting for a while, trying to find something that's as unique and lovely as she is. This is what I've come up with: wide, flat, moist cookies with subtle flavors of rosemary and cardamom offering a rich, flavorful tapestry to your tongue even after the cookie is gone, and cherries that are warm bursts of honeyed sweetness in an otherwise gentle setting. Each of these is a filling, protein-rich, and densely flavorful. One is enough for a serving (but you'll want more). I hope that you all enjoy these as much as I have.

Rosemary-Cherry Cindy Flatirons

6 tbsp vegan margarine
3/4 cup soft dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp flaxseed meal
3 tbsp water
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 tsp cardamom
2 cups whole wheat flour
6 oz rosemary needles, minced fine (bundle the leaves together and snip them into bits with scissors)
8 oz dried cherries

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Cream the margarine, sugars, honey, vanilla and almond extracts, salt, and cardamom together until smooth.
Add the vinegar, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, and water. Mix until all are smoothly combined. Add the minced rosemary needles. Mix on low.
Sift the flour in. Continue to mix until consistent.
Fold in the dried cherries.

Drop heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Allow to cool for about five minutes, then move to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm!

Thank you, Cindy, for reading!

Almond Cherry Cardamom Cookies, or "Mike-Friendlies"

After a day of baking cookies for the theater I work at, I remembered that I was going to see a film with my roommate and her began boyfriend. And so, three batches of cookies made with egg whites down, I took out a fresh bowl and made a whole batch of completely vegan and delicious cookies. Now I've made vegan cookies before - I've even posted them here - but these are completely awesome. I highly encourage you - if you like things that are not too sweet and have the lovely texture of a scone, while being completely delectable - to make these and munch on them yourself.

Almond Cherry Cardamom Cookies, or "Mike-Friendlies"

1/4 tbsp agave nectar

3/4 cup baker's sugar

5 tbsp flaxseed meal

3/4 cup vegan margarine (I like Earth Balance)

6 tbsp water

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla extract

1.5 cups bleached whole wheat pastry flour

1/4 tsp almond extract

1/4 tsp cardamom

1.5 cups dried cherries

1 cup sliced raw almonds

Preset oven to 350 F. 

Blend flaxseed meal, water, margarine, vanilla extract, almond extract, sugar, and agave nectar with a hand mixer until all elements are well combined. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and cardamom. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, use your hand mixer on a low setting to get it smooth. Next, stir in almonds and cherries with a spoon, getting the additions throughout the dough. 

Scoop spoonfuls (about 3 thumbs by three thumbs) onto parchment-paper covered cookie sheets. Bake for about 17 minutes, until golden brown on top. 

Go on. Have a peace!

Sweet Potato Protein Patties

Hello again! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week and weekend. While I was visiting my family in Texas, I reworked my Game-Changer patties for my aunt (who's vegan) and they turned out wicked good, so I thought I would share the new version of the recipe as well. You don't have to be vegan to enjoy these (and if you're serving them to your non-vegan friends, you can just call them a vegetable side if you want), but if you are - you'll find that they have a full serving of protein and delicious, healthy cruciferous vegetables. These are great for a protein-rich side dish or a meal on the go. Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Protein Patties

Makes 16 

1 lb sweet potatoes, cooked  

3/4 cup onions   

1/4 cup flax seed meal   

1/2 cup gelled chia seeds  

6 tsp olive oil

4 loose fist sized clumps of baby spinach, raw  

3 loose fist sized clumps baby kale, raw 

2 tsp salt 

1 tsp black pepper

2  sage leaves, crushed

1 sprig rosemary, crushed

1 tsp white pepper

• Preheat oven to 400°.
• Clean your sweet potatoes and brush them with olive oil. Pierce the potatoes with a fork. Bake them for about 45 minutes. 
• Pan brown onions and spinach and kale with ~6 tsp olive oil.  
• To make your gelled chia seeds, take 1/3 cup chia seeds and place them into a sealed container with 2 cups water. Stir them, let them sit for ten minutes, and then stir again. (You can keep the gel that you don't use for this recipe in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. Mix it into salad dressings or juice for a little extra protein in whatever you like.)
• Peel your baked sweet potatoes. (I munch on the peels because they are delicious!) Puree baked sweet potatoes in food processor. Puree cooked spinach and kale and onions. Place pureed vegetables into a large bowl. Puree browned onions, cooked spinach and kale in food processor. Move to bowl. 
• Combine blended sweet potatoes, onions, chia seeds, flax seed meal, green onions, herba salle, egg whites, blended spinach, herbs, salt and pepper. 
• Form and flatten portions of the “dough” into patties.
• Lay the patties onto parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray (or stoneware) and bake for 15-20 minutes, remove, flip them over, and bake again for another 20 minutes until they’re lightly brown and crisp on the outside.
• Serve warm, at room temperature, or straight from the fridge.

Go on, have a peace! Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Protein Game Changers

I was recently invited to participate in something called the Game On Diet, which is basically a diet/lifestyle change competition that involves collecting points for meals, water intake, and exercise. It's a pretty neat system, one that I recommend you looking into if it at all peaks your interest. But the point is this. As part of the game, we're required to eat five meals a day. I know. It's crazy. And since I don't have time to stay home all day and cook, I decided to look into a quick and easy way to prep for those extra moderately portioned meals on the go. This is the first thi I came up with. It has protein, cruciferous vegetables, fiber, and healthy carbs. All that and it tastes awesome hot or cold, and is extremely easy to pack and carry. So, here you go.

Sweet Potato Protein Game Changers
Makes 16 patties
1 lb sweet potatoes, cooked
1 bunch green onions, diced
1/3 cup onions
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1.25 lb 99% fat free ground turkey
6 tsp olive oil
4 fist sized clumps of baby spinach, raw
1/3 cup egg whites
2 tsp herba salle (you can make your own version of this by combining sea salt, dried rosemary, dried sage, and dried basil in equal parts)
1 tsp black pepper
2 dried sage leaves, crumbled
1 sprig rosemary, dried, crumbled 
2 tsp white pepper

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Bake sweet potatoes for 20-25 minutes. Pan brown turkey and onions with ~2 tsp olive oil. Puree sweet potatoes in food processor (I peeled the skins and munched them, but it's up to you). Steam and then puree spinach with sweet potatoes. Dump puréed vegetables into a large bowl. Purée browned turkey and onions in food processor. Combine blended sweet potatoes, onions, turkey, flax seed meal, green onions, herba salle, egg whites, blended spinach, herbs, salt and pepper.
Form and flatten portions of the “dough” into patties.
Lay the patties onto parchment paper that has been sprayed with cooking spray (or stoneware) and bake for 15-20 minutes until they’re lightly brown and crisp on the outside.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or straight from the fridge.


Go on, have a peace! Have two! Enjoy! Go on, have a peace! Have two!

Knead-Free Scrumptious Loaf

Hello, all!

First of all, let me say I'm so sad not to have thrown a bunch of new recipes at you this month. Circumstances have conspired to keep me away from my kitchen, which is terribly disappointing to me; I miss my culinary meditation time. Second, thank you so much to CindyCupcake for both following my tweets and for mentioning my web series! You're so sweet - and as a result, you get to request a recipe, miss! Just tell me 2-4 ingredients and I will make a recipe just for you and name it after you. (It's the next best thing to baking cookies and mailing them to wherever you are!)

With regards to Family Valuables - this series is one very close to my heart. I, along with two friends, came up with the idea, wrote, directed, cast, and acted in it. We had a wonderful crew who worked tirelessly with us to make the show what it turned out to be. We shot three episodes and two teaser scenes in a very short amount of time on very little funding and we are so terribly proud of the work we accomplished. For more information on the series, you can visit www.familyvaluablesseries.com, find us on Facebook, or just go straight to watching the episodes. I do appear in the series (more so later in the season). I'm in Episode 1 as one of the Mormon visitors and then in one of the teaser scenes as my characters true identity... dun dun dun. Please check it out, 'like' it on blip.tv and/or Facebook if you do (how could you not?), and tell your friends if you like. We made it to make people laugh, so the more people who see it, the better.

Now! For all ya'll who are hungering for something other than entertainment, here's an incredibly easy recipe for bread! Yes, bread! I know, I generally avoid this food staple due to the lack of nutrients usually found in the store-bought versions. But with this recipe - a recipe I actually learned about through a Cornerstone Theater piece the entitled 'Bread' and directed by the wonderful Nancy Keystone - you get to make a delicious, crusty loaf from scratch and share it with our friends and family. And your house will smell absolutely incredible. Breaking bread and sharing it around the table has always been a Thanksgiving tradition in my family (even though many of us have given it up for the rest of the year) and I'm overjoyed to share this with you.

All you need is a bowl, a dutch oven, plastic wrap, two cotton towels, some very basic ingredients, and time. So, without further ado...

Knead-Free Scrumptious Loaf
Yields one 1.5 lb loaf

3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting (you can use whole wheat flour instead, just be careful making sure that the dough doesn't become too dense)
1/4 tsp instant yeast
1 1/4 tsp salt
flax seeds (optional)
minced and crushed rosemary (optional)
olive oil (optional)

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, flax seeds, rosemary, yeast, and salt. Add 4/5 cup water and 4/5 cup olive oil (or all water as you choose - the oil makes a denser, moister loaf), and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours - preferably about 18 - at warm room temperature (about 70 F).

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for another fifteen minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to your work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape the dough into a ball.

Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour; wn dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, the dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready,  heat oven to 450 F.  Put a 6-8 quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex, or ceramic - I use my awesome La Creuset dutch oven) in the oven as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven. Slide our hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up. It may (and probably will) look like a mess, but that's a-OK. Shake the pan once or twice if the dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake for another 15-30 minutes, until the loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

This is by far the easiest bread recipe I've ever seen and the result is simply delectable. As per usual, feel free to substitute or add ingredients to suits your tastes and whims. Add different herbs, or olives, or nuts, raisins, or currants. Go on. Have a peace! And have a wonderful, wholesome Thanksgiving!

1940's Snickerdoodles

Here's a little recipe I rescued from 1941 in honor of the current show I'm doing - Noel Coward's Peace In Our Time. It's not exactly my usual offering - not remotely vegan or low calorie, to be sure - nor is it my own invention (as I wasn't alive in 1940), but it is delicious and makes a great offering to potlucks and friends. To be enjoyed in moderation, with a cup of Earl Grey or Irish Breakfast (for dipping and sipping). The italics are my notations.

1940's Snickerdoodles
(makes ~50)

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup baker's sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
a sprinkle of ginger (1 tsp)
a scrape of nutmeg (take a whole nutmeg, then scritch off about a tsp of it with a small grater or zester)
additional sugar and cinnamon to taste (~tbsp each, for the outside of the cookies)

Preheat the oven to 400 F.

Melt the butter in a saucepan (or microwave). Cream together butter, eggs, and sugar until you have a smooth texture.

(In a separate bowl) Sift the dry ingredients together and stir into the sugar mixture (making sure each addition of the flour mixture is combined before adding the next). Chill the dough for two hours.

Roll chilled dough into balls the size of uncracked walnuts. (Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on a flat surface.) Roll each in the cinnamon sugar (covering the outside). Place three fingers apart on a (parchment paper covered) cookie sheet. Bake for twelve minutes.


So there you go. I don't generally go in for so much butter - or any at all (I actually choked a little bit as I added it), but I will say that these are excellent dipping cookies. They cool to a hard, crispy cookie that softens in tea instantly. As with all things good and bad, use discretion when enjoying these. I've been making them to sell at the concessions booth for my play, which is a good way to keep them away from myself. When my schedule loosens up a bit, I will play with making a more guilt-free version of these.

Go on, have a peace! Enjoy!

Irish Fruit Brack

Irish Fruit Brack
(serves 4-8)

2 lb mixed dried fruit (I use dried Bartlett pears, blueberries, dark cherries, and golden raisins)
6 oz brown sugar
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 cup hot strong tea (I use English breakfast, but any black tea will do)
4 tbsp Irish whiskey
4 eggs worth of egg whites
3 large spoonfuls whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Place fruit, sugar, lemon juice and zest, tea, and whiskey in a large mixing bowl and let it soak for about four hours.
Preheat oven to 300 F.
Spray an 8x8 cake pan with butter Pam or brush it with melted margarine.
Pour eggs and vanilla extract over the soaked fruit and mix thoroughly.
Sift flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and cinnamon together. Add to fruit mixture until dry ingredients and mixed in and moistened.
Pour bowl's contents into greased cake pan and bake for two hours.

Serve and enjoy. :)

Steak and Guinness Casserole

Many traditional Irish foods are laden with potatoes and butter and other delicious, high calorie-high carb foods. In this case, I tried a "healthier" spin on the traditional for St. Patrick's Day.

Steak and Guinness Casserole
(serves 6-8)

2 lbs steak (1 lb lean angus steak and 1 lb non-lean), cubed
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp brown sugar
2 large red onions, chopped into tiny pieces
1 bag sliced white mushrooms, chopped into tiny pieces
2 11.2 oz bottles Guinness draught
2 cups beef broth
2 large carrots, chopped into tiny pieces
2 baby green cabbages (halved, outer leaves removed, then the inside chopped up)
3 cloves garlic
thyme, a few pinches
olive oil

Mix flour, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Prepare a large pan with a couple teaspoons of olive oil.
Coat 1 inch cubes of steak in seasoned flour and brown them in the pan over medium heat. When meat is browned, remove steak to an extra large pot.
Lightly brown onions, garlic, and mushrooms in the meat juice (add a little extra oil if needed), then add to the beef in the pot.
Into the pot, add chopped cabbage, carrots, thyme, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt.
Pour Guinness and beef stock into the pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Spoon meat and vegetables out of the pot with a slotted spoon into a large casserole dish.
Reduce the remaining liquid to a gravy by simmering for 30 minutes over high heat.
Layer the large outer cabbage leaves over the top of the meat and vegetables, sprinkle a little brown sugar over the tops of the leaves.
Set the oven to 300 F.
Once the gravy is reduced, pour the thickened liquid over the top and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Serve hot in a bowl. Go on. Have a peace. It's good for you. :)

Nunchuck Stuffed Mushrooms

These delectable stuffed mushrooms are served with a kick. I made them to go with a miso-glazed tilapia and hijiki salad, so they have a little asian flavor to them. They are terribly delicious! I served them as an appetizer, but they would make an equally palatable party snack.

Nunchuck Stuffed Mushrooms

16 oz white mushrooms
2 tbsp canola oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed and diced
2 tbsp fresh ginger, finely diced
1 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
1 stalk bok choy, chopped fine
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp low sodium Tamari
1/2 tsp salt
3 green onions, finely chopped
1 half lemon, juiced
1 handful garlic croutons (or plain - whatever you prefer), crushed
14 oz crumbled goat cheese

Preheat oven 375 F. Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Remove the mushroom stems and set them to the side in a bowl. Make sure there is ample space in each mushroom cap for a spoonful of filling and place any excess mushroom removed for this into the same bowl with the stems. Place the prepared caps on the cookie sheet.
Heat canola oil in a skillet at medium-low heat. Saute garlic, ginger, and bell peppers for 3-5 minutes. Don't let the garlic or the ginger burn, keep stirring.
Chop the mushroom stems, etc. into finely diced bits and add them to the skillet, along with the chopped bok choy. Cook until the liquid evaporates - about 5 minutes.
Remove the skillet from heat.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, stir together the sesame oil, tamari, salt, crumbled croutons, green onions, lemon juice, and goat cheese. Add the contents of the skillet to the bowl and combine thoroughly. You want the goat cheese to melt completely due to the heat of the items from the skillet.
Using a small spoon, stuff the mushroom caps.
Bake for 20 minutes and serve.

Go on. Have a peace!

Pumpkin Mookies

I love autumn. The moment that first swell of cold hits me in the street in September, I get a thrill of anticipation that sends me to the store in search of pumpkins and squash. I lived in New York for a while and I remember how excited I got as I drove to school and saw the first leaves turning from green to red. Now, in California, I don't get to watch the leaves turn, but I can still get my pumpkin fix!

Here's a tasty little treat I came up with today which is simply and awesomely autumn-y. :) They were supposed to be cookies, but they came out with more of a muffin consistency than I had anticipated. So, for your munching pleasure: mookies!

Pumpkin Mookies

(makes 18-24)

2/3 cup IC's EZ Homemade Pumpkin Butter (recipe at the bottom)

2 tbsp almond milk

1/3 cup canola oil

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup Grade B maple syrup

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

1 tbsp flax seed meal

~1 cup all purpose flour

~1 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Set oven to 325 F. Prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, whisk together your liquid ingredients until they are smoothly combined. Sift in the powder ingredients, then stir until the batter is consistent and lumpless. 

Spoon out 1-2 spoonfuls batter onto the cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 15 minutes. 

Enjoy!

IreniCineri's EZ Homemade Pumpkin Butter

(makes 2 claussen pickle jars full)

1 can canned pumpkin

3/4 cup apple cider

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1.5 cups brown sugar

2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium low heat. Simmer there for 30 minutes, stirring regularly. 

Let stand on the stovetop for about 15 minutes, then scoop into your prepared jars.

This pumpkin butter makes an excellent autumnal addition to baked goods and pastries, but can also be enjoyed simply spread on a piece of toast or (if you're feeling decadent) sucked off a spoon. 

Note: You can buy mason jars at Costco or Michaels. Personally, I just save all my jars from everything, clean them, and store them until I find a use for them. (You will see one of the many uses I have found for them when I get around to talking about my fun halloween decor...)

Go on! Have a peace!

Tasty in my Tummy OSM Crumble Cookies

Tasty in my Tummy OSM Crumble Cookies
(About 50 cookies)

1/2 tbsp agave nectar

3/4 cup organic brown sugar

1 tbsp flaxseed meal

4/3 cup chopped prunes

1/2 cup canola oil

1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

2 1/3 cup sorghum flour

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 cups OSM hot cereal mix (you could also use plain rolled oats)

water for shaping (I used about 2/4 cups, but you'll want to add it bit by bit)

Preheat 350 F. Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper. 

Combine all the ingredients. Wet first. Dry second. Mix until well-combined and "doughy". 

Add water a little bit at a time if the dough is too dry. 

Roll the dough into golf-ball sized drops between your palms and place them on the tray. 

These will not expand as they cook. They'll be the same size when they come out as when they went in.

Bake for 12 minutes, then move to cool on a drying rack. 

These are tasty, crumbly, and awesome. They have a consistency sort of like soft shortbread. Go on. Have a peace. :)

Note: OSM Hot Cereal is a warm tasty treat made of oats, cracked-wheat, oat bran, millet, and sunflower seeds. That's it. It makes for a great oatmeal substitute in the mornings and it also makes these cookies very, very tasty. OSM products are available from The Bunnery in Jackson Hole. They are also soon becoming available in certain independent grocery stores in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and Nevada. 

Cashew Crusted Basil Tilapia with Spinach

Cashew Crusted Basil Tilapia with Spinach
(6 servings)

~1.3 lb boneless, skinless tilapia
2 handfuls raw cashews
~3 oz spinach
~10 large leaves fresh basil, divided, roughly chopped
1/4 cup nonfat sour cream (or, for a vegan variety, use Tofutti's Better Than Sour Cream non-hydrogenated)
juice of 1/2 lemon
4 cloves garlic, divided, minced
3 tsp olive oil

Preheat your oven to 375 F.

Take your tilapia and cut into single serving portions (about 1/2 a filet) laying them out into an 11x15 in baking pan.

Take 2 handfuls raw cashews and "chop" them in the food processor in small chunks. Remove to a side bowl. If there is cashew "dust", leave that in the processor.

Into the dusty processor, add sour cream, lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, and 5 leaves of fresh basil. Process until smooth.

Heat 3 tsp olive oil in a skillet over medium low heat. Mince the 2 remaining cloves of garlic and brown. Add ~3 oz spinach (unchopped) and about 5 large leaves of basil (roughly chopped). Cook until wilted (2-4 min), stirring gently. Remove from heat.

Spread sour cream blend over the fish evenly.

Lay the spinach over the spread fish evenly.

Sprinkly chopped cashews over top all.

Bake for 28 minutes.

This is simply delicious! The fish came out so flakey and smooth, the whole dish was rich and a real treasure for the tongue. So easy to make and so, so good. Go on! Have a peace!