Slow Cooked Apple Butter

I made two batches in my slow cooker.
The first with a ton of sugar and the second with maple syrup and honey. They are both delicious. I cooked the sugary one longer and it came out thicker.

Apple Butter one

16 apples, peeled and sliced
3 cups sugar
3/4 cup apple cider
2 T cinnamon
1 t allspice
¼ t nutmeg
pinch salt

 

Apple Butter two

22 apples, peeled and sliced
¼ cup honey
1 cup maple syrup
1 1/4 cup apple cider
3 T cinnamon
2 t allspice
½ t nutmeg
pinch salt

In the slow cooker on high for a couple hours, then low overnight and/or the rest of the day until the apples cook down to a sauce and the pooled liquid evaporates. Stir occasionally. I cooked my first batch on and off for two days. The cooker went off a couple times and when I turned it back on I put it on high for a bit, then turned it back to low. The second batch I cooked for about 24 hours and would have done it longer as it turned out a little thin. I am sure the sugar also adds to the thickening process.

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Okra and Onions Braised with Spices and Tomato

Masala Bhindi

I cannot think of anything I would rather do with okra than make this. If I get eggplant from my CSA, look out! Kelly is making Indian food tonight.

Get the spices measured out and ready, then

Heat:

2 T ghee or coconut oil

Saute:

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 pound okra, trimmed & sliced length-wise on a slight diagonal

After 5-8 minutes, add:

2 T garlic, minced Read More »

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Indian Spiced Braised Eggplant

Khatti Bhaji

Whenever I get eggplant I think about making this dish. If I also have okra, my friends and family are in for an Indian delight. Nothing makes Indian food better than fresh vegetables and good quality oil.

1 medium eggplant, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes and then soaked for 15 minutes or more in water with salt. Strain in colander.

Heat large cast iron pan on medium-high and add:

2 T sesame oil or other good quality vegetable oil

When oil is quite warm add:

2 medium onions, thinly sliced

Sauté until translucent (or nearly so).

Add eggplant and continue to sauté, stirring every 3-4 minutes. Do not stir too frequently – give time for each side of the eggplant cubes to cook. Read More »

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Bengal Red Lentil Dal

Bengali Masar Dal

 

This is my favorite dal recipe, from my favorite Indian cookbook.

Pictured also: Okra Braised with Tomatoes, Onions and Spices and Indian Spiced Braised Eggplant

 

1 ½ cups red lentils (masar dal)

4 ½ cups water

3-6 hot green chilies (optional – serve minced chilies on the side if you like)

½ t turmeric

1 ½ t sea salt

Wash and pick the lentils and cook with green chilies, turmeric, salt and water. Read More »

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Pesto

This takes no time at all, chuck all this stuff in a food processor:

2-3 cloves garlic

3-4 cups basil (about 1 basil plant), picked and washed

½ cup walnuts or cashews

¼-1/2 cup parsley

½ cup good olive oil

3/4 t salt Read More »

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Quinoa Salad with Corn and Black Beans

1 cup of quinoa cooked in 2 cups of water.

Bring to low boil then turn down to low for 20 minutes.

2 ears corn, cooked and cut off the cob

1 or 2 carrots, diced

1 bunch scallions, sliced

1 cup cilantro or parsley, chopped

1-2 cups black beans, rinsed

1-2 limes, juiced

1/3 cup olive oil

1 t salt (or to taste)

 

Combine and serve!

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Chocolate Raspberry Layer Cake

This is a most delicious devil’s food cake. Combined with raspberries this layer cake is off the chain, as Ben says!

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 ¼ cup boiling water

¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

¾ cup whole wheat pastry flour Read More »

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Chocolate Frosting

1 cup heavy cream

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped Read More »

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Banana Bread

If I have three super ripe bananas, I just can’t do anything except make Banana Bread (especially if my mom is in town).

Cream:

1 stick softened butter
½ cup turbinado sugar (or light brown sugar) Read More »

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Granola Protein Bars

This recipe is super delicious, super easy and versitile. Feel free to substitute almond butter for peanut butter or change up the seeds with nuts (if i were using walnuts or other big nuts i would chop them).
If you have a little food processor, it is really nice to grind up the oatmeal some and also the raisins. The ground oatmeal helps make it less sticky and chopping or grinding the raisins helps hold it all together.

This recipe is easy to mix by hand if your PB is room temp. Otherwise, if you have a standing mixer, it is well worth the effort to use it! You can make this gluten-free by using gluten-free oats and granola.

1 cup raw oatmeal (optionally ground)
1 ½ cups granola
½ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup sesame seeds
½ cup coconut, finely shredded
½ cup raw honey
1 cup raisins (optionally ground or chopped)
1 ½ – 2 cups organic peanut butter (ideally room temp)

Directions

Protein Bars
1. Oil a baking 9×11 baking sheet
2. Place all dry ingredients in a large bowl or standing mixer. Mix to combine.
3. Add the wet ingredients and form into a firm paste. You may need to add more peanut butter or honey if the mixture is too dry. Add the chopped/ground raisins and mix.
4. Press the mixture into the oiled container.
5. Cover the pressed mixture with wax paper and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
6. Cut into 24 bars and serve.

Store in an air-tight container or wrap individually in plastic and store in the refrigerator.

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