Summer Squash, Goat Cheese & Arugula Salad

Enjoy this simple main course salad inspired by my farm box!

Ingredients:

• Summer squash, sliced in large chunks
• Spring onion, sliced thinly
• Arugula
• Goat cheese
• Dill
• Coconut & Olive Oil

Steps:

• Combine squash, onions, dill and oils in pan. Bake in preheated oven @ 350 for about 25 minutes (don’t overcook-they are better firm)
• Pour over arugula
• Top with goat cheese
• Stir together–the oils and cheese will add flavor to the arugula

Happy Spring!

Sweet Potato Ginger Carrot Stew

This healthy stew is full of flavor and very filling. I made it thinking of a hot breakfast but it would be great for any meal. The humble star of this stew is the highly medicinal burdock root. It is very mild in flavor and full of medicinal benefits.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons corn meal
• Sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 2 carrots peeled and diced
• Burdock root, thinly sliced
• Ginger, crushed through garlic press
• Slice of lemon
• Salt
• Shredded cabbage

Combine all ingredients except cabbage and simmer over low heat for 30-45 minutes, until veggies are cooked and stew is desired thickness. Remove lemon slice. Top with shredded cabbage and serve.

SO Delicious: Homemade Almond Milk

I decided to start making my own almond milk to avoid the additives in the store bought but after tasting my homemade almond milk I would make it for the flavor alone. It is light, fluffy, creamy and just scrumptious.

Good enough to be desert!

Ingredients:

• One cup almonds
• Four cups water
• Teaspoon cinnamon

Soak almonds at least overnight in water in the refrigerator. 

Rinse and put in blender with four cups fresh water.

Blend for one minute –add cinnamon and blend for another minute.

I got a jelly strainer bag from the hardware store and secured it over the top of the blender before carefully pouring into a bowl. I then squeezed out all the liquid. I plan on using the excess nut meat in a recipe. You can also put the contents of the blender through a cheesecloth or buy something called a “nut bag” for this purpose.

I came out with four cups of heavenly almond milk-the same amount as a 32 ounce store bought carton.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

I had so much fun making this recipe. I picked the apple from our tree, the nuts came from the local farmer’s market and the squash from our weekly farm box. After I devoured it I threw the shell in the compost pile in our backyard. 

I’m sure it was extra yummy due to the freshness, but this is also a tasty, healthy “pantry recipe”. You can easily keep these ingredients on hand to throw together at the last minute. Squash lasts for months on the counter and I suggest keeping nuts in the freezer. Dried fruit may also be used.

Ingredients:

Our Apple Tree

• Acorn Squash, cut in half and seeds removed
• Nuts, chopped  (I used a mixture of pistachios, walnuts and chestnuts)
• Apple, peeled and chopped
• Cinnamon
• Coconut oil
• Salt, to taste

Steps:

 

• Preheat oven to 350
• Mix nuts, apple, and cinnamon
• Divide mixture and place in cavities of squash halves
• Top with dabs of coconut oil and shake of salt
• Cover and bake @ 40 minutes or until cooked through

Back to Mother Earth!

 

Easy Apple Crumble

Looking for a desert that is gluten-free, sugar free, dairy free, vegan and grain free? Well look no further! 

I’ll take a gander you will like this recipe even if you don’t have any pesky food allergies.

The measurements and cooking time are totally adjustable.

Ingredients:

• Two apples, sliced
• 1/3 cup almond flour
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
• Cinnamon to taste

Steps:

1. Melt coconut oil in microwave in baking pan
2. Mix rest of ingredients in baking pan–except lemon zest
3. Top with lemon zest
4. Bake @ 450 for 20 minutes

This desert was a huge hit at my house and I will be making more next time. Best wishes in your baking experiments!-Julie

Energy Bites: Raw Paleo Nut Balls

I love the idea of energy bites: mini meals that pack a punch.

I got the idea to make these from the peanut butter candy my Mom made for my sister and I when we were kids. She would mix peanut butter, evaporated milk and honey. My sister and I shaped the “dough” into little sculptures then ate our creations.

I love almond butter and I used almond flour instead of evaporated milk to make it dairy free. Then I added all sorts of goodies. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond butter
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
• Honey to taste

Steps:

• Combine almond butter, almond flour and chia seeds. Mix with hands.
• Combine rest of ingredients.

• Roll into balls and store in fridge.

Go nuts!-Julie

Oooh La La White Bean Salad

I spent many years scribbling down recipes and filling many journals. It is so wonderful for me to be able to write my new recipes in a blog: to share them with others and for my personal records.

This recipe idea came from my friend Carol who taught me how to cook beans and made it seem so practical and easy. This is a recipe I threw together for dinner at the pool as it is light, filling and the longer it sits the better.

Oooh La La White Bean Salad

Steps:

1. Rinse and soak dry white beans overnight
2. Cover in new water –a few inches above beans
3. Add garlic, salt, and chopped onion
4. Boil until beans are soft–adding water if necessary
5. When beans are cooked and most water is absorbed–combine with olive oil, chopped tomato, more salt and fresh basil

Enjoy! 

Vegetables Can Make a Hearty Meal

Perhaps I should mind my own business: but I would love to see more people eating vegetables for a main course. Everyone knows it is important to eat a lot of vegetables–the issue is learning how to prepare them in a way that feels satisfying. I made this for dinner tonight and it was very tasty–I’m still stuffed!

Hearty Vegetables Over Green Beans

Ingredients:

• Green and yellow summer squash, thickly sliced
• Green beans
• Crushed garlic
• Fresh basil
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Lasagna Sauce (recipe below)

Steps:

1. Saute green beans in olive oil, salt and a little water for a few minutes–set aside
2. Saute rest of ingredients-leave some basil aside
3. Cook over low heat until squash is fork tender
4. Serve over green beans with fresh cut basil on top

Lasagna Sauce

 Layer tomato sauce, slices of summer squash, pesto, goat cheese, basil and sliced tomato. Top with olive oil and a dash of salt. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

I hope this recipe inspires your wild and crazy vegetable adventures!-Julie