Peach Lemonade

1 cup of lemon juice (6 to 8 lemons, depending on size)

1 29 oz can sliced peaches in JUICE

4 to 4 1/2 C water

3/4 C sugar

Juice the lemons.  Throw entire can of peaches, juice and all, into the blender.  Puree until smooth.  Add sugar.  Puree until smooth.  Add lemon juice.  Puree until smooth.  Put cold water in pitcher.  Add lemon/peach/sugar mixture and stir together.  Serve.

Makes about 2 quarts.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

1-2 C. chicken, cooked and shredded
4-5 green onions, diced
1 4 oz can diced green chilis
1 can worth of cream of chicken substitute
1/2 C sour cream
Cheddar cheese, grated
5 tortillas

Mix half the cream of chicken soup with the sour cream, green onions, chilis and chicken.  Fill tortillas with chicken mixture and grated cheese.  Spray baking dish with cooking spray.  Place tortillas in baking dish.  Spread remaining cream of chicken soup over the top of the enchilidas, then top with grated cheese.  Cover with foil; bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Chicken Fajitas with Spicy Avocado Sauce

Chicken Fajitas with Spicy Avocado Sauce
adjusted from The DASH Diet Cookbook

Sauce
1 large avocado, pitted, peeled and cut into fourths
1/2 C plain greek yogurt
1/4 C water
Juice of 1 lemon
1 small jalapeno pepper
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

Fajitas
4 chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch thick strips
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp ground cumin
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 large yellow bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 white onion, cut into 1/2 inch slivers
2 large garlic cloves, minced
8 tortillas

For the sauce, place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.  Set aside.
For the fajitas, season the chicken with salt, pepper, cumin and half the oregano.  Heat oil over medium high heat, then add chicken and cook 4 to 5 minutes.  Add the bell peppers, onion, garlic and remaining oregano.  Season with salt and pepper to taste, then cook a few more minutes, until veggies are soft.  Warm tortillas.  Scoop chicken and veggie mixture into each tortilla and drizzle with avocado sauce.  Fold the tortilla over and serve.

Mediterranean Bowl

Mediterranean Bowl
adjusted from The DASH Diet Cookbook

1 cup uncooked whole wheat couscous
1 1/4 C water
1 (16 oz) can artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
1/2 C rinsed black olives, halved
3/4 C chopped roasted red pepper
1/2 C feta cheese
1 C grape tomatoes, chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
1/4 tsp dried oregano
Pinch crushed red pepper
4 Tbsp olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Pinch black pepper

Boil water, add the couscous, stir and turn off the heat.  Cover pot with lid and let sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
Meanwhile, combine all ingredients except for couscous and mix thoroughly.  Refrigerate 15 minutes or so, then fold in couscous.  Serve cold or at room temperature.

Cauliflower Carrot Soup

Cauliflower Carrot Soup
adjusted from The DASH Diet Cookbook

1 large head of cauliflower, coarsely chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 small white onion, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
a pinch or two crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp dried basil

Fill large pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add chopped cauliflower, cover pot and let boil for 6 to 8 minutes, or until cauliflower is easily pierced with a fork.  Strain cauliflower and discard water.
Meanwhile, heat oil over medium heat.  Add onion, garlic and carrot.  Saute until onion is translucent.
  Add cauliflower.  Transfer a ladleful of veggies to a blender.  Add 1 cup of broth and blend on low to combine, then on high until smooth.  Transfer blended veggies to another pot and repeat process until all veggies are blended.
Heat the blended veggies over medium-high heat.  Add salt, pepper, red pepper and basil.  Bring to a boil and serve hot.

Coconut Limeade

Coconut Limeade

12 limes
1 can coconut milk
1 can cream of coconut
3/4 to 1 C sugar
10 C water

Cut 6 of the limes in quarters.  Put in a blender with 1 of the cups of water.  Puree until the mixture spins easily through the blender but is still chunky.  Pour into a pitcher through a strainer, using a spatula to press the pulp against the strainer to get all the juice out..  Cut the remaining 6 limes in quarters, place in blender and add a cup of water again.  Puree as before.  Again, pour into pitcher through a strainer, using a spatula to press the pulp against the strainer to get all the juice out.  Rinse out blender.  Add can of coconut milk and one cup of water to the blender.  Puree until combined.  Pour into pitcher.  Add can of cream of coconut and one cup water to the blender; puree until combined.  Pour into pitcher.  Stir in sugar a 1/4 C at a time; stir until dissolved.  The sooner it's served, the better.
Makes about a gallon (16 cups).

Easy Lasagna

Easy Lasagna

1 lb ground beef or italian sausage (just depends on preference)
28 oz tomato sauce
16 oz ricotta
8 oz mozzarella
7 lasagna noodles

Combine beef/sausage with tomato sauce and add dried minced garlic, basil, oregano, crushed red pepper and salt to taste.  Layer in 9X9 pan from bottom to top: sauce, noodles (you'll have to break them to fit, use extra pieces to fill in), sauce, ricotta, mozzarella.  Repeat twice.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Cover with foil halfway through to prevent cheese from burning.

Chicken Pot Pie

      Chicken Pot Pie

      1 chicken breast, cooked and cubed or shredded

      1 cup sliced carrots

      1 cup chopped broccoli

      1/2 cup sliced celery

      1/3 cup butter

      1/3 cup chopped onion

      1/3 cup all-purpose flour

      1/2 teaspoon salt

      1/4 teaspoon black pepper

      1/4 teaspoon celery seed

      1 3/4 cups chicken broth

      2/3 cup milk

      2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

      Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C.)
      Roll out pie crust in pan. Combine chicken, carrots, broccoli, and celery. Place in bottom
      pie crust.  

      In a saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in
      flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over
      medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and pour hot liquid mixture over chicken
      mixture in bottom pie crust. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough.
      Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.

      Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling
      is bubbly. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Tortellini Primavera

2 cups vegetable broth
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/4 teaspoon salt
4-5 cups chopped vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, squash and snap peas
1 16-ounce package frozen cheese tortellini

Put a large pot of water on to boil.
Meanwhile, whisk broth and flour in a small bowl. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until just beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth mixture to the pan, bring to a boil and cook, stirring until broth has thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in cheese, tarragon and salt.
Add vegetables and tortellini to the boiling water; return the water to a simmer and cook until the vegetables and tortellini are tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain; add to the pan with the sauce and stir to coat.

Cod Cakes

1 pound cod fillets, finely chopped
1 large egg
6 Tbsp plain dried bread crumbs
1 shallot, minced
2 Tbsp fresh parsley
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch of crushed red pepper
4 tsp olive oil

Mix together cod, egg, 2 Tbsp bread crumbs, shallot, parsley, salt, 1/8 black pepper and pinch of red pepper in large bowl.  With damp hands, shape mixture into 4 (3 inch) patties.  Transfer to wax paper lined plate; refrigerate until firm, about 3 minutes.

Spread remaining bread crumbs on sheet of wax paper.  Lightly coat patties with crumbs.

Heat oil over medium heat.  Add patties and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.

Momma's Pumpkin Pie

4 eggs, slightly beaten
29 oz pumpkin
1 1/2 C sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 C brown sugar
2 13 oz evaporated milk
2 9 inch unbaked pie crusts

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Combine filling ingredients in order given; divide evenly into pie shells.  Bake 15 minutes at 425, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking for another 45 minutes.  Cool.  Serve with whipped cream.

Cheating Apple Streusel Pie

2 cans apple pie filling

Refrigerated pie crust

1⁄3 cup granulated sugar

1⁄4 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

1⁄2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger

1⁄2 teaspoon kosher or coarse salt

8 tablespoons (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Preheat to 375.  Empty cans into a bowl, and add a whole lot of cinnamon.  Mix it up.
Make the streusel topping: Combine the 1⁄3 cup of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 1⁄2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, the ginger, and salt in a food processor and give it a good whirl. Add the pieces of butter and pulse until the butter is incorporated and the mixture is crumbly. Do not overprocess; you don’t want a paste. Set the streusel topping aside.
Unroll pie crust and press into pan.  Pinch crust edge decoratively.  Add filling.  Top with streusel mix.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes.

Easy Southwest Sprouted Bean Soup

Easy Southwest Sprouted Bean Soup

2 TBS olive oil

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, sliced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

3 TBS cumin

1 TBS chili powder

1 can diced tomatoes

2 ½ cups sprouted bean trio (TruRoots)

8 cups chicken stock*

Salt & pepper to taste

Fresh cilantro & avocado for garnish

Start by heating 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Add the diced onions and sauté until they start to get translucent. Add the garlic, celery, and carrots and sauté for a couple more minutes. Add some salt and pepper to taste.  Then add the peppers, cumin, and chili powder. Stir it all up and then add the diced tomatoes, sprouted beans, and chicken stock. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Always taste it at this point and decide whether it needs more salt and/or pepper. Top with fresh cilantro & avocado (diced fresh tomatoes would be a great topping too) and enjoy! 

Canton Noodle Stir Fry

1 package Wel-Pac Chow Mein Stir-Fry noodles
2 pork chops, cubed
3 green onions, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1" lengths
half an onion, cut into thin wedges
1 carrot, coarsely shredded
half a red pepper, julienned

Sauce:
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/8 cup soy sauce
2 tsp rice wine vinegar
2 tsp sesame seeds
pinch hot red pepper flakes
1 tsp sugar

Combine ingredients for sauce; set side.  Bring water to boil; add noodles.  Cook 2 to 3 minutes, NO LONGER.  Meanwhile, heat wok over high heat.  Add pork; stir fry until thoroughly browned.  Add onions and pepper; stir fry 1 minute.  Mix in carrot, noodles and sauce.  Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes.  Serve!

Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread

Original recipe from The Baker Upstairs

Makes ONE loaf

Sponge:
1 C water
1/9 C honey
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 2/3 C flour

Bread:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/9 cup honey
1 tsp salt
1+ cups whole wheat flour

After it’s baked:
1 tsp butter, melted

Mix together warm water, yeast, and honey. stir in the white bread flour until evenly combined. Let sit for 30 minutes, until risen and bubbly. Mix the melted butter, remaining honey, and salt into the sponge. Stir in 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour. Knead in enough flour until the dough is smooth and tacky but not overly sticky. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray, place the dough in the bowl and spray the top of the dough with cooking spray. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until double (about 1 hour). Once risen, punch down the dough and form into loaf. Place into a greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan, and allow to rise until the dough has topped the pan by one inch (about an hour).

Bake at 350º F for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and the bread sounds hollow when tapped. Brush the tops of the loaf with 1 teaspoon melted butter to prevent the crust from getting hard. Let cool 10 minutes before removing from pan. Let cool completely before storing in plastic bags.