What's Cooking

Potato Lasagna

2011-01-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Lasagna has got to be one of the BEST Itailian foods ever! This is an "Americanized" version, it's pretty good too, and maybe quicker. I bet even garfield would eat it! Well, he eats almost anything. LOL Someone at my church brings it to potluck once a month, and it's sooo good, I had to try making it myself.

All you gotta do is... get a large cassarole dish...

fry up a couple onions,

cook up some lasagna noodles (half a box),

get some shredded cheese (or goat cheese, which I like)

and mash up some potatoes. (The mashed potatoes should have a bit more milk than usual because they need to be easier to spread.)'

add a Tablespoon or two of dried Parsley

If you're short on time, (or really hungry) use potato buds instead of having to peel and mash 5 lbs. of potatoes! I think when I used the potato buds I made 14 servings (something like half the box).

Layer those things together.

Set the oven to 350-400 degrees and bake for like a half hour or so. Just keep an eye on it until it looks firm enough.

APPLE MUFFINS!!!

2011-01-19T10:55:00.001-08:00

I cannot BELIEVE it's been a year since anyone has posted!!! I think we need more contributers and each take a week and each do a new recipe like every month. Anyway.
TWO OF MY FAVORITE BREAKFAST FOODS IN ONE! Oatmeal, and apples! or muffins and apples, whichever one sounds better.
Here's a little quicky recipe I just cooked up this morning. It's very filling, yummy, and healthy! It's by Diane Flemons.

Breakfast Apple Muffins
4 cups quick oats
4 cups applesauce (a large jar)
2/3 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup raisins
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup sunflower seeds or chopped nuts (ex sliced almonds, walnuts, pecans etc...)

Mix all ingredients well and dump into oiled muffin pans. (Fills at least 2 muffin trays).
Top with brown sugar if desired before baking..
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until brown.
Cool a bit before removing from pan.
You can cut the recipe in half if you have a smaller family or appetite. :) Believe me, they'll be gone before you know it!

Biscuits and Gravy

2010-01-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

I just thought I would share a couple recipes that my family and I have enjoyed -- biscuits and gravy. The biscuits are yummy and moist & this gravy recipe is so good! I hope you enjoy them as much as we have! [smile]

Quick Biscuits
4 Cups flower (you can use half white and half whole wheat -- it works out great!)
1/2 oil
1 1/2 cups water/soy milk
2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon salt

Measure flour and baking powder in mixing bowl, mix well. Emulsify oil and water/soy milk and mix with flower mixture. Form into biscuits. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Cashew Gravy
1 Cup Raw Cashews (this is not the kind you get from the grocery store that you might snack on)
2 Tablespoons Corn Starch
3 Tablespoons Yeast flakes
2 Tablespoons Bragg's Liquid Aminos
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon Onion Powder (yes, that's one TABLESPOON.)
1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
4 Cups boiling water

Blend all ingredients w/ one cup boiling water until smooth. (you will want to pulse this a few times before you turn the blinder on full blast. If you don't, the lid will pop off and the ingredients will fly out from all the pressure the hot water gives. ) Add more water as it blends. Pour into pan and stir until thick.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms

2009-12-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

I posted this on my other blog, but I thought I should post it here for some of you who don't follow mine. I made mine gluten-free, if you wanna do that you'll have to buy special flour and xamthum gum for it.

Click to go to the original recipe

Hearty Potato Broccoli "Cheese" Soup

2009-11-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

My Mom made this recipe not too long ago. Our family loved it! The recipe doesn't call for soy milk, but my Mom added some anyway. That's cause she knows what tastes good! ;)

Hearty Broccoli and Potato Cheese Soup
6 medium potatoes, scrubbed and cubed
1 small onion, diced
1 bunch broccoli
1 T sea salt
½ C vegan cheese
2 cups Soy milk

Put the potatoes and onion in a pot, approximately 6 quarts. Add cold water until they are covered by about an inch of water. Add 1 T of salt. Place the pot over high heat and cover with a tight-fitting lid.

Turn on the oven, set for 400 degrees F. Chop the broccoli to remove the florets. Keep the florets intact and spread on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sea salt and drizzle with olive oil.

When the oven is at temperature and the potatoes are boiling, set a timer for 7 minutes. Place the broccoli in the oven and let each cook until the timer beeps.

Remove the broccoli from the oven and take the potatoes off the heat. Add the soy milk, and half the broccoli to the potatoes and puree using an immersion blender (can use regular blender). Chop the remaining broccoli and stir it into the soup, then slowly fold in about half a cup of vegan cheese.

Serve with hearty bread and garnish with a teaspoon of the remaining cheese if desired.

Enjoy! ~Aj

Grandma's Zucchini Bread

2009-08-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

This is my grandma's recipe and it is so delish I was surprised she gave it to me because I was sure it had to be a secret recipe, LOL! It's been oneof my favorite treats as long as I can remember. I hope you get a chance to make this because rather than tasting like bread, it is more like cake and it makes the whole house smell like Christmas (or maybe just like cinnamon :) ... It makes 2 loaves but I usually double the recipe because everyone eats it up almost immediately... it freezes very well if you intend to stash some away :) ... I just pulled some out of the oven and I can't wait to get started eating some... you have to try this recipe!

~Mandy

Zucchini Bread
(Makes 2 loaves)

2 cups grated zucchini (skin too, if tender)

3 eggs (beaten)

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup crisco oil

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

Mix everything together well in large mixing bowl (an eggbeater works nicely).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, bake for one hour in baking pans (grease and line bottom of baking pans with wax paper). You may not feeling like waiting, but do let the bread cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pans!

funny mandy

2009-04-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

That is some wilted celery.

Hoppin' John

2009-04-21T15:35:00.000-07:00

This recipe that I found on the back of the frozen black eye peas originally calls for ham, you could add fake meat or whatever you like. But I didn't have anything to use instead so I just put what I had... It's really quick and easy!

1 bag frozen black eyed peas

6 cups water

2 cups uncooked white rice (you can use brown but it'll take longer to cook)

1 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup green peppers (yum! but I didn't have any... :()

2 TBS. butter (you can just spread it on afterwards too if you would rather)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne (you can add less if you don't like it too spicy)

1 bay leaf

1 cup tomato

Put all ingredient except for the tomato into the water and let simmer for 20 minutes on low heat, cover, and cook until rice is cooked and peas are soft. (I kinda cooked it too long... I'll ty better next time). Add tomato during last 10 minutes of cooking time. Whoever gets the bay leaf has to kiss the cook! :) Enjoy!

Gluten-free Chocolate cake

2009-04-15T19:30:00.000-07:00

One Bowl Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cups gluten free flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp guar gum or xanthan gum
5 Tbs cooking oil
1 Tbs vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add all liquid and mix well.
3. Bake in greased (oiled) and floured 9" square pan, at 350 degrees F, for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Creamy Vanilla Frosting/Icing

1/2 cup soy milk (or rice)
1 Tbs cornstarch
1/2 cup crisco or other All-vegetable shortening (spectrum) we used coconut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Combine cold soy/rice milk and cornstarch in saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture thickens and bubbles. Cool.

2. Beat shortening and 1 cup powdered sugar until fluffy.

3. Beat in cooled cornstarch mixture, vanilla and salt.

4. Add remaining powdered sugar, beat until smooth.

Fruit Smoothie

2009-04-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

Put a couple cups of juice (or milk) in the blender. Put in a couple bananas (they make it sweet, you can also add sugar or vanilla if you like.)

Blend it up on high speed.

Pour it in a glass.

Smile

And drink it! :)

Gluten-Free Cornbread

2009-02-01T12:59:00.001-08:00

I just love this cornbread! It's my new favorite food! It is great with honey and you can eat it for breakfast lunch or dinner!

1 cup corn meal/corn bread
3/4 cup sorgum flour (it's gluten free, or you can use regular flour)

1 tsp Xanthan gum

3 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup oil

1 cup milk

1 egg

Preheat to 425 degrees

Combine corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Mix oil, egga and milk together and add to dry ingredients. Bake in greased 9x9x2 in pan for 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy! and don't forget the clover honey!

2009-01-22T11:08:00.001-08:00

I had a blood test done a few weeks ago to test my food senitivities also known as delayed allergic reactions. The foods listed make me break out more etc... So I'm on a new diet now and I have to stay away from these things:

1. Apples (what!)
2. Walnuts (yikes!)
3. Wheat /gluten (I think I'm gonna go crazy! no more bread pasta...)
4. Tomatoes (My favorite fresh sandwhich veggie!!)
5. Oats (yeah no more oatmeal!)
6. Grapes (what??!!)
7. Grapefruit (well don't eat a lot of those but they are good!)
8. Lemons (no more lemonade or salad dressings w/ lemon!
9. Dairy well no more milk cheese or yogurt!!! booo :(
10. SOY (sorry can't replace milk with soy milk... I'll have to use... uhhh I hate rice milk..)
11. Bakers and brewers yeast (no more bread... rice bread either!!)

So what am I replacing these common foods with? Well I haven't found a replacement for bread but for the pasta I have rice pasta. Instead of Cheerios I switched to corn flakes. Instead of fruits like apples and grapes I have mangoes and pears and bananas. etc. you get the picture!!! So if you're have some kinds of health problems I would suggest not using one type of food all the time. Wheat is so over-used! Try some barley or spelt... instead of eating oatmeal try cornmeal mush. Try growing some new greens in your garden like kale so you won't have to have only cabbage or lettuce. (Found out I have a slight allergy to spinach and lettuce!!! imagine that!) It's not going to be easy making changes... but it'll be worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (so you don't have to have a blood test and find out you're allergic to your favorite foods!!!!!!!

christmas pizza

2009-01-07T18:45:00.000-08:00

This is what our family had on Christmas dinner. Feel free to comment and tell us what is your favorite Christmas dish? And what are your favorite pizza toppings?

Ginger Bread Men

2008-12-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

Here is another gift idea, or as something to set out with the yummy popcorn!

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg (Or egg replacer)
1 tablespoon vinegar
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flourDecorative icing in colors desired
Miniature candies (optional)

In a mixing bowl, beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat untill combined, scraping bowl. Beat in the molasses, egg, and vinegar untill combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 3 hours or until easy to handle.

Grease a cookie sheet; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time to 1/8-inch thick. Using a 1-1/2 inch cookie cutter, cut into desired shapes. Place one inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Add holes at hands using a straw (as directed in step 2 on the first page).

Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. If desired, decorate cookies with icing and candies. Makes 36 to 48 cookies.

::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::-::

You could make a ginger bread man garland! Read directions below!

Make cookie dough (see recipe on next page) and shape several gingerbread friends in the size desired.

Before baking, use a straw to make a small hole in each hand. Bake and cool cookies as directed.

Decorate as desired using icing and candies.

Join hands. Connect the cookies together by threading thin ribbon through the holes in their hands. Knot the ribbon and trim the ends.

-Better homes and Gardens

(~AJ)

Yummy popcorn

2008-12-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

With the Christmas right at the door here is a recipe you could try and if you like it, share with your family...maybe as a gift or just something laying out for people to grab and munch on while sitting and chatting by the fire!

1/4 cup un-popped popcorn
1/4 dry roasted peanuts
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 peanut natural butter
1/4 teaspoon salt

Pop popcorn in an air popper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine popcorn and peanuts and set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together molasses, peanut butter, and salt. Heat until just blended together. Drizzle over popcorn and peanuts, mixing until wll coated. Put on baking sheets and bake 1 1/2 hours at 200 degrees, until crispy. -Linda
Per serving: Cal. 346 Fat 18.4g Sat. fat 3g Sod. 296 mg Carb. 40g Diet. Fiber 2.5g Prot. 11g

From Cooking With the Micheff Sisters -A Vegan Vegetarian Cookbook-

You could try rolling the popcorn into balls and then baking them. It was just an idea I had. I haven't tried it yet. If you do, please let me know how it turns out!!! I hope you enjoy this!!

(~AJ )

Chocolate Pudding

2008-12-10T19:22:00.000-08:00

5 cup Milk

2 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Salt

3/4 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Cornstarch

1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder

Pour into sauce pan and thicken, stirring constantley. If you don't keep stirring it will get burned. View the video to see how it should look when it's done. It will thicken more as it cools. It is good warm but even better cold.

Southwestern Bean Soup

2008-12-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced fine.
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 quarts canned tomatoes, diced
1-2 tablespoons McKay's Chicken Style Seasoning
2 cups water
2 15- ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce black beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup corn, raw or frozen
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

In a large cooking pot, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Serve hot!

Note from author : I love this soup on a cold day, but it tastes so good you don't have to wait for winter to enjoy it. Try adding a variety of different beans just for something different. If you like your soup a little spicier, add a tablespoon of jalapeno peppers. Now that will warm you up! --- Brenda

Per serving: Cal. 222 Fat 1.5g Sat. fat 0.2g Sod. 610mg Carb.41 Diet. Fiber 11.9g Prot. 12.3g

From the book Cooking with the Micheff sister A Vegan Vegetarian Cookbook.

~AJ

Apple Pie

2008-12-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Alyssa, Maranda's sister. I hope you try out this recipe and like it as much as I do! Put some ice cream or whipped cream on top and you've got the best and most healthy dessert in the world! :)

Alyssa’s Apple Pie

Crust (makes top and bottom)
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups white flour
1 cup oil
2/3 cup milk
½ tsp salt
Mix dry ingredients then add wet ingredients, stir with a fork. Divide in half. Roll in between 2 sheets of wax paper, take top off and leave it on the bottom. Put glass dish on top of crust and flip.
Dutch Apple pie topping
(if you make this, cut the crust recipe in half)
½ cup sugar, ½ cup flour,
3 T butter creamed together
Filling
6-8 peeled, thinly sliced apples (if apples are small, you’ll need more)
1/3 cup sugar (or more if apples are tart)
½ tsp cinnamon
3 T butter
3 T flour (will keep crust from being soggy)
Melt the butter and pour it over apples. Mix sugar and cinnamon together then pour on apples. Put in pie crust and put top crust (or Dutch topping) on top. Make sure you have plenty of apples because they will shrink when baked. You want to have a nice big pie. Sprinkle sugar on top then Bake at 350° F for 45 to an hour or until crust is nice and brown.

Biscuits

2008-04-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

I really really like these as strawberry shortcake (with fresh or frozen-thawed strawberries and whipped cream/cool whip). You can also eat them with jam or (though I've not tried this) with potatoes and gravy...

Ingredients you will need:

1 & 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour*

1 Tablespoon Rumford's baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup canola, vegetable, or light olive oil

6 - 8 ounces soy milk

Stir the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Cut the oil in with a pastry blender or two butter knives until the mixture is pebbly. Gradually stir in the soy milk. Stop adding the soy milk when the mixture separates from the sides of the bowl and forms a ball. (if you add a little too much, that's okay, just add a little bit more flour). Roll the dough out on a floured surface and cut into biscuits. Bake on a cookie sheet at 425 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown on the outside and slightly doughy on the inside. They are excellent served warm.

*if you want these to be extra flaky, try using all white flour instead... I did that once and they were goooood... but I guess making them with a little whole wheat flour is healthier.

^^My dad loved them as strawberry shortcake :)

my little sister did too... that's her on her last piece.

Fettucine Alfredo

2008-04-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

From the Vegetarian Cooking School Cookbook, by Charise Vierra.

This sauce goes on pasta (as the name suggests, fettucine works great, but as you can see in the pic, so do other pasta), so before you start, you might want to start heating the water for the pasta, or start steaming/cooking any vegetables you want to eat with it. I like it best with pasta and broccoli, but I've also had it with cauliflower, zucchini, yellow/summer squash, or, as in the pic, a few green olives. :)

Ingredients you'll need for the alfredo sauce:

3 cups water

1/2 cup cashews, blanched

4 Tablespoons soy parmesan cheese*

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (I like to add more though)

2 Tablespoons flour or cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 onion, minced

4 cloves garlic, minced

Blend 1/2 cup water with the cashews until smooth. Add the remaining water and ingredients, except for the onion and garlic. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Then add to cream sauce and heat until thickened, stirring constantly with a whisk.

When it's ready, pour it on the pasta (and veggies, if you want) and serve!

*I'll soon be posting a recipe for vegan parmesan cheese whose main ingredient is roasted sesame seeds... I've also had another really good homemade vegan parmesan cheese that I'll try to get the recipe for and post. :)

sorry

2008-04-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

hi ppls, sorry for the looooong break between posting new recipes! Anyway... I'll be adding some new recipes in just a minute. :)

Manicotti

2008-02-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
1 box manicotti noodles
1 pound firm tofu
1 package Soya Kaas Mozzerella cheese (or you can use a different kind of cheese, we usually just pour our cheese sauce on top instead of getting real or Soya Kaas cheese, because it's kind of expensive; use what works for you)
pasta sauce
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

(The image on the left is what an uncooked manicotti noodle looks like so you'll know what kind to get at the store... with all those confusing Italian names it can be hard to remember sometimes exactly what the name is!)

Directions:
Cook manicotti noodles according to the directions on their box. Mix tofu with dried parsley, garlic powder, 1/2 cup pasta sauce, and 1 cup of shredded mozzerella cheese (or, if you'd rather just pour cheese sauce on top, skip adding the shredded mozzerella cheese). Stuff noodles with tofu mixture. Spread some spaghetti sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish. Layer stuffed manicotti noodles in the dish. Pour spaghetti sauce over top of the noodles, and then cover with the rest of the grated cheese (or cheese sauce). Bake for 20 minutes at 35o degrees.

Note: This recipe is from the Vegetarian Cooking School Cookbook by Charise Vierra. I added a few things about the cheese sauce in case you couldn't tell. :) There are a bunch of other great recipes in there, and I'll be posting more from it soon.

Vegan Cheese sauce

2008-02-26T07:55:00.000-08:00

Here's a recipe for vegan cheese sauce. It's good in lots of recipes like casseroles and over rice, potatoes, pasta (mac and cheese ;) ... ), chips, taco salad, broccoli and some other veggies... yeah you get the picture. :)

3 cups water
1/2 cup oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup white flour
3/4 cup yeast flakes
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup pimentos

Blend all ingredients together well until creamy. Then pour into a pot and stir constantly over the stove on a little above medium heat until it begins to boil; that means it's thick enough...

Hint: If you want to speed up the stirring process, add only some of the water to the blender with the other ingredients, and bring the rest to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the blended ingredients to the boiling water and keep stirring until the whole thing is boiling... trust me, it goes a lot faster that way!

Here's a video clip of my sister stirring it... that's about how thick it's supposed to get.

Genesis 2:29

2008-02-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed... and every tree, in the which is the fruit yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Genesis 2:29

Welcome!

2008-02-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog... What's Cooking! I'll be using this blog to post my recipes and sometimes a pinch of other stuff. I'm still "under construction", but you can expect much more to come! Enjoy!