garlic mash

this is a big holiday favorite.  i've had requests to put this on the blog.  sooo easy, and always delicious! 

for this recipe i refer to mixed mashables.  that means any kind of potato, yam or other root you may want to use to mash up.  i have been considering adding carrots to the mash.  i like using tj's mix of white, red and purple potatoes, and of course if you have a favorite you can use just that kind! PLEASE! DON'T PEEL YOUR MASHABLES!  much of the nutrient and flavor is in the peel, just wash them extra well for this recipe.

1 full flower of garlic cleaned, or about 2/3 cup prepared garlic cloves
4 cups mixed mashables chopped to 1" pieces
1 tub organic sour cream
1/3 to 1/2 tub earth balance or other non-hydrogenated oil margerine (or real butter if you prefer)

put mashables and garlic in a pot with water covering them.  boil until all pieces are falling apart and the peel of the potato is falling apart.  strain, add sour cream and earth balance, mix vigorously until it starts to feel pasty and there are no distinguishable pieces left, just a nice lovely mash.  salt and pepper to taste, enjoy!

winter orange and green soup

this is a super yummy soup and has already been very popular this winter.  it is very easy and surprisingly fast.

serves 4

5-6 yams, chopped smallish
8-12 cloves garlic, diced
1 T olive oil
1-3 cups stock and/or soy milk, to your taste
1-2 cans coconut milk
2 T ginger, crushed or diced
2-3 green onions, sliced
1 bunch swiss chard, chopped to strips
salt and pepper to taste

sautee the yams and the garlic in the olive oil.  after a bit add the ginger, coconut milk and stock/soy milk and low boil.  when the yams are falling apart and are basically mush add the green onion and the swiss chard and cook another 5 minutes.  salt and pepper to taste, enjoy!

ginger carrot cake with vanilla lime icing

ginger carrot cake-

4-5 cups grated organic carrots
30 ounces pineapple, crushed or tiny peices
1 cup peanut oil
3 cups white sugar
6 eggs
1-2 Tbs ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins
1-2 Tbs fresh chopped ginger

combine wet and dry ingredients separately, then mix slowly.  bake at 375 in large prepared dish until cooked through, about an hour.  let cool and remove or ice in the pan using vanilla lime icing.


vanilla lime icing-

2  250g pkgs whipped organic cream cheese
1/4 cup butter or non hydrogenated margarine, melted
2 cups powdered sugar

1 lime, juiced and use half its peel's zest

combine cream cheese and butter first, then add sugar and lime juice slowly in bits, beating well to avoid clumps.  add zest and let stay overnight to increase lime flavor.

garrnachos

please roll your rr!  ;)  this is a modification of a belizian recipe, garrnaches, i had the great fortune to learn from a lovely family i visited one christmas.

chips
2 cans veg refried beans
1 can coconut milk
1 small cabbage, cored and diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 pkg whole milk cheese (white mexican cheese)

heat beans with coconut milk until it thickens to your taste.  mix onion and cabbage.  make nacho plates with some chips, then beans, then veg, then cheese.  enjoy!!! 

ginger lemon basil chicken

this is a good way to use up that big bunch of basil you have lying around and those extra limes or lemons as well.  items like that often come in large doses so its nice to have something easy and delicious to do with them :D

1 free range organic chicken
1 large handfull of basil leaves
2-3 lemons or 3-5 limes, halved
1/2 onion, quartered
2 large bulbs of ginger, sliced
2 Tbls olive oil
salt and pepper

stuff limes, onion and basil into chicken and truss.  rub chicken with olive oil, salt and pepper.  place slices of ginger on top of breasts and in with the drumsticks and wings.  bake at 385 degrees to 170 degrees and reduce to 365 degrees for last 10 degrees.  this will ensure your chicken will be moist and delicious!

goddess dressing

tonight i wanted goddess dressing on my lovely heirloom and avocado salad, and had none, so i whipped this up and devin thought i ought to post it.

1 T tahini
1 T soy sauce
2/3 T soy milk
dash garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

so easy and so yummy!  not really MY recipe, goddess/tahini dressings are very popular because they are so delicious!

mariyadillas

this is my best recipe so i am putting it up first.  this has been a labor of love over many years and is truly most delicious!

1 pkg fresh tortillas
pepper jack cheese
extra sharp cheddar cheese
5-6 cloves garlic
1 small bunch fresh basil (a few handfuls of separated leaves)
1 apple
1-2 T tobasco sauce
1-2 T honey
cooked chicken (optional)
1 pkg sour cream

dice basil, garlic and apple into tiny pieces, puree practically.  mix in honey and tobasco sauce.  grate cheese (dice chicken if using).  paint sauce on one tortilla and then add cheese (and chicken if using) and cook like any quesadilla.  serve HOT with sour cream for dipping.  ENJOY!!

hello world :S

this is my free gift to the world.  my recipes are so close to my heart and have brought me so much joy over the years.  i hope they do the same for you.  this is a list of recipes that i love, some i have made up myself, some i have been given from friends, family and favorite cook books.  please feel free to send me strange and interesting recipes to add to the blog, especially if they are traditional recipes from your area.  :D   all recipes taste best when made with foods grown and acquired with love and respect for the earth and one another.