Red Dahl soup

 

• 1 tablespoon EACH: butter AND olive oil (use 2 tbs oil for dairy-free)
•  4 cloves minced garlic
•  1 medium onion, chopped
•  2 stalks celery, chopped
•  ½ teaspoon EACH: ground turmeric, garam masala, AND chili powder
•  1 teaspoon ground cumin
•  2-3 teaspoons curry powder (mild or hot)
•  1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
•  1½ cups red lentils, washed and drained
•  3-5 cups vegetable broth (or chicken stock)
•  1½ cups of coconut milk (I use light coconut milk)
•  3 tablespoons lemon juice
•  Chopped cilantro, for serving

Instructions

SAUTE: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onions and celery for 5-6 minutes or until tender and translucent. Add the garlic and continue to cook for 1 additional minute. Add the turmeric, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, and curry powder. Continue to cook the veggies for another 1-2 minutes.

MAKE ON THE STOVETOP: Add the tomatoes, lentils, 4 cups of broth, bay leaf, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and allow the soup to simmer for 10 minutes. Add the coconut milk and allow the soup to continue cooking for an additional 12-18 minutes or until the lentils are fall-apart tender. If the lentils soak up too much of the liquid, use the remaining ½ cup of broth to thin the soup to your liking. 

Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture if you prefer a smooth texture. Leave as-is for a chunkier texture. Turn the stove off and stir in the lemon juice. Taste and adjust with additional salt if the soup needs it.

I leave it chunky and serve with bread. 

French bread

 I just realized I never sent you my french bread recipe:

2 T yeast with 1/2 cup warm water, set aside

Combine:

2 c hot water

1 T salt

3 T sugar

1/3 c melted butter

3 c flour

Mix well

Then add in the yeast mixture and another 3 cups of flour and mix well.  

Every 10 min, stir again for about 30 seconds for 5 times.  

Then divide dough in half and form loaves. Slash the top of each loaf diagonally 3 times, and let rise for 20 min.   

Bake at 400 for 20-25 min.

Hawaiian haystacks

 
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks 
3 tablespoons butter
½ cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves garlic; finely minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup flour
2 cups milk
1 cup chicken broth (I use low sodium)

INSTRUCTIONS 

• In a large skillet melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion and raw chicken.
• Saute the onion and chicken until the onions are soft and translucent and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring, until fragrant.
• Sprinkle the flour over the onions and chicken and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for one minute.
• Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly, and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium to medium-high heat.
• Add the salt and pepper. Continue simmering, stirring the sauce frequently, until the sauce has thickened, about 5-8 minutes.
• Serve the chicken sauce over rice with your toppings of choice, such as olives, tomatoes, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, pineapple, coconut flakes, and chow mein noodles.

Original recipe found here: https://www.melskitchencafe.com/hawaiian-haystacks-chicken-sauce-reinvented/ 

Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

 Ingredients

For the oats:

• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup vanilla almond milk
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the apple compote:

• 1 tablespoon butter or vegan butter substitute
• 1 large apple peeled, cored, and diced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 teaspoon corn starch

Instructions

For the oats:

1. Combine oats, almond milk, maple syrup, chia seeds, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt in a medium sized bowl and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

For the apple compote:

1. Add butter, apples, cinnamon and maple syrup to a medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until apples are very tender. 

2. Whisk water and cornstarch together in a small bowl, add to pot and continue to cook for another 1-2 minutes until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and cool completely.

3. To serve, spoon oats into a cup and top with apple compote.

From https://lepetiteats.com/apple-cinnamon-overnight-oats/?utm_source=whisk

Pumpkin Roll

Ingredients 

 

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup pumpkin

3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger 

1/2 tsp cloves

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

Directions

Heavily grease and flour a cookie sheet (15x10 jelly roll pan). 

Beat eggs on high until frothy with volume. Slowly mix in the sugar and pumpkin. Add flour, baking powder, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and salt. 

Pour mixture into pan and if desired, sprinkle with chopped nuts. 

Bake at 375 for 15 min.

Put powdered sugar on towel and cool on towel, nut side up. Roll up in towel. Cool. Unroll carefully and fill with cream cheese frosting. Roll back up. 

BLT Salad

 Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded Lacinto kale, no stems
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt
• black pepper, to taste
• 2 large eggs
• 4 strips cooked center cut bacon, chopped
• 2 ounces sliced avocado
• 10 grape tomatoes, halved

• In a bowl combine the kale, olive oil, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Massage with your hands for about 3 minutes, until the kale softens.
• Cook eggs to desired likeness, I prefer them soft boiled. How to Make Perfect Eggs in the Instant Pot.
• Divide the kale between two bowls, top with bacon, tomatoes, avocado and egg.
• Finish with pinch of salt and pepper.

I used spinach, not kale and I did an over easy fried egg, not a boiled egg. She has it under breakfast, I have it for lunch! 

https://www.skinnytaste.com/breakfast-blt-salad/ 

Homemade Lararbars

 Here's the link for the homemade Lararbars. There are a couple of different kinds at this website. I have only tried the cashew cookie recipe. My kids liked it. If you buy Great Value dates, you'll need to add a tiny amount of water. Great value dates are dry. Sunmaid dates are much softer. 

https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chocolate-covered-recipes/fudge-baby-mania/