Recipe – Almond Butter Balls

 

Recipe
Almond Butter Balls
½ cup almond butter         ½ cup honey
1 cup wheat germ             ¼ cup unsweetened coconut
 

Mix almond butter, wheat germ and honey and roll into little balls. Then roll in the coconut. Eat fresh, refrigerate so they will firm up, or freeze. Yummy!

 

Recipe – Vegan Cracker Cheese

 

1 cup water½ cup unbleached white flour
½ cup nutritional yeast flakes ½ cup chopped red pepper
3 Tbsp. light tahini 2 Tbsp. lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1 ½ tsp. or less saltOptional: a few sliced olives
Blend all ingredients. Pour into small baking dish (I use a glass baking dish 7” x 5” x 1 ½”), and bake at 350 F for 30 minutes. Cool, refrigerate and slice as needed. My grandkids love it on crackers!

 

Food – Split Pea

Split peas, which are part of the legume family, are really nutritious. They are high in protein and fiber, low in fat and there is no need for soaking before cooking. When cooked they become very creamy. Green split peas are sweeter and less starchy than the milder yellow split peas.

When I was growing up, my mom always had some kind of a bone to put into any soup, including split pea. She would cook it up with the bone and then remove the meat from it. At that time I thought her soups were always delicious. However, I learned to cook without all the bones and meat and prepare food that is just as tasty and healthier.

“Green split peas are part of the legume family. Split peas are husked (or dehulled) and split in half. The green split pea is about 1/4 of an inch wide and pale green in color. Split peas have a mild flavor and soft texture. The split pea has more of an earthy flavor than the whole dried pea, similar to the lentil in versatility and nourishment.” www.dspdirect.ca/peas.php

When fresh peas are not available or when you want to enjoy a starchier, hardier flavored legume, dried peas are the perfect choice; they are available any time of the year.

“Although they belong to the same family as beans and lentils, they are usually distinguished as a separate group because of the ways in which they are prepared. The different types of peas are all spherical, a feature that also sets them apart from beans and lentils. Dried peas are produced by harvesting the peapods when they are fully mature and then drying them. Once they are dried and the skins removed, they split naturally.” www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=56

Recipe

Simple Yummy Split Pea Soup

4 cups water1 bay leaf (optional)
1 cup split peas
Bring to boil and simmer for one hour or more until peas are soft. Then add:
1 onion, diced 1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. garlic powder2 cups chopped vegetables, i.e., celery, carrots, potatoes, etc.
½–1 tsp. sweet basil More water if needed
Cook additional 20–30 minutes until vegetables are tender. Blend until smooth or eat as is.

 

Recipe
Split Pea Hummus
3 cups water1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup dried green split peas 1– 1½ Tbsp. lemon juice
1 garlic clove 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. salt, or to taste
Sort and wash peas. Bring water, garlic and peas to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes. Stir in salt; cook 15 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Combine peas along with rest of ingredients in a food processor with the S blade; pulse 5 to 7 times or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe – Creamy Tomato Bisque Soup

 

1 qt. tomatoes                                                        ¾ cup cashews, rinsed in hot water
1 6-oz. jar tomato paste                                        1 onion, cut into large chunks
1 cup hot water                                                      1 cup fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp. salt                                                                 ½ cup black olives, chopped
½ tsp. dried oregano or sweet basil
Puree tomatoes and tomato paste. Pour into pan. Blend hot water, salt, oregano or basil, cashews and onion until creamy and add to first ingredients. Add chopped tomatoes and olives. Cook uncovered on medium-low heat until hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand 5–10 minutes. Serve.

Recipe – Date Paste

1 cup pitted dates, packed½ cup hot water
Combine dates and hot water in bowl. Let soak about 5 minutes. Place dates and liquid in blender and process until completely smooth. Store in closed container in refrigerator. Use in place of sugar in favorite recipes, as a spread or dip on fruit pieces.