Who's Hungry?

I woke up hungry this morning.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  I've been in the kitchen all day and for some odd reason, the theme is 'green'.  Below are the recipes for Spinach Crackers, Edamame Hummus, and Chocolate Zucchini bread with pumpkin seeds. I also made granny apple chips, but you don't need a recipe, only a dehydrator.  Do you know what tahini is?  

Spinach Crackers:
1 2/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water, plus 1-2 tsp as needed
2 cups fresh spinach
1/4 c raw sunflower seeds

Step 1:  Puree the spinach and water until liquid. Add the sunflower seeds and pulse for a few seconds to grind. (alternatively, chop the seeds coarse separately).
Step 2:  Put the dry ingredients in a bowl then add the wet plus evoo.  Mix then knead the dough until well incorporated.  If the mix is dry, add water a drop at a time until you get a bread-dough consistency.
Step 3:  Roll the dough out on either parchment or a silicone mat. Make it thin as possible not more than 1/8th inch.  
Step 3:  Using a serrated plastic knife (don't cut your mat!) score the dough into squares.
Step 4:  Bake 20 minutes in a preheated 400F oven.  Keep watch and don't burn!  If the sides start to brown, they are done.  If the edges are done but not the center, break off the cooked crackers and bake the center a minute or two more.

Edamame hummus with Spinach crackers

Edamame Hummus

1 cup cooked edamame (I bought frozen then warmed)

1/4 cup tahini*

3 tsp +/- lemon juice (to taste)

1 garlic clove

1 tsp +/1 herb of choice (I used rosemary)

2 TBS extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in small food processor and blend until smooth. Chill and enjoy.  If it is too much of a paste, add a few drops of evoo.
* You can also add chopped sun dried tomatoes.  Yummy.  

*tahini - 

2 1/2 c raw, unsalted sesame seeds

3/4 c olive oil

puree until smooth.

THAI COCONUT CURRY HUMMUS:
One 16 ounce can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
3 cloves of garlic
2 TBS tahini paste
3 TBS line juice
2 TBS red curry paste
1/4 cup plus 1 TBS coconut milk
1 TBS olive oil
salt to taste

Put all ingredients in food processor and blend until very smooth.  Chill.  

Ingredients for Thai Coconut Curry Hummus

Put ingredients into food processor

Enjoy on a Spinach cracker

Chocolate Zucchini bread with pumpkin seeds

This is a take on my other zucchini bread.  Same basic recipe. More chocolate.

3 eggs

1 cup natural applesauce

1 cup raw local honey

2 cups grated zucchini (about 1 large)

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup rolled oats, coarse ground

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup chopped pepitos (raw pumpkin seeds)

1 1/2 cups dark dairy-free chocolate chips

1 TBS espresso powder

Step 1:  put all the wet in a bowl, in order

Step 2:  put the zucchini in a food processor and coarse grind, add pumpkin seeds, pulse for a few more seconds until seeds are coarse ground, pour into dry

Step 3: Coarse grind oats then chocolate chips, add to dry. Add remainder of ingredients

Step 4:  Spray a large muffin tin or mini loaf tray (holds 12) with Pam or other nonstick spray.  Fill 3/4 full and bake for 30 minutes in a preheated 350F oven.  Remove from baking pan immediately and let cool.  If you want large loaf, increase baking time to 45 to 50 minutes.

Chocolate zucchini bread

Granny Smith apple chips

For the apple chips, slice with a mandolin slightly less than 1/8 inch.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and dehydrate for 8-10 hours at 135F.  

BONUS:  Cherry non-dairy ice cream

1 cup coconut milk

2 ripe bananas

2 cups frozen cherries

3 TBS cacao powder

Puree all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.  Pour into a dish and freeze.  It may be a bit 'icy'.  If you like it a bit premier, add half of an avocado.  Just add the avocado anyway, it's really good!  Top with a few dairy-free chocolate chips.  

Dairy-free cherry chocolate ice cream

Today's Thoughts and a Recipe

Today didn't go as planned.  It happens.  I'm not terribly disappointed.  Last week my long run was an awesome 21 miles without stopping and I had hoped for a repeat and maybe push it to 22 miles.  Didn't happen.  At mile 8 my left ankle began to hurt.  Same ankle and same location as two weeks ago.  Because I'm leaving for Panama on a mission trip in four days and I have a marathon in a month, I decided to call it quits and walk.  It didn't hurt to walk so I didn't even think about calling someone for a ride home.  So, mile 8.5 I begin to walk.  Then I realize - I'm a long way from home!  Sure enough, I walk 6.5 miles.  It wasn't too hot (I had started at 5:30 am) so I wasn't miserable.  Things like this happen and I got the time on my feet, which is good for my training. I think praying during the entire 3+ hours really helped me stay positive, no, I know it did.

I prayed about such things as the state of this world, how people get so wrapped up in other people's business.  I don't really care who's doing what to whom or what someone I don't know is doing to their body, what this country is doing or if the sky is falling.  What other people do is between them and God. 

Let me re-phrase this:  I care, I'm simply not going to let outside forces manipulate my thoughts and behaviors. I had a long discussion with one of my children the other day about control.  Do what you can, not what you can't.  You have control over your own thoughts and words and actions. Nothing more. The rest is in God's hands.  The battle isn't between ISIS and the world, between this person or that person and the media, it IS between God and Satan.  I know for a fact who has already won (God) and, therefore, I don't sweat the little stuff - such as what other people/governments/media/political groups do or think.  

This does not, however, mean that you should not be involved and sit on your thumbs.  Do what you can, not what you can't.  Volunteer at a homeless mission, vote, plant seeds of the Good News, teach people truth, do a good deed, be kind and love one another, etc.  

So, read the news, listen to the media, listen to your family/friends/neighbors then think "What can I do that is positive?"  Gossip about him/her/the situation?  No.  Worry?  No.  Post inflammatory comments all over social media?  No.  

Do one good thing.

Then do another.

Love your neighbor.  

Trust in the one true God that has already won the war.
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."


Now, back to today.  

I'm sitting here on my couch, feet up, craving chocolate.

I've got my compression socks on, feet propped up after my "long run" and I'm craving something sweet.  I eat a few jelly beans, but that doesn't do it.

Cookies!!  I want cookies, but not just any cookies because I'm allergic to dairy and don't eat store bought cookies.

Mixing up a batch. 

I decide to whip up a batch of double chocolate, espresso cookies.  Dark chocolate chips, cacao powder, espresso powder, and lots of love.

Almost ready for the oven.

You have to press them down because they don't spread.

Fresh out of the oven.

Yummy double chocolate chip espresso cookies!

RECIPE:

2-1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup plus 2 TBS all-natural applesauce
1/2 cup plus 1 TBS coconut oil
1-1/2 cup agave or honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
8 oz dairy-free dark chocolate chips
1/2 c cacao powder (not cocoa powder)
2 tsp espresso powder

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream together wet ingredients then add the chocolate chips.  Add dry ingredients.  If the batter seems dry add more applesauce.  
Spoon batter onto parchment paper
Spray your fingers with non-stick spray and press the batter.  These will not spread out.  You can leave them in little balls if you want, just turn temp to 325 and cook a little longer.
Bake for 8 minutes, let cool, then enjoy with a cold glass of almond milk or other non-dairy milk.

Here are a few more pics of some recipes I've recently tried:

Spinach crackers

Frozen banana bombs

No bake vegan carrot cake

Hope you enjoyed the blog and the recipe!  

Fruit and Nut Bars

In my never-ending quest for the perfect running fuel, I present to you the "Fruit and Nut Granola Bar".  The cocoa and amaranth bar is soft and great to take while running and my previous bar was chock full of chocolate chips.  This time, no chocolate.  I know, that's very different for me.  These are great for pre-workout fuel and anytime for breakfast. 

This bar takes time, two days or roughly 12-14 hours total including prep. Unless you want to start at 5 am  give it two days. I dried my fruit on day one, the rest on day two.  The results are well worth the effort.  

Here's the recipe:

1 cup local, raw honey
3 cups oats (I use Quaker rolled)
1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut flakes
1 cup each:  pineapple and dark cherries 
1/2 cup blackberry puree ( or 1 c blueberries)
1/2 c or 3 Majool dates pureed
1/4 tsp salt
1 c raw almonds
1/2 c raw cashews
1/2 c raw pumpkin seeds

*fruits and nuts can vary, but must partially dehydrate first.  Also good with pistachios and sunflower seeds.  Adding cacao beans and cacao powder gives an additional 'kick'.  

Instructions:
First, puree and strain your blackberries and make a fruit roll up in your dehydrator.  At the same time, partially dehydrate the pineapple and cherries and/or blueberries. Takes about 4 hours of drying time. I purchased dates from Nuts.com.

Blackberry fruit roll up.

TWO:  Chop the fruit.  Roll up the blackberry roll and chop/dice.  Use 1/2 cup of this. 

THREE:  Chop the nuts.

FOUR:  Add ingredients, one at a time in the order listed above.  Stir after each addition.  

FIVE:  Line a baking dish or loaf pan with plastic wrap.  This is your mold.  Press down to about one inch thick then compress with a second dish or a brick or get a strong person to squish it for you (I have very little upper body strength).  

Granola mix and loaf pan for a mold

SIX:  Unwrap and place logs onto dehydrator trays.

Fruit and nut bar on dehydrator tray

SEVEN:  Set dehydrator for 125F and dry for 8 hours.  After this time it will be firm. They will harden further after cooling.   If you want crunchier bars, leave in another hour or two.  

EIGHT:  Allow bars to cool for about 5 minutes, cut down into smaller pieces (I cut them into thirds) then begin wrapping.  Wrap with plastic wrap to keep moisture in, for freshness, and for easy portability.  Store in the refrigerator if not planning on eating within 3 days.  

Fruit and Nut Granola Bars.

Runergy Bar

Pudding!!

Corn chips

Recipe for a fear-less day

I have a very full to-do list today  I'm not doing it.  Why?  Because there is this 'THING' looming over me that makes me very afraid.  Paniky even.  I know about fear.  I know about worry.  I know what the Bible says about both.  Did you know, "Be strong and courageous" is in the Bible 365 times?  That's one for every day.  I need it today and tomorrow, and all week in fact.  Here's another:  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7.  

That's all well and good, but right now fear is paralyzing me.  I want to crawl under a rock and cry.  You see, Thursday I'm getting on an airplane - by myself- and flying to Phoenix, AZ for a conference.  Thousands of happy, rah rah women packed in a giant room.  I won't be alone but I sure will feel alone.  I'm bringing my running shoes in case I need to bolt.  

It wouldn't be so bad if my husband were coming.  It wouldn't be so bad if I was not concerned about my son's test results.  It wouldn't be so bad if my daughter wasn't moving out next month. It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have a birthday coming up.  One of those, "wow you're old" ones.

You may say, "So don't go."  

I have to.  

"Why?", you ask.  

Because it terrifies me, that's why.

If I sat here at my desk all day and didn't do the things that terrified me I would whither and die.  I wouldn't be useful to God, my husband, or my family.  I would never have traveled to S. Korea and climbed a mountain and a volcano.  I would never have run a marathon or three.  I would never have left a toxic marriage and found a man I love so much it hurts to be away from him for four days in Phoenix.  I could go on, but right now, I'm trying to talk myself out of the fear the looms ahead.

So, I bake.  I bake because it gives me something to do that doesn't take too much brain power. I bake because I need to take food with me when I travel because of my allergy.  I bake because I can do it while listening to music at full blast.  That relaxes me.  (Oh, don't worry, I already did my run today.  That was relaxing, too, even though it was 90 degrees and 100% humidity).  

Here is what I baked today:

Whole wheat and oat bread. The recipe is on another post.

Zucchini and blueberry muffins:

3 eggs
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup all natural applesauce
1 cup unprocessed, local honey
1 large zucchini, grated. (i put mine in the food processor)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup blueberries, frozen(thawed) or fresh
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup Quaker oats, old fashioned, ground fine
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped raw almonds
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease mini loaf pans or large muffin tins. Mix in order of recipe, wet then dry.  Let sit for a few minutes.  Bake for about 25-30 minutes.  Don't over bake or they will dry out.  Take out of tins quickly. The blueberries will stick if you wait too long.  

Refrigerate when cool.  These can be frozen, wrapped individually.

Zuchhini/blueberry muffins

Dairy-free and delicious

I ate this one. It was really good.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  Matthew 6:25-27

Deuteronomy 31:5 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.

God tells his people over and over again in the New Testament - be strong and courageous.  If they can. I can, too.

After posting this, a friend posted Philippians 4:6 on Facebook.  God knows what I needed to hear.