Country Farmers Seed Bread

3/4 cup water and a wee bit more
4 teaspoons honey
4 teaspoons canola oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup bread flour
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
5 tablespoons flax seed
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
handful or raisins (if you like em)
normally throw a few BIG pinches of bran flakes in there too
1 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS

-Toast seeds (for nuttier flavor) on a baking sheet in a 350 degree F (175 degree C) oven for 4 minutes; let cool completely. This step is optional. The seeds can be added untoasted.
-Place ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer.
-Select Basic bread cycle, and Start.

Spinach-Quinoa Salad with Cherries and Almonds

Serves 6
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 cups spinach leaves
2 cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved, or 1 cup dried cherries or cranberries or raisins
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/3-inch dice (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 small red onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
3 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp.)

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spread almonds on baking sheet, and toast 7 to 10 minutes, shaking pan occasionally, or until golden brown. Cool.

2. Bring 3 cups salted water to a boil in pot over medium-high heat. Stir in quinoa. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed.

3. Remove from heat and cool, covered, in pot.

4. Lay 5 or 6 spinach leaves flat on top of one another on cutting board. Roll tightly into cylinder, then slice into slivers. Repeat with remaining spinach.

5. Toss together quinoa, almonds, spinach, cherries, cucumber, chickpeas and red onion in large serving bowl. Whisk together yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in small bowl. Pour over salad, and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Chill 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop, then serve.

Ginger & Sesame Tofu Salad

Vinaigrette
4 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
3 Tbs. mirin
2 Tbs. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1/4 tsp. chili oil
2 tsp. grated ginger
3 Tbs. toasted sesame seeds

Tofu Salad
20 oz. silken tofu, drained and cut into 2-inch squares (8 squares total)
2 green onions, minced (1/4 cup)
veggies! broccoli, Peas, edamame, cucs, tomatoes, avo etc, whatever sounds good

You can do a real salad type or choose your veggies more like a stirfry selection and pour over rice

Mix the vinaigrette and then pour over salad right before serving...enjoy :)

Marinated Feta with Olives & Roasted Red Pepper

2 slabs of feta (cut into bite sized cubes)
1/2 cup pitted black olives
1/2 cup pitted green olives
1 roasted red pepper, sliced, see recipe below
1 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
pepper to taste
squeeze of lemon juice

Directions:
1. Mix everything and let marinate in the fridge for up to 5 hours.

Roasted Red Peppers
1. Cut the red peppers in half, remove the stem and clean out the seeds.
2. Place the red peppers on a baking sheet outside up.
3. Preheat the oven to 450F and then change it to broil.
4. Place the baking sheet in the oven and broil for 7-10 minutes or until the skins are blackened.
5. Place the peppers in a large zip-lock bag, seal and let the peppers cool for about 20 minutes.
6. Remove the skins from the peppers. The skins should easily "pinch" off.

Marinated Black Olives with Rosemary and Lemon Zest

You can always have a jar of these waiting for you in your fridge. The woosy rosemary with the lemon and garlic are a nice mix, but you can use other herbs like thyme or oregano.

1 large lemon
8 oz. black olives (i.e. gaeta, nicoise, kalamata)
1 teasoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper

Use a vegetable peeler to remove the yellow skin from the lemon, leaving behind the bitter white pith, the the lemon zest into very thin 1/2 inch long strips.

Mix the olives, lemon zest, rosemary and garlic in a large mason jar with a lid. Add the oil and some black pepper. Cover the jar and turn it to mix it all up.

Put in the fridge and let marinate for at least a day, turning the jar occasionally to redistribute everything. They can be kept in the fridge for several weeks and just get better over time. Before serving, bring to room temp.

You can serve with some cheese and bread and cocktails :)

Hibiscus "Jamaica" Drink

This is a beautiful garnet-red drink with a flavor and color similar to cranberry juice, but not so bitter. It is pronounced (ha-MY-ca) and can normally be found at Mexican Markets.

I like to mix it with 100% agave tequila too!

* 2 cups jamaica (dried variety of hibiscus flower)
* 8 cups water
* sugar, agave or honey to taste

Place jamaica flowers in large pot with water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and steep at room temperature at least 1 hour or overnight. Strain and discard flowers.

Add sugar, stirring to dissolve. Add more sugar if drink is too tart, or more water if drink is too strong. Cover, and refrigerate for up to two days. Serve cold.

Hijiki Seaweed Salad with Carrots

1 cup dried hijiki seaweed
1 tablespoon Soy Sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
2 tablespoon slivered/shredded ginger
3 carrots, julienned
block of tofu, cubed
edamame/soy beans
pinch or two of salt (to taste, or more soy sauce)
rice vinegar or mirin
Toasted sesame seeds

-Cover the hijiki with water and soak for 15 minutes. Drain, then put in a saucepan, cover with fresh water to cover and add the soy sauce. Bring to a boil, simmer for 15 minutes, then drain again.

-Heat oil or a bit of water in a wide skillet over high heat. Add the ginger, soy beans and carrots, tofu and stir-fry until the carrots become soft, about 2 minutes or so. Add the seaweed and cook five minutes more, tossing frequently. Add a bit more soy sauce and let it cook off. Taste and season with salt and or soy sauce. If it is too dry, sometimes I add a bit of toasted rice vinegar or mirin. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

Tomato Basil Couscous

2 cups dry couscous (different couscous have diff. water:couscous ratio, so check)
1 tomato, chopped
1/3 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 scallions, chopped
1/2 red onion
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
chopped fresh basil or pesto and/or cilantro
Red pepper flakes
some salt & pepper
Veggies (snap peas are yummy and give it good color)
Lettuce leaves for bed

Cook couscous in correct ratio of water. Then just combine couscous, tomato, chickpeas, scallions, olive oil, lemon juice and basil in a bowl. Toss, and serve on a bed of lettuce.

Mexican Rice Soup

Serves 6

Yum, this is normally made with chicken broth and chicken, here's a vegetarian variation. It's a light, healthy and warming soup, gets its body from diced avocado, which is served with tortilla strips and added right before it's served, along with lime wedges and freshly chopped cilantro and green onions. The heat of the soup warms the avocado and tortilla strips without turning them to mush, if you add them at the end. Enjoy!

Broth
* 1 Tbs. olive oil
* 1 small onion, finely chopped (¾ cup or more)
* 2-4 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp. or more)
* 3 cups vegetable broth
* 1 Tbs. grated lime zest
* 1 tsp. dried oregano


Soup

* ¼ cup short-grain rice
* 2 small tomatoes, diced (1 cup)
* ¹⁄3 cup fresh or frozen corn (I have also used canned)
* 1 flour tortilla
* 1 avocado, diced (1 cup)
* 2 green onions, thinly sliced (¼ cup)
* ¼ cup chopped cilantro
* 6 lime wedges
* Hot sauce for garnish, optional

To make Broth, Heat olive oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, and sauté about 5 minutes, or until softened. Stir in garlic, and sauté another minute or so. Add vegetable broth, lime zest, oregano, and 3 cups water; cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 10 minutes. Strain Broth, discard solids (optional), and return to saucepan.
2. To make Soup: Add rice to Broth. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, or until rice is soft. Stir in tomatoes and corn, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F. Spray flour tortilla with cooking spray or a bit of olive oil, and cut into thin strips. Arrange strips on baking sheet, and bake 5 to 7 minutes, or until tortilla is crisp.
4. Place diced avocado, green onions, cilantro, lime wedges, and tortilla strips in small bowls. Ladle Soup into serving bowls. Garnish with avocado, tortilla strips, green onions, cilantro, lime wedges, and hot sauce, if desired.

Thai Ginger Coconut Soup - Tom Kha

3 cups coconut milk
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
4 stalks lemongrass, bruise it with butt of knife and chop into couple inch pieces (will remove later)
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced (will remove later)
10 black peppercorns, crushed
10 kaffir lime leaves, put cuts in it and/or tear, gives it such good flavor!
2 cups button mushrooms
1/2 cup baby corn cobs
4 Tbsp fresh lime juice
3 Tbsp fish sauce

Garnish
2 red chilies
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
avocado
bean sprouts

-Bring the coconut milk and stock to a boil in a saucepan. Add the lemongrass, ginger, peppercorns, and half of the kaffir lime leaves. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes.

-Strain the stock into a new pan. Return to heat, add the button mushrooms and baby corn. Simmer for another 10 minutes.

-Stir in the lime juice, fish sauce to taste, and the rest of the lime leaves. Serve hot, garnish with red chilies, scallions, and cilantro.

Eggplant Parmesan

-2 big purple eggplants, peeled and cut into rounds. Sprinkle salt on both sides and let sit for an hour or so...this draws out the moisture and the bitterness. You'll see balls of water all over them, blot with cloth and press to remove salt & water.

-Beat 4 eggs put in one flat pan and a few cups of Italian bread crumbs in another pan.

-Dip eggplants in egg and then breadcrumbs and drizzle with olive oils, put on baking sheet and bake for around 10 minutes, flip and bake another 5-10 minutes, until brown.

-Get 1.5-2 bottles of tomato sauce. Put 1/3 of it on bottom of baking pyrez. I normally add fresh garlic, thyme, sage and oregeno into the sauce. then layer with eggplant, then parmesan and mozzerella, then eggplant, sauce, cheeses etc.

-Bake for 30 minutes at 350

-Top with fresh basil and fresh tomato slices.

Grilled Scallops & Rainbow Peppers over Wilted Greens in a Fresh Cilantro Dressing

from Nina Simonds Cookbook - "Spoonful of Ginger"

Scallops
* 1½ pounds sea scallops, rinsed and drained

Ginger Marinade
* 2 tablespoons rice wine or sake
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
* 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

* 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1½-inch squares
* 1 yellow pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1½-inch squares
* 1 orange pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1½-inch squares

Cilantro Dressing

* 1/3 cup soy sauce
* ¼ cup clear rice vinegar
* 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
* 1½ tablespoons sugar
* 1½ tablespoons rice wine or sake
* 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, leaves only
* 1 pound snow pea shoots, tender spinach, or other baby greens, rinsed and drained
* 2 teaspoons canola or corn oil
* 1½ tablespoons minced garlic
* 2 tablespoons rice wine or sake
* 1 teaspoon salt

Directions
-6 to 8 10-inch bamboo or metal skewers (if bamboo, soaked in cold water to cover for 1 hour)
-Put the scallops in a bowl. Mix the Ginger Marinade ingredients and pour them over the scallops, tossing lightly to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and let the scallops sit at least 30 minutes. Alternately thread the peppers and the scallops onto the bamboo skewers, starting and ending with the peppers. Brush the scallops and peppers with the marinade.
-Mix the Cilantro Dressing ingredients in a bowl. Trim the wilted or any hard stems from the snow pea shoots or baby greens and place near the stove. Pour the Cilantro Dressing into a serving container.
-Heat a wok or large skillet, add the oil, and heat until near smoking. Add the greens and garlic and toss lightly about 20 seconds, then add the rice wine and salt, and toss lightly over high heat about 1 minute or less, until the greens are slightly wilted but still bright green. Spoon the greens onto a serving platter and mound slightly so that the scallops can be arranged on top.
-Prepare a fire for grilling and arrange the skewers of scallops and peppers about 3 inches from the source of heat. Broil or grill about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, turning once and brushing with the marinade. Arrange the cooked scallops and peppers over the wilted greens, leaving them on the skewers or removing them. Spoon the Cilantro Dressing on top or serve on the side. Serve warm.

Notes

Snow pea shoots and snow peas are sweet and neutral in nature, so they naturally complement many foods. They are reputed to reinforce the spleen and qi and promote the production of bodily fluids, thereby reducing thirst.

Cilantro is pungent and warming. Chinese doctors feel that it promotes blood circulation, and it is often prescribed internally and externally. Cilantro paste is often applied for easing the discomfort of chicken pox and measles.

Lentil-Vegetable Super Soup

This nourishing soup contains not only healthy amounts of iron and calcium but also a big dose of complete protein, thanks to the beans and rice.

* 2 Tbs. oil
* 2 onions, chopped
* 5 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 16-oz. bag lentils
* 10 cups water
* 2 vegetable bouillon cubes
* 3 medium-sized carrots, sliced
* 3 celery stalks, sliced
* 1 15-oz. can navy beans
* 2 15-oz. cans stewed or diced tomatoes, undrained
* 1/4 cup dry brown rice
* 1/2 cup white wine
* 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
* 1/2 tsp. dried basil
* Dash of oregano
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
* 1 0.2-oz. pkg. dried nori seaweed, crumbled for garnish

-Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic about 5 minutes, or until tender. Add remaining ingredients. Reduce heat to low, and cook 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until rice and vegetables are tender.
-To serve, ladle portions into individual bowls, and sprinkle with dried seaweed.

Warm Garbanzo & Quinoa Salad

1 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
1 small zucchini, quartered and sliced
2 carrots, grated
1/2 c chopped red bell pepper
2 c canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 c (packed) chopped scallions
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp white-wine vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1 c quinoa or couscous, cooked with vegetable broth according to package directions
4 c fresh baby spinach leaves, cleaned and dried

-Coat a sauté pan with olive oil and heat to medium-high. Add garlic, zucchini, carrots, and pepper. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add beans and sauté until heated through.
-In a food processor, purée scallions, gradually adding oil, vinegar, salt, and black pepper to taste. Process to a thick consistency.
-Add scallion mixture and cooked quinoa to sauté pan; heat through.
-To serve, arrange 1 cup spinach on each of four plates and pile equal amounts of garbanzo bean mixture on top.

Tender Ginger Tofu Soup

Women in Okinawa have the longest lifespan in all of Japan. A study of Okinawan centenarians attributes their lasting health to low calorie intake. Okinawans mainly eat tofu and sea vegetables, staples that are naturally low in calories. In this recipe, the tofu soaks up the flavors of the mirin, chili-garlic sauce, and natural inflammation-reducer fresh ginger, which helps with nausea and has proven to help arthritis and ovarian cancer in many studies.

2 c chicken, miso, vegetable broth
1 3/4 c water
1/4 c mirin (aka sweet sake, low-alcohol rice wine. You can substitute brown sugar, but it won't give you the same authentic Japanese flavor.)
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp fresh minced ginger root
1 tsp chili-garlic sauce (like Sriracha)
1 14 oz firm tofu, drained and cut into cubes
1 1/2 c shredded carrots
6 oz snow peas, trimmed and cut in half diagonally
1/4 c chopped fresh chives

-Combine broth, water, mirin, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic sauce, bring to a boil.
-Stir in tofu, carrot, and snow peas and return mixture to a boil.
-Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
-Stir in chives and serve.

Miso Soup

2 Tbsp Dried Wakame
3 cups water
.75 oz packet dashi stock base
2 Tbsp white miso
12 oz. silken tofu (drained and cut into cubes)
1 cup thinly sliced shitake mushroom caps
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/2 Tbsp soy sauce

-Soak wakame in water for 10 minutes or so, or until fully hydtrated; drain
-Bring water to boil, add dashi packet, reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes, remove packet.
-Ladle a half cup of dashi into a small bowl, whisk in miso and set aside.
-Stir tofu and mushrooms into pot, simmer for a few minutes. Stir in miso mixture, top with scallions and soy sauce. Serve :)

Fresh Basil Pesto!!!

By far my favorite thing...I just made a huge batch this morning. I make it in bulk and then normally freeze it, sometimes in ice cube trays, sometimes in small containers, so I can thaw in smaller quantities and use on sooo many different things. I normally change up the recipe every time, just go by taste and what I am feeling that day.

The basic...

4 cups VERY fresh basil (like in the picture), don't settle! You can also use cilantro/arugula etc but I sure love basil the most!
Reserve a few leaves for the topping
4 cloves of garlic
olive oil, 1/4 cup or so? Just so it blends well...
1 tspn of salt (if I put parmesan in it I normally skip the salt)
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (or walnuts/almonds/mac nuts etc, can reserve a few for topping too.
1/2 cup parmesean (reserve some for top too)

Variations: pepper, balsamic, lemon

Spicy Coconut Fish Cakes

Serves 8
This aromatic treat is a favorite in Peranakan restaurants and hawker stalls. You can grill this tangy appetizer the traditional way—wrapped in banana leaves—or simply bake it in the oven. Otak Otak can be served hot or cold as a snack. Follow the additional instructions for a creamy tofu version of this recipe.

2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
2-inch piece of turmeric root, peeled and sliced
6 bird chiles
Zest of one lemon
10 shallots or 2 onions, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 14-ounce can light coconut milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons flour
1 egg, beaten
10 kaffir lime leaves or zest of 1 lime
1-1/3 pounds chopped, filleted haddock, cod, mackerel or any other white, flaky fish*
Banana leaves for wrapping (optional)

1. Place ginger, turmeric, chiles, lemon, onions and coriander in a blender or food processor and purée. Add a little water if needed.
2. Place ground spices in a skillet or wok and cook 2 minutes, just enough to release spicy flavor. Turn off heat and allow mixture to cool. Stir in coconut milk.
3. Add sugar and salt to mix, and stir.
4. Add flour and beaten egg. Stir thoroughly.
5. Remove center vein of kaffir lime leaves and mince finely, or substitute lime zest. Add to spicy coconut mixture.
6. Chop raw, deboned fish into small chunks. Stir into spicy coconut mixture.
7. Pour fish mixture into an 8-inch cake pan. Bake in 350°F oven for 25-30 minutes until edges are golden brown and mixture has set. Cool slightly and cut into squares and serve. To make small, round fish cakes, pour mix about 1-1/2-inches deep into muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes. Or, spoon about 5 tablespoons of the mixture into 6-inch x 12-inch banana leaves, wrap like a tamale, and secure ends with toothpicks or skewers. Grill over hot coals for 10-15 minutes, or until mixture has set.
*To substitute tofu for fish: Use 18 ounces of firm tofu. Chop into cubes and prepare recipe as indicated, but instead of using fish, place tofu and vegetable egg mixture into blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Bake or grill as indicated.

Lemony Cayenne Hummus

1 can organic garbanzo beans, drained
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon (or more) cayenne pepper
1 organic cucumber, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

1. Combine garbanzo beans, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, salt and cayenne in food processor; purée until smooth (if hummus is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons more lemon juice).
2. Transfer purée to a bowl and fold in chopped cucumber and dill.

Home made Chai

Beth Baker, a personal chef and the principal cook at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, often makes gallons of this decadent chai to warm up meditators on silent retreat.

To make an agni-enhancing herbal version you can sip all day, follow steps 1 and 2, reheat, and strain, adding extra hot water as necessary. For a rich and heavenly pick-me-up, follow steps 3, 4, and 5 to add the milk (dairy or non), black tea, and sweetener.

1. To make 1 quart of chai, grind in a spice grinder:
* 1 1⁄2 teaspoons coriander seeds
* 3 tablespoons fresh cardamom pods
2. Bring to a boil, then let sit overnight:
* 2 cups water
* 1⁄3 cup ginger, finely chopped
* 1⁄2 teaspoon black peppercorns
* the ground cardamom and coriander
* 1 cinnamon stick
* 3 cloves
* 1 dash allspice
* 3⁄4 teaspoon licorice root (optional)
3. Add 3 cups of milk and carefully bring to a low boil, stirring continuously so as not to scorch it.
4. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons good-quality black tea and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Strain and sweeten to taste with 2 to 31⁄2 tablespoons maple syrup, honey, or sugar.