No Bake Cookies

 

Almost like candy, these cookies are an all time favorite.

The other day, a couple of friends came by to make some at my house.  We adjusted the recipe and loved the outcome.  Be sure not to boil the chocolate mixture past 230F degrees. It becomes clear and at the moment it starts to turn milky looking, it has gone too far.  If that is the case, the mixture will begin to harden before you can get your cookies on the paper.  The recipe actually says, boil one minute, but my experience has been that the sugar must all be dissolved before you start your timing.

But a candy thermometer is the best way to perfectly measure the progress of the candy.

We did not have a candy thermometer, but I find that a meat thermometer works fine too.

No Bake Cookies

 

Measure:

1/4 cup peanut butter

3 cups oatmeal

(optional 1/4 cup dried or flaked coconut or nuts or both)

into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Then put the following into a boiler or a non stick wok:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder raw or dutch processed

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

boil till dissolved and then to the 230 F degree point. Turn off the stove.

Pour very quickly – and carefully- into the already prepared oat mixture.

Stir till peanut butter is just dissolved.

Then quickly drop onto wax paper

you can use a teaspoon, tablespoon, melon scoop or ice cream scoop for different shapes. The spoon cookies will look more like cookies and a bit flat, the scoops will make more bon, bon type cookies.

They will harden in a few minutes and will be good to eat.

I like to put the cookies in pretty muffin papers and store in bags of six.

Have fun making these!  Definitely a great activity! 🙂

 

 

Pasta and Black Beans

This is a great dish to make when you have left over pasta in the fridge that you don’t know what to do with.

1 cup black beans

1 T. coconut oil

1/2 cup pepper jack cheese

1/2 cup salsa

1 cup cooked and cooled pasta – (I used quinoa spaghetti pasta because it is gluten free)

It is very important that this pasta is cold, preferably in the fridge over night.

Melt oil in saucepan over medium heat.  add beans, and pasta.  Stir in cheese and salsa.

stir till warmed through and the cheese is melting.

serve with avacado slices and salad

Black Bean Soup

For a really quick soup:

1 can black beans or two cups of cooked  black beans I usually use dried beans, soak overnight, rinse in the morning and cover with new water. place in crockpot on low or high till beans are tender.  usually all day.

1cup salsa

heat and serve

Garnishes and additions:

handsome dollop of greek yogurt or sour cream

grated Pepper Jack Cheese

Blue corn chips or brown rice

eat with avocado salad

Humus with Pita

One thing leads to another… First I made hummus then thought, I need pita bread to go with that.  As the bread was rising, I thought, well I might as well make some morrocan chicken and cucumber youghurt to go with that.  Before I knew it I was pulling out stuff for saffron rice as well.  Enjoy the recipe!

Humus

2 cups chick peas cooked

3T. (sesame paste) make with sesame seeds and grind till makes a paste.

2 T. lime juice, more or less to taste

1 1/2 tsp salt, more or less to taste

1 clove garlic – more to taste roasted first

1 – 2 TBSP reserved liquid if needed

1/4 tsp cummin, 1/4 t. corriander seeds ground in food processor

2 TBSP chopped parsley (garnish)
1/2 roasted red pepper
Drain chickpeas, reserving liquid.
Peel, roast and chop garlic.
Put chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lemon juice and salt in food processor, process to thick paste.  add roasted red pepper. process.
if desired 1/8 cup fresh corrianderGarnish with parsley (optional) and serve with pita or arabic bread, or crackers.I made pita bread to go with this.

Pita Bread
1 1/3 c. water (80 deg.)8 t. olive oil4 t. sugar1 1/4 t. salt2 cups bread flour1 1/3 c. whole wheat flour2 1/2 t. yeast

mix, knead, riseDivide into 10 smooth balls, let rise 20 min. flatten to 6 inch circles.Bake at 500 F. for 5 min. till puffed and light brown.

Only one word for this meal. delicious.Cheers,Julie