Pumpkin Seeds

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

One medium sized pumpkin
Salt
Olive oil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.

2. In a small saucepan, add the seeds to water, about 2 cups of water to every half cup of seeds. Add a half tablespoon of salt for every cup of water (more if you like your seeds saltier). Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.

3. Spread about a tablespoon of olive oil over the bottom of a roasting pan. Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan, all in one layer. Bake on the top rack until the seeds begin to brown, 10-20 minutes. When browned to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Let the seeds cool all the way down before eating.

Silken Chocolate Tofu Pie

Silken Chocolate Tofu Pie

Ingredients

1 block silken tofu
1 regular size bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup strongly brewed black coffee
1-2 tablespoon vanilla flavoring
graham cracker pie crust
fresh raspberries (optional)

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave or on stovetop.

2. Blend together: tofu, chocolate chips, coffee, and vanilla.

3. Pour into graham cracker crust and chill 1-2 hours in the freezer, or 4 or more hours in the refrigerator.

4. Garnish with fresh raspberries when serving.

Serves: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes plus 2 hours chilling

Black Bean Burgers

This one might be a little too spicy for the younginsbut i just leave out the hot stuff and they love um. INGREDIENTS:
* 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
* 1/2 onion, cut into wedges
* 3 cloves garlic, peeled
* 1 egg (ex-large)
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 tablespoon cumin
* 1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce or hot sauce
* 1/2 cup bread crumbs OR crushed crackers work even better to stick the beans together.

DIRECTIONS:1. If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), and lightly oil a baking sheet.2. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty.3. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Then stir into mashed beans.4. In a small bowl, stir together egg, chili powder, cumin, and chili sauce.5. Stir the egg mixture into the mashed beans. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide mixture into four patties.6. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill about 8 minutes on each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake about 10 minutes on each side.

Rosemary Homemade Bread (just like Macaroni Grills)

~Rosemary Bread~

I am eating this bread RIGHT now as i type this and its so amazing i had to run right here to post the recipe for you! You will LOVE it and the best thing about it is how easy it is to make. The bread machine does all the work. :) Not the healthiest bread but darn yummy!!

INGREDIENTS
1 cup water
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS
Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select white bread cycle; press Start.

~Fat Burning Soup~

INGREDIENTS:

2 large carrots, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

1 (16 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, with liquid

1/2 large head of cabbage, chopped

1/2 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix

1/2 (15 ounce) can cut green beans, drained

1 quarts tomato juice

1 green bell peppers, diced

5 stalks celery, chopped

1/2 (14 ounce) can vegetable broth

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place carrots, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, green beans, peppers, and celery in a large pot or crockpot.

2.Add onion soup mix, tomato juice, beef broth, and enough water to cover vegetables. Simmer until vegetables are tender.

May be stored in the refrigerator for several days.You can add potatoes, if you need more of hearty meal, but know that it won't be as low-fat. : )

~ Home Made Cherry Cough Syrup~

Home Made Cherry Cough Syrup

A friend told me her hubby says this works better then codeine. ;) Here is her blog for more information, pics and what each herb does in this wonderful syrup. http://concoctionsandwhatnot.blogspot.com/

Take 2 clean quart jars. In each jar put:

1/2 c. wild cherry bark

1/4 c. mullein

1/4 c. red raspberry leaf

2 T. lobelia

2 T. slippery elm

Stir all the herbs together then pour a little hot water over them to moisten. Then fill one jar with vodka, leaving about 1 inch headroom. Fill the other jar with glycerin. Put the lids tightly on the jars & shake. Store them in a dark place for at least 2 weeks, shaking the jars once daily. After 2 weeks you can strain the herbs out & discard. Store the liquid in a dark jar and take as needed.

A dose is about 1 tablespoon

Sweet Potato Fries

SWEET POTATO FRIES

Here are two different ways to make these yummy and healthy fries. The first one is mine and the kids favourite and the second one is Brian and Kenzie's favorite.

Sweet cinnamon wedges:

3 large sweet potatoes

1 1/2 sticks of butter

cinnamon

brown sugar (optional) I don't use it and they still taste great.

Wash and cut sweet potatoes into wedges

Lay wedges into a glass baking dish in a single layer

cut butter into chunks and lay all around and on top of the wedges

sprinkle cinnamon all over wedges

sprinkle brown sugar across top of wedges

Bake on 400 until very tinder. Turn the wedges once while baking to make sure they get done evenly and are covered in the butter cinnamon mixture.

Cajun Sweet Potato Fries:

3 large sweet potatoes

extra virgin olive oil

cajun seasoning (its a little spicy)

wash and cut potatoes into wedges

Lay in a single layer into a glass baking dish

drizzle EVOO all over the top of the wedges

sprinkle cajun seasoning across tops of wedges

Bake on 400 until tender, turning the wedges once while baking.