Recipes

Nothing sounds more like summer than cobbler, whether it is a cherry cobbler or peach cobbler.  We just recently made a yummy cherry cobbler from the sour cherries that grow in our own backyard.  Served with vanilla ice cream, it was like a taste of heaven.

You can use either fresh sour cherries or pie filling to make a cobbler.  If using fresh cherries, pit about 3-4 cups of cherries and then add about a quarter cup of  sugar and about a teaspoon of flour or cornstarch for thickening.

Recipe for Cherry Cobbler

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup flour 1 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 cans cherry pie filling or 4 cups fresh sour cherries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Then melt butter in a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan.  Mix brown sugar, flour, salt and baking powder together and mix well.  Add milk, this will be a thin mixture.  Pour over the melted butter and then top with the cherries or pie filling.  Bake for approximately 50 – 60 minutes, until brown.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Make any casual meal into a party with these fun and unique sandwiches. Both kids and adults will have fun making and eating these creations and what better way to get kids to eat more veggies than to make them a fun sandwich like these.  You can make a fun party sandwich to fit any theme.  Here we show you how to make some really creative sandwiches, starting with this cute Pirate.

Our preference is to use thin slices of bread and you can choose white or whole wheat.  Even though we always eat whole wheat bread on a normal basis, for these we like the contrast of the white bread and the colorful vegetables.  Note that you can get creative yourself and make any fun food substitution that works.  Change veggies, add grapes or walnuts ... lots of options for food fun!

For the Pirate:

• 2 slices white bread
• Red pepper
• Olive slices
• Cucumber
• Radish slice
• Chives
• Orange nose (carrot, orange pepper or cheese)
• Sandwich filling of choice (turkey, cheese, ham etc.)

Cut slices of bread into circles with a sharp knife.  Fill sandwich with a combination of your favorite ingredients, such as ham and cheese, turkey and cheese, turkey and avocado slices.  If it is for a child's party, try to choose ingredients that kids will be most likely to eat.

Now, cut a large red pepper slice to make the bandana of the pirate.  Cut two little pieces to make the "ties".  Add eyes, nose, mouth and ears, as shown.  Use olive slices without pimentos for earrings.

Nutrition Highlights: Antioxidants, Vegetarian, Healthy Fats

Makes: 6 Servings

Here’s another of my family’s Sunday night Chinese take-out favorites, typically reserved for those times when we’re indulging in higher-fat foods before starting a diet on Monday morning. I just had to find a way to enjoy the authentic taste of this dish a bit more often, without the guilt. This recipe does just the trick, with less than half the fat of the original!

- 1 tablespoon brown sugar

- 4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

- 1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste), well-stirred

- 1 cup White Puree (see Make-Ahead Recipe #4)

- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar

- 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced

- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, to taste

- 1 pound Asian noodles or thin spaghetti, ideally whole wheat, freshly cooked

- Optional extra boost: 3 green onions, thinly sliced; 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds; and/or sliced cucumber strips

> In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, tahini, White Puree, vinegar, and garlic. Add red pepper flakes to taste.

> Put the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the sauce over the pasta, tossing to coat the pasta evenly. Garnish with sliced green onions, cucumber, and sesame seeds, if using. Refrigerate until cool, or feel free to serve it warm.

Nutritional Information