Rice Pudding

Easy Rice Pudding

2 cups cooked brown rice (or white)
2 cups milk
3 tbsp butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Mix all of the above in a heavy sauce pan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium low heat. Stir often to make sure it doesn't burn.

Cook for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve hot or cold and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (from here)

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup mashed bananas
1 egg
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 375. Whisk peanut butter and milk until blended; stir in bananas, egg, oil, and vanilla. Add to first 5 ingredients to mixture; stir until moistened.

Bake mini muffins 8-10 minutes.

Large muffins 18-20 minutes.

Carrot French Fries

From here

New favorite way to eat carrots…

1 lb fresh carrots
2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Peel carrots & cut into thick slices or cut into strips of desired thickness

Toss slices in oil and salt.

Bake at 450 for 10-12 mins or until desired crispness is achieved.

Oats & Coconut Granola

From here. I pretty much followed it spot on except I didn't worry about exact measurements.

3 cups oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 c vegetable oil
3/4 c salt
1 c raisins (I did half with raisins and half without)

Mix dry ingredients except raisons together. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix them together and pour onto two sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 mins. Stir every 15 mins to get an even color.

Lentil Tacos

This was surprisingly delicious. We happened to have everything on hand other than ground beef, so we tried this with low expectations and ended up loving it. And Gav even ate it!! Amazing.

1 tbsp oil
2/3 cup chopped onion
minced garlic to taste
2/3 cup dried lentils, rinsed
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1 2/3 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup salsa

Heat oil in skillet & cook onions and garlic until cooked…about 5 min. Add lentils and taco seasoning and cook for 1 minute.

Pour chicken broth into skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet and simmer until lentils are done. About 20 minutes.

Uncover the skillet and cook until mixture is thickened. It didn't take very long when I made it. Stir in salsa. Serve in taco shells. Would also be good in a tortilla.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Pancakes

These were delicious and hearty. Modified from here.

1 very ripe medium banana
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp almond butter (I used peanut butter)
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp almond milk
1/2 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. whole wheat flour
3 tbsp semi sweet chocolate chips.

Mash banana. Add egg, oil, salt, vanilla, almond butter, milk and stir.

Stir in oats, flour until combined.

Add chocolate chips.

Poured in 1/4 c. measurements onto griddle.

Basil & Tomato Green Beans

Basil & Tomato Green Beans
from Sarah Harward (Lafayette)

1 1/2 lbs green beans (steamed)
1/4 cup butter or olive oil
1 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp garlic
2 tsp basil (more if fresh)
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups cherry tomatoes halves (left out b/c of my lack of tomato loving family)

Steam green beans. In skillet add everything except green beans and tomatoes. Once the butter & spices are blended together and melted, add green beans. Cook on medium for a few minutes, then add tomatoes.