Lara Bars

from:  https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/recipes/2017/07/27/homemade-apple-pie-larabars/489621001/

8x8 pan lined with wax paper

Grind in food processor

• 10 dates
• 1/4 c raisins
• 1 c dried figs (Original recipe used dried apples. I tried dried mango but it didn't work. Probably gooey dried fruits will work the best.) 
• 1 c almonds (Probably any dry nuts will work)
• 1/2 c walnuts (Pecans will probably work)
• 1/2 t cinnamon

Press into pan. Cut into squares.

chocolate brownies

from: https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2016/03/07/the-ultimate-unbaked-brownies-raw-vegan/

I absolutely love chocolate covered katie's website. She has tons of really yummy recipes and she has a book out too. https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2016/10/11/healthy-breakfast-cookbook-food-blog/

8x8 pan, line with wax paper or plastic wrap. Then you can lift it out of the pan to cut it easier.)

Combine in food processor until completely smooth scraping down sides as necessary.

• 6 T cocoa
• 1 1/2 t vanilla (optional)
• 2 t water (If I don't put in vanilla, I increase the water to 1 T.)
• 2 1/2 c loosely packed pitted dates*
• 1 1/2 c walnuts (Can probably use pecans if you don't have walnuts. Almonds, cashews, and hazel nuts are probably too dry for this recipe.)

 Transfer dough to pan and press very firmly until dough is evenly distributed in pan. (It feels greasy)
*When I don't have enough dates, I have substituted about 1 cup raisins or prunes successfully.

Now you can eat it without frosting, but the frosting is pretty yummy.

Frosting
In microwave safe bowl, melt

• 2 T. coconut oil

 Then add and combine

• 1/4 c maple syrup
• 1/4 c cocoa
• 1/2 t vanilla (optional)

Microwave in 30" increments, mixing in between until frosting looks smooth and shiny. Don't over microwave. Then spread evenly over dough in baking pan. Refrigerate brownies to set.

Updated Lemon Pie

ref: https://katsrecipes.blogspot.com/2016/06/lemon-pie.html

8" pie crust (might be able to put in 8x8 square pan)

Crust

Grind all together in a food processor till it starts to stick together

• 1/2 c almonds
• 1/2 c pecans
• 1 c dried dates
• 1/4 c flax seed meal
• 1 T coconut oil

Press against sides and bottom of pan to make pie shell. Put in freezer while you make filling.

Filling 

Grind in food processor before adding rest of ingredients

• 2 c cashews

Then add and mix until smooth and creamy. Mixture will thicken.

• 3/4 c fresh lemon juice (about 2-3 lemons)
• 1/2 c maple syrup
• 1/3 c melted coconut oil
• 1 t vanilla extract
• lemon zest (I'd like to add this next time)

Pour filling into crust and freeze. Slightly thaw before cutting.

Easy Fudge with sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips

square 8x8 pan lined with wax paper

melt 1 minute in microwave

• 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
• 2 c. chocolate chips
• 1 t. vanilla (optional)

sit 1 minute, then stir

if necessary, microwave 30" more, then stir

pour into prepared pan.

let sit overnight in fridge till solid before cutting.

Mexican Wedding Cookies (gluten free)

modified these from https://elanaspantry.com/mexican-wedding-cookies/

Bake 7-10 minutes at 350F, about 1 pan of cookies

Combine in food processor

• 1 1/2 cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
• 1/8 t. salt
• 1/8 t. baking soda

Pulse in

• 2 T. butter (didn't have palm shortening)
• 2 T. maple syrup (winter is here so honey is not liquid in our house)
• 1 t. vanilla extract (didn't have, so didn't add.)

Mix in by hand

• 1/2 c. pecans chopped, raw (I didn't toast)

Scoop out dough in scant tablespoons and use hands to firmly press into balls.

Roll cookies into

• 1/2 c. powdered sugar (didn't use coconut sugar) (Optional, only if you want them sweeter.)

I discovered you can powder sugar by mixing regular sugar in food processor but it takes a while. A blender might work better.

Very nutty and yummy.

12/21/18 Made them again this year and doubled the recipe. Still very yummy .

Filling Chocolate Smoothie

I have a smoothie every morning except when I am traveling. I gradually worked my way to a less sweet version by changing from sweetened nut milk to unsweetened nut milk.

Here's my RECIPE.

PREP THE NIGHT BEFORE in blender 2 cup for single serving:

• layer of quinoa or other cooked whole grain (I have a bag precooked in my freezer)
• layer of beans (canned)
• layer of chopped beets or squash or pumpkin or sweet potato, etc.
• layer of raspberries (I had a bumper crop this year so trying to use them up)
• layer of blueberries, cherries, or other berries (but not strawberries)
• heaping teaspoon of ground nuts (I grind a whole package & store in fridge)
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon spice blend (cumin, coriander, tumeric,..)
• A fresh green leaf or 2 (in summer I just took something out of my garden)

IN THE MORNING

• layer of frozen sweet fruit, like mangoes, peaches, pineapple...
• 1 shot of cold coffee
• 1-2 shots of pom juice (pomegranate, cherry, blueberry) to sweeten
• fill of the rest of the way with unsweetened nut milk.

Grind till everything smooth.

Green Soup with Italian Sausage

Put some

• olive oil in the bottom of a medium to large soup pot

Brown

• 1-6 italian sausages

While the sausages are browning chop and add

• 1 onion
• 2 carrots
• 1-2 celery
• 2-3 potatoes (don't have to peel)
• 4-6 garlic cloves

Pull out sausages, slice into fat coins, and return to pot
Deglaze pan with

• 1 can diced tomatoes with liquid

Add

• 1 can white navy or northern beans with liquid

Add

• water or broth or combination to cover about 1" above everything in pot (I put in the broth from roast beef this time.)

Bring everything to a boil, then turn down to a simmer while you remove ribs and thinly slice

• Large bunch of Kale or Swiss Chard or Spinach or combination*

Turn off heat. It is plenty hot to wilt the greens
Add

• Juice from 1/2 large lemon (I add the pulp too)

Taste and adjust flavor as necessary with

• Salt (might not need if used broth)
• Black pepper (optional)
• Red pepper (Italian sausages may have made it spicy enough)

 Ingredients are approximate. You can use 1 sausage for flavoring or if you really like meat add all 6 from the package. Same with the greens. I usually add a large steel bowl's worth of the raw greens. Swiss Chard is my favorite but right now we had a lot of Kale in the garden so used that. I don't think mustard greens would work.

Condiments:
hot sauce