Millet (bird seed) Granola Bars

If you haven't had millet, you're missing out. These bars offer a great way to sneak a little millet into your life! Crispy little bits with whatever flavors strike your fancy is always a win.

Ingredients:
1 2/3 c rolled oats
1/3 c flour (I use coconut, you can use whatever you'd like)
1/3 c shredded, unsweetened coconut
1/3 c millet
1/2 c sugar (brown or white, or I've used the coconut sweetener too)
1/2 t cinnamon (but who's measuring?)

3 T Earth Balance (or replace with coconut oil)
3 T coconut oil
1/3 c nut butter (I use peanut)
6 T assorted liquid sweetener (molasses, maple syrup, honey, agave)
1 tsp vanilla

1.5 cups nuts, seeds, dried fruits

I usually use some almonds and raisins, but you can use any chopped, dried fruit you'd like. This recipe is a great way to clear out your nut/seed/dried fruit stash.

Method:
Oven at 350
1. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Soak dried fruit in a little bit of hot water while you work.
3. Melt Earth Balance, coconut oil, and nut butter in a liquid measuring cup. Add liquid sweetener and stir to combine (this really helps the peanut butter situation).
4. Drain the dried fruits and add them to the dry mix. Then stir in the wet ingredients.
5. Bake in a greased 8x8, loaf tin, or 7x11. PRESS the stuff into the pan using a spatula or a coconut-oiled hand. The thinner the bars, the less time they will need. 7x11 probably need only 20 minutes while a loaf pan will need as much as 35. Check for browning edges.

COOL COMPLETELY IN THE PAN. WALK AWAY, I'M SERIOUS. These puppies are prone to crumbling. The original recipe called for corn syrup as a liquid sweetener, and swears that it will prevent the breakage. My friend Kelli adds an egg and says that's a good binder, too. Do what you want.

Other great additions include food grade oils, like orange oil. You could use chocolate chips as some of your mix-ins, even though they are not technically fruits, nuts, or seeds.

Black strap molasses makes these bars even healthier, as do the additions of hemp seeds, flax seeds, and other nutrient-dense options. They never come out the same twice, but they are always delicious.

What is it about roasting (veggies)?

This is not a recipe, but a method. I found my refrigerator teeming with broccoli today, and with two additional heads of cauliflower in the farm share, something had to give.

My most favorite thing used to be broccoli with cheese sauce (you know, the processed stuff that barely passes as cheese but still remains a 'dairy' product?). I still love broccoli, and have learned that cauliflower is delicious, too. Especially when well prepared. There is something unique about the texture of these roasted beauties that makes it difficult to save any for later.

You might have enjoyed my Aloo Gobi and Chard recipe, and that is a tasty trick. But even simpler is the simple act of slowly roasting veggies on a cookie sheet in the oven.

The process is simple:
1. Wash and chop the broccoli and/or cauliflower (you must use fresh for this method).
2. Coat with a thin layer of olive oil by tossing the florets in a bowl with a little oil.
3. Pour onto a cookie sheet and dust with a little sea salt.
4. Roast at 325 for 40 minutes, shaking the tray two or three times in the middle.
5. Serve as is, or toss in seasoned salt, nutritional yeast, or the cheese of your choice (but try it first! It is glorious as is).

Easy side dish for any meal, and so much healthier than anything with the mysterious cheese sauce.

GF Ginger Brownies and Glutenous Ginger Crisps

WARNING: There is no chocolate in this recipe. These are quite tasty, but if you're seeking a real brownie you'll have to head elsewhere.

Ingredients:
1 1/3 c rice flour
1/3 c potato flour
1/3 c tapioca flour
1 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
2 1/2 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 c oil
1/4 c black strap molasses
1/4 c almond milk
1 c brown sugar
1 t vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350.
2. Combine flours, salt, soda and spices in a medium bowl and set aside.
3. Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine completely.
4. Add dry ingredients and stir to combine.
5. Pour into a 9x9 greased baking pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, testing for done-ness about the edges.
Yield: 9 or 16 servings, depending on your needs.

For the Glutenous Cookie version:
Substitute 2 c wheat flour for rice/potato/tapioca flours.
Step 5: Roll balls of dough in sugar and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Note the dough will be very soft, but do not be tempted to add any more flour. You'll be just fine! The cookies will double in size. I yielded 26 and a couple of mine grew together. Don't worry, I ate the bad ones :) *Thanks to Vegan with a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz for the original recipe.

Greens, Tofu & Kohlrabi (the post-candy meal)

I'm writing this the day after Halloween, and I've heard about quite a bit about candy hangovers today. My first complainant? My husband.

Have you or your family suffered from the sugar rush? Do you need a tasty, healthy meal to counteract your sluggishness? Boy do I have a suggestion for you.

Roasted root veggies, braised greens, and seasoned tofu.

Tofu:
1. Wrap a square of extra firm tofu in a kitchen towel and place a cast iron pan or a baking sheet with a heavy book on top.

2. Allow to sit 30-45 minutes.

3. Remove the towel and saturate the tofu with tamari soy sauce and a dash of liquid smoke.

4. Preheat a cast iron skillet at 7 of 10 heat.

5. Slice the seasoned tofu, reserving any remaining liquid. One block makes 8 slices for me, but adjust to your family size.

6. Cook the tofu in a small amount of olive oil for about 4 minutes. Flip, add any remaining marinade and cook an additional 4 minutes.

7. Serve immediately or set aside.

Roasted root veggies:
1. Chop a variety of root veggies, like kohlrabi, beets, turnips, parsnips, sweet or white/yellow/purple potatoes, to sweet potatoes and toss with peeled garlic cloves and sliced onion.

2. Toss all veggies with olive oil and salt, pepper, paprika, dried chili pepper flakes, oregano, and a dash or two of liquid smoke.

3. Roast in a cast iron dutch oven at 300 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring every fifteen minutes.

Braised greens:
(this recipe follows easily after the tofu has just finished)

1. Wash and chop your greens (collards and kale work best, but beet, turnip and mustard greens work well too).

2. Saute garlic slices in about 2 T of olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped greens and toss to coat.

3. Add seasoned salt or mixture of salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, and chili flakes. 4. Once greens are brightened, add a dash of lemon juice (juice of one half lemon) and serve immediately.

To cook the whole meal in concert:
1. Press the tofu.
2. Wash and chop greens, then veggies.
3. Start roasting the root veggies.
4. Cook the tofu.
5. Stir the veggies.
6. Cook the greens.

Spooky Kohlrabi (situation)

As you can see from the following photo, we have a Kohlrabi Situation at our house. Our farm share was particularly prolific in the kohlrabi department this year, and while we've been eating them, we simply cannot keep up.

Combine the Situation with my need to bring healthy Halloween snacks to yoga tonight and my grandmother's everlasting mantra of thou shall not waste anything, ever, particularly food, resulted in the following stroke of genius. If you're a regular old person, you probably think I'm too self-congratulatory in this statement.

If you have a K.S., you're welcome.

Ingredient:
Kohlrabi (or jicama would work, if you're situation-less and actually shopping for Halloween ingredients.)
1. Peel the kohlrabi.

2. Slice into rounds or half rounds (I find cutting easier if I cut it in half).

3. Use your cookie cutters to cut shapes out of the kohlrabi.

4. Serve with dips of your choice. I'm using my hurry, curry recipe, but a black bean dip, guacamole or hummus would work very well.

More kohlrabi recipes from the NYT here.

Raisin or Chocolate Pumpkin Bars

If you love pumpkin but can't get over the six eggs, one pound of butter and seven cups of sugar recipes out there, this one might be for you. I swear every recipe I search has 3 cups sugar, 4 eggs, and a lot of oil or butter. This recipe tastes better, is easier, takes less time to bake, and is healthier!

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour (I have not tried anything except whole wheat)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or just a dash of ground cloves)

1/2 cup sugar (reduce if using chocolate chips)
2-3 T blackstrap molasses 1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 egg substitute (I recommend 2 T of ground flax, whipped with 4-6 T water until frothy)
2 tablespoons liquid oil (coconut is delicious!)

1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips

Preaheat the oven to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine the first set of ingredients. In a large bowl, combine the next set. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until well blended. Add raisins/chips. Spread in prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes.

Aloo, Gobi, and Chard

Here is my take on everyone's favorite Indian dish. Serves 6-8, depending on veggie quantities and what else is served at the meal. This recipe is even better the next day. It can be made in the crock pot, if steps 1-4 happen on the stove first. Then combine the rest in the crock pot and increase the cooking time to a few hours. Step 6 should happen with about 20-30 minutes before you plan to serve so that the chard cooks and the beans heat through.

Ingredients:
2 c brown basmati rice
1 head cauliflower, chopped
3 large potatoes, cubed
1 bunch chard, chopped (stems included)
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1" piece of ginger, minced (equal amounts ginger and garlic)
1 32 oz can chopped tomatoes
1-2 cans coconut milk (or homemade!)
1-2 cup(s) or 1 16 oz can of beans, rinsed (garbanzos or white beans) OR 1-2 cups frozen green peas
olive oil

1 t cumin seeds
1 T salt
1 T turmeric
2 T coriander
1 t cinnamon
1 t ground cardamom
1 t cayenne (more or less, to taste)

1. Prepare rice according to directions.
2. Saute onion, garlic, ginger, and cumin seeds in enough oil to coat the bottom of a dutch oven pan over medium heat.
3. Combine all remaining spices and salt into a bowl and open cans of tomatoes/coconut milk.
4. When onion starts to become translucent but before it begins to brown, quickly stir in the spice mixture and stir constantly for about 30 seconds. This is critical! Add the tomatoes and coconut milk to cool the pan.
5. Add cauliflower and potatoes, and allow to simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through (you can speed the recipe a little by microwaving the cubed potatoes before adding them in, but they won't taste quite as amazing).
6. Add beans or peas and chard and cook another 5 minutes or until the chard is wilted but still bright green.
7. Ladle over brown rice and enjoy!