Palm sugar

I am really digging using Palm Sugar.  You can use it in place of brown sugar for baking.  Look it up. Tons of great properties.

I bought a hard block of it for around $1.25 (the cheapest in block) then broke it up with a chef's knife and pulsed it in the food processor.  Love the stuff!

Sssssshhhh Rosemary Bread

The yeast bubbled like champagne and the rosemary from containers on the deck are just right.  Now on to rise!

Cheese ravioli & Cherry tomatoes

When you just want a fast, tasty meal this one hits the mark.

I usually always have ready to go ravioli in the freezer or fridge purposely for those nights I don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You can make your own and freeze them or pickup packaged from the market.

Tonight I used four cheese jumbo ravioli: Ricotta, Asiago, Parmesan and Romano we picked up from Trader Joes.

Boil the ravioli in salted water as usual.

While that is happening add about 2 Tbl. of olive oil to a large skillet.  When warm add chopped shallots until soft.

Then add a 1/2 pint of halfed cherry tomatoes and about a cup of dry white wine. Let everything simmer until the wine has reduced and the cherry tomatoes are soft. Add the strained ravioli,  salt and pepper to taste and herbs.

Top with Parmesan. Done!

Homemade granola bars

Rob and I LOVE granola bars and I wanted to make them using what I had in the pantry.

I took two recipes and combined them to make these awesome bars.

Here is what you need for the main part of the bar:

• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cups flax seed
• 1/4 cup sesame seed
• 1 cup chopped almonds or sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.  I used sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cups shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup pure honey
• 4 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (or palm sugar)
• 1 cup dried fruit

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.Combine the rolled oats, flax
seeds, sesame seed, coconut and almonds. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper or silicone sheet.

Toast for about 15-30 minutes until golden. Be sure to stir occasionally so it doesn't burn.




















In a small pan warm (or melt) the coconut oil then pour into bowl with the vanilla, honey, coconut oil and brown (or palm) sugar.

In a bowl, combine sea salt, cinnamon, and dried cranberries.

When the oat mixture is finished toasting, add everything together and mix by hand.

Line a 9" x 13" baking pan with waxed paper. Spread the mixture in the baking pan and press to create a smooth surface.

Now you need to make part 2 of the bars!

You will need:

• 1 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/3 cup coconut oil 
• 2/3 cup + 2 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• pinch of salt

Heat coconut oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Once it melts add the remaining ingredients.  Pour this over the granola.  Refrigerate for 2 hours.

When you take it out of the refrigerator it will look like this:

Now flip it over and see that all the chocolate layer is on the bottom!

 

Cut into 2 or 3 inch squares.  Wrap them individually in wax paper and store in the fridge.

They are yummy!! One bar is so filling and full of energy!

Sweet potato chips

Earlier I posted an easy way to make your own baked potato wedges for a fraction of the cost of frozen, processed fries.

Here's a simple way to make sweet potato chips for pennies.

I used 3 small sweet potatoes, peeled then sliced with a mandolin. I use the thing all the time. Makes lovely ribbon zucchini.  If you don't have one knife slices work just fine.

Toss the slices in a splash of olive oil and add a few pinches of kosher salt.

Preheat oven to 200° f.

Layer the chips in a single layer (doesn't have to be prefect).

Cook for 1.5 - 2 hours tossing every 1/2 hour.

They turned out crunchy, lightly browned, curly and yummy.