No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups sugar

- 1/4 cup cocoa

- 1/2 cup milk

- 1/4 cup butter (or coconut oil)

- 1/2 cup peanut butter

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

- 3 cup quick oats

- 1/4 cup coconut

Directions:

1.  Bring butter to room temperature, and measure out dry ingredients into a bowl.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, wax paper, or a no-stick mat.

2.  In a medium size saucepan combine sugar, cocoa, milk and butter.  Stir continuously until it comes to a boil. 

3.  Once boiling, remove from heat and allow to stand for one minute. 

4.  Add vanilla and peanut butter and mix well.  Stir in oats and coconut. 

5.  Spoon out quickly onto the cookie sheet.  Cookies will harden as they set.

Note:  The cookies will harden exactly where you put them.  They do not spread or grow, so you can put the cookies as close together as you'd like as long as they're not touching.

Tomato Basil Bread

This recipe came from a Quick Cooking magazine years ago.  It goes great with any Italian meal, soup, or salad.  I also like to make it on the dough setting, then roll it into breadsticks for a fun variation.


Ingredients:

• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• ¼ cup water (70∞ to 80∞)
• 2 tablespoons nonfat dry milk powder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 3 cups flour
• 1 ¾ teaspoons active dry yeast

Directions: 1. In bread machine pan, place all ingredients in the order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).

Yield: 1 loaf (about 1-1/2 pounds)

Hummus Recipe

This is my basic recipe.  If you want gourmet variations add extra roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers.  It is a quick and easy appetizer to whip up in minutes, and freezes well too.  Our favorite dippers are carrot sticks, toasted pita bread, and Triscuit crackers!

Ingredients:

• 2 15-ounce cans chick peas (garbanzos), one drained, one with liquid
• ¼ cup raw sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, roasted
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• salt, to taste

Directions:
1. Place all ingredients, except salt, into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
4. Blend 1 minute, using the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades.
5. Season to taste with salt.


Yields almost 4 cups