Spicy Ranch Crackers

This recipe belongs to a friend of mine, and it is absolutely delicious! Totally simple to make, too!

Spicy Ranch Crackers

Prep time: 5 minutes. Whole process: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• Big box of saltine crackers (the kind with 4 packages)
• 1.25 cup of canola or vegetable oil (stay away from olive. it leaves a funny flavor)
• 1 packet of dry ranch mix (not wet dressing)
• 1-2 Tablespoons of red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you like
• a square 8x8 tupperware container with lid

Directions:

Fill the tupperware container with the saltine crackers.  have them standing up vertical and tight, like sardines, not laying down.  Like this --> [|||||||], not like this --> [ __ __ __ ].
In a pourable measuring cup, mix together the oil, ranch and red pepper flakes.  Slowly pour the mixture over all the crackers.  It's ok that the flakes sit on top instead of in.
Put the lid on and let the crackers sit for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, flip the container upside down and wait another 15 minutes.  Do this for one hour--you will have flipped 4 times when it is done.
Enjoy!

And thanks April and Mom for the recipe!

Red Hot Cider- the perfect holiday treat

This is not my recipe, but it is one that we have been making in my house for a few years now, and we love it!  Don't let the name fool you; tt is the perfect holiday drink.  It is titled that, because you use the candy RedHots in it.  Most people I know who try it call it "Christmas in a cup," which I think quite accurately describes it. :)
So, here you are!

Red Hot Cider

Get a large pot (like a spaghetti pot) and add the following ingredients:

2 qt. cran-apple juice
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 cup RedHots (about 1 box)
2 sticks of cinnamon
32 whole cloves

Simmer for 8 hours and enjoy!

(This is actually double what the original recipe is, but we end up quadrupling it anyway)

The truth is, I never actually let it simmer for 8 hours.  I'm never able to wait that long.  I let it simmer for a few hours, and then leave it on low or transfer it to a Crockpot on high for the duration of the party/day/whatever occasion you have.
One more thing to note when making this.  If you have extra, it stores really well, or you can even jar it.  One tip: if you keep it in the fridge and then heat it up again, make sure to add a bit of extra water.  It gets really strong as more water evaporates, so adding some water definitely helps!

Cheers!

Granola is the food of gods!

I don't think there are many foods that I enjoy as much as a good granola or trail mix.  My friend Lauren actually got me started making granola.  She makes it at her school, and I helped her once, then figured I'd give it a whirl myself, since it is quite good for you, if you include the right ingredients.
I tried it a couple times this summer, mixing up the ingredients a bit this time, even including some vitamins and supplements once (that batch turned out ok, but some parts tasted a little funky.  I don't recommend it.).
My most recent batch turned out fantastic!  I definitely can't give you exact measurements, but i'll at least tell you the ingredients, and proportions.

Combine dry ingredients:

• Crumbs from all natural "Life" cereal (the brand is "Barbara's" that we use). About 3/4 cup
• Whole Oats (about a cup)
• Nuts (I used walnuts, pecans, almonds) (total: about 1-2 cups)
• Pollen (about 1/4 cup)
• Ground flaxseed (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 packet of maple brown sugar instant oatmeal

In separate bowl, combine wet ingredients (unless listed, everything is about equal, except less olive oil and a lot more honey). You want enough to coat all the dry ingredients, without excess liquid. Roughly 1.5 cups, perhaps.

• Olive oil
• Pure Maple Syrup
• Honey
• Applesauce
• 2 Tbs butter (softened)

Mix all the ingredients together, until clumpy.  Grease a baking sheet, and plop all of the mixture on top.  Spread it out a bit, but don't worry too much about making sure it is PERFECTLY even.  Coat all with cinnamon, and bake for 10 mins.  Take out and stir it around (the bottom will still be really moist), and put back in for 5 mins.  Repeat the stirring and 5 minute increments until the gooeyness is starting to go, and some are turning hard.  The rest will dry out.

Sit out, and enjoy while it is still warm, or wait until it cools, then put it in an airtight container to enjoy with milk in the mornings, on top of vanilla yogurt or ice cream, or simply as a delicious snack!!

Until next time!
Cheers!

Family dinner- baked, spiced, cheesy, and fishy

Well, it's been a while, but I figured I might as well start this again, seeing as I made a super yummy meal for dinner!

Basically, the idea for this meal was born out of a recent extreme health turn for my family, lots of frozen veggies, and a ridiculous amount of garden tomatoes.

I love fish, and it is so good for you, and you can use whatever kind of fish you want for this recipe.  For those who don't really like the taste of fish, I suggest tilapia, or leave and go to McDonald's.  You should like fish.  Tonight, I used Whiting, because it was in the freezer (that's basically how my meals are born).
Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 
• Pour a tablespoon of olive oil into the bottom of a 13x9 glass baking dish and then cover the bottom with whatever frozen veggies you want (I used green peppers, broccoli and spinach).  I also addeed some frozen whole ginger, because my dad always keeps some in the fridge.  It adds a lovely flavor to the veggies.  Put the veggies in the oven while it preheats.
• Thaw the fish (it doesn't take long. Just put them in a plastic bag and drown in warm water for a little bit).
• When the oven is preheated and the veggies aren't frozen anymore, sprinkle spices over the veggies before you lay the filets of fish in the pan (over the veggies).  You are going to use the same amounts of spices both on top of the veggies, and then again on top of the fish.  These amounts are approximate for each layer:
• 2 Tbs Garam Masala
• 1 Tb Ground Cardamom
• 2 Tbs Curry Powder
• 1.5 Tbs Onion Powder
• Pepper to Taste
• Lay the fish on top of the veggies; put another layer of spices on.
• Cover the fish with slices of pepper jack cheese.
• On top of the cheese, put slices of tomato until all of it is covered. 
• Bake in 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes, or until the fish flakes with a fork.  If using Whiting, don't expect the fish to turn white.  It doesn't.  Tilapia, on the other hand, will have turned milky white.  Both should flake though.  Whiting is a moister fish, while Tilapia is enjoyed, because it is not a "fishy" fish.

Add a slice of whole grain toast, a glass of ice water, and you have a spectacular meal that serves about 6 people.  Yum!

Well that's all for now!

P.S. If anyone wants some tomatoes, we have a TON!  The garden gave us plenty this year.  We've started canning! Let me know if you want some!

Tomato Curry Soup

Alright, the long-awaited recipe.
The original recipe can be found here: Spicy Tomato Curry Soup.  Now, I'm sure this recipe is really good when you make it COMPLETELY the right way, but I never seem to do that, so I'll now post my edited versions, to the best of my recollection. :)

Dani's version:

Heat oil in a soup pot.
Add onion and saute for a few minutes.
Add other veggies (I've used zucchini, carrots, celery, mushrooms, cucumber)
Add garlic and saute for a few more minutes.  (Here is where I have added some fresh ginger also)
Add tomato soup, milk and spices.

I always eyeball and hand-measure my measurements, but for a soup that feeds about 8 people, I add roughly this: 3 Tbs curry powder, 1 Tbs ginger {if not using fresh}, few shakes each of cinnamon and allspice.

Now, when I was vegan, I always used the coconut milk.  Regular milk works just as well, you just lose the coconut flavor.  For the tomato soup, I use canned tomato soup (I used packets when I was in Macedonia) and added the appropriate amount of milk/water.  I used half milk and half water, because I love creamy soups.  I made this recipe once and didn't use a canned tomato soup and I didn't like the way it turned out at all, so I definitely recommend using a prepared soup.

Simmer for about 25 minutes.  

Add hot sauce if you want some spicy, and ENJOY!

Now, this can be a super duper easy recipe if you eliminate things, and it turns out JUST AS DELICIOUS.  Basically I have eliminated everything except: oil, onion, zucchini, tomato soup (milk/water), and curry.  It turned out splendid, but you can feel free to spice as much as you want!

Enjoy!

And it begins

Alright friends, for ease's sake, I have just decided to create blog for all my recipes and the edits that I make to them!

I'll start posting soon!