pineapple fried rice

2c white rice
1c raw cashews
1tsp yellow curry powder
1/3c oil
1 20oz can pineapple tidbits in juice
salt and pepper

mix oil, rice, cashews, and curry powder in large stock pot. Stir continuously over high heat until rice just begins to brown. Stir in pineapple and juice and 3 1/2c water. Cover and cook on low heat 20-25 minutes until water is evaporated. Salt and pepper to taste, fluff with spoon and serve. Serves 6-8.

Easy baked yams

These seriously delicious yams are so easy that you don't have an excuse to not make them.

 2 yams
1 c apple juice
Wash and peel yams. Slice thickly and layer in pie plate or casserole. Add apple juice and bake at 350F about one hour or until tender.

Pozole

Pozole is a Mexican soup with hominy and fresh vegetables. The unusual amount of garlic in this recipe is characteristic and does not overpower the dish.

10oz sliced mushrooms
10-12 clove garlic
1-2T chili powder
2-3c hominy

Puree garlic with a small amount of water. Put garlic and mushrooms in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover by 1in (2.5cm). Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour, adding water as needed. Add chili powder, hominy, and 1tsp salt. Simmer another 30 minutes. To serve top with sliced radishes, cilantro, lime wedges, and cabbage.

Mincemeat Pie

Mincemeat is a traditional food made of various spices and dried fruits.

pie crust for 1 crust pie (I used this one)
2 c dried cherries
1 c chopped dried pears
1 c raisins
1 whole tangerine, chopped whole
1 c chopped dried mango
2 c pared, cored, and coarsely chopped apples
1 tsp ground cloves
3 c white grape juice
2 T molasses
1/3 c sugar
pecan halves

stir all the fruit, cloves, molasses, and grape juice in a medium pot. Bring to boil and simmer about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat when dried fruit is soft and plump and apples begin to fall apart. Stir vigorously for 1-2 minutes until apples fall completely apart. Let cool and store in refrigerator. When ready to make pie, preheat oven to 425F. Put enough of the mincemeat into the pie crust to fill (you should have plenty left over). Top with pecan halves and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 30-40 minutes until filling bubbles and sugar begins to brown. Cool and serve.

applesauce cinnamon pancakes

These super easy pancakes are a quick breakfast. They are delicious all by themselves, or can be served with syrup, applesauce, or other toppings.

1 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
2 T sugar
1 c applesauce
1/2 c oil
3/4 c water

mix dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add applesauce, oil and water, stir until smooth. If batter is too thick, add a little more water. Cook on griddle until lightly browned both sides. Makes about 15 3" pancakes.

Hearty weeknight noodles

2-4T olive oil
1 lb sliced mushrooms
1 medium onion, sliced into wedges
1T peanut butter
8oz rice noodles, cooked
1c water
salt and pepper

put oil in large non-stick frying pan or dutch oven. Add mushrooms and onions, salt and pepper liberally. Saute over high heat until onions begin to turn golden. Add more oil as needed. (Mushrooms should have lots of color and become a bit sticky.) Add water and remove from heat. Let rest 5 minutes. Stir in peanut butter and cook over high heat until boiling and liquid reduces to a sauce. Stir in noodles, serve warm.

Vegan No-Bake Cookies

1/2 c peanut butter (creamy)
4 T cocoa
2 c sugar
1/2 c water
3 c quick oats

combine sugar, water, cocoa, and peanut butter in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until it comes to a full boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in oats. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper and allow to cool. Makes 2-3 dozen cookies. Store in airtight container.

Simple white bean casserole

This casserole is fast and delicious. Serve with a salad for a complete and easy weeknight dinner.
2 15oz cans white kidney beans, drained
1 15oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 6oz fried onions
1tsp thyme
1tsp sage
pepper to taste

heat tomatoes, beans, thyme, sage and pepper in saucepan on medium heat, stirring frequently until boiling. Mix in 2/3 of onions and spread in 2qt casserole dish. Top with remaining onions. Bake covered at 350degress for 15 minutes.

Red Curry

1/2 bunch green onions, cut into 1 in pieces
2 14oz cans coconut milk
3-4 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
1 baked potato, cubed
14oz firm tofu, cubed
2-3 tsp red curry paste
2-3 Tbs oil
1 small yellow onion, cut into wedges
1/2 c water
1/2 bunch cilantro

Heat oil over high heat in large skillet or dutch oven. Add carrots and yellow onions, saute 1-2 min. Add coconut milk, water and curry paste. Bring to boil and add tofu. Simmer, covered 5 minutes. Add potato and green onion. Continue to cook until carrot and potato are soft. Stir in cilantro and serve. Excellent with saffron rice, recipe below.

Safron rice

1 c white rice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp saffron threads

Mix all ingredients in large saucepan with 2c water. Bring to a boil. Reduce head to low and cook, covered, for 22 minutes. Fluff with fork and serve.