Living Simply

I'm always looking for great tasting, frugal meatless meal ideas.  Here is one that I use often and we really enjoy!

2 c. prepared black beans (soaked and cooked or use one 15oz can black beans)
Use a potato masher or your food processor to make "bean paste"
Spread bean paste onto tortilas (homemade whole wheat tortillas are great!)
Sprinkle with shredded cheese (we like colby jack)
Place another tortilla on top
Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted
Cut into quarters and serve!
We top with Ranch dressing and spinach (also really good with salsa if your not nighshade free)

The holidays are fast approaching and I'm beginning to see bags of cranberries for sale in the grocery store!  I love making this cranberry relish recipie throughout the holidays -- it always reminds me of wonderful meals of celebration with family and friends.  And it's SO easy, especially if you use a food processor!

1 pound fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
   - put the cranberries in the freezer until frozen, they will be easier to chop.
1 large apple, coarsely chopped
    - I like using Granny Smith apples because of the tart taste and the green peel looks great!
1 large orange, coarsley chopped,  including half the peel
    - Peel the orange and chop it, then chop half the peel (you can use more peel if you want,  
      some people think using the whole peel is too bitter)
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Mix it all together.  Add 1/2 - 1 cup sugar (sucanat) to taste.
Can be served immediately but tastes even better the second day!

This is one onf my favoirte recipies, especially to take somewhere.  It's easy and delicious!

Chocolate Applesauce Cake
Mix together by hand or using an electric mixer:
1/2 c. coconut oil, melted
1 1/4 c. sucanat (sugar)
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. sour milk, buttermilk, or yogurt
1 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
Add in and mix well:
2 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. cocoa powder (the dark chocolate is my favorite!)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
Pour into 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.
Cool and top with Never Fail Chocolate Frosting!

Never Fail Chocolate Frosting
Melt together in a small/medium sauce pan over medium-low heat:
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. butter (or coconut oil)
3/4 c. sucanat (sugar)
Bring to a rolling boil for 30 seconds.
Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 c. chocolate chips.
Mix/Beat until creamy.
Spread immediately on cooled cake -- frosting hardens as it cools.
Covers one cake in a 9x13 pan.
Recipe can be doubled for extra thick frosting or for a layer cake.

Challah bread is a traditional Jewish egg bread -- Often braided and brushed with egg and sprinkled with poppy seeds.
I make this bread into loaves and we use it for all our bread needs, mostly sandwhiches and toast.

I have a bread machine that makes a 2 lb. loaf and has a "dough" setting.  I use the bread machine to mix the dough and then divide it and into two pans and let rise one more time and then bake it.  I think the bread comes out much more moist and tasty than letting the bread machine bake it and it is still so easy!

This is the order I place ingredients into my bread machine:
1 1/2 c. water
2-3 Tbsp. coconut oil (or butter or olive oil)
1 egg
3 1/2 c. whole wheat flour (or 4 c. whole wheat flour and omit the milled flax seed)
1/2 c. milled flax seed
(You can experiment with adding other flours, just use 4 cups total flour/grains)
1/4 c. sucanat (or sugar)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 tsp. vital wheat gluton (you can omit this if you want)
2 tsp. yeast

Plug in the bread machine, set it to "dough setting" and press "Go"!  The dough setting on my bread machine takes 1 hour and 50 minutes.  When it is done I divide the dough in half, form into loaves and place in greased loaf pans.  I cover the pans with a dish towel and place in a cool oven with the light on.  I also place a pie plate of water on the rack under the loaves -- I leave it there for the final rise and during baking.  When the bread has doubled+ in size (a couple hours in a cool house).  I remove the dish towel and turn the oven on to 350 degrees and set the timer for 30 minutes (I don't remove the risen loaves).  When done baking I cool on a rack for 10 minutes and then remove from the pan to finish cooling.

This dough can also be used to make cinnamon rolls: