Happy 2011!

What a wonderful new year so far!

We started the year off with this tasty vitamin rich soup.

Kale soup

2 medium leeks, rinsed well and thinly sliced
4 cups vegetable broth
1 large potato, cut into ½-inch dice
4 cups rinsed and chopped kale leaves
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley

Place all ingredients into a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer on low for about 15-20 minutes or until vegetables are soft.
Using a hand blender, puree the mixture until smooth.

Homemade Gifts

Who doesn’t like to get a homemade gift? Here is what we made to help keep our friends warm 🙂

Red lentil stew

1 Cup dried red lentils, sorted and rinsed

3/4 Cup short grain brown rice, sorted and rinsed

1 large onion, diced

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried basil

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 cup of diced tomatoes or diced carrots

8 cups of water

1 tsp sea salt

Put all ingredients except salt into a pot and bring to a boil. Turn down heat to low and let simmer for 50 minutes- 1 hour. Stir often so it does not stick. Stir in sea salt and serve.

Cookies

We made almond cookies for Christmas. They were decadent and delicious!

1/2 Cup earths balance”butter”

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

1- 11/2 Cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 Cup ground almonds

Mix together all ingredients. Knead until dough is well blended. Form the dough into small balls then roll between your hands and shape into a cane or a crescent. Lay them on a oiled cookie sheet. Bake at 300 for 40 minutes

The most decadent cookie we tried this year was by far Christina pirello’s lacy wafers!