Cheese Sauce Recipe

The first recipe came from really special friends, Gary and Penny K.
It is really good. Plus so quick and easy to make. Most of us have these ingredients readily available.
Below are 3 different cheese recipes. Hope you find one you really enjoy!!

Cheese Sauce recipe-from Gary and Penny
Ingredients:

• 1 Russet Potato, peeled and cut into bite size pieces-(1 & 1/2 cups)
• 1 cup of carrots cut into 1/2 inch rounds
• 1/4 of a yellow onion diced (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup Earth Balance  buttery spread-use container with red cover
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 3 Tablespoons of any milk replacement ( use plain)

Directions:

1. Place potato, carrot and onion in a small kettle with 2 cups of water.
2. Simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Drain and put in a food processor, adding the rest of the ingredients..
4. Process well, scraping down the sides as needed.

Verna made a few changes  just cause I like to keep trying to improve recipes if possible ) or maybe I am just being difficult).  :)

Anyway I added the following to the recipe.

• 2 teaspoons tomato paste. (I freeze the extra in a freezer bag and just slice off what I need.)
• 3/4 teaspoon plus garlic powder
•  2 twists of Himalayan salt.
  A touch of dried herbs mixture.
• I also cut back a whisker on the Nutritional yeast. It has a very strong flavor
•   
•  The recipes below are some of the recipes I have used in the past. 

Garlic Cheeze Sauce
My good friend Jean L gave me this recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 2 Tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 Tablespoons flour-do not omit
• 1teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt-do not omit
• 1/4 garlic powder-I used more
• Verna added
• Mrs Dashes Southwest Chipolte Seasoning to taste.
• Black Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Braggs Sprinkles 24 Herbs and Spices

Directions:

1. Blend first 4 ingredients until smooth.
2. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly
3. Whisk in 2 Tablespoons water or more if needed to get the consistency you want.

Can be used as a dipping sauce,as a topping for burritos, use in place of canned soups in casseroles, or wherever you like. Just make sure to season to your taste. Verna's says be creative.

Cheese Sauce.

This is a Verna recipe 

Ingredients:

• ·         ¼ cup Earth Balance with red cover
• ·         1 & 1/3 cup flour of choice
• ·         3 cups unflavored rice milk
• ·         ½ cup nutritional yeast
• ·         2-3 Tablespoons tomato paste-put leftover tomato paste in a freezer bag and slice off as needed.
• ·        1 teaspoon salt-go  very easy
• ·         1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ·         1 teaspoon onion powder
• ·         Freshly ground black pepper
•      1 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
• ·       1 Tablespoon agave nectar-go easy.

Directions:

1.      Make a roux with earth balance and flour
2.      Add the rice milk. At this point I used my submersible blender and it went really quick.
3.      Add yeast, tomato paste salt, garlic and onion powder
4.      Continue to cook to thicken.
5.      Add lemon juice agave nectar and pepper to taste.

So You have 3 cheese recipes. Hope you find one you really enjoy. Or maybe all three.

Have fun trying these recipes!!

Pear-Pecan Stuffed Squash

Squash is packed with antioxidant carotenoids. You clue is the bright orange hue.
If you like the chewiness of wheat berries you will love this . The flavor is so very good
I found the recipe in the Feb. 2014, edition of Family Circle Magazine

Ingredients:

• 2 butternut squash-cut in half lengthwise and seeded
• 1-2 teaspoons oil
• 1 cup cooked wheat berries-To cook follow directions on pkg.
• 1 pear, cored and diced into small cubes-I left the peel on. The recipe suggested removing it.
• 1/3 cup roughly chopped pecans
• 2 teaspoons sage-I used Italian Seasoning as I was out of sage.
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped- I used (on the light side)1 teaspoon garlic powder as I was in a hurry.
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese of choice.

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Coat outside of squash halves with the oil. Easiest to use the hands.
3. Sprinkle the cavities lightly with salt-I did not do this.
4. Place the squash cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, let cool slightly.
7. Remove some of the flesh. Refrigerate the flesh for other use.
8. In a kettle combine cooked wheat berries, pear, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese, pecans, sage, pepper and a 1/4 teaspoon salt.
9. Heat through and stuff shells with this filling. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top and broil until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

  Enjoy!!!

 

BoK Choy with Orange Glaze

If you like Bok Choy you will like this. Bok Choy is so very good for you. It has many cancer fighting properties in it that will help keep you healthy. Plus this recipe is quick and easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch bok choy, cleaned and chopped in small pieces.

Orange Glaze:

• zest of a orange
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon or so raw agave nectar
• 1/2-1  teaspoon fresh grated ginger or use 1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
• pinch of salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a cup of water to boil and saute bok choy in the water for 2-3 minutes.
2. In a saucepan, combine all of the glaze ingredients., bring to a boil and then simmer for a few minutes.
3. Drain bok choy, pour glaze over the top.
4. Serve

Comments from Verna's Test Kitchen:

1. The next tie I make this I would add a little cornstarch to the glaze mixture so that it is not so watery.

Enjoy!!

Nutty Potato Bites

These are really good. I dipped them in the Tofu Dip I made in class last week.

Ingredients:
Saute:

• 2 onions- finely chopped
• 3-4 cloves of garlic-minced

Add:

• 3-4 shredded potatoes that have been peeled
• 1 cup walnuts-ground fine
• 1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs not to course.
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian Seasonings
• 2 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
• 1 Tablespoon whole wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
• 3/4-1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Form into small balls, place on parchment lined baking sheet-I used 2 sheets
3. Bake at 350 degrees -40-45 minutes until crispy.

Enjoy!! 

Under-Construction

Just wanted to let you know my blog is under construction. Within a few weeks it will be so much easier to find recipes as they will all be categorized.

Verna's Black Bean Salad

This is really good as a side salad. It also would be great to use with chips.
I took several recipes and then came up with my own recipe. I think you will really enjoy this salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 15 oz can Kuner's low sodium Black Beans-rinsed and drained
• 6-8 green onions-chopped
• 2 cups frozen corn-thawed
• 1/2 cup celery-chopped
• 1 green bell pepper-chopped
• 2 avocado's- diced
• 10 or so grape tomatoes- cut in half
• 1 lime-zested and juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup salsa of choice
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro-chopped or 1 teaspoon dried cilantro

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together..
2. Refrigerate to marinate flavors.
3. Serve cold as a salad.

Enjoy!!!

Colon Cleanse

Health Tips for Constipation, Weight Gain, and Health Have you noticed that when you get constipated, you gain weight or it becomes hard to lose weight? Maintaining regular bowel movements promotes better health and keeps your stomach flat. Bowel regularity will aid you in losing weight and keeping it off.  It will allow you to absorb nutrients efficiently, which helps stave off cravings and allows you to build lean muscle without gaining fat.  And most importantly, maintaining regular bowel movements can greatly reduce chances of diverticulosis or colon cancer. Factors That Can Contribute to Constipation Low thyroid function Pharmaceutical drugs; especially pain killers, antidepressants, antacids, blood pressure meds, and allergy meds Chocolate Iron supplements Deficiency of vitamin C and/or magnesium Dairy Depression Pregnancy Diabetes Neurological conditions Lack of exercise Too little fiber Not enough water intake Change in your diet What You Can Do Eat more fiber especially from cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprout, cabbage); be aware that psyllium fiber by itself can cause drying of the colon Drink more water Exercise everyday Take magnesium citrate Take vitamin C to bowel tolerance (loose stool); then cut back by 500 mg. Take herbal supplements for constipation Probiotics Don’t worry if your new juicing program caused temporary constipation Dr. Nina serves a digestive tea during her “Healthy Digestion” class at our retreats.  It’s made with: Dandelion Skullcap Chamomile Fennel seed Blessed thistle Peppermint Recipe of the Week Colon Cleanser 1/2 green apple 1/2 pear 1/2 lemon. peeled if not organic 1 bunch spinach 1 handful parsley Cut produce to fit your juicer’s feed tube.  Juice ingredients and stir.  Pour into a glass and drink as soon as possible. Serves 1 Serves 1-2 From The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health.