Date Nut Cake

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Need a little lovely cake that won’t make you feel guilty?  This one rocks and is made without flour or oil.  All you need are fresh medjool dates and a few other simple ingredients.  Add some creative flair and you have something beautiful in less than 30 minutes!

This date log has only 3 ingredients – chopped cashews, mashed dates, and organic shredded coconut.  You can roll it into a log or shape it into any shape you like.  Hearts at Valentines and candy canes for Christmas.  If it is for someone special, you could shape it with their first initial.  Use your imagination and share your ideas please!

Date Cake

Ingredients

  • 1 -2 lbs organic medjool dates (go organic here as dates are HIGHLY sprayed)
  • 1/2 cup – 1 cup chopped cashews
  • 1 cup of shredded organic coconut

Instructions

  1. Slice open dates and remove seeds.  Mash by hand or use a food processor or blender.  You will need to add a little water and mash in small amounts if you use a machine. If you mash by hand just imagine working into a dough, much like play dough.
  2. Put the mashed dates into a bowl or on a cutting board and add in the chopped cashews.  Mix in coconut if you wish.  Finally, shape, sprinkle with shredded coconut, chill and enjoy!
  3. Dark chocolate chips are a good addition or carob chips.

Rich Peanut Butter Bars

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This little gem reminded me of the peanut butter cookies my mom made when I was little.  Back in the day, we used Crisco!  (I know!)  Today, we use real butter and enjoy the best of ingredients.  You might try coconut oil sometime as a nutritious twist!  Peanut butter bars are simple and delicious!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup organic peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup organic butter
  • 1 1/2 cup Sucanat (I reduce this to 1 1/4 cup)
  • 2 pastured eggs
  • 1 cup freshly milled hard white wheat or pastry wheat flour or gluten free flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp.baking powder aluminum free
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt (use less if your butter has salt)
  • 1 tsp.vanilla

Instructions

  1. Melt butter and peanut butter together. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until well blended.
  2. Press into a greased 9″x13″pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
  3. Cool and cut into squares.
  4. 1/2 cup of cocoa may be added for an extra rich brownie.

Pulled Beef

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Have some stew meat in the freezer but not in the mood for beef stew?  Transform stew meat into pulled beef with DIY barbecue sauce.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs stew meat (we buy ours from a local farmer, grassfed/grassfinished)
  • 3 TBL organic butter
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 cup of barbecue sauce

Instructions

  1. Turn to low heart (175 degrees) Cover and cook on low for one hour or until meat is tender. Use a fork to shred beef. Just prior to serving, add 1/2 cup barbecue sauce.

Old Fashioned Barbecue Sauce

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We enjoyed this tasty old fashioned barbecue sauce on slow cooked stew meat, shredded and paired with several sides of raw salads.   Have some fun and use your imagination

Ingredients

  • 1 cup organic ketchup
  • 1/2 cup organic molasses
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is a GREAT brand)
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 TBS Worcestershire sauce (a gluten-free brand)
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Mix ‘er up and enjoy!

Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes

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Who doesn’t remember a good old fashioned sloppy joe from their childhood?  Sloppy Joes can be made with all natural, nutritious ingredients.  Easy on mom and often a favorite!  This very simple recipe is tried and true, submitted by a sweet mom and friend, Jessica Fuester.

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds ground beef
  • 1 onion
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons mustard
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1 medium size bottle of ketchup

Instructions

  1. Cook the meat and onions together.
  2. Then add all other ingredients. Cook for at least one hour, but if you have time cook for a few hours.
  3. Once that bottle of ketchup has been emptied into the pot, fill the ketchup bottle halfway with water and add to pot.
  4. Need to stretch this recipe into more meals? Try adding a cup or two of oats. Gluten free, adds nutrition and bulk.

Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

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So simple!  More creative homemade goodness for your family!  Honey and mustard go together so beautifully and apple cider vinegar is considered a health elixir around here.  We think you should have a ‘lil bit of apple cider vinegar every day!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, first cold pressed
  • 1/3 cup raw honey
  • 1/4 cup prepared mustard
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is the best brand)

Instructions

  1. Mix together, for a sweeter version, increase honey to taste

Cashew Dressing

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Want to do something great for the hearts of those you love?  Have a handful of cashews!  Cashews are known to do the body good!  Nut consumption is reported to lower your risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease.  Hooray for cashews!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sunflower, safflower or grapeseed oil (needs to be a mild oil with no strong flavor)
  • 1/3 cup tamari sauce or nama shoyu (could substitute soy sauce)
  • 1/3 cup organic apple cider vinegar (Bragg’s is our favorite brand)
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 2 handfuls raw cashews

Instructions

  1. Blend in blender

Submitted by long time co-op fan, Kim M.Kim says “This lasts several weeks in my fridge. My daughter calls it “Mom’s Magical Dressing,” because she wouldn’t eat salad before she tried this dressing.”

Lime & Garlic Salad Dressing

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Two of my daughters whipped this concoction up in a matter of minutes!  Easy and homemade.   Great for getting your immune system headed in a healthy direction with fresh lime juice and pressed garlic.  Try added cayenne if you love a little hot jolt to make your salad hum!

Ingredients

  • 3-4 organic limes (equal to least 1/2 cup lime juice)
  • 4 tablespoons of mustard
  • 2 cups of extra virgin olive oil or sunflower oil
  • 3 minced/pressed garlic cloves (it’s gonna be STRONG in garlic flavor)
  • Celtic sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (we use about 1/2 tsp of each)
  • 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Whisk together! Enjoy!

Cilantro Salad Dressing

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Cilantro is your friend!   The next time you head out for Mexican or Thai food. .. enjoy some cilantro.  You are doing your body a favor for sure.  Cilantro is said to contain immune-boosting properties that help prevent urinary tract and fungal infections.  Like other green leafy vegetables, cilantro is a source of iron and magnesium.  When we get a bunch of cilantro, we snip the ends off and promptly put the cilantro in a small mason jar with water to extend the life of the herb.  Then, we use cilantro in guacamole, beans, soup or salad and if there is any left, we make this tasty dressing!

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and or stems
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp. raw local honey

Instructions

  1. Process in blender until smooth and creamy then refrigerate.

Navy Beans

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Navy beans with shredded carrots.  Gotta try this one!  We love love love this recipe especially because navy beans cook quicker than other beans.  Fast is fun in our house!

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ pounds dried beans (soaked over night – then drain and rinse the next morning)
  • 2 TBL coconut oil in stock pot
  • Add 1 chopped onion, sauté ’til translucent
  • Add 2 garlic cloves, pressed or diced
  • Cover generously with filtered water
  • Add 2 TBS sea salt (add more if desired)
  • Add 2 cups of shredded carrots just before serving
  • Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook on medium to high heat until you see a consistent boil.
  2. Lower heat and continue to cook for 1 hour or until beans are tender.
  3. Keep an eye on the water and add more as needed.