Almond Butter

It used to be that only my sister did weird food experiments, but now my diet and pinterest have me doing it too.  I've made almond butter a few days ago, since I love natural almond butter and it is so expensive.

Soak a cup of almonds in spring or bottled water for about 6 to hours if you do it longer it will begin to lose its flavor, which mine did, but my mother doesn't seem to mind and my jar is a quarter down already.

Blend your almonds in a food processor and add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of olive oil.  Put your finished product in a class jar with a tight lid and refrigerate.

I would skip soaking, but you want to work smarter not harder and if you don't soak them at all it takes a lot longer to blend in the food processor and you run the risk of blowing out your motor if you make it a lot.

Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Last night I decided to finally try my hand at making mashed potatoes out of cauliflower. Before making this dish my mother told me never to call mashed cauliflower potatoes because it gave her cravings that cauliflower could never live up too. By the end of the night she had changed her tune and I am now allowed to call them Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

What you will need, a food processor, a small cauliflower, fresh garlic, chives or onions, butter or smart balance, Greek yogurt, salt and pepper.

Steam your cauliflower, use only the bushy tops.  You can cook them in the oven wrapped in foil on the stove or even in the microwave as I did.  Add the steamed cauliflower in the food processor, blend it and then add half a cup plain Greek yogurt, one clove garlic, chives or onions, a tablespoon of smart balance or butter, pepper and salt to taste.

These Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes will be spicy and a little hot, but will as my mother put weirdly taste like potatoes.

Mock Garlic Mashed Potatoes with soy meat

How Easy is Easy as Pie?

How Easy is Easy as Pie?
People say easy as pie all the time, but does that statement hold water? Normally I would say no, because unless you are cooking a pre-made pie, making a pie takes a lot of time. I have some of the easiest pudding pie recipes ever created. This pie is a favorite of a boy who went to my church, he made it to donate it to the baking auction that was benefiting his troop. He outbid me, because he could not let his easy Chocolate pudding pie go.

Disclaimer, this is not a vegan recipe, but I'm sure with a few alterations it could become one.

Chocolate Pudding pie

There’s no real prep time. You can use any type of pudding or crust you like. Serves: 4 -6 Prep Time: none Total Time: 5 to 15 minutes

Ingredients 4 - 6 Pudding Cups or Homemade Pudding Chocolate Pudding Crust

Instructions
Open packages of pudding cups and scoop them into the pie crust, chill.

Pumpkin Pie Filling

You can make any pie filling you like using pudding, this recipe calls for pumpkin pudding from the jello company, but they make many other flavors.

There are dozens and dozens of puddings on the market and with that you can make any type of pie you like even Strawberry cream and custard pies. You can also make some sugar and fat free pudding pies.

Easy Christmas Recipes

Recently I went on a trip to Amish country looking for new and interesting recipes for Christmastime with my family. I found a few recipes that are delicious and very easy. One of these recipes only has two simple ingredients that many of you may already have in your homes.

Christmas chocolate dip

Ingredients Can of whip cream Favorite hot chocolate mix

Instructions
Mix whipped cream with your favorite hot chocolate or cappuccino mix. I like French vanilla. Serve with cinnamon and sugar or ginger cookie chips for an added Christmas feel.

Strawberry Pudding Pie I make this with instant strawberry pudding. 

Ingredients  1 cup skim milk  1/2 cup instant vanilla  9-inch graham cracker pie crust  2 pints of fresh strawberries Instructions In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milku and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Chill for half an hour and then spread it evenly into the pie crust. Arrange the stemmed strawberries flat side down on the pie. Crust Pie crust is key in making a good pie.