Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup

A delicious recipe for a vegetarian split pea soup made in a pressure cooker. Simple, quick, and effective. Just how I like it. Enjoy!

Pressure Cooker Split Pea Soup

Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients

• 1 lb split peas, soaked and rinsed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 celery, diced
• OR 1 tablespoon dried celery leaf
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 6 cups water

Cooking Directions

1. Add everything to the pressure cooker. Mix well.
2. Close and lock the lid.
3. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
4. Let cool via the natural release method off the burner.
5. Open the pressure cooker, remove the bay leaves, mix, and serve.

Garlicky Roasted Butternut Squash

This is sooo simple. And seriously delicious. The hardest part is cutting through the dang butternut squash! It's always my favorite holiday dish. Enjoy!

Garlicky Roasted Butternut Squash

Yield: 8-12 servings
Ingredients

• 1 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cooking Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
2. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-60 minutes or until squash is just tender and browned on the bottom.

Pressure Cooker Carnitas

Delicious carnitas made so quickly and easily in a pressure cooker. It takes almost as long to cut up the pork into cubes as it does to cook it in the pressure cooker. I don't think I'll ever go back to slow cooking again. Just amazing. Enjoy!

Pressure Cooker Carnitas

Yield: 12-16 servings
Ingredients

• 1 4-5 lbs. pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat (outside only), cut into 1-1.5 inch "cubes"
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1.5 cups water

Cooking Directions

1. Combine dry ingredients.
2. Heat stove top pressure cooker over medium high heat. Brown meat on most sides, if possible.
3. Add spices and mix.
4. Add onions and mix.
5. Add water and mix. Add the bone (from the pork shoulder) and push to the bottom.
6. Cook at medium to medium high pressure for 45 minutes.
7. Release pressure via the quick release method.
8. If you want it crispy, continue below. Otherwise, serve immediately.
9. Remove pork. Uncover and cook one hour to reduce cooking liquid.
10. Set oven to broil.
11. Transfer pork and cooking liquid to large baking sheet.
12. Pull apart larger pieces with two forks, and then press pork into roughly uniform thickness.
13. Place under broiler for 2-5 minutes until browned. Use a large, flat spatula to flip the pork and brown again for 2-5 minutes more.

Banana Blossom Stir Fry

A meal my wife made up on the fly (winged it, as she likes to say). Once you've gone through the long, long, long processing of the banana blossom, it's pretty easy. That info you can find here.

The banana blossom gives an almost coconut-like taste to the dish. It's texture is reminiscent of green onions, perhaps. Not hard, slightly crunchy. Plus, it's just fun to try a new ingredient! Enjoy!

Banana Blossom Stir Fry

Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

• 1 banana blossom, prepared
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 eggs
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup cooked rice, dry

Cooking Directions

1. Boil the prepped banana blossom for a minute. Drain.
2. Heat the canola oil, stir fry the onion and carrot, then the banana blossom a few minutes later. Add turmeric.
3. Add the cooked rice until heated through. Add whatever sauces and seasonings you like. Set entire mixture aside.
4. Scramble the eggs, add the garlic, then add the rice mixture back to the pan. Stir well and enjoy.

Sourdough Pizza

Here is our sourdough take on our classic Thin Crust Pizza on a pizza steel. If you like a little bit of that sourdough favor (but not a full-blown San Francisco punch), you're going to be into this. It's a little different and good in its own way. Let us know how it turned out for you. Enjoy!

Thin Crust Pizza on Steel

Yield: 3 pizzas
Ingredients

• 205 g lukewarm water
• 1 cup (183 g) sourdough starter
• 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 345 g all-purpose flour

Cooking Directions

1. Mix the starter, salt, and olive oil with the water in a non-airtight lidded container.
2. Mix in the flour without kneading, using a spoon.
3. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature until dough rises and flattens. This could take longer because of the sourdough.
4. At this point, you can store it in the fridge for up to a week or dust the top with flour and cut into three pieces. The other pieces may be wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and stored in the freezer for several months.
5. Preheat oven to its highest temperature and place baking steel or stone on the middle or lowest rack. Let preheat for 20-40 minutes.
6. Shape dough into a ball by stretching the surface around to the bottom on all four sides. Do this minimally.
7. Flatten with your hands on a well-floured surface. Get the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Use a floured rolling pin if needed. The dough will spring back some, so you may need to stretch it further than you think of stretch it again. Once stretched and relaxed, place onto a cornmeal-covered pizza peel.
8. Place your toppings on the dough. Be minimalistic.
9. Slide the pizza directly onto the steel or stone. Pizza may be done in as little as 4 minutes, so check to make sure it's not overcooking.
10. Allow to cool for a minute on a rack to allow the cheese to set.

Vietnamese Ham (Cha Lua)

Vietnamese ham, also know as Vietnamese pork roll or cha lua, is one of the simpler sausages to make. All you need is some ground pork, some seasoning, and baking powder. The baking powder and tapioca flour add the desired bounciness you're looking for. In fact, some chefs bounce the meat on the counter to make sure it's cooked. If it bounces, it's done. To get it just like you would find in a grocery store or restaurant, use the ingredients below. Otherwise, go crazy and mix it up!

This goes particularly well with some stir-fried veggies and rice, in soup, or in spring rolls. The leftovers freeze quite well too. Enjoy!

Vietnamese Ham (Cha Lua)

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground pork
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons tapioca flour

Cooking Directions

1. In a large bowl, add the pork and fish sauce and mix.
2. In a separate bowl, add the water, tapioca flour, and baking powder and mix.
3. Fold this into the pork. It will be quite moist.
4. Cover and allow to rest at least 6 hrs in the fridge - preferably overnight.
5. When ready to cook, grind the mixture in small batches in a food processor. It’s very important to keep the mixture cold, so only work in small batches and keep remainder in the fridge. The texture should be very smooth.
6. You can either wrap it up in banana leaf or in plastic wrap. Wrapping it in plastic wrap is much faster and easier. The meat will rise and expand a bit when cooked too.
7. Steam for about 20-25 minutes.

Stuffed Roast Pork Loin

This one's a little tricky and takes a little time, yet the roast that emerges is savory with a not-too-sweet stuffing. It's huge and well worth it. It also works extremely well without the stuffing. The brine is just that delicious. Enjoy!

Stuffed Roast Pork Loin

Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients

• 2 quarts pork brine
• 2.5 pound pork loin roast
• 1/2 cup fennel, cut into 1 1/2 by 1/2 inch pieces
• canola oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon onion, chopped
• 1 cup fig and balsamic jam
• 1/4 cup stock
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• kosher salt and fresh black pepper
Pork Brine
• 1/4 cup honey
• 12 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1/2 cup garlic cloves, crushed, skin on
• 2 tablespoons black peppercorns
• 1 cup kosher salt
• 8 cups water
Fig and Balsamic Jam
• 0.8 pounds figs, preferably Black Mission or Kadota, stems removed and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns, tied in a sachet
• lemon juice

Cooking Directions

Pork Brine
1. Combine all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring to dissolve salt. Remove from heat and cool completely, then chill before using.
Fig and Balsamic Jam
2. Combine figs, sugar, balsamic vinegar, and sachet in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then lower to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring to break up large chunks of fig, until the jam reaches 215 F to 220 F. Remove from heat and remove the sachet. Add lemon juice to taste. Let cool to room temperature.
Pork Roast
3. Pour the brine into a large container and add the pork. Refrigerate for 10 hours but no longer.
4. Remove pork and rinse. Pat dry or let air dry. Discard brine.
5. With a long knife, make a horizontal lengthwise cut all the way through the center of the loin. Work from both ends. Then make a vertical cut to form a cross.
6. Set a rack over a baking sheet and line with paper towels.
7. Heat a small amount of canola oil in a medium pan over medium heat, cook fennel for 2-3 minutes until just tender. Add garlic and shallot and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the jam until warm, then add stock, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until combined. Transfer to a bowl and let it cool completely.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Put a roasting rack in a roasting pan and put it in the oven.
9. Meanwhile, use your fingers to widen the cavity in the meat. Stuff the pork loin from both ends all the way to the center. Tie the loin with kitchen twine.
10. Season the loin with salt and pepper all over. Heat some more canola oil in a large pan over medium-high heat until smoking. Brown the loin on all sides, 2-3 minutes per side.
11. Transfer the pork to the roasting pan and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until the pork is 135 F to 140 F. Remove from the oven and let it rest in a warm spot for 30 minutes.
12. Remove the string and cut into 1/4 inch slices. Plate and sprinkle with coarse salt.

Perfect Collard Greens

These are the perfect basic collard greens. As is, they're vegan. From here, you can fancy them up however you like. They go great with some mac and cheese. Enjoy!

Perfect Collard Greens

Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients

• 1 large bunch collard greens
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce

Cooking Directions

1. In a large pot, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil and add seasoning and hot sauce. Reduce heat to medium.
2. Wash the collard greens thoroughly. Slice into 1/2 to 1-inch thick slices.
3. Place greens in pot and add butter. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done, taste and adjust seasoning.

Sinful Baked Mac and Cheese

Deliciously sinful baked mac and cheese is a luxury. A luxury in that it's so rich, you should probably only have a small portion and have a large salad and steamed veggies with it. It's not, however, a luxury in time or cost. Extremely easy and simple, this will fulfill any mac and cheese craving you're likely to have for a long time. Enjoy!

Sinful Baked Mac and Cheese

Yield: 8-12 servings
Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 3/4 cups milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups (8 ounces) sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup (4 ounces) Gruyere, grated OR
• 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
• 1/2 pound macaroni or similar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside.
2. Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
3. Melt the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When it bubbles, add the flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
4. While whisking, slowly pour in the hot milk a little at a time to keep the mixture smooth. Continue whisking constantly until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick, 8 to 12 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, and 3/4 cups Gruyère (or 1/4 cup parmesan). Set the cheese sauce aside.
6. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni until the outside of is cooked and the inside is underdone, 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain the macaroni. Stir the macaroni into the cheese sauce.
7. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer the dish to a wire rack for 5 minutes to set, then serve.

Healthy Granola Bars

Most often, granola bars are laden with lots of extra sugar and less-than-good-for-you ingredients. The "healthy" part of them all but disappears at that point. Sure, there are a few good ones out there now, but they can be expensive. For the same price you can make an entire batch or more.

The best part is that the recipe below can be tweaked to your liking. Don't like dates? Sub in raisins. Want to cut back on the honey? Go for it. Got a thing against peanut butter? Well then you're crazy and I just can't help you. Or use a nut/seed butter. The possibilities are endless! Enjoy!

Healthy Granola Bars

Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients

• 1 cup dates
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup walnuts, roasted
• 1/2 cup peanuts, roasted
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats

Cooking Directions

1. Soak dates in water for 10 minutes.
2. Process dates in a food processor until small bits remain (about 1 minute). It should be able to roll into a ball, with a dough consistency.
3. Toast the oats at 350 F in the oven until slightly golden brown, about 15 minutes.
4. Place oats, nuts, and dates in a bowl.
5. Warm honey and peanut butter in a small pan over low heat. Stir and pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates.
6. Once mixed, transfer to an 8x8 or 7x11 dish lined with parchment paper.
7. Press down until uniformly flat. Cover with parchment paper, and let set in the fridge for 15-20 minutes to harden.
8. Remove bars from pan and chop into 16 bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or wrapped up in the freezer.

Flourless chocolate cake

Flourless chocolate cake is one of those delicacies that seems difficult but is not. There are only a few ingredients, and the hardest part is letting a mixer beat the egg whites into stiff peaks. If you're gluten free, then you can have your cake and eat it too! Unless you eat the whole thing at once. And top is off with some fruit, whipped cream, and/or a caramel sauce. When it's this good, this becomes a judgement-free zone. Enjoy!

Flourless chocolate cake

Yield: 16 servings
Ingredients

• 1 lb bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 9 eggs, separated
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
2. Butter a springform pan.
3. Put the chocolate and butter into a stainless steel mixing bowl and heat over (but not touching) about 1 inch of simmering water until melted, stirring occasionally.
4. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and vanilla in a mixing bowl until pale yellow in color.
5. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg yolk mixture.
6. Beat the egg whites in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form and fold into the chocolate mixture.
7. Pour into the cake pan and bake until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, about 20 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan.

Red wine braised short ribs

This is such a powerful yet simple dish. The braising really tenderizes and brings out the flavor of the short ribs, like it does to so many other delicious dishes (e.g. Osso Buco). Serve this on its own, with potatoes, polenta, or, as pictured, risotto. Enjoy!

Red wine braised short ribs

Yield: 1 piece per serving
Ingredients

• 3 pounds boneless beef short ribs
• seasoned flour
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, diced
• 4 carrots, diced
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 14 oz. can plum tomatoes, broken up
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried herbs de Provence
• salt and pepper

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Coat the shortribs with seasoned flour and brown in the oil.
3. Remove from the pan and add the onion, celery, mushrooms, garlic, and carrots.
4. Sauté another 5 minutes, add the wine, and reduce by half.
5. Add the tomatoes, stock, and herbs. Cover and braise covered in the oven for 1 hour at 400 degrees then reduce the heat to 350 F, uncover, and continue cooking for another hour or until tender.
6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Roast asparagus salad with baked goat cheese

This is a wonderful, fresh, and flavorful salad. Rich but not too rich. The asparagus gets tender, the dressing is outstanding, and the goat cheese is crispy yet smooth. Serve it as a starter or just as a light meal. Enjoy!

Roast asparagus salad with baked goat cheese

Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup shallot, minced
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 4 cups frisee
• salt and pepper
• 2 pounds asparagus
• olive oil
• kosher salt
• black pepper
• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 4 slices goat cheese (3/4 inch slices)

Cooking Directions

1. Place the shallot and olive oil in a skillet and cook for 2 minutes over medium heat.
2. Add the vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and stir well to incorporate. Set aside and cool to room temperature.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
4. Break off the tough ends of the asparagus, and, if they're thick, peel them.
5. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, then toss to coat the asparagus completely. Spread the asparagus in a single layer and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.
6. Roast the asparagus until tender but still crisp.
7. Meanwhile, put the flour in one bowl, mix the egg and milk in one bowl, and put he breadcrumbs in one bowl.
8. Dip the cheese slices into the flour, then the egg-milk wash, and then into the breadcrumbs, alternating your hands.
9. Refrigerate until ready to use.
10. When ready to use, turn the oven broiler to low. Place the goat cheese discs onto an oiled pan and place under the broiler on high. Broil until brown.
11. Toss the frisee in the dressing until well-coated, then season with salt and pepper.
12. Plate, and top each salad with a goat cheese disk and asparagus spears. Finish with extra salt and pepper.

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed peppers are incredibly easy, yet seem fancy and nostalgic at the same time. Of course you can have the filling be whatever you like, but the following recipe works pretty well. Some versions include and slightly watered-down ketchup that is poured over the filled peppers before adding the cheese on top, though we found that wasn't necessary and made it a little too sweet. Just keep the basic method for blanching the peppers the same, and you can go to town on whatever filling you want. Enjoy!

Stuffed Peppers

Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

• 4 bell peppers, tops removed, cored and seeded
• 1/2 cup rice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, minced
• 12 ounces ground meat
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
• 5 ounces (about 1 1/4 cups) cheese, shredded
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• salt and pepper

Cooking Directions

1. Boil 4 quarts of water with 1 tablespoon salt in a large pot. Cook peppers until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Remove and drain peppers with a slotted spoon or tongs.
2. Add the rice to the pot and cook until tender, about 13 minutes. Drain rice and transfer to a large bowl.
3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the ground meat, breaking it into small pieces until no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer to the bowl with the rice.
4. Add the tomatoes, 1 cup of cheese, the parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
5. Heat the oven to 350 F with the rack in the middle.
6. In a 9-inch square baking dish, place the peppers cut side up. Divide the filling evenly among the peppers. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
7. Bake until the cheese in browned and the filling is heated through, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

The Easiest Macarons

This is the simplest and easiest macaron recipe I have come across that actually works well. It's not complicated, nor does it require a lot of time. Even better, the almond meal mentioned in the recipe is the very cheap one that is sold at Trader Joe's. Did you know they also sell cashew meal? I've yet to try it but it'd probably make a delicious macaron as well.

Be sure to not get any yolk mixed in with the egg whites, otherwise it won't make the meringue correctly. And no stiff, glossy peaks makes everyone sad. Let me know how yours turn out and what you like filling yours with. Enjoy!

The Easiest Macarons

Yield: about 30 macarons
Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
• 2/3 cup almond meal
• 3 egg whites, room temperature
• 1/4 cup white sugar

Cooking Directions

1. Through a sieve, sift the powdered sugar and almond meal together to remove large pieces.
2. Using a stand mixer, whip the egg whites on low speed until frothy. Gradually add the sugar, and then whip on high speed until stiff peaks form. The egg whites should be glossy and thick.
3. Fold half of the almond mixture into the egg whites. Add the rest. Fold the mixture 15 to 20 times; the batter will be thick and fall slowly from the spatula.
4. Put the batter into a pastry bag. Pipe 1-inch circles onto baking sheets lined with silicon mats or parchment paper. Let rest until a skin forms on top and is dry to the touch, 15 to 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time. If you are baking two sheets at a time, the bottom and top sheets should be switched to prevent browning on the bottom. If only baking one sheet at a time, bake on the bottom rack first for 5 minutes with an empty sheet on top. After 5 minutes, rotate the sheet and move the bottom sheet to the top and the top sheet to the bottom.
7. You will know the macarons are done when you can touch them and the top of the macaron is set, and it does not slide around under your finger. The macarons must be set before you take them out of the oven. If the macaron tops slide, put them back in the oven on the middle rack for another 2 minutes.
8. Let them cool for about 10 minutes on the baking sheet and then take them off. Fill as desired with your favorite fillings. A honey buttercream recipe follows. Allow the completed macarons to sit for at least a few hours.

For the honey buttercream:

Makes enough to fill about 40 macarons

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter (1 stick), room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons honey

Cooking Directions:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter using the whisk attachment for about 2 minutes. Slowly add the powdered sugar, and whisk until everything is incorporated. Do the same with the honey. Beat another minute or so to get everything well incorporated.

The Best Cheddar Biscuits

Biscuits are easy to make, but don't mess with it too much. The secret to flaky and tender biscuits is all in how the butter is distributed throughout the dough. If done correctly, it'll melt and puff up the biscuits when they bake at a high temperature. This is an adaptation from America's Test Kitchen, so you know it's perfect. Enjoy!

If you don't have buttermilk, just use milk mixed with lemon juice or vinegar. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a measuring cup. Fill to 1 cup with milk. Let sit 5 minutes before using.

The Best Cheddar Biscuits

Yield: 20-24 biscuits
Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup buttermilk (or substitute)
• 8 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted, for brushing biscuits
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt 1 stick of butter first and set aside to cool.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until evenly mixed.
4. Add the grated cheese and mix it into the dry ingredients.
5. Pour the cold buttermilk (or substitute) into a medium bowl. Pour in the cooled, melted butter and mix it together with a whisk or a fork.
6. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour in the buttermilk mixture and mix the batter quickly and gently, just until the batter is moistened and comes together. Do not over-mix the batter.
7. Use a large spoon to scoop up and portion out the batter onto the baking sheet for 20-24 biscuits.
8. Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, until golden brown.
9. While the biscuits are baking, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the garlic and the minced parsley to the butter.
10. When the biscuits are baked, brush the biscuits with the melted garlic-parsley butter.

Ribbon Finger Jello

Let's take a step back in time to when jello desserts were the bee's knees. Around that time is when you get some really weird ones that involved ham or candied things. Gross. But some of them were actually pretty decent, like this here recipe. It's a beautiful presentation of layers jello and gelatinized condensed milk. Luckily, it also tastes as good as it looks. Enjoy!

Ribbon Finger Jello

Yield: 1 big pan of jello
Ingredients

• 3 oz package orange gelatin
• 3 oz package lime gelatin
• 3 oz package lemon gelatin
• 3 oz package strawberry gelatin
• 6 envelopes unflavored gelatin
• 14 oz can condensed milk
• 5 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1/4 cup cold water

Cooking Directions

1. Dissolve the orange gelatin and 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin in 1 cup of hot water. Pour into a 3 x 9 x 13 inch pan which has been lightly sprayed with oil. Chill until almost firm, approximately 20 minutes. If too firm, the next layer will slide off.
2. Soften 2 envelopes of unflavored gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Add 3/4 cup hot water. In a separate bowl, mix the condensed milk with 1 cup boiling water. Combine both mixtures. Pour 1 cup of the new milk mixture over the first layer and add 1 cup between each subsequent layer.
3. Repeat each gelatin procedure in this order: orange, lime, lemon, strawberry. Alternate with milk mixture and ending with a gelatin layer. While each layer is chilling, mix the next layer. If mixture becomes too thick, set in hot water or microwave. When completely firm, cut into desired size.
4. For a quick method, place the pan with gelatin in the freezer for approximately 12 minutes, then approximately 8 minutes for each subsequent layer.

Honey Walnut Cigars

If you've ever had a craving for baklava but really don't want to spend the next few hours making it, this will satisfy you. It's simple and much quicker. I threw this together with some extra filo dough and nuts we had around. It really hits the spot for a healthy filo dessert. Enjoy!

Honey Walnut Cigars

Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients

• 4 sheets filo dough
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon citrus juice

Cooking Directions

1. Tear a sheet of filo in half length-wise.
2. Put some walnut pieces in the sheet, and roll it around the walnuts.
3. Do this for all 8 cigars.
4. Arrange in a dish, and bake in 350 degree oven until golden brown. This shouldn't take too long.
5. Remove from oven to cool.
6. Meanwhile, bring the honey, citrus juice, and water to a boil and then simmer.
7. Lightly pour the honey mixture over the cigars. Let cool.

Baked Sprouted Falafel

This falafel is extremely easy. All you need is a food processor to make the falafel dough and you're all set. Even better, they're baked and still get a crispy crust on the outside. Enjoy with your favorite sauces, hummus, whatnot. The only thing you really have to prep for in the sprouting, but that super easy. Make them bigger ro smaller too. Experiment and go crazy. I'd like to see one giant falafel. Enjoy!

The Easiest Gluten-free Sprouted Baked Falafel

Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients

• 1 cup dried chickpeas
• 1 garlic clove, chopped
• 1/2 onion, quartered
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Labneh Balls

Labneh is a pretty good substitute for cheese, especially if you like yogurt. This labneh is made from kefir, so it's kefir cheese. It's even more impressive when you form little balls of super intense spices of it. Enjoy!

Kefir Labneh Balls

Yield: 10+ balls
Ingredients

• 1 quart kefir
• salt
• paprika
• cayenne pepper
• ginger powder
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• bread crumbs

Cooking Directions

1. Prepare kefir like you normally would but let it ferment longer until it completely separates from the whey.
2. Gently place the yogurt in the center of cheesecloth folded a couple times. Gather up the ends of the cloth and tie up tight, gently gathering up the kefir curds to form a ball. Save the whey for your own uses.
3. Hang the kefir overnight. The next morning, much of the whey will have drained out - firm on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside.
4. Put your spice mix in a bowl and bread crumbs in another bowl. The amount you need will vary according to preferences, so season the spices to taste. Pinch off chunks of cheese, dunk them in the spices, then gently roll them to form balls.
5. They can be served immediately or left in the fridge for a couple days. The bread crumb ones are also pretty good baked.