Bone broth

4 pounds bones (beef, bison, chicken, turkey, venison) preferred organic and grass fed
2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (drizzle to coat bones

2 quarts filtered water
2 roughly chopped carrots
1 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
Parsley
1Tablespoon sea salt

Set slow cooker on low and cook for 24 hours.

When done, discard bones and vegetables and herbs.
Remove solids using a strainer
Refrigerate broth overnight
Skim off top fat layer

Freeze in 1 cup size container for ease of use later on

Heat and use in soups or as you like

S ' more Dessert

3 cups crushed graham crackers
3/4 to 1 cup melted butter
4 Tablespoons sugar ( optional)

Press in very large pie plate or square pan
Bake 350 degrees for 10 minutes - cool

1 pound marshmallows
1 Cup milk

Microwave until marshmallows are just melted and COOL

Whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine by folding the marshmallow mixture into the whipped cream.
Grate about 1-1/2 oz bitter chocolate and fold this into whipped cream/marshmallow mixture.

Grate about 1 oz bitter chocolate on the top

Very light dessert. I've made this at Christmas time. The recipe is another delicious recipe from Gramma Dean.

Caramel rolls

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 cups buttermilk
6. Cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt (scant)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 package yeast ( or 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast from a bulk container)

I mix the ingredients in my Bosch bread maker. And mix them in order. I melt the butter and use whole milk thickened with vinegar as most of the time I don't have buttermilk in the fridge. I start out with 4 cups flour, and gradually add more until it doesn't stick too much to the side of the bowl. When all mixed I put the speed up to 2 and let it mix for about 7-8 minutes.  Let set and rest 10 minutes or so.

Caramel sauce
3 cups brown sugar
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Heat above until sugar is dissolved and slightly thickened.

Knead on floured surface, and roll to about 10 X 18 inch rectangle. Spread with 4 or so soft butter and sprinkle with a sugar cinnamon mixture, about (1 teaspoon cinnamon and 3 tablespoons white sugar)

Starting with long side roll up and press to seal.  Cup into about 12 - 14 cinnamon rolls

Pour caramel sauce into sauce pan ( use  two. 9 X 13 inch pans) place about 6 or 7 rolls in each pan.

Allow to rise in a warm place about 2 hours or until double.
Bake 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes
 Invert onto platter while warm

Tomato Basil Soup

1 1/4. cup pesto. (Homemade recipe at bottom)
5 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
Add above to crock pot on low

Sauté the following until soft
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup diced onion
2 stalks of celery
3/4 teaspoon oregano
2. Teaspoons sugar

Add sauté ingredients to tomatoes and pesto
And cook 7 hours.

With an emersion blender, blend the soup to the desired consistency. I let some of the vegetables remain without completely liquefying everything in the crock pot.

Add 1 1/3 cup cream just before serving.....very very good

I make the home made pesto, here it is;
Blend the following together (I used a spoon to mix thoroughly)
2/3 cup basil
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cloves of fresh garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt

Story: when visiting Elizabeth we often enjoy noon lunch at Zuppas. They have the best soup. I went online and found this 'copycat' recipe for Zuppas tomato basil soup, and it is great!  If we lived closer than 4. Hours away, I would go there once a week 😉

Russian Tea Cakes

1 cup soft butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 Tablespoons confectioners sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup confectionary sugar to roll cookies after they've cooled

350 degree oven and bake for 12 - 15 minutes, cool, and roll X2 in sugar.

Story; Grandma Iszler made these every Christmas, so good. Also Wills favorite Christmas cookies.

Pumpkin bread

1 can Libby's Pumpkin

4 Eggs

1 cup oil

2/3 cup water

1 cup sugar (the original recipe called for 3 cups)

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking Soda

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cloves

1/4 tsp ginger

Beat together pumpkin mixture. Add dry ingredients and lightly mix until well combined. Add to 2 loaf pans and bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees.

Story. Elizabeth made this after Thanksgiving 2016. An easy and good bread recipe. She found it on Allrecipies, with 6000 plus 5 star ratings. We added chocolate chips to part of a loaf per Laura's request. 

Pumpkin breakfast cookies by; Whole foods

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

Mix together dry ingredients

1 cup puréed pumpkin

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup applesauce

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 - 2 Tablespoons almond milk ( or regular milk)

1 egg

Mix above ingredients together well

Combine wet and dry ingredients, stir just until mixed ( do not over mix)

Bake 350 degrees. 15-18 minutes

Story-a whole foods recipe using healthy ingredients. I tried them fall of 2016, they are OK, can't compare to chocolate revel bars or brownies, but pretty good for a healthy snack.

Chia Pudding

Serves 4

1 can full fat coconut milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 Tbsp vanilla
splash almond extract (optional)
1/3 cup chia seeds

Blend all liquid ingredients just until mixed. DO NOT OVERMIX. Then stir in chia seeds and refrigerate 2+ hours.

Glacamole

Avacado. 3 or so, mashed

Onion. 1/2 finely chopped

Tomato. 2 diced

Hot picketed peppers or jalapeño to taste, finely chopped

Cilantro - about 1 Tablespoon

Salt

Garlic - minced

Lime- juice from 1 

Mix together and serve with Doritos 

Story; David made this while visiting summer of 2016. Very good

Carrot cake

2 1/2 carrots, grated (I use food processor for this)

1 Apple - medium. Grated

1/2 orange, peeled and blended with;

1/3 cup water (if using sugar not syrup increase water to 1/2 cup)

1/4 cup oil

3/4 cup maple syrup (can use 1 cup sugar instead of syrup)

Add blended ingredients to;

2 cups flour

1/4 cup corn starch

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt 

Bake in 9x9 cake pan or the equivalent. 350 degrees for :30 minutes.

Frosting;

Use a hand mixer and blend the following.

1  - 8 ounce package cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 to 1/2 cup maple syrup. ( add just enough to get the sweetness you like, and the consistency)

Chopped pecans (optional)

Story- I made this for Will's birthday in 2011, he thought it was the best carrot cake recipe. At that time I used sugar. In 2016 after we made maple syrup, I have been using the syrup as a sweetener. I works nicely in this recipe. 

David's Pancakes

1 cup Sweet potato, cooked and mashed

1 plantain grated

1Tablespoon olive oil

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Milk (add at the end to make the right consistency)

1/2 cup almond flour or almond meal

1 cup all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup corn meal

Blueberries

Mix liquid ingredients and vegetables together and add dry ingredients.

Add enough milk to make consistency for pancakes

Enjoy:

Story-David stayed with us awhile July 2016, he had developed this recipe and shared it with us. We all very much liked these pancakes served with sausage and maple syrup.

Energy Bites

1 cup old fashion oatmeal
2/3 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup cocoa nibs
1/3 cup chia seed
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together, form into rounds the size of a walnut or a little larger, freeze.

Dianne made a variety of this recipe Spring 2016, they are good, not at all sweet, and filling

Peanut Butter and Honey Granola

3½ cups old-fashioned oatmeal
½ cup shredded coconut
½ cup chopped nuts (any kind)
¾ cup peanut butter 
½ cup honey
⅓ cup butter (or coconut oil)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
dash salt

Preheat oven to 325. Combine oatmeal, nuts, salt, and coconut. In a small saucepan over medium heat add the butter, peanut butter, and honey. Stir frequently. Once melted, remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pour the melted ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Combine the ingredients. Pour the granola on a baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, stirring a few times. The more you stir, the less clumpy it will be. Also the less chance of burning.  Store in an air tight container for two weeks. Use on yogurt or dip your banana in it or add in some dried fruit or chocolate chunks and call it trail mix. 

I like having snacks around that are really tasty but not filled with heavily processed ingredients or refined sugar. The problem is, this doesn't stay around long!

Brownie in a mug

2 Tbsp butter, melted

2 Tbsp water
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 dash salt
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
4 Tbsp flour

In a 12 oz coffee mug, add water, butter, vanilla, and dash of salt. Stir well. Add cocoa, stir. Add sugar, stir. Add flour, stir. Microwave for 60-90 seconds. (I think I did 75 seconds) Do not overcook. Enjoy with a spoon. Now you have one serving of a fresh, fudgy brownie whenever you want! Plus you don't have to worry about what to do with the leftovers!

For an ever better sized portion, I halved the recipe and cooked it for 1/2 the time.

Soaked Whole Wheat Pancakes

2 cups whole wheat flour

1.5 cups whole milk

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 eggs lightly beaten

2 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder

Notes/Story: Mix vinegar into the whole milk in small dish and add to whole wheat flour in big glass mixing bowl. Cover and place in a warm spot for 12-24 hrs. 

Then add rest of ingredients and make into pancakes on griddle. 

"Because they are acidic, buttermilk, cultured milk, yoghurt and whey (as well as lemon juice and vinegar) activate the enzyme phytase, which works to break down phytic acid in the bran of grains. Sour milk products also provide lactic acid and lactobacilli that help break down complex starches, irritating tannins and difficult-to-digest proteins. Soaking increases vitamin content and makes all the nutrients in grains more available. This method has the further advantage of so softening whole meal flour that the final product is often indistinguishable from one made with white flour." - Nourishing Traditions (where I found the recipe)

Creamy cauliflower soup

2 tbsp butter

1 small onion, diced

2 cups chicken stock 

2 cups cream

1.5 heads chopped cauliflower 

8 oz shredded cheese of choice (cheddar is recommended)

1/2 tsp paprika

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp salt

Pepper to taste

Notes/Story: Saute onion in butter until soft. Add cream and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and add chopped cauliflower. Boil for 20 min until the cauliflower is really soft. Then put soup in blender and blend until puréed or use immersion blender if you want it more chunky. Pour back into origional soup pot and add spices and cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and serve immediately. 

I love the creamy cauliflower soup at Cafe  Zupas so I blended a couple recipes together and came up with this one. It's pretty close to the Zupas one and Will even likes it!