Perfect Popcorn

Ingredients

3 T coconut oil (or other high smoke point oil)

1/2 cup popcorn kernels

1 T (or more) of butter

Salt to taste

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a 3-quart saucepan on medium high heat. If you are using coconut oil, allow all of the solid oil to melt.

2.  Put 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil and cover the pan.

3. When the kernels pop, add the rest of the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in an even layer. Cover, remove from heat and count 30 seconds. This method first heats the oil to the right temperature, then waiting 30 seconds brings all of the other kernels to a near-popping temperature so that when they are put back on the heat, they all pop at about the same time.

4. Return the pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. Once the popping starts in earnest, gently shake the pan by moving it back and forth over the burner.

Try to keep the lid slightly ajar to let the steam from the popcorn release (the popcorn will be drier and crisper).

Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and dump the popcorn immediately into a wide bowl. With this technique, nearly all of the kernels pop, and nothing burns.

5. If you are adding butter, you can easily melt it by placing the butter in the now empty, but hot pan. Note that if you let the butter get just a little bit brown, it will add an even more intense, buttery flavor to the butter and to your popcorn. Just drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn and toss to distribute. Salt to taste.

Read more: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/perfect_popcorn/#ixzz3n0Sh7XlD

Chicken Alfredo pasta

Ingredients

1/2 box of rotini pasta

2 chicken breasts, cubed and cooked

1/3 lb ground sausage, browned

1 jar Alfredo sauce

1/2 jar marinara sauce

Italian seasoning

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1) Boil pasta

2) Cube and cook chicken breasts, salt and pepper to taste; brown sausage. 

3) mix sauce together: 1 jar white sauce, 1/2 jar red sauce, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and garlic powder. 

4) Assemble by layering pasta, then chicken and sausage, then sauce, then top with shredded Parmesan cheese

5) Bake in oven for 15 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is melted. 

Red Lentils and Spinach in Masala Sauce

Ingredients

• Masala Paste:
• 1½ teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1½ teaspoon coriander seeds
• 2" piece ginger, peeled and cut into pieces
• a dash of red pepper flakes
• 1 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon garam marsala
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons peanut or other nut oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ⅓ cup packed cilantro leaves

• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ⅓ cup masala paste
• 1 can stewed tomatoes
• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 cups red lentils
• 4 cups water (for lentils)
• 2 handfuls spinach, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• a couple dashes of lemon juice

Directions

1. Put 2 cups dry red lentils in rice cooker and add 4 cups water. Set to white rice cycle and let that cook while preparing the masala sauce.
2. To make paste, toast cumin and coriander seeds in skillet until fragrant. Use a mortar and pestle (or a spice grinder) to grind spices. (I use my food processor.)
3. In a small food processor, add ginger and pulse until broken into small pieces. Add red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, garam masala, and salt. Give a couple pulse to incorporate. Next, add nut oil, tomato paste, and cilantro leaves. Pulse until paste forms and everything is well incorporated. Set aside.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Melt coconut oil and add diced onion, cooking until translucent, 4-5 minutes. Add in minced garlic and cook for one more minute.
5. Stir in masala paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, then stir in stewed tomatoes and coconut milk. Stir together and bring to a boil.
6. Add in lentils and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer, stirring often, until mixture cooks down to the texture you want. About 5-10 minutes.
7. Stir in remaining 1 tsp garam masala and a couple dashes of lemon juice. Add additional salt, if needed.
8. Add chopped spinach and simmer until wilted, a couple minutes.
9. Serve over rice.

Adapted from Naturally Ella

Cafe Soleil hummus wrap

Hummus, feta, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, spring mix lettuce and balsamic vinaigrette in a sun dried tomato tortilla

Kevin's trail mix

2+ cups salted peanuts

Salted sun flower seeds

Golden raisins

Almonds

Cashew pieces

Cranberries

Crispy m&m's

Sweetened Shredded coconut

Pumpkin seeds

Chicken Meatballs

Chicken Meatballs From Spunky Coconut

Ingredients

• 1 cup zucchini, chopped (about 1 zucchini)
• 1 cup carrots, chopped (about 2 carrots)
• ½ cup parsley, coarsely chopped
• 3 medium cloves garlic
• ¼ cup blanched almond flour
• 1 large egg
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. In a food processor, pulse together the zucchini, carrots, parsley and garlic
3. Add almond flour, egg, and chicken
4. Then add salt, pepper and chili powder and process until thoroughly combined
5. Drop tablespoon sized balls of the chicken mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet
6. Bake meatballs for 20 to 25 minutes
7. Serve

Madras Lentils

Ingredients

2 cups cooked brown lentils (from dry)

1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes

2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce

2 cups cooked red beans (from dry)

1 onion, diced and divided in half

2 T minced garlic, divided in half

2 T vegan butter (or cooking oil)

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp chili powder

1/4 cup coconut cream

Directions

1. The day before, soak 1 pound of dry red beans in 8 cups of water overnight.

2. The next morning, put soaked red beans in crock pot and cover with a few inches of water. Add 1/2 diced onion and 1 T garlic. Cook on high for 5 hours or until tender and skins begin to peel.

3. Cook 1 cup dry brown lentils in 2 cups water for 30 minutes, or until tender.

4. While lentils are cooking, saute diced onion and garlic in vegan butter

5. Add cumin and chili powder and saute for another few minutes.

6. Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Lower the heat and let it cook down for 5-10 minutes.

7. Add cooked lentils and red beans, salt to taste, and let it continue to cook down until thickened. 

8. Add coconut cream just before serving.