stuffed zucchini or red bell peppers

Mix and set aside:

2 c. brown rice (or white) cooked

1/2 c. walnuts

1/2 lemon, cut off the rind and white parts and take out the seeds (or just juice from 1/2)

1/4 tsp chili powder

a handful of cilantro, parsley will work too

2 chopped tomatoes

Next;

3 medium sized zucchini or red bell peppers

Cut lengthwise and hallow out the seeds from the zucchini or pepper. Spoon mixture in and bake at 350 for 20 min. Sprinkle some cheese and bake covered for 10 more minutes. Enjoy!

Ranch Veggies

3 Large potatoes chopped into 2" pieces

2 cups sliced carrots

1 medium zucchini

1 sweet bell pepper chopped

1 tomato diced

1 Tbsp onion powder

3 Tbsp ultra gel

1 Tbsp ranch dressing powder

1-2 c. rice milk, or cow milk

Steam potatoes and carrots till just tender. Mix ultra gel, onion powder and ranch powder and then add all at once into the milk in a large pot. Whisk till mixed well. Add steamed potatoes and carrots and chopped zucchini, sweet pepper and tomato and stir well until sauce has covered the veggies evenly. Cook on medium low heat till the zucchini is just tender. Enjoy!

Artichoke Tomato Alfredo

Ingredients:

one small bottle artichoke hearts (in brine, not packed in oil)

4-5 fresh tomatoes, chopped into large chunks

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves fresh garlic minced (or 1 tablespoon garlic powder)

1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped (or 3 tablespoon chopped dried)

2 heaping Tablespoon whole wheat flour

1/2 cup (or more) rice milk

1 small handful raw cashews

Whole wheat fettucini, macaroni or spaghetti noodles (i like the twisty kind because they hold the sauce)

Directions: Prepare fettucini, macaroni or spaghetti noodles al dente. Place onion, tomato, garlic and basil in a non-stick pan and saute in a little olive oil. Drain the artichokes cut them into small pieces. Mix your flour and rice milk and add that to the blender, also then add a small handful of raw cashews. Blend until very smooth. Add the cut artichokes and blender mixture into the saute; mix well and warm just until thickened. Top the pasta with the artichoke sauce.

*canned tomatoes just don't work as well it makes it taste more like spaghetti instead of Alfredo.

thanks tammy at http://www.simplehealthytasty.com/2008/03/artichoke-tomato-alfredo.html

Fresh Peach Cupcakes

Ripe peaches

1 lemon

cake mix - yellow, white or even lemon would be tasty

ultragell or similar thickener you don't have to cook

powdered sugar

butter

peel and puree 3-4 peaches depending on the size.

Stir in about a tsp fresh lemon juice. Set aside.

1 box mix made according to directions on the box except subsitute the oil for peach puree. Cook according to directions and then let cool. pinch out a little of cupcake in the middle to make room for filling.

Filling:

take about a tsp of ultra gell and maybe about a Tablespoon of powdered sugar. Mix very well. Wisk dry mixture into about a cup of peach puree till blended evenly. If you need to add more ultra jell then you will need to add a little more powdered sugar for it to incorporate evenly without lumping. Be sure to mix the gell and sugar very well beforehand.

pipe filling into cupcakes

Frosting:

use your basic recipe for buttercream, except substitute the milk for about a 1/4 c. peach puree. you may want to add a little more lemon juice too till it tastes right.

Frost cupcakes and eat immediately. If there are any left, keep cupcakes in the fridge.