Spencer's 25th Birthday Tacos

Makes 4-6 servings

For Tacos:
2 cups frozen corn, thawed
2 T. olive oil, divided
2 T. lime juice, plus lime wedges for a garnish
3 tsp. salt
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 bell peppers, any color, cored and thinly sliced
1 large red onion, sliced
1 and 1/2 tsp paprika
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
8-10 corn tortillas (or you could use whole wheat tortillas)

For Salsa:
2 T. olive oil
2 T. fresh lime juice
4 tsp minced fresh jalapeno chili
4 minced cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 avocados, pitted and cut into small dice
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed
4 T. minced red onion,
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, toss together corn, 1 T. olive oil, lime juice, 1 tsp. salt, cumin, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, bell peppers and onion. Spread the mixture on a large baking sheet.

In a second bowl, toss together 1 T. olive oil, paprika, 1/2 tsp. salt and the black beans. Spread this mixture on a second large baking sheet.

Roast vegetables and beans, stirring occasionally and rotating sheet trays halfway through. Cook the beans until they dry out and are just crisp, 20-25 minutes. Bake the vegetables until soft and golden brown, about 40 minutes.

Meanwhile make the salsa in a smaller bowl:
Whisk together 2 T. olive oil, 2 T. fresh lime juice, 4 tsps. minced fresh jalapeno chile, 4 minced cloves of garlic, and 1/2 tsp. sugar. Then gently stir in 2 avocados, pitted and cut into small dice, 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed, 4 T. minced red onion, 4 T minced fresh cilantro, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside

Wrap tortillas in foil and place in oven for a few minutes to warm, or lightly pan fry each side in oil. Scoop roasted vegetables onto tortillas, top with sliced cabbage, roasted beans and salsa. Garnish with lime wedges

LEMON GINGER DROP COOKIES

From Martha Stewart Living Cookbook - First made for Half Moon Yoga's Opening Party...
Makes about two dozen cookies
8 Tbs. unsalted butter
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs. sugar
1 large egg
1 Tbs. grated lemon zest
1-1/3 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup finely chopped crystallized ginger

Preheat oven to 350. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. In bowl of electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl.
Add the egg and mix on high until combined. Add the lemon zest; mix to combine.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, salt and crystallized ginger. Add dry ingredients to the butter/sugar mix and combine for about 20 seconds. Using two spoons, drop a Tbs. of batter on prepared baking sheet, about 3" apart. Bake for 7 minutes, then rotate the sheets between the racks and bake until just golden, about 7 more minutes. Slide parchment paper with cookies on it onto a rack to cool for 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

21st Century Caponata (from Greg Atkinson)

This Sicilan style eggplant appetizer is delicious served over brown rice, tossed with pasta or as an appetizer with crackers. With hummus, olives and feta, it makes an appetizer platter.

Cut a large eggplant into 1-inch cubes. Toss with 1 T. salt and let it stand at room temp in a colander for 10 minutes to drain off the bitter juices Then toss with olive oil and spread on a cookie sheet and roast at 400 degrees until soft and slightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop a red onion and two stalks of celery and saute in olive oil. until onions are beginning to brown. Add 1 T. dried oregano leaves and 1 T. chopped garlic and cook 1 minute longer.

Transfer to a bowl, stir in the eggplant plus 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup capers, drained, 1 cup julienne-cut strips of sun-dried tomatoes in oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the mixture stand at room temp for at least 10 minutes before serving. Caponata keeps well in the refrigerator for a week.

Spencer's Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients: Yield: 12 muffins
2 1/4 cups gluten free oatmeal, at least half ground to flour in a blender
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cloves
1/4 nutmeg
3/4 cup rice milk or goat yogurt
1 mashed banana
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Pre-heat oven at 375°F. Cover 12 muffin cups with oven-safe paper.

In a big bowl, mix oatmeal, baking powder, salt and spices

In a blender, food processor or stand mixer, mix the rest of the ingredients and til you have an even mix

Add wet to dry ingredients and mix lightly. Put the mix on the muffin cups and fill 3/4 of each one.

Bake for 13-15 min or til golden.

Edamame Pesto and Linguine

1-1/2 cup shelled edamame
1 lb. whole wheat or brown rice linguine
1 large garlic clove
1/2 tsp. salt
1-1/4 cups firmly packed cilantro leaves
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil

Put the pasta water on to boil in a large pot.

Cook the edamame in a small saucepan of salted boiling water for 10 minutes, drain.

In a food processor, process the garlic, salt and cilantro until finely minced.

Add the cooked edamame, lime juice and olive oil.

Add 1/2 cup of the hot pasta water to make a smooth sauce.

Toss the sauce with the cooked linguine and serve.

NOTE: I am going to experiment with this recipe and I think it can get better- like adding sauteed vegetables and walnuts or pine nuts would be perfect. But this is a good base recipe to start from.

Gallo Pinto (Costa Rican Refried Rice and Beans)

From Viva Vegan. Gallo pinto literally translates to "painted rooster."

3 T olive oil
3 cloves minced garlic
one small or 1/2 large onion, diced finely
1 small red or green hot chile, seeded and minced (optional - I didn't have one so I put in some chile powder and cayenne pepper)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced finely
2 cups cold cooked lon-grain white or brown rice
1 t. ground cumin
2 cups cooked black, red, or pink beans (I used 1 can, drained and rinsed, which came to a bit less than 2 cups. I used a bit less rice as well to match.)
1/2 cup vegetable broth (or bean-cooking liquid if you didn't use canned beans)
1 T. vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
1/2 t. liquid smoke (I didn't use this because I didn't have any)
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1. In a large, deep cast-iron skillet, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium heat. When the garlic starts to sizzle, add the onion, chile (if using), and bell pepper, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.

2. Stir in the rice and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

3. Stir in the cumin, beans, broth, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, salt, and ground pepper. Use a metal spatula to stir frequently and occasionally mash some of the beans into the rice. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed but the mixture is still moist, 10 to 15 minutes. If the mixture looks too dry, drizzle in 1 to 2 T of additional broth until your desired consistency is reached.

4. Stir in the cilantro and remove from the heat.

I recommend serving this with corn tortillas.

Russian Borscht

This hearty soup is ruby colored and delicious, with a healthy variety of vegetables...from an early Moosewood Cookbook.

-One-and-a-half cup chopped onions
-One-and-a-half cup thinly-sliced potatoes
-1 cup thinly sliced beets (2 average sized beets)
-1 large, sliced carrot
-1 stalk chopped celery
-3 cups chopped cabbage
-a scant tsp. caraway seeds
-4 cups stock or water (I use water)
-2 tsp. salt
-black pepper
-1/4 tsp. dill weed
-1 Tbs. + 1 tsp. cider vinegar
-1 Tbs. + 1 tsp honey
-1 cup tomato puree

Place potatoes, beets and water in a saucepan and cook until tender (save the water).

Meanwhile, cook the onion in olive oil in a large soup pot. Add caraway seeds and salt. Cook until onion is translucent, then add celery, carrots and cabbage. Add water from beets/potatoes, and cook, covered, until all the vegetables are tender. Add the potatoes, beets and remaining ingredients.

Cover and simmer slowly for at least 30 minutes. Taste to correct seasonings

Serve topped with a dollop of plain yogurt sprinkled with dill weed.