August 11th, 2011 § § permalink
Makes 2 cups
Ingredients
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
½ cup honey
1 cup ground almonds
2 eggs
½ cup heavy cream
Vanilla bean scraped, seeds reserved
Directions
Mix together in a large bowl the butter, honey, almonds, vanilla seeds, eggs and cream until smooth. Use in tarts that are baked for about 10 minutes at least.
July 29th, 2011 § § permalink

Makes 6 sandwiches
Ingredients
12 Almond cookies
1 cup Black Cherry Ice Cream
9 ounces bitter sweet dark Chocolate
Directions
Place a scoop of ice cream on a almond cookie and place another cookie on top, squeeze down to make a sandwich. Place in freezer on a lined baking sheet for at least 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, chop chocolate and place in a double boiler pan with simmering hot water underneath. Let melt, dip the frozen sandwich in the melted chocolate using a spoon to cover or alternatively cover just one side and place back in the freezer for another 10 minutes or until frozen.
Black Cherry Ice Cream
Makes 4 cups
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream, whipped to thick consistency
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups ripe black cherries halved
Directions
Make sure the heavy cream is whipped to a thick consistency and mix in sugar and lemon juice and fold in cherries. Freeze by using an ice cream maker or by the hand method, beating after a few hours in the freezer and letting freeze again.
May 23rd, 2011 § § permalink
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 tablespoon fresh lemon thyme leaves
1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, chopped fine
1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, chopped fine
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla flavor
½ cup blackberries
½ cup strawberries, cut in half and hulled
¼ cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon flax seeds
Directions
In a small saucepan combine the fresh herbs, honey and vanilla extract and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the honey is infused with the herbs flavor. Place the yogurt in a bowl or a glass and place some berries on top. Next sprinkle some almonds and pumpkin seeds and top with a few flax seeds. Drizzle the infused honey over the entire parfait while the honey is still warm, not hot.
May 23rd, 2011 § § permalink
Makes 2 dozen cookies
Ingredients
1 cup black quinoa
¼ cup rolled oats
1 cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1/3 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flax seeds
¼ cup almonds, chopped fine
1/3 cup almond oil
½ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ cup almond milk
1 egg, beaten
1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped fine
Directions
Preheat oven to 375° F. In a blender blend the quinoa and the oats until a gritty powder is formed. In a mixing bowl combine, ground quinoa, oats, flour, baking powder, soda, salt, flax seeds and almonds, mix well and set aside. In another mixing bowl whisk together the almond oil, sugars, vanilla, almond milk and egg until well mixed. Slowly add the dry mix to the wet mixing well as you combine mixtures. A thick oatmeal cookie type batter should form. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until golden brown. Let rest to harden and solidify for about 3-4 minutes before eating.
May 23rd, 2011 § § permalink
Makes about 15 clusters
Ingredients
½ cup raw almonds
½ cup raw peanuts
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup dried cherries
8 ounces dark chocolate melted
Himalayan pink salt
Directions
In a medium bowl mix together almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds and dried cherries. On a baking sheet lines with parchment paper place a teaspoon or a little more of the melted chocolate down in a circle shape Place a spoonful of the nut mixture on top of the chocolate circle. Drizzle more chocolate about 1 tablespoon over the top of that little nut mound and repeat until all chocolate and nets are used. Place in the refrigerator for the chocolate to harden. Remove form the parchment paper and serve. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
April 20th, 2011 § § permalink
Serves 6
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
½ cup red onion, chopped fine
2 pounds ground lamb
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Garlicky Mint Yogurt (recipe follow)
Mustard Mint Pesto (recipe follows)
Directions
Preheat broiler to high. In a large mixing bowl, using your hands combine the garlic, red onion and lamb until the mixture is evenly distributed with red onions and garlic. Add red wine vinegar, oil, spices and herbs and mix until incorporated. Make 12 three-inch long kabob shaped patties (think “corn dog†shape). Stick a skewer through the center of the kabob and grill or broil until desired consistency, about 4-5 minutes on each side.
Garlicky Mint Yogurt
Makes approximately 1 ½ cups
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
¼ cup red onion, grated
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ cup fresh mint, chopped fine
1 cup plain yogurt
Salt
Pepper
Directions
In a medium mixing bowl combine all ingredients and refrigerate for about 20 minutes before serving.
Mustard Mint Pesto
Makes about 1 ½ cups
Ingredients
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
¼ cup almonds, toasted
1 cup fresh mint leaves
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Directions
In a blender add the garlic and almonds and pulse until chopped fine. Add the mint and cilantro leaves and the Dijon mustard and blend until the ingredients are pureed. With the blender running slowly add the oil until the pesto is smooth. Let stand at room temperature for about 5 minutes before serving.
April 19th, 2011 § § permalink
Makes approximately 4 cups
Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
½ cup maple syrup
2 ½ cups old fashioned oats
â…“ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup sliced raw almonds
¼ cup flax seed meal
½ tablespoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup sweet vanilla dried strawberries
Directions
Preheat oven to 325ËšF.
In a small saucepan, over medium heat, add butter and maple syrup. Heat until warm and butter has melted.
In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, almonds, flax seed meal, cinnamon, and salt. Add butter and maple syrup mixture and combine thoroughly. Mixture should be a wet consistency. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven for a total of 40 minutes, making sure to check every 10 minutes, stirring, so granola is toasted evenly. Once granola is golden brown, remove from oven and mix in dried strawberries. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
January 2nd, 2011 § § permalink
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon almond paste
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup dried cherries, chopped
½ cup roasted almonds, chopped fine
Pinch of salt
1 egg white, for brushing tops of pop tarts
2 tablespoons soy or rice milk (vegan option), for brushing of pop tarts
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Lay one rolled piece of pie dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and place filling in the center. Cover with another piece of dough and crimp edges closed. Brush top with egg white or soy or rice milk (vegan option) and sprinkle with topping of choice. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Suggested Crust: Whole Wheat, plain, cornmeal
Suggested Topping: Chopped almonds, flax seeds
October 11th, 2010 § § permalink
Serves 8
INGREDIENTS
2 cups fresh red basil leaves
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
½ cup almonds, toasted
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup Almond oil
Salt
PREPARATION
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until everything is incorporated.
Season with salt to taste.
October 8th, 2010 § § permalink
Makes 4 cups
INGREDIENTS
½ cup raw pre-soaked almonds
2 tablespoons whey or soy protein powder
½ cup mixed blackberries, blueberries, raspberries
1 tablespoon flax seeds or oats (optional)
1 banana, chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup 1% milk, soymilk or almond milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup low fat plain or vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons wheat germ
1 cup ice
PREPARATION
Combine all items in a blender except ice, blend well for 1 to 2 minutes. Add ice and blend on high until ice is crushed, then turn blender to “liquefy†speed and allow to mix for about 45 seconds more or until smooth and creamy. Serve immediately.

October 5th, 2010 § § permalink
Makes 6-9 sausages
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds chicken breasts and thighs, boneless and skinless
½ medium red onion, chopped fine
¼ cup raw almonds, chopped fine
¼ cup dried apricots, chopped fine
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped fine
¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped fine
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon salt
**casings of your choice
PREPARATION
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl very well and refrigerate for about 2 hours. Using the finest blade of the meat grinder, grind the mixture following grinder instructions. If you are making or using the meat without the casing go right to that step. If you are making links put the mixture back in the mixing bowl and place in the freezer for a little while. In the mean time soak the casings in warm water and rinse a few times. Get out your sausage stuffer and slip the casing onto the stuffing tube, making sure you leave about 6 inches off the end of the tube, this is the part that you will need to tie the sausages off. Remove the meat from the freezer and stuff it into the stuffer, if all the meat does not fit leave what will not fit in a bowl in the refrigerator. Turn the stuffer on and begin the process, air will be the first thing to emerge. As the meat begins to slide out use one hand to maneuver the speed of the sausage output. Let the sausage emerge into one long coil, the links will be tied later in the process. When the sausage is done, turn off the machine and tie up the ends, you can use meat or butchers twine. To make the links, pinch a section together, then spin the links and turn them opposite form each other several times, repeat this moving down the entire main link. Make sure both ends are tied off. Hang the links up so you can review for air bubbles, using a sterilized pin or sewing needle, pop each section that has an air bubble with the pin and the link should move flat and the air bubble should be resolved. Hang the links for about an hour and then refrigerate them covered in the refrigerator overnight, use them or freeze them in about a week.
August 4th, 2010 § § permalink
INGREDIENTS
½ cup fresh peppermint, finely chopped
½ cup coarse sea salt
½ cup ground almonds
½ cup almond oil
1 tablespoon baking soda
4 to 5 drops orange oil
PREPARATION
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Massage mixture into feet and rinse.
December 14th, 2009 § § permalink
PREPARATION
Calçots are a local kind of baby onions charred over an open flame but tender on the inside. They’re then braised with romesco, a special Catalan sauce of tomatoes, fresh thyme, red peppers, garlic, almonds and olive oil.