Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

25Jan2008 09:39 AM

Thanks to my sister Gayle (and family) for their hospitality and her delicious soup!
Also thanks to her brother-in-law Gary for the fresh oranges and grapefruit!

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup:
from DSYLVAN (the name printed on the page my sister gave me )
via my sister Gayle, with a few of her additions & mine)

12 servings
preparation time: 15 minutes
cooking time: 40 minutes
ready in: 55 minutes

Ingredients: (fresh, organic preferred wherever possible)
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (1 Pound) package frozen pepper and onion stir fry mix
2 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 Tablespoons ground cumin
2-3 Tablespoons fresh or dried cilantro
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
4 (14 ounce) cans vegetable broth (or 2 cartons)
1 (11 ounce) can whole kernel corn (or 1/2 bag frozen corn)
1 can black beans or pinto beans
12 ounces tortilla chips
1 avocado diced
optional: salt and pepper to taste
optional: 1 cup shredded cheese (jack or cheddar)
optional: sour cream as garnish

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the pepper and onion,
garlic, cumin, and cook 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
Mix in the tomatoes and chile peppers. Pour in the broth, and season with
salt and pepper (optional). Bring to a boil, reduce to low heat, and simmer
30 minutes.
Mix corn & cilantro into the soup and continue cooking 5 minutes. Serve in bowls
over equal amounts of tortilla chips. Top with avocado. Optional: Top with
cheese and/or sour cream.

Granola Recipe

24Jan2008 09:50 AM

I've been making this granola off and on since my college days; I think it might have originally been an Adele Davis recipe that my Mom modified, and I've created my variation here:

Ingredients: (fresh, organic preferred wherever possible)
Liquid Ingredients:
1 cup of honey (local if possible)
1 cup of non-hydrogenated coconut oil (or other veg. oil)
Solid Ingredients:
5 cups of rolled oats
1 cup sunflower seeds (hulled)
1 cup sesame seeds
Optional Ingredients:
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans and/or your favorite)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, pitted dates, and/or your favorite)

Directions:
In a large oblong pan, thoroughly mix all the dry and optional ingredients.
Then mix in the oil thoroughly. Bake at 300 degrees F. for 20 minutes.
Carefully remove (with hot pads

and thoroughly mix in the honey.
Bake at 300 degrees F. for another 20 minutes. Check again; if needed,
bake at 300 degrees F. or an additional 10-20 minutes. Allow to cool
and store in a covered container.

Fruit Slaw Recipe

23Jan2008 10:25 AM

Here's a coleslaw variation that I make frequently:

Fruit Slaw Recipe

Mix these ingredients (fresh, organic preferred wherever possible) in a large covered container (store in the fridge) and enjoy!

1 cabbage chopped fine
1 carrot chopped fine
1-2 celery stalks chopped fine
1 can of pineapple chunks (I usually pour the juice into a can and drink while preparing

1 sectioned and chopped orange
1-3 chopped pears and/or apples
1-2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
Optional Ingredients:
1-2 sectioned mandarin oranges
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans and/or your favorite)
1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, pitted dates, and/or your favorite)
1 cup sunflower an/or sesame seeds (hulled)
1 cup shredded coconut