crabapple muffins

1.5 cups flour (may add more if batter seems too wet-will depend on thickness of puree)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

-Mix together.

3/4 cup canola oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar (or to taste- depends on sweetness of crabapples)
2 cups crabapple puree (ours was squeezo-ed and then frozen)

-Mix wet ingredients separately, then add the dry. Pour into muffin tins and bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Quinoa Pilaf

Adapted from a recipe in The Savory Way by Deborah Madison, p. 68.

1 1/2 cups red quinoa
3 cups water or stock
1 onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 t. each: paprika, cumin, coriander
1/2 cup dried fruit (raisins, currants, and/or apricots work well)
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 T. lemon juice or cider vinegar
salt & pepper to taste

Rinse quinoa thoroughly. Bring water or stock to a boil and add quinoa. Return to boil, then simmer on low heat til liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. When quinoa is nearly done, add the dried fruit to soften.
Meanwhile, saute onion in oil until soft and translucent. Add spices and nuts to toast. Combine this mixture with cooked quinoa and add salt, pepper, and vinegar or lemon juice.

Variations that will get you back closer to Madison's quinoa salad:
- Replace the walnuts with pine nuts
- Replace the onion with chives or scallions (and don't saute them)
- Add grated lemon zest
- Add fresh chopped parsley or cilantro
- Add finely diced bell pepper

"French Onion" Miso Soup

OK, this is all approximate because I made it up and I don't measure anything, but...

3 T. oil
2-3 medium onions, chopped fine
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
6-8 cups water or vegetable stock
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed
some dark leafy greens - I use collards
1 cup quinoa
about 1 pound tofu, cubed (optional)
1-2 T. miso
salt, pepper, cider vinegar to taste

Saute onions and red pepper flakes in oil slowly over low heat until onions are soft, translucent, and starting to brown / carmelize, about 10-15 min. When they are almost ready, add the garlic and saute for a minute more. Add water or stock (I prefer to heat it separately first to save time) and bring to a boil. Add squash, quinoa, greens, soy sauce, and tofu if you're using it. Cover, return to boiling, and cook on medium heat until the squash is soft, about half an hour. Turn off the heat and add miso; taste and adjust the seasonings as you like.

Broccoli Rice Casserole

10 ounces broccoli, steamed
2 cups rice (I use brown, recipe calls for white)
1/2 cup (one stick) soy margarine (I usually use 1/4 cupish of nonhydrogenated margarine and a couple tablespoons of canola oil because I am cheap)
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (whole wheat works fine)
3 and 1/2 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (optional)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 cup nutritional yeast flakes (I usually use a bit less)
1/2- 1 cup of sunflower seeds (the yeast doesn't do it for me for protein)

Prepare rice. While rice simmers, melt the oil. Mix in the flour until smooth and bubbly. Add water, salt, soy sauce, garlic and onion powders and turmeric. Cook the sauce until it boils and thickens, then add the yeast and sunflower seeds. Add rice and broccoli. It will get more solid if it's baked for half an hour or so; I bake it if I have the time.

vegan chocolate cake (for Aunt Jeanie)

1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp white or apple cider vinegar

Mix it all up and bake at 350 for around 35 minutes in a small (8 by 8ish) baking pan. (It can be mixed and baked in the same pan.)

curried chick peas

Here's an approximation of what I made for the December potluck, sized down to a more typical family-size.

2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp oil

-sautee. Add:

2 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
11/4 tsp black pepper
3 cups cooked chick peas (I use dried legumes; this would probably be two-ish cans, drained)
Tomatoes- I can't remember if I put in tomatoes last time, but I often put in a cup or two of diced tomatoes

Simmer at least five minutes (longer is better) and serve with rice.

wassails

Hi everyone,

I was curious if anyone had any recipes for the Christmas drink known as a wassail. I tried one from The Joy of Cooking some years ago, but the end result was inedible (putting it mildly).

John G.