Baked Beans

What you need:

• 1 pound beans (use whatever you have, whatever you like - Great Northern, Pinto, Navy, etc)
• 1/4 yellow onion, diced
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce, your favorite kind
• 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
• 2 Tablespoons molasses
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup water

What you do:

Soak beans in crock pot full of water overnight. Drain beans in the morning and combine rest of ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over beans and stir. Cook on low for 8 hours. Add additional water as needed.

Peanut butter oatmeal bars

What you need:

• 1 stick butter (1/2 cup) - softened
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 1/2 cup King Arthur's white whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 cups oatmeal
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugars. Add vanilla, eggs, and applesauce. Add in peanut butter. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Pour half of dry mixture into wet and combine, then add in last half of dry mixture. Stir in oatmeal until combined. Fold in chips and coconut. Press into greased 9x13 baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Chili seasoning mixture

What you need:

• 1 Tablespoon ground chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  
• 1/2 Tablespoon seasoning salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• optional for added heat: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more)

What you do:
Mix together in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place. Enough for one batch of chili made from 1 lb of ground meat.

Apple-Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

What you need:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened (one stick)
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 - 6oz container plain fat-free yogurt
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup King Arthur's whole wheat flour (or flour of your choice)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries, soaked in boiling water then drained to plump them up
• 1/2 cup finely diced apple

What you do:

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar. Mix in eggs, vanilla and yogurt. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Pour wet into dry and combine. Add in oats, (drained) cranberries, and apple and stir just until oats are wet. Spoon onto un-greased baking sheet in spoonfuls. Bake for about 8 minutes. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

What you need:

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon strawberry or raspberry preserves
• salt and pepper

What you do:

Combine ingredients (aside from oil) in a blender and then drizzle in oil through top of blender while mixing. I used an old "Good Seasons" bottle for italian dressing that I had and just shook it up until well blended.

Fresh Apple Crepes

What you need:

apple filling

• 2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 Tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

crepe batter

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup milk (I ended up using a full cup, but the fresh eggs we have are a bit thicker than store bought)
• 1 Tablespoon butter, melted

What to do:

Over medium-high heat, melt 1/2 Tablespoon butter. Add in apples, sugar and cinnamon and turn to medium heat. Stir occasionally until apples are tender but not mushy. Once soft, turn to low and reserve.

In a non-stick pan, on medium heat melt 1/2 Tablespoon butter. Turn pan to coat with the melted butter. Mix flour, sugar, beaten eggs, milk and 1 Tablespoon melted butter with whisk until smooth. Using a cup or ladle, slowly pour enough crepe batter to fill bottom of pan. Flip once the edges are dry and then spoon filling onto middle of crepe in pan. Slide onto plate after 30 seconds to 1 minute has passed and the bottom side has finished cooking. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with honey if you like.

Recipe found at: http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/03/11/get-hungry-apple-stuffed-crepes-with-caramel-sauce

Cedar plank grilled salmon

What you need:

• 1 cedar plank, soaked in water for 3 hours+ (overnight would be best)
• 1 pound salmon fillet, scored to the skin (but not through) into serving sections
• 2 Tablespoons fresh dill, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon lime zest
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

What you do:

Mix together dill, garlic, pepper, salt, olive oil, juice and zest in a small dish. Heat grill on high with plank until the wood begins to smoke. Spread mixture over salmon evenly and slide onto plank. Turn grill to low and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until internal temperature of fish is 130 degrees.