This is a recipe I've used off and on ever since I first became a vegetarian quite some time ago. I think I got it from a friend who long has since gone back to meat-eating, though I'm not sure the person I'm thinking of was the source of this recipe.

Easy Fruit Curry

2 apples
2 bananas
Some raisins
Curry powder - or the individual spices that constitute curry powder if you have them
Yoghurt - whatever amount you want to add

Makes enough for 2 fairly decent servings.

Peel and core the apples. Cut them up in relatively small pieces (1/2" to 1" pieces) and place in pan over low heat. When they have gotten soft and partially liquified, slice the bananas and add them along with a handful or two of raisins to the apples. Add curry powder to taste. Add yoghurt. Serve over brown rice.

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"Do Not Call" Black Bean & Corn Salsa

I had this at a Christmas party in 2004 - and liked it so much I made an effort to track down the recipe. Success!

Black Bean & Corn Salsa and I'm happy to share the recipe. It's a longstanding family favorite -- and no fat! (written by the person who sent me the recipe)

2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed
1 cup white corn (2 - 3 white corn cobs microwaved 2 minutes per ear in an open ziplock bag, rested 3 minutes, corn cut from the cob) (I substituted 1 11 oz. can of white shoepeg corn.)
1 red pepper chopped (to the size of a black bean)
1/4 cup pickled jalapeno pepper, chopped
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 garlic cloves, pressed (I used more)
1/2 tsp salt
juice of 1 - 1 1/2 limes
fresh ground pepper

It takes about 45 minutes to put this together. Chop, chop, chop..

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A recipe I came up with - a bit similar to the other:

Black beans - 2 cans - drain and rinse
Chopped onion - one onion - not oog, not too small - chopped in small pieces
Chopped cilantro - 10 or 15 stems - or as much as you like
Chopped jalapeno peppers - I used about 1/3 of a cup
Peanut butter - about 1/3 cup

Adding some chopped walnuts is nice, too!

Mix together and eat alone or as dip.

Alternately - use lentils instead of black beans. Cook up about 3/4 cup of dry lentils. They cool quite quickly unlike the black beans where - if oyu want to make this on the spur of the moment - you need to use canned beans.

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Prairie Moons

(makes about 24)


1 c. shelled pecans
1 c. sifted unbleached flour
1/8 t. salt
1 T. sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
1 stick unsalted butter (room temp)


powdered sugar


Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly oil cookie sheets (I use parchment paper).

Grind pecans fine in a food processer.

Add flour, salt, sugar, and process a few seconds to combine.

Add vanilla and butter and process until dough holds together.

Pinch off dough (about 1 t.) and roll into balls. Place on cookie
sheets--they don't spread much but do flatten a little.

Bake 20 minutes until just browned.

Let cool slightly on cookie sheet, then roll in powdered sugar in a
small bowl (start with about 1/2 c. and add more as needed). I found
they were pretty sticky, and left marks from your fingers, so I
sifted a little powered sugar over them once I put them back on a
rack (put a sheet of newspaper underneath).

Variation (I made a second batch using the following):

substitute ground almonds for pecans, and roll in cocoa and powered
sugar mixed together (1/2 of each).

Enjoy!

Cheers,
Donna