Thursday, April 21, 2011

{ CASHEW ALFREDO SAUCE }

Aunt Elna emailed this recipe to me (original source?).  It was super easy and really good.  I think I like this recipe a little bit better, but the very best might be the 2 recipes combined.  I'll try that next time and let you know.

1/2 c. raw cashews
1 t. fresh lemon juice
1-3 cloves garlic
2 T. nutritional yeast
1/2 t. salt
1 dash pepper
1 1/2 c. boiling water (best to use starchy pasta-cooking water)

  • Blend all ingredients until very smooth and thickened.
  • Serve over whole grain pasta.
  • Top with freshly ground black pepper.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

{ WONDERSLIM (home-made fat replacer) }

There are a lot of posts on Greener Eating that call for wonderslim, or baby food prunes.  Wonderslim is a product that used to be sold at health food stores as a fat and egg replacer.   All that was in it was pureed prunes and water, with a little soy lecithin and citric acid (I'm assuming just to preserve it's color or make it more shelf stable).  We just puree our own prunes now, and it works great!  I always replace at least half of the oil or butter in recipes with it the first time I make something, and if it works well then the next time around I replace all the fat.  Use a 1:1 ratio. 

Here are the amounts I use and it works every time.  I either store the extra in the fridge if I think I'll be using it soon, or I freeze it in 1/4 cup containers (the same ones the baby food prunes come in) and just thaw it out when I'm ready to use it.

water
prunes (or dried plums, if that sounds better!)

  • Fill blender with water up to the 3 cup mark
  • Add prunes until water reaches the 4 cup mark (this is the easiest way to measure, because  you don't have to worry about how packed down they are in a measuring cup - plus it's less dishes to wash!) 
  • Blend until completely smooth
  *Remember that if the thought of eating prunes makes you feel like an old lady (or man), it's actually what's going to keep you young!  Prunes are very good for you and replacing fat in recipes just makes it doubly good.  Don't be scared!