Chilaquiles Recipe

La Fe Tortillaria makes great Chilaquiles, but I really fell in love with them in La Jolla at a taco shop across the road from where I worked years ago.  The ones from La Fe make a great quick breakfast meal where I know they will make them for me.  The ones in La Jolla didn't even have any meat and were the cheapest thing on the menu but a huge portion and sooooooooo good.  Some friends from Mexico laugh at me when I say these are one of my favorite things and lots of taco dives kind of laugh at me when I ask if they make them because they are what people just make at home usually from leftovers.  This recipe post  is more of a summary of what can go in Chilaquiles that I have enjoyed from many different people and places.

Aunt Debra's Pasta Salad

There are different ways to make this but when we had it at Emma's baptism, this was the general directions for what she made.  I have made different versions but never remember what I do so when Debra made this and it was so good, I asked what she did.  I've also added diced chicken and artichoke hearts.

Bow Tie or Spiral Pasta cooked and drained and cooled to warm or chilled
Greek Salad Dressing OR Italian Salad Dressing (we can make our own so it is soy free)
Bacon bits or shredded bacon
Cherry tomatoes cut in half
Olives
Feta Cheese
Decent Shredded Parmesian, not the powdered nasty stuff
Spinach with stems off
Broccoli
(Basil leaves would be good too)

Combine the above and add or delete items and serve.

Uncle Jason's Green Tomatillo Salsa Recipe

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jason!!!!!!!!

This is the best and awesome to have it be soy free to boot. No more needing to get my fix from Rubio's for the green stuff.  I used to love the Rubio's chopped salad with their green stuff and still like it, but their steak has turned more hot dog processed texture and tasting over the past year and a half so I'd much rather make my own salad at home.

OK I made it at home yesterday and to tone down the spice for those who ate with us, use about 1/4 can of diced jalapeno peppers, and instead of 2 Tablespoons of salt, use 2 teaspoons of salt, and add an extra 1/4 cup of sugar.

Monthly Meal Calendar

I'm still working on a Monthly Meal Calendar with google calendar so if you click on the link below, you can try to copy what you want to your own google calendar.  There are about 9 weeks of meals that will rotate with additions and deletions along the way.  I'm hoping you will be able to add meals that are recorded as events from my menu planner calender to your own google calendar and that the recipes will be in the descriptions. 
Mobile apps to do this have gone all quirky in the past month and now are asking for yearly subscription fees with some of the features now dissabled even in the paid version.

myfitnesspal.com works for diet and exercise online and on the phone.  The MenuPlanner app is fairly good for a grocery app but data entry is kind of a pain so I'm still trying others to find one that will work for what we need.

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Mom's perfect Rice Krispies Treats!

Strangely enough, we know several people who say they can't make the super-easy rice krispy treats and have them taste good;  they turn out rock hard or strangely flavored or something!   Well, Mom has a few tips that make hers turn out perfect every time:

• use miniature marshmallows (they melt faster, so don't cook as long, so the mixture stays softer)
• use fresh Kraft marshmallows
• use the "old" recipe that has a bit more butter than the newer "healthier" recipe
• DON'T overcook the marshmallows!!
• coat the tray in butter not Pam to avoid the "fake" taste
• use the Kellogg's Rice Krispies, not a knock-off brand, for the best taste
• measure the marshmallows and cereal ahead of time so you can just dump in quickly and avoid over-cooking.

1/4 cup butter
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups rice krispies cereal
butter to smear onto pan/tray

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat (not the high heat Dad usually uses!!).  Add the marshmallows and stir just until completely melted (no more!).  Remove from heat.   Add the cereal and stir until well coated.   Pour and press into a buttered 13x9 pan.   Wait until cool to cut (but feel free to snitch around the edges while it is cooling!!)

For holidays or special events, sprinkling colored sugar crystals over the top makes them "fancy" and gives a little crunch when eating!!  You just have to sprinkle the sugar on when it is still warm so the sugar will stick!!

Aunt Jane's cheesy bread

This is the make-ahead sandwich loaf bread that we first had at an open house with the Daynes.  Since getting the recipe from Aunt Jane, we've used it for all sorts of people-coming-over events (mission farewells, ordinations, baptisms, birthdays, potlucks, etc).  It is a great complement to a soup and salad dinner.  You can make the loaves ahead of time and put them in the fridge (or freezer!) and then just bake them when you want to use them!

• One unsliced loaf of sourdough french bread  (the "sourdough" is more important than the "french"--it has the heartiness to hold up to the cheese; if it is a smaller loaf, use two loaves; most sourdough bread is soy-free!)
• 6 oz. grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 8 oz tub whipped butter (I use about 5-6 oz butter, and I usually use regular softened butter that I whip)
• 1/3 cup finely chopped green onion
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Slice the loaf of bread horizontally as if to make a giant sub sandwich.  Mix the rest of the ingredients together into the whipped butter.   Spread the mixture onto both sides of the bread, put the two sides together, and cut into slices.  Wrap the entire loaf in aluminum foil.  

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes--until the cheese is all melted and the crust is crispy.   If you're putting it in the oven from the fridge, add an extra 10 minutes or so.

Yippee Skippee!!!! Mom's Frosting Recipe

Cameron seems to call for this recipe about once a month...  it's probably time to post it!

Mom's Buttercream Frosting

about 2/3 cup butter (3/4 of a stick)
about 3 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1 teaspoon of almond extract
dash of salt
4 to 4 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Cream the butter until fluffy with a hand mixer.  Add about half of the powdered sugar.  Mix well.  Add the milk, flavorings, and salt.  Mix well again.  Add the rest of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.  Add a bit more powdered sugar or milk until frosting is desired consistency.

Well Stocked Kitchen List

So Daughter one moves out of the dorm and suddenly there's a kitchen to think about.  What would I buy to start from the beginning again?  This may be a one shot time thinking about it list for the moment or I may come back and finish it. 

My kids will tell you I research my kitchen tools too much but if I'm going to use it daily then why waste time with things that don't work for me and fit in my kitchen the way I want.  I like consumer search and cook's illustrated websites along with others, but when it comes down to spending the 20 cents or $300 for a tool, I need to physically see and feel the tool. 

Since motor skills are a challenge, ergonomics are way important.  Whether standing or in a wheelchair, the tools and resources stocked in a kitchen matter and make a huge difference in being able to enjoy a meal with my family after making it or being too worn out to functionally sit and even use a fork and drink from a glass with them.  I cook to feed and nourish them but sitting together as a family is part of who we are and what we do for meals. 

So the $1 set of wooden spoons vs. the $20 ones is not a matter of cost but rather a matter of function and fit.  It is a matter of making the most of the blessing it is to be with my family.  In the case of wooden spoons, the cheap ones from the Ranch 99 Chinese Grocery store beat out the better looking more expensive ones at Bed Bath and Beyond.  Yes I put them in the dishwasher and wear them out quicker, but that allowes better use of the energy I am blessed to have. 

In the case of a mixing bowl the largest old clear Tupperware one that is no longer sold works best to not dump it on the floor and be able to see through when in a chair, be it with or without wheels.  Since they are no longer available, the best additional bowls available are the white oxo brand ones because of the rubber bottom and place to grip on top.  White because clear isn't available and there is enough contrast with whatever is in the bowl and the color white, when vision sometimes becomes an issue for whatever cause.

Well, here is a beginning list.  Energy gone for now so will add and change later..... if and when I remember....


Spices?
Sea Salt
Whole peppers with a grinder
Thyme
Italian Seasoning but not the kind with onion added that so many companies seem to be adding now
Basil (I love my fresh Basil in the kitchen window but for a new kitchen, I guess I would settle for some dried Basil to start with)
Celery Seed (because sometimes I just don't have celery in the fridge and the seeds give the same flavor)
Cumin
Chili Powder
Chinese 5 spice
Garlic slices or slivers or granules (Garlic salt is just too manufactured and I love the taste of sea salt which helps keep sodium down and flavor fresh)
Dehydrated onion (it's just so convenient and easy without the tears or decision to save or toss the extra half or so of the fresh onion.  Fresh red onions are a must though for recipes that use them.)
nutmeg
cinnamon
ginger
sage

white vinegar
rice vinegar
balsamic vinegar
blackberry balsamic vinegar
olive oil
lemon juice
lime juice
small cans pineapple juice

dijon mustard
honey mustard
white flour
wheat flour
baking powder
baking soda
corn starch
corn meal
oatmeal
cocoa powder

oxo mixing bowls
Tupperware measuring set (but I hate the new colors, they make it too hard to read measurments. I want another white set.  They are easy to hold and use.)
2 cup glass measuring cup
Good whisk with handle that won't fly out of your hand or cause cramping
wood spoons

Chinese Salad Dressing Recipe

This is another recipe from a post it taped and sealed to a Tupperware shaker that has been through the dishwasher for years and can't be scanned.  It is old enough that it has soy sauce listed so it was before our soy free years.  The soy sauce can be replaced with half the amount in molasses and the rest of the amount a careful mix of rice vinegar and water.  Sorry, no measurements for soy free so you need to experiment to get it right if you don't want the soy.

Chinese Salad Dressing

5 Tablespoons white sugar
16 Tablespoons soy sauce (or a soy free mixture as mentioned in the introduction above)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
3/4 teaspoon ginger
3 Tablespoons white vinegar
4 Tablespoons water

Blend and let sit for a while in the fridge first to let the flavors blend.  You can add sesame seeds but it won't keep as long in the fridge so if you like them with it, then add when using.

Soy Free French Dressing Recipe

This is from an old post it that we taped to a Tupperware dressing shaker thing years ago after we figured out what worked for us in our quest to eat soy free at that time.  It is too smeared to scan after being through the dishwasher who knows how many times.

Frenchish Dressing

2 cups tomato juice
2 teaspoons paprika
7 Tablespoons lemon juice
8 Tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons mustard (find a soy free one)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
7 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon dehydrated onion
1 green bell pepper

Blend in a blender and store in the fridge.  About 18 calories per 2 Tablespoons.

Soy Free Barbeque BBQ Sauce Recipe

BBQ sauce is always a challenge on a soy free diet.  We are of the thicker tomato based sweet BBQ liking persuasion.  The thinner, heavy vinegar based kind weve eaten in the south is not what you will find made in our kitchen.

Sorry, if that is what you are looking for.  

Two exact same looking bottles of sauce on the shelf at the same store can at times have different ingredients.  When calling the manufacturers, they often don't even know and will even say no soy over the phone when it is listed on the bottle. So... if you aren't sure from past trial and error and supplier that BBQ is safe then you have to approximate and make your own. 

I make it differently each time but about the same.  This chicken scratch is from one of the times I wrote down what I used after making it.

The basics to a soy free sweet BBQ Sauce are basically manipulating the amounts of some kind of vinegar, brown and white sugar, molasses, tomato paste or sauce, and other spices and fruit juice or vegetable additions.  Some people add liquid smoke but we've been a little wary of this ingredient because a lot of the bottles of it appear a little too mystery ingredientesque to feel safe allergen wise.  I've called a company or two and been told its just liquid smoke with no other ingredients. I'd rather be safe than sorry with this and depending on the meat we use it on, there is usually enough "smoke" flavor for us from the grill.

Nick's Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

A recipe in words of a kindergartner after helping dad make chicken noodle soup.  Yes opening a can is so much easier but then you have that weird artificial aftertaste and also the ever present allergen soy.  The canned chicken we have used is only available at Sam's Club around here but may have soy in the future. If soy is an issue, please always check for the words "broth" and "enhancer" and "flavoring" along with the many other hidden allergen words for soy.

Italian Chicken Pasta Thingy Recipe

 Another chicken scratch note recipe done after making something with what was in the cupboard.  Its approximate to what is a frequent last minute can't think of anything to make so boil some pasta and quickly throw things together thingy.  Add, delete, change as you want.  This is just for ideas, although looking at it, it is probably fine as written too.

Chinese Chicken Vegetable Lo Mein Recipe

Ok, so here's one of the chicken scratch notes for one of the soy free chicken stuff with noodles things we would make.  It was from one of the nights Emily liked it so I had written down about what I had done.  Sorry its as messy as it is but its been a good source of how to approximate something Chinese we would make frequently.  Cook and substitute at your own risk.

Grilled Chicken Green Salad Recipe

Just a basic Grilled Chicken with other stuff in a salad.  Add and delete as you want.

Pork Chops with Balsamic Cranberry Sauce Recipe

This is the culinary arts project from years ago that Cameron worked on and tweaked for a final or midterm I think.  We have made it for years.  Be sparing with the balsamic at first in case your balsamic is too strong from being older or just a stronger brand.  We have used the Costco brand and it has consistently worked for us as measured in this recipe. Sometimes we double the sauce amount.  Please make sure the pork is thawed if its coming from your freezer or the pork will be dry and tough.

Oven Rosemary Potatoes Recipe

Alexia Foods Oven Fries in the freezer section have been soy free in the past and hopefully will be in the future.  Sometimes we run out and other times we just want to make a 5 or 10 pound bag of them so its just not practical to have that many Alexia ones in the fridge.

The Alexia ones have the following ingredients:  Olive Oil, Rosemary, Garlic, Russet Potatoes, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Marjoram, Thyme, and Dextrose.

There are varied recipes out there in books and on the internet but what we do is basically cut the potatoes in 4 or 6 sections so the pieces are about 1 1/2 inch chunks or if you want thick fry shapes then sliced accordingly.   Heat the oven to 400 degrees.  Place the potatoes in a mixing bowl and pour olive oil, whatever form of garlic on hand, chopped fresh Rosemary( dried is fine too), Thyme, Salt, and Pepper.  Then toss the potatoes til coated and place on a cookie sheet that has oiled aluminum foil lining it.  Maybe sprinkle some more salt and seasonings over it if desired and put in the oven.  Bake about 30 minutes until they are browned some and a fork comes out easily or you taste them to see if done.  Depending on your oven, you may need to turn them about half way through the cooking process.

Corn Bread Recipe The Sweet Almost Cake Kind

As far as I can tell, this is the Corn Bread Recipe that mom and grandma use.

Quick Baked Potato or Sweet Potato Recipe

Well this isn't really a recipe but rather directions.  Wash the potato or yam or sweet potato.  Wrap it in wax paper and twist the ends.  Microwave for 7 minutes and let sit a couple minutes before unwrapping to serve or eat.
Sometimes more time is needed but 7 minutes is what the plastic wrapped microwave ones say in the produce section and what has worked for me for years.  If you need more that one, then adjust the time about 4-6 minutes for each additional one and have them individually wrapped.
After doing this the first time, make a note of how long it takes with your microwave if it needs more time since different microwaves have different wattage.
If you are eating baked yams or sweet potatoes, then mix some cinnamon with brown sugar to fill it with.
I haven't tried it yet but I think using a piece of a paper grocery bag might work too.  The steam from the potato should keep the paper from catching fire but don't try this unless you are watching it and let me know if it works or you had to call the fire dept and don't blame me.  I have used parchment paper before and plastic wrap but am a little weary of plastic wrap touching food in the microwave from the stories of it as a possible carcinogen.

Boiled Rice Recipe

Yes this is kind of like "how to boil water".  BUT have you tried the awful rice some people make?  A rice cooker is the easiest option but when you don't have one, here's the basic recipe.  If you double or triple it, then cut back some on the water because it won't need as much to cook.

1.  Pour 1 3/4 cups of water in a pot that has a lid.  Add 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Add 1 Tablespoon of butter. 
2. Bring to a rolling boil. I sometimes cheat, don't wait long enough, and people can always tell.
3. Add 1 cup of rice slowly.
4. Cover and cook over low heat.  Set a timer for 20 minutes.  Remove from heat to another burner and let sit for 5 minutes more.
5. Fluff with a fork, serve, and eat.

German Pancakes Recipe a.k.a. Oven Pancakes

Use a cake pan, casserole pan, or pie tin.  They are good with syrup and powdered sugar or canned or fresh fruit.  This is the recipe we use but probably the same as everyone else too.  On a trip to England years ago, almost the same thing was served smaller as a bread with dinner.  Dessert to one is a dinner roll to another.

Aunt Janice's Chili Relleno Recipe

Another Aunt Janice recipe.  These Chili Rellenos are great and my wife loves them and orders Chili Rellenos at restaurants regularly so if she likes this recipe then they are at least as good as or better than a good restaurant one.  She is known to not finish ones that are bad.

Cheese Strata Recipe

This is the in-laws Christmas Day and New Years Day and special day recipe that most of the married into the family and almost all of the born into the family love.  It can be made ahead of time and frozen to bake later or baked and frozen to reheat later.  Butter amounts can be increased or decreased and the corner pieces are always the best.

Crepe Recipe

A blender and a pan and just a few ingredients make a crepe that can be filled with anything main dish or dessert.  This is moms recipe that we've used forever.

Chili's knockoff Chicken Enchilada Soup Recipe

OK, this is one of my wife's favorite soups on the soup and salad menu so a couple of years ago we went through trial and error of many recipes and adjustments to come up with this recipe that the family likes.  Soy free can be an issue with changing ingredients in the items listed so if soy free is your goal, then check all labels as always, and adapt as needed.  Velveeta surprised me as an ingredient that works the best.  We tried all real cheeses and it just didn't work the same so this is one instance of using an ingredient I never would otherwise.

April, 2015 Update: We just tried the Chicken Enchilada Soup at Claim Jumper last week and was it so awful, neither of us could stomach or handle more than two bites each. It was gritty and tasted like half cooded dry black beans with hard old carrots that were probably some sort of dried out corn or stale corn tortillas thrown in a food processor with enough spices to color it a dark brown.  The fried tortilla strips and few strands of chicken let me know it was indeed what I had ordered instead of a strange chili. The waiter looked at the unfinished soup and looked at us like he knew what was up. I quietly asked and he said with a knowing expression, "Yea, it's supposed to taste like that." He was a great guy and offered another bowl of a different soup to go but I didn't take him up on the offer.  I was full from lots of salad from their salad bar with lots of their hot sweet bacon dressing.  Lesson learned.

Aunt Janice's Enchilada Recipes

Aunt Janice was Mormor's friend from way before California happened and then in later years changed my and some of my siblings diapers.  Years ago, I was at her home for dinner when Cameron was a baby and she made the most wonderful Enchiladas and was kind enough to share the recipes with us.  This is what we have used for years.

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas are great but the cans of cream of mystery soup used in them kind of gross me out.  They are basically soy and other hydrogenated cheap filler thickener of the moment ingredient substances that slurp out of the can.  Yes they are the staple of many a Midwesterner or Baptist or Mormon or Catholic or other casserole and jello making baking home cook, but replacing with extra sour cream and seasoning can make recipes healthier and less artificial tasting and soy free.

For the Sour Cream Enchilada Recipe posted here, just substitute the soup can amount of more sour cream and a can of soy free canned chicken or other cooked chopped chicken to the mixture.  A little dehydrated onion can also help boost the flavor if needed.

For the Regular Red Enchiladas, the shredded lettuce sounded kind of gross when I saw it in the recipe but when you finely shred it, it great and authentic.

Pineapple Salsa Recipe

Costco or Smart and Final sell great Pineapple and also mango peach salsa. 

The problem is needing it for a chip when we are out of it or the ever changing presence or absence of soy. This recipe can be adjusted as you like but is a basic quick salsa from what is usually in the pantry if you just can't get to the store.  Substitution happens all the time with this recipe.

Waffles Recipe - a big batch

Waffles are great!  So many years soy free has made a necessity of making a big batch for freezing.  Waffles at stores and even at restaurants usually have at least the soy lecithin from the nonstick spray they use on the waffle iron. Here's the recipe we've used for years.  It makes a lot.

Sweet Potato Sefleu or Casserole Recipe

Aunt Stephanie made some great sweet potato stuff for a Thanksgiving years ago and I called her to get the recipe.  When she emailed it to me, she wrote Sweet Potato Sefleu and thats the name we called it because I though it was some Southern name for it. I later found out that Sefleu was just a typo that the spellchecker she had must have mixed up but we've had this recipe in our book this way so long that the title has stayed.

Swedish Orange Gingersnaps Recipe

Its a whole lot easier to buy the great assorted types of Swedish gingersnap cookies at Ikea and even some grocery stores now, especially because they are usually soy free being imported from non soy subsidy countries. 

But, Ikea has been known to run out and grocery stores have at times had ones way past expiration and ransid.

So, here's a way to have them when you can't find them to buy.  Ok they do taste better when homemade if done right.

Mom's Sugar Cookies Recipe

Suzanne makes awesome sugar cookies.  They take time and have to be done correctly.  This is one of those recipes where doing it right matters and one of those recipes where I fail when I follow the recipe.  I don't do it right somehow so mine can be reminiscent of playdough dried in the sun but when Suzanne makes these with the same recipe, they are the best and softest.  They freeze well and ship well in care packages to Utah and Hawaii.  Making these in the Utah altitude and Hawaii humidity might cause some need for modification though.  So here is the recipe and good luck to both of my college children.

 For frosting, call mom because that's another one of those things I just don't do right.

Also a note when letting your younger siblings help.  Have them wash their hands and blow their noses first and put theirs on a separate "special" pan to cook if they are coming in from a hard days play to "help".  The "special" pan is for them.  Ones that are "not special" and fine for anyone that they make don't need to be on the "special" pan. hahaha.... was just thinking of having them make a "special" set to send to college after an afternoon touching starfish and sweating from playing with friends at Sealife at Legoland.  Extra salt and misc. "flavoring" and textures are easily hid with frosting.

Ikea Apple Cake Inspired Recipe Wannabee with Italian tilt

I love the Swedish Apple Cake or Applekaka that used to be a staple at Ikea's restaurant.  Trying to find a duplicate for this recipe is a challenge because there are so many versions of this in Sweden and they just don't turn out the same.  So this recipe is inspired by Ikea and our Swedish roots but a Wannabee because it just isn't the same.  The Italian tilt is because the browned sugar topping and lower profile are more reminiscent of an Italian apple torte. Our favorite way to make this is in a big 12 inch round cake pan and we can polish it off between 4 or 5 of us for breakfast because we love it so much.  A more practical and less caloric way we make it is in two round layer cake pans.  We then eat one of them for 4 or 5 of us and freeze the 2nd one in a gallon Ziploc for a different day.       

OK UPDATE DECEMBER 2011.... Just was at Ikea in San Diego and what used to be a wonderful cake of beautifully sliced apples that was amazing is now a cake of apple chunks that look mooshed and pressed together with goop so they can be mass produced cheaply and sold frozen.  I sooooooooo miss the old Apple Cake they used to have.  So I now love this posted recipe so much more that I don't think I'll ever want to even try to put the new IKEA Slop of an apple cake in my mouth again.  SOOOOOOOO SAD that the good stuff is gone.

UPDATE APRIL 2015.... Tried it again at IKEA last week and now it is almost completely some sort of congealed cornstarch or hardened mush filler that isn't even goop consistency any more. I miss the Applekaka of the past but am thankful for the recipe I have and am hopeful to find a real one again some day in Sweden or somewhere here in the states.

Emily's Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

I can't find the old recipe card that the recipe started from but this is the recipe that I think was printed for a 5th grade demonstration presentation years ago.  That would definitely explain the font.  This is the same as Aunt Sheila's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. Cooking them just underdone enough to stay soft was always Emily's key to making them right for her preference and that of her friends.  There was a better copy of this that Emily used to pass out to a few friends but this is what is in our binder cookbook and the plastic sleeve needs to be wiped off from lots of use.

Marasche Cherry with Almond Paste Cookies

The Recipe posted here is from a recipe book listed in it but just use it as a guide and please change it if you need to.  There are many recipes out on the internet and many are pretty bad so work with what you have available and adjust it to your areas humidity and you own oven.

To make the cookie, you basically take a good almond paste or make your own, then mix it with egg white until it is the thick cookie mix consistency you want, like playdough.  Next take the best bottled sour or sweet cherry that you can find or afford (cheap maraschino ones work but pale in comparison to a really amazing cherry) and put it inside of a ball of the almond mixture.  Close the ball around the cherry, kind of like hiding something inside a wad of playdough as a kid.  Then if you want, and I do, roll the ball in almond slices or shreds or crumbs for an additional outside texture and bake at about 350 depending on your oven until done enough to be firm but not hard like a stale rock.

Costco and Sams Club are usually the best places to find slivered almonds at the best price but Smart and Final sometimes has them for a reasonable price too.  To find Almond Paste, head for the Kosher section and hope they have Solo brand Almond Paste in a can.  It has been the easiest for me to work with and is usually much more economical than the toothpaste tube other couple brands that can be runny and even a little too grainy.  Solo brand Almond filling is ok for fillings in pastrys but doesn't work as a replacement to almond paste so depending on your options available at the stores, make your own if you need to.


There are two of my favorite cookies made of Almonds.  The Marasche from Il Fornaio Restaurant in Del Mar, California that is usually available around Christmas and the Almond Crescent Cookie dipped half way in chocolate from a French bakery just off the Carlsbad Village Drive exit on the 5 as you get off driving southbound.  I think its right next to the old quirky Ace Hardware that's been there forever.  The Almond Cookie from the French bakery will have to wait for another day since I haven't attempted to replicate that recipe yet and the size of that one is probably the same cost or more to make than to just buy with all the almond paste it must use.  I forgot to mention there is also an almond brownie recipe that I love and that may get posted soon too.

Yes still here.

Yikes!  Tons more recipes to post and I should have had most of them already included by now. Duh....  OK so here go the next set of soy free and soy free adaptable recipes since daughter 1 is moving out of the dorms and will be cooking on her own tonight.  You would think I would have had time to get more of this done over the past year while daughter 2 has been in kindergarten.