APPLE TART

PECAN-WALNUT CRUST

From Thrive Market’s Paleo Thanksgiving

1 cup ground raw walnuts

1 cup ground raw pecans

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 T coconut oil 6 – 8 dates

1 tsp cinnamon

Blend crust ingredients in the food processor until the dough sticks together when pressed. Transfer to a pie pan and press to flatten. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7 minutes.

ALTERNATE RAW CRUST

From Sweetly Raw’s Deep Dish Apple Pear Tart

1-1/3 cups cashews

1-1/3 cups shredded coconut

2-1/2 - 3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 pinches salt

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil

Grind the cashews and coconut into flour in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients. Process to combine. Press the mixture evenly into a deep 8" tart pan with removable bottom. Make sure to chill it in the freezer to set properly while making the filling. You can even let it sit overnight in the fridge to set before putting the filling in for best results.

FILLING

1/8       cup coconut, tapioca, cassava or arrowroot flour

1/2       teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2       teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8       teaspoon salt

8          cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (8 medium)

2          tablespoons coconut oil

1          dash of coconut sugar (to taste)

*Optional

a dash of apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice

the juice of half a lemon

Vanilla to taste

Ginger syrup

In a saucepan, combine apple filling ingredients and optional spices, and simmer until apples are soft and the sauce has thickened. After you remove the filling from heat, add the optional lemon juice, vanilla or ginger syrup and stir.

Layer into to pie crust and let set for 10 minutes to 24 hours. Enjoy with some coconut whipped cream.

BLUE HUBBARD SQUASH SOUP

1 Blue Hubbard squash (or Kabocha or 2 acorn) – you need 3-4 cups of flesh

3 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp olive oil

3 – 6 cloves garlic

2 cups veggie broth

1 can coconut milk

1 tsp turmeric

dash of dulse

dash of nutritional yeast

sea salt (1-2 tbsp) and black pepper to taste

Hubbard squash was known as the squash of the aristocracy due to its sought-after nutty flavor  and smooth, creamy texture.

Preheat convection oven to 375 degrees F. Cut squash and remove seeds (these can be toasted  while the squash bakes: coat in olive oil and salt and bake until crispy at the edges). Place on a  large baking sheet and roast for 30-45 min until soft.

Sauté coconut oil, garlic and spices for a few minutes in a large saucepan until fragrant. Add broth  and squash and simmer and salt to desired taste. Add coconut milk and stir. Remove from heat  and add an olive oil float. Transfer by cup to a blender (only 1/3 full as it can splash due to the  heat) and blend in batches, transferring to a clean bowl. When all is blended, return to saucepan to  reheat. Enjoy!

PUMPKIN SLAB PIE

From the recipes: Grain Free Pumpkin Slab Pie from MI Gluten-Free Gal and Gluten  Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free

For the crust:

1 pkg Chebe Cinnamon Roll Mix (1-1/4 cups)

2 tbsp oil

1 egg

4 tbsp cold butter, cut into chunks

4 tbsp ice cold water

For the Filling:

2 1/4 cups pure pumpkin purée

3/4 cup full-fat coconut milk

1/2 cup cane sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup cornstarch or tapioca starch

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 teaspoon ginger juice

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

non-dairy whipped topping for serving (optional)

In a large bowl, combine ingredients for the filling and whisk until completely combined. Cover bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate for one to two hours.

Meanwhile, prepare the crust. Add the Chebe Cinnamon Roll mix to a food processor, along with the oil and egg. To that, add the cold butter. Pulse until a dry sand texture develops.

Slowly add the ice cold water to the processor, one tablespoon at a time. Process until a ball of dough forms. Lightly flour a work surface with grain free flour or tapioca starch. Roll the large portion of dough into a large rectangle, approximately 11 by 15 inches.

Transfer crust to an un-greased quarter sheet pan. Use your fingers to press into place, making sure dough forms up the sides of the pan. Place pan in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes for crust to chill. Doing so prevents the crust from shrinking as it bakes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Once oven is preheated, removed crust and filling from the refrigerator. Pour approximately half of the pie filling into the prepared crust. Bake the pie at 425 for 10 minutes. Then, immediately turn the temperature down to 350, and continue to bake for another 20-60 minutes. Check every 20 minutes. Bake until the outer edges of the slab pie are set, and the center is ever so slightly jiggly.

Chill in the refrigerator or set on the counter to cool.

GLUTEN-FREE CHERRY HAND PIES

From MI Gluten-Free Gal

Prepared Pie Crusts

Cherry Pie Filling

1 beaten egg

Course sugar crystals for decoration

For the crust:

1 pkg Chebe All Purpose Bread Mix (1-1/4 cups)

2 tbsp oil

2 eggs

4 tbsp cold butter (cut into chunks)

4 tbsp ice cold water

Use Chebe All Purpose Bread Mix to make two pie crusts. I use a stand mixer to cut in the butter an and make the dough. Roll the dough out to make two 9-inch crusts. You can use them both or freeze one for later. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.

Cut out 3 1/2" round circles. I used only one pie crust, which resulted in 8 circles. Brush bottom crust with beaten egg. Then, top with 2-3 tbsp cherry pie filling. Take another circle of crust and lightly brush with beaten egg. Place egg side down on top of cherry filling. Using fork, crimp edges of the gluten-free cherry hand pie closed.

Brush top of hand pie with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar crystals. Repeat steps with additional pie crust dough. Bake gluten-free cherry hand pies covered with brown paper bag for 25 minutes. You can remove bag during last three minutes of baking to achieve a darker crust.

GINGER CRANBERRY SAUCE

This year we are trying one from Pond Hill Farm.

Makes about 2 1/2 cups, serves 6

¼ cup grape seed or coconut oil

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup coconut sugar, coconut nectar or date syrup

1/8 cup fresh ginger (peeled and minced) or 1 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 tablespoon ginger juice

2 ounces fresh or frozen and thawed cranberries

1 cup crystallized (candied) ginger, finely chopped, divided

1 tablespoon orange zest

a pinch of sea salt

dash of lemon and orange zest

Simmer ginger briefly in oil with salt. Pour juice and sugar into a medium saucepan and  heat over medium heat, stirring often, until sugar has dissolved. Add cranberries and  bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until liquid thickens.

Add a third of the crystallized ginger and simmer, stirring often, until cranberries have  popped and sauce is thickened to desired consistency, about 10 minutes more…

Remove from heat, stir in orange zest and all but a few pieces of the remaining crystallized ginger. Set aside to let cool to room temperature. Garnish with reserved crystallized ginger and lemon zest.

CANDIED SWEET POTATOES

Several sweet potatoes (peeled)

1 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar

1/3 cup vegan butter or coconut oil (chilled)

Slice the sweet potato. Cut the chilled butter or oil into squares or chunks. Layer the sweet potato, butter and sugar and bake until soft. Check at 35 –45 min.

PORTOBELLO FRENCH BEAN CASSEROLE

Makes: 5 cups; serves: 4 to 6

MUSHROOM SAUCE

3 tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup diced onions

3 cups sliced white mushrooms or Portobello mushrooms

2 tablespoons chickpea flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Pinch dried thyme

1/3 cup vegan creamer (unsweetened)

In a 3-quart saucepan; heat the oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions with garlic  powder until translucent. Add flour and stir. Add 1 cup broth ¼ cup at a time and stir until broth is thickened. Add the mushrooms; cook, stirring, until softened, about 3  minutes. Stir in remaining broth, pepper, and thyme. Cook, stirring constantly, until soup  comes to a boil. Add the creamer and remove from heat, stirring until the cream is  warmed.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

16 oz Fresh or frozen green beans (French-cut)

4 – 5 cups Mushroom Sauce

1 small can (8 oz) Water chestnuts (chopped)

Fried onions (1/8 cup)

Black pepper

Preheat oven to 350°. Layer green beans, water chestnuts, sauce, onions and pepper; then repeat, saving  some onions for later. Bake 40 minutes. Add remaining onions and bake for 5 minutes to brown.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CRANBERRIES AND BALSAMIC GLAZE

Brussels Sprouts

Red Onion

Olive oil

Cranberries

Balsamic Crème

Sauté Brussels Sprouts with red onion and olive oil. Add cranberries to warm and drizzle  with balsamic crème.

MASHED CAULIFLOWER

Serves 4

Mashed cauliflower tastes similar to mashed potatoes but with fewer carbs. Top with chopped  herbs like chives, dill or scallions.

1 head cauliflower

3-4 tablespoons vegan butter or butter flavored coconut oil

1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Herbs for topping

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add cauliflower or potatoes and garlic and cook until  very tender, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and then drain well and  transfer cauliflower to a food processor. Add oil and reserved water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and  puree until smooth. (Or mash with a potato masher). Season with salt and pepper and serve.

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

Serves 4

8 medium potatoes·

a massive amount of garlic (if tolerant)

1 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ tablespoon truffle oil *optiona

Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and garlic and cook until very tender, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and then drain well and transfer to a food processor. Add oil and reserved water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and puree until smooth (or mash with a potato masher). Season with salt and pepper and herbs to serve.