"Sweets" aka- mashed and spiced sweet potatoes

This recipe is for 2-4 depending on the amount you serve. It's yummy and takes no time at all.

2 medium- large-ish sweet potatoes, washed with skin removed
about 1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I use almond)
1-2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
1 large date, mixed and mashed with boiling water

Cut the potatoes into small pieces and steam them. When soft, mash them and add other ingredients to desired texture and taste.
SO good they taste like dessert!

Yummy Sauce

Yummy Sauce

This is one of Chef AJ's delicious recipes.
The cannelini beans create a  texture similar to nuts and have the mouth feel without all the fat.

Ingredients:
1 15 ounce can of cannelini beans, rinsed and drained (or 1½ cups of cooked beans)
zest from one lemon plus 1/4 cup lemon juice
3 cloves of garlic (or less, to your liking- I like garlic)
2 tablespoons salt free mustard (I use Westbrae stoneground mustard)
3/4 ounce pitted dates (about 3 Deglet Noor)

Preparation: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add water If necessary. If you make this in a high-powered blender you can make the sauce warm. This is delicious served over veggies and brown rice.

Hot Caramel Matcha ☕ Tea Latte

Hot Caramel Matcha Tea Latte

I confess, I have an addiction. Matcha tea. Once you learn about how good it is for you I think you will love it too.  To learn more, check out Dr. Greger's link here at Nutritional Facts. 

Maybe you have tried Matcha at Starbucks.....but let me tell you that is a very distant relative to real Matcha. Unfortunately they have placed tons of sugar In the powder making it a sweet confection rather than a delicious Matcha. 

This summer, on this blog,  you saw a recipe for iced mint Matcha. Now I introduce the hot version with caramel extract. You can always just have the regular latte or even the Matcha powder in water. Here is my"Sunday morning" Matcha.  I use my Vitamix to make it but you can just as easily use a whisk. 

1/2 cup boiling water

Place in Vitamix

Add 1-2 teaspoon Matcha powder  My favorite is Do Matcha.

Whip them together.

Add  a drop or two of caramel extract- I use Watkins. You of course can favor it with the extract of your choice.

Add sweetener. I use maple syrup or Xylitol.

Heat 3/4 to 1 cup almond milk and then add to mixer.

Whip till frothy. Enjoy!

Quickie Delicious Black Beans

One of my favorite quickie meals is the "Aztec Princess." Pretty much it's a pile of different yummy veggies that you have in your fridge, black beans and corn tortillas.

Tonight's versions of the beans blew me away. (Thank you Domi for the inspiration.)
It led the way to the most recent version of the Aztec Princess which has beans, roasted butternut squash (with herbs), steamed kale, and a little smashed avocado. The beans and the squash were so tasty that I put the salsa (Muir Glen, jarred) away.

 Ingredients:
1 28 oz can black beans- drained and rinsed
1 inch piece of ginger (I keep mine in the freezer. It keeps it fresh and delicious.)
1 medium onion
1-2 tsp oil of choice
1-2 tsp bouillion or "better than bouillon" and water
1 to 2 tsp cumin seed (depends how spicy you like them)
1 to 2 tsp coriander

Directions:
1. Saute onion and ginger with oil.

2. Add drained beans, cumin seeds, coriander, water, and bouillon.
3. Saute till fragrant and yummy.