Almond Meal Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

• 9 oz sliced almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 3 oz sugar
• 3 bananas
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300º. Prepare muffin tins.
2. Combine almonds and baking powder in the food processor until finely ground but don’t let it run too long or else it will end up as almond butter. Set aside.
3. Combine eggs, sugar, bananas, and vanilla extract until smooth and fluffy. Combine with almond meal.
4. Pour into each muffin tin and top with thinly sliced bananas and almonds. Bake for 40 minutes and let cool before serving.

Apricot Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk or almond milk
• 2 apricots, pitted
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/2 cup ice

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until creamy. Pour into a glass and garnish with fresh mint.

Marinated Edamame

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of frozen edamame
• 200 ml of marinated cooking wine sauce
• Salt

Directions:

1. Boil a pot of water. In the meantime, wash the edamame in warm water.
2. When water boils, put edamame into the pot and cover. Remove lid when water boils again and remove edamame with a strainer into a bowl. Dispose excess water in the bowl.
3. Combine marinated cooking wine sauce with edamame. Do not cover and let cool as this will preserve the edamame’s green color. Season with salt. After it is cool, refrigerate overnight and serve the next day.

Strawberry Romaine Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of romain lettuce, dried and chopped
• 1 bag of spinach, dried and chopped
• 1 pint of fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• handful of raisins

Directions:

1. In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine, spinach, and strawberries.
2. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and milk. Shake well and pour the dressing over salad. Sprinkle with a handful of raisins!

German Nougat Balls

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chunks
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon strong brewed coffee
• 1 tablespoon rum
• 1 cup ground hazelnuts

Directions:

1. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula. Remove the bowl from the heat until chocolate is melted.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the confectioner's sugar and cocoa powder. Mix in the vanilla, coffee, rum, and nuts. The mixture should be fairly thick. Add more rum if necessary.
3. Allow the mixture to cool then shape the mixture into 1/2 inch diameter balls. Dip the balls into the melted chocolate. Chill until firm.