Funky Monkey Cookies

Delicious

These cookies are banana oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, but I wanted to name them something fun!

Ingredients:
2 mashed ripe bananas
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup soy milk
3/4 cub light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup whole wheat flour and 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour (or you can do 2 1/3 cups all purpose)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon each all spice and nutmeg and salt
1 1/2 cups instant or rolled oats
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray 2 cookie sheets.
In a bowl combine banana, maple syrup, sot milk, vanilla, and brown sugar. You might want to use a hand mixer or stick blender to get the banana "smoosh" smooth and incorporated. Sift in all dry ingredients except oats. When a dough forms fold in chocolate chips and oats. Form into walnut sized balls and bake 10min. They will be soft and not look done but let them cool (slightly if you can't wait) and they will become chewy and delicious! Enjoy with ice cold non-dairy milk or coffee!

Black Bean Burgers and Sweet Potato Oven Fries

Delicious

This is probably one of my favorite meals because I LOVE burger and fries. Honestly the ketchup and fries make it so good you can use pre-made veggie burgers if you want but this is worth the trouble. I recommend Amy's Texas burgers if you want to use a frozen burger. Below I included two recipes for black bean burgers. The first is from Veganomicon is a little "bready" so i made an open face sandwich and the second is inspired by my fried Sarah (of Sarah and John's famous guacamole).

Burgers:
1 can organic black beans
1/2 cup vital wheat gluten*
1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1 teaspoon chile powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin and coriander
1/4 cup water*
1 table spoon tomato paste
1/4 cup cilantro finely chopped
2 cloves crushed garlic
1/2 red onion finely chopped

Mash beans with a fork and then add other ingredients. Combine until you can form four patties. Spray a non stick skillet with Pam and cook 5-10 min each side. Serve with guacamole, tomato, lettuce and onion or ketchup mustard and pickles!

To make Sarah's version omit * items. The burgers will be softer so be gentle turning them.

Fries:
Set oven to 375. Cut two sweet potatoes into fry shapes. Toss in EVOO and spread out on a baking sheet. Lightly dust them with cumin, salt, and chili pepper. Bake for 20 min, flip and bake another 20-30min until crispy.

Make dipping sauce by combining ketchup, one clove fresh crushed garlic, Tabasco sauce, and minced cilantro. This is also great on burgers!

Rustic Mushrom and Carmalized Onion Flatbread

Delicious

This uses Tom's pesto recipe as a base for delicious mushrooms, caramelized onions, sun-dried and diced tomatoes.

Pesto:
Kalmata olives
Basil
Pine nuts
1 clove garlic
handful of baby spinach

Combine a small handful of each ingredient in food processor and add 1-2 tablespoons EVOO
Spread on pre-made pizza dough and add toppings.

Topping:
Sauteed mushrooms
Caramelized onions
Sun dried tomatoes
1/2 jar Trader Joe's bruschetta sauce or diced tomatoes