Veggie Muffin Sammies

INGREDIENTS:


* 4 English muffins, split and toasted or whole wheat pita
* 1 avocado, mashed
* 1 cup alfalfa sprouts
* 1 small tomato, chopped
* 1 small sweet onion, chopped
* 4 tablespoons Ranch-style salad dressing
* 4 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
* 1 cup shredded smoked Cheddar cheese


DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to broil.
2. Place each muffin open-faced on a cookie sheet. Spread each half with mashed avocado; place halves close together. Distributing ingredients evenly, cover each half with sprouts, tomatoes, onion, dressing, sesame seeds and cheese.
3. Place under broiler for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Optional: Black olives

The Best Veggie Sammie

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 thick slices whole wheat bread
* 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
* 6 slices cucumber
* 2 tablespoons alfalfa sprouts
* 1 teaspoon olive oil
* 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
* 1 tomato, sliced
* 1 leaf lettuce
* 1 ounce pepperoncini, sliced
* 1/2 avocado, mashed

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spread each slice of bread with 1 tablespoon cream cheese. On one slice of bread, arrange cucumber slices in a single layer. Cover with sprouts, then sprinkle with oil and vinegar. Layer tomato slices, lettuce, and pepperoncini. Spread other slice of bread with mashed avocado. Close sandwich and serve immediately.

California Grilled Veggie Sammie

INGREDIENTS:

* 1/4 cup mayonnaise
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1/8 cup olive oil
* 1 cup sliced red bell peppers
* 1 small zucchini, sliced
* 1 red onion, sliced
* 1 small yellow squash, sliced
* 2 (4-x6-inch) focaccia bread pieces, split horizontally
* 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Set aside in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the grill for high heat.
3. Brush vegetables with olive oil on each side. Brush grate with oil. Place bell peppers and zucchini closest to the middle of the grill, and set onion and squash pieces around them. Cook for about 3 minutes, turn, and cook for another 3 minutes. The peppers may take a bit longer. Remove from grill, and set aside.
4. Spread some of the mayonnaise mixture on the cut sides of the bread, and sprinkle each one with feta cheese. Place on the grill cheese side up, and cover with lid for 2 to 3 minutes. This will warm the bread, and slightly melt the cheese. Watch carefully so the bottoms don't burn. Remove from grill, and layer with the vegetables. Enjoy as open faced grilled sandwiches.

Greek-Style Veggie Burgers

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plain lowfat yogurt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
1 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives
1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
2 meatless burger patties (about 2 1/2 oz. each)
4 tomato slices (about 1/4" thick each)
Sliced red onion
4 pitas

Directions:

MIX yogurt, cumin and oregano. Stir in olives and cheese and season to taste with black pepper. Or buy the Gyro cucumber sauce already made! I actually prefer doing this! You can pick it up at Sprouts.

COOK patties according to package directions in a little oil and garlic. (I like to season mine with seasoned salt, adobo and Worcestershire sauce) Slice the patties into strips when cooked.

DIVIDE tomatoes, patties and yogurt mixture in a pita. Top with red onion.

TIP: For extra flavor, use Kalamata olives instead of ripe olives.

Vegan Banana Bread

Equipment:
8 x 4 bread pan

Ingredients
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup margarine, at room temp
3 very ripe bananas, mashed well
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup vanilla soy milk, mixed with 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 8x4 bread pan with non stick cooking spray, or lightly coat with margarine.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt and spices.

Cream together the margarine and sugars. Add bananas, soy milk and vanilla.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Mix well. Pour batter into pan. Bake for an hour to an hour 10 minutes.

Baked French Toast Casserole

Ingredients:

* 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
* 8 large eggs
* 2 cups half-and-half
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* Dash salt
* Praline Topping, recipe follows
* Maple syrup

Directions:

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.
Praline Topping:

* 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
* 1 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Monkey Bread

4 cans of the small refrigerator biscuits (about 40, not layered)
1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup pecans, raisins and/or coconut, if desired

Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Pour sugar and cinnamon into a plastic bag and mix.
Add biscuit pieces, several at a time; shake to coat well.

Place pieces in a buttered tube or Bundt pan until all are used.

Sprinkle layers with nuts, raisins or coconut.

Bring brown sugar and butter to a boil in saucepan. Cool 10 minutes, then pour over tp of biscuits.

Bake at 350F for 45 minutes. Allow to cool 15 minutes before removing from pan. Turn upside down to serve.