Apple Walnut Lentil Salad

Apple Walnut Lentil Salad (shared by Lara)

Ingredients:

1 cup green or black lentils

1 apple, chopped

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

1/4 cup scallion, sliced

1/4 cup bleu or goat cheese

Balsamic dressing (optional)

Directions:

Use Trader Joe's black lentils that already cooked. Mix all ingredients & serve. Double recipe if you want leftovers!  ENJOY :)

French Onion Fondue (shared by Megan)

Yum!  This past bookclub Megan made an amazing french onion fondue.  On a recent trip to Chicago Megan was inspired to make this delicious appetizer that she had the opportunity to try.

Check out the recipe: http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/chefs_recipes/2757/French_onion_soup_takes_a_dip.htm

Herb Goat Cheese Log

Herb Goat Cheese Log - Trader Joe's recipe (shared by Courtney)

1 - 8 oz. plain chèvre goat cheese log (I used the larger size)
1/2 cup chopped and crushed candied pecans
1/2 cup chopped basil
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/4 tsp black pepper

Combine pecans, basil, cranberries, and pepper on a flat surface
Unwrap goat cheese and roll firmly in mixture, coating all surfaces.
Enjoy!


This recipe can also be found in "Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's" www.cookingwithtraderjoes.com. 

Malain's BookClub Salad

The Salad (shared by Malain)

Ingredients:

1 head of romaine lettuce

2 tomatoes

½ cup slivered almonds

Dressing – equal parts lemon juice and balsamic

Directions:

Mix together and serve :)

Encinitas Farmer's Market Fruit Salad

All the fruit was from the local Encinitas Farmers Market, bought that day: 

Pint raspberries

Pint blueberries

1 green apple

1 red apple

1 white nectarine

1 nectarine

1 plum

2 pints strawberries

I think that is it, and the amounts are estimates.  Enjoy! (shared by Lara) 

Baked Apple Crumb Dessert

Baked Apple Crumb (shared by Courtney)   1/4 cup egg whites 1/4 cup honey 1/2 lemon, peeled and seeded 4 apples, quartered and seeded 1/2 cup dates 2 Tablespoons flax seed 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup whole wheat flour 2 cups uncooked rolled oats 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup walnuts 2 tablespoons brown sugar cooking spray   I made this in the Vitamix so I'm not sure how would work with a regular blender.  I don't think it would be that different, you would just have to modify it a little bit.   Preheat oven to 350.  Spray a 9x9 baking pan with cooking spray Place egg whites, honey, lemon, apples, dates, flax seed, nutmeg and cinnamon into Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.  Select variable 1  Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High Blend for 1 1/2 minutes, using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.  Place flour, oats, salt, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl and gently combine.  Pour liquid mixture into dry mixture and stir together by hand. Pour into prepared baking pan Clean and dry Vitamix container Add walnuts and brown sugar to Vitamix container and secure lid Select variable 1 Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 2 until chopped Pour over batter in baking pan Bake 45 minutes Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 Tablespoon cocoa

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1 cup oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 Tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-2 oz. red food coloring

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

    Line trays with cupcake papers.

    Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir together with    whisk until blended. Set aside.

    Place all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl and stir together with another wire whisk.

    Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or until completely combined.

    Pour into cupcake pans and drop the pans on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.

    Bake for about 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

    Makes 24 cupcakes

Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla

6 cups confectioners’ sugar

    Sift sugar and set aside.

    Beat cream cheese and butter on high until creamy. Add vanilla.

    Then, add the sugar in batches. Scrape down the sides in between each addition.

    And frost away.