Whole Wheat Crackers

Through Anna's gentle nudging, I am finally getting around to putting the cracker recipe that I love on here.  I got it off of a cooking blog about a year ago and have tweaked it a bit.  I wish I could give credit to the proper source, but I can't.  These are the best crackers though - so yummy and so easy!

Ingredients

1 c whole wheat flour
2 TBS. butter (I often replace this with the same amount of coconut oil)
pinch of salt
1/4 c water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Put all ingredients except for the water in a food processor. Pulse the processor two to three times to blend. Add the water and run the processor until the dough forms into a ball. Flour a wooden board (I use a pastry mat), dump the dough on it, and roll it as thin as you can. Then bake on a cookie sheet or baking stone.

Bake 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool and cut with a pizza cutter or break into smaller pieces.

You can add any herb or spice or salt that you want.  We usually use kosher salt on top and then eat them with soup.  You can also throw in almost any dried herbs and they taste fabulous.  (If you use fresh herbs, they still taste good, but come out green.)

If you make them with coconut oil instead of butter, they turn out almost the same, just a little softer.  Also, I usually double this recipe and use two large cookie sheets.  They are still gone surprisingly fast.

Cold Rice Salad

I used to make this with chicken. You can if you want. I don't anymore. This is best made in the morning so it can be nice and cold for dinner. I usually like it best on day two, so make it ahead of time if you want.

Lots of crunchy raw veggies (radishes, cucumbers, carrots, celery, peppers, etc.) chopped up. Throw in a green onion if you like them. Mix veggies in with a few cups of brown rice (amount determined by how much your family will eat for dinner), and few spoonfuls of mayo (to taste), a generous amount of fresh squeezed lemon juice (at the least one lemon), a sprinkle of garlic powder, a few grinds of pepper, salt to taste. Sometimes I also add peas. Sometimes I don't.

Easy and delicious.

Oven Baked Lentils and Brown Rice

Surprisingly delicious and easy, this recipe was discovered at Zonya's health bites. She is from PBS. I've never watched her, but my friend told me about this one, and it's a keeper. Best part is it is sooo easy to make. Second best is it is a good pantry meal. Third, it tasted great. Here is her recipe with my adjustments:

2 small onions chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

About 25 ounces Chicken or Veggie broth

1 3/4 cups water

1/2 cup white wine

1 1/2 cups dry lentils, rinsed and picked over for stones

1 cup dry brown rice (not quick cooking)

6 stalks of celery chopped (or however much you want to add)

1 red pepper chopped

1 tsp basil

1 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp thyme

Fresh ground pepper

Mix all ingredients together in large large baking dish, bake at 350, uncovered, for about 90 mins. Mine cooked faster, so make sure you check it.