Homemade Ranch

Ingredients:

1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1 packet ranch dressing mix

Directions:

Whisk together all 3 ingredients and place in container. Chill for one hour before serving.

Marinated Creamed Cucumber & Onion Salad

Ingredients:

2 lg. cucumbers

1 lg. white onion

1/4 c. white vinegar

2 tbsp. sugar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 1/2 c. sour cream

1 tsp. chopped fresh dill

2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

Salt & fresh ground pepper

1/2 c. water

Directions:

Thin slice scored cucumber and onion. Place in bowl and pour in vinegar, oil & water. Add sugar, salt, pepper, dill & parsley. Mix well. Let cool for 1/2 hour then drain off all liquid. Add sour cream. Mix well & refrigerate 1 hour.

Vegan Tomato Salad with Cucumber, Avocado, Cilantro and Lime

(Makes 2 servings)

6 medium tomatoes, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups diced tomatoes)

2 medium cucumbers, diced into bite-sized pieces (about 1 cup diced cucumber)

1 avocado, diced into bite-sized pieces

1 cup chopped cilantro (use more or less to taste)

1 T + 2 T fresh squeezed lime juice

1 T best quality extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp. Spike seasoning (optional, but good)

salt to taste (I used Vege-Sal, but sea salt would be great here)

Peel avocado and cut into 1/2 inch pieces (I use this method for peeling and cutting an avocado.) Put avocado pieces into plastic or glass bowl and toss with 1 T lime juice. Season generously with salt.

Chop tomatoes, cucumbers, and cilantro and add to avocado in bowl. Whisk together 2 T lime juice and 1 T olive oil (with Spike seasoning if using) then stir gently into salad. Serve immediately. This doesn't keep well, so only make as much as will be eaten right away.

Fried Rice

3 cups cooked white rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)

3 tbs sesame oil

1 cup frozen peas and carrots (thawed)

1 small onion, chopped

2 tsp minced garlic

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/4 cup soy sauce

      On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.  Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated!