Shortbread Cookies

Level: Beginner
Ingredients:
-1 cup butter (2 sticks)
-1/2 cup sugar
-1 tsp vanilla
-2 cups flour

Directions:
1. Preheat oven at 350*. Mix butter and sugar until fluffy.
2. Add vanilla and flour slowly.
3. You can add mix-ins to your dough, including almond extract and nuts. You can also dip the cookies in melted chocolate. It is also a good dough to make them in to shapes if you have a cutter or a cookie press. I made into small balls, pressed finger in the middle, and filled dent with a little bit of homemade jam. Delicious!
4. Bake at 350* for 8-10 minutes until golden around the edges.

***These cookies are very soft, best eaten sooner rather than later because it not they will fall apart. I kind of like them old, but I know I'm kind of weird with those things, so I don't recommend it for everyone.***

Torta Loca (Crazy Cake)

Level: Beginner

Ingredients:

-3 cups flour
-6 tbs cocoa
-2 tsp baking soda
-2 cups sugar
-1 tsp salt

-2/3 cup of vegetable oil
-2 tbs white vinegar
-2 tsp vanilla extract
-2 cups of water

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350*.
2. Mix all dry ingredients. Then add all wet ingredients. Mix well.
3. Pour mixture in a 9x9 pan that has been greased and covered in flour. Bake for 35 minutes.

***This recipe is a classic in my house when we were growing up. Very easy to make and as I was noticing, it is also vegan. Next time I will try and pour the cake into cupcakes and see how it turns out. You can also top with icing. Enjoy!***

Grapes and cottage cheese dessert

Level: Beginner
Ingredients:
Red seedless grapes
Cottage cheese
Light brown sugar (or light)
Walnuts (optional)

1. Mix all together, amounts to taste.

**For some reason I like to add salt to this recipe, I think it goes nicely with the cheese. BTW, I didn't think I liked cottage cheese, but I gave it a second try recently and it was thoroughly good! Cottage cheese also has a lot of protein, this is good for our vegetarian friends. :}**

Caramelized red peppers dip

Level: Intermediate
Ingredients:
1/2 bell red pepper (in small cubes)
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 cup vinegar (in this red wine was used)
8 oz. Cream cheese (one package)

1. Simmer the peppers, the sugar and the vinegar together until thick.
2. Pour over cream cheese while mixture is still hot.
3. Serve with choice of crackers.

**This recipe was really easy to make, except you have to watch for the mixture not to overcook because then it becomes too caramelized. We just love the sweet and sour taste of the sugar and the vinegar. In this picture we made only half of the recipe as we thought it would be too much for us to eat the whole cream cheese block ourselves. LOL!**