Yadi Crocker

I've been "cooking" up a storm lately. It's just so fun, I'm surprised. It all started when I got my dehydrator and decided to mix up a batch of ingredients I already had in the house without really following a recipe. How hard could it be to make chips? Turns out it requires more intricate flavor mixing than I had expected. My chips were gross and stunk up the house. I was determined not to throw the dehydrator out with my nasty creations and to follow some time-tested recipes instead.

I searched online for a few things I wanted to try and went shopping at Trader Joe and Whole Foods for the actual ingredients (no substitutions allowed - per Pierre). Here is what I have made this week:

The first things I made in the dehydrator were Falafel and Lemon Coconut Cookies. Both were YUM. I mixed the falafel with lettuce, tomatoes, chopped cucumbers and topped it with cucumber sauce. I would definitely make that again. I forgot to take a pic of the salad, but here is Joshua's version (same thing sans the lettuce):

Falafel with Cucumber Sauce


Click here for recipe. I actually did substitute something in this - agave for the honey.

The cookies were fabulous. Extremely lemony and coconuty.

Lemon Coconut Cookies


Click here for recipe. These were a hit with everyone.

That night I made Broccoli Soba in Spicy Almond Sauce for dinner. Pierre loved it. It was goood.

Broccoli Soba in Spicy Almond Sauce


Click here for recipe.

I then thought it would be good to make some bread. Here is the sandwich I made with it.

Mediterranean Almond Bread


Click here for recipe. Personally, I wasn't a big fan of this bread. Maybe it's because I haven't had bread in a month, but it was a bit too heavy for me. I omitted all the spices from the recipe since the person said they were overpowering - maybe I should've left some in because mine was sooo bland.

Pierre decided mid-day that he was in the mood for ice cream. I found a recipe for raw chocolate ice cream and substituted carob for cacao (lots of mixed reviews on the affects of raw chocolate on the body). It was ok. I was just happy to be eating something cold and creamy.

Raw Chocolate Ice Cream


Click here for recipe. I topped it with shredded dried coconut and sliced bananas. Pierre was a happy camper.

Later in the day, I wanted sushi. It turned out so yum...but I topped it with traditional organic soy sauce and got a major headache from the salt. I will make them again and use Nama Shoyu or something.

Nori Rolls


Click here for recipe. Pierre loved these.

This morning I decided to make carrot cake. The cake itself was ok, Pierre said the nutmeg was overpowering. I thought it was ok. I was not a fan of the icing, though. I would make this cake again if I could find a better icing. I kind of mixed two different recipes for it since the first one was too plain.

Carrot Cake with Lemon Date Icing (mixed with some cashews and vanilla extract)


Click here for cake recipe.
Click here for icing recipe.

I took the bread I made before, thinned it out and stuck it back in the dehydrator - determined to get my CHIPS! They turned out much better. Joshua ate them up. I made some hummus to go along with it. YUM. Pierre found it a bit too lemony, but I thought it was perfect.

Zucchini Hummus


Click here for recipe. It's towards the bottom of the page.

Phew! I'm pooped. Good food, good times. More to come! I still have so many left overs. Come over and eat this stuff! :-)