Nila, Might be interested in following recipe for your vins. It says raspberry or strawberry because those are what my herb Guild sells, but your fruit ones should be lovely. Quinoa Salad With Apples, Raisin & Walnuts ÷ 1 1/4 Cups Stock or Water 1 Cup Quinoa, Rinsed Well ÷ 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil ÷ 1 Tablespoon Guild Raspberry Lemon Thyme Vinegar or Strawberry Mint Vinegar ÷ ü Cup Parsley, Chopped ÷ ü Cup Chives, Chopped ÷ ü teaspoon Salt ÷ ü teaspoon Pepper ÷ 2 Golden Delicious Apples, Cored and Diced ÷ ý Cup Golden Raisins ÷ ý Cup Chopped Walnuts, Toasted Prepare the quinoa. Bring 1 ü cups stock or water to a boil then stir in the quinoa. Return to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa is tender, (about 25 ��" 30 minutes). Let rest for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork, then set aside. While the quinoa is cooking, whisk the oil, vinegar, parsley, chives, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the apple, raisins and walnuts tossing to coat. Add the quinoa to the fruited vinaigrette mixture, folding and tossing to combine thoroughly.

We are average I would say - recycling, lights off, CFLs etc. I have friends thought that put me to shame. More than a few of our friends don't use toilet paper. They use family cloth, which is cut up squares of flannel that they wash. I can't bring myself to do that. Lots of friends also use washable sanitary napkins and I personally love my menstrual cup (did I share too much? lol). Bumble I agree that these small things we do in our homes really make a negligible difference in the broad scope. However, it does keep our environment top of mind and that in and of itself is a reason to keep doing it.

Carol - Here's the short and long version of the recipe. I have it taped to my bread machine on a 3x5 card. It's our everyday bread, and I also use it for dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, burger buns and hot dog buns. I've also included the long version of the recipe which includes instructions for making it in the bread machine, as well as by hand. I lovingly call the recipe "Mildred Bread". It was based on a recipe my friend, Mildred, got from Pleasant Hill Grain and some input from me. Sponge: 3/4 c. warm buttermilk (I use kefir) 3/4 c. warm water 2-1/2 c. milled whole wheat flour 1/4 t. ascorbic acid 2 t. instant yeast Mix on quick dough cycle for a few minutes. Stop machine and rest the sponge at least 2-1/2-hours. Stir in these ingredients: 1/3-1/2 c. chia seed goop (optional) 2 T. coconut oil (butter or vegetable oil can also be used) 2 T. agave nectar (or honey) 1 egg Add to the top: 2-1/4 c. whole wheat flour 2 t. salt (on top) Process on the quick dough cycle. Remove as soon as the kneading has stopped. Note: I sometimes add 1/3-1/2 c. multi-grain cereal at the add-in beep, and also add 2 T. flaxmeal. ----------------------------------------------------- The long version: 100% Whole Wheat Bread Bread Machine (changes for by hand in italic) Sponge: 3/4 c. lukewarm buttermilk (I use homemade kefir.) 3/4 c. lukewarm water 2-1/2 c. freshly-milled whole wheat flour (Prairie Gold from Wheat Montana is my favorite wheat) 1/4 t. ascorbic acid* 2 t. SAF-Instant Yeast Mix these ingredients in the bread machine pan and set the machine to QUICK DOUGH. As soon as the mixture is well mixed, unplug the machine and allow to sit (with the lid closed) at least 2-1/2 hours or up to 12 hours, or something in between. If you use a red variety of wheat, it will be less acidic-tasting if you use a 12-hour sponge. After the sponge has set, mix these ingredients into the sponge: 2 T. melted coconut oil (or butter or veg. oil) 2 T. agave nectar (or honey) 1 egg (I also add 1/3-1/2 c. chia seed gel. **) Add to the top of the sponge mixture in the pan: 2-1/4 c. freshly-milled whole wheat flour 2 t. salt (on top the flour) Set the bread machine on regular DOUGH cycle and process. Check the dough to make sure it's formed into a nice soft ball and adjust the hydration as needed. My changes: I process the dough in the bread machine until the dough is mixed and kneaded. I don't let it rise in the machine. I place the dough in a dough rising bucket, place the lid on the top and allow the dough to ALMOST rise to double. Whole wheat dough does NOT have the extensibility that white bread dough does, so try not to let it go more than double. Using a dough rising bucket helps you to accurately judge when dough has doubled. Place the dough into a dough rising bucket. It should come up to the 1-quart line. It's doubled when it reaches the 2-quart line. You can get plastic food storage containers (with a tight-fitting lid and graduated measures on the side) at restaurant supply stores (or through King Arthur Flour - aka dough doubler). For this recipe a 2-quart container works perfectly.) After the bread machine finishes the dough cycle (or has doubled in the dough rising bucket), dump the dough onto a Silpat and with oiled/greased hands deflate the dough by pushing it in the middle with your fist then drawing all edges of the outside dough into the middle (turning the dough inside-out so to speak). Divide the dough into portions (I scale the dough for accuracy.) Round each portion (make it into a smooth ball) so that all the gluten strands are going into the same direction. Cover and allow to rest 10-15 minutes so the gluten relaxes. Form dough, pan, cover with plastic wrap for the final proofing - etc.... I make this bread into 3 small loaves (7-1/2x3-1/2-inch pans - 350°F for 20-25 minutes), OR one 1# Pullman Loaf and use the other 1# of dough for 6 pecan rolls OR an 8-inch pan of dinner rolls - sometimes I use a portion of the recipe for hamburger or hot dog buns. A very versatile dough. ------------------------------------------------------ * ascorbic acid powder is available at most health food stores. It's a very important ingredient ANY time you make bread that includes wheat germ (which is in whole wheat flour). There is a substance in wheat germ called Glutathione. This substance breaks down the gluten and can result in a short loaf. The bran in whole wheat bread can also cut the gluten strands which results in a short squatty loaf. The sponge helps to soften the bran. The addition of 1/8 t. ascorbic acid per loaf of bread will counteract the negative effects of Glutathione. It will help prevent the gluten bonds from breaking down and will also help repair gluten bonds that have been broken. The ascorbic acid also helps sustain the leavening of bread loaves during baking. Yeast grows longer and faster when there is also ascorbic acid. Do not add it to sourdough recipes because they are naturally an acidic atmosphere. ** Chia seed gel is a mixture of chia seeds and water (1 part chia seeds to 9 parts water). This mixture thickens as the seeds absorb the water and adds hydration to the crumb of the loaf. It looks like poppy seeds in the bread after it's baked. Excellent nutritional boost and additional fiber. By hand, place sponge ingredients in a glass or plastic bowl and mix the sponge ingredients together with a Danish dough whisk or a wooden spoon and beat the ingredients about 100 strokes. Cover, and allow to sit at room temperature at least 2-1/2 hours. After the sponge is done: add the flour gradually to the sponge mixture using a Danish dough whisk (or wooden spoon) and carefully beat in each addition of flour before adding more. You may end up beating the dough 500-800 strokes, but do as much mixing as you have the strength to do. If you need to stop and rest, that's fine. The rest will allow the dough to hydrate. Towards the end of mixing, add the salt (DON'T FORGET!!!). The gluten will tighten up and make mixing harder after adding salt. The better job you do of mixing the dough and developing the gluten while it's in the bowl, the less time you'll need to knead it. When you knead the dough, avoid adding a lot of bench flour. If you have a problem adding too much flour during kneading, grease/oil your hands during kneading instead - especially during the last 2-3 minutes of kneading. -Grainlady

aok27502- There are any number of vegetarian recipes that work well as substitutes for ground beef in recipes. These are three recipes I have in my file. #1 Ground Beef Substitute 1 c. lentils 1 c. rice 4 c. water Cook like rice and use as a substitute for ground beef. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #2 Ground Beef Substitute 1/2 c. quinoa* 1 vegetable bouillon cube (or beef flavored) 1 c. water 2 T. olive oil 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped 2 t. minced garlic 1 (15.5) can black beans (UNdrained) In a saucepan, bring 1 c. water and bouillon cube to a b oil. Add quinoa, stir, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is absorbed (approx. 20-minutes). Meanwhile, heat olive oil in skillet over med. heat. Add onion, stirring to coat, then garlic. Saute until translucent. Add beans and bring to a simmer, until heated thoroughly. At this point mash some of the beans with a potato masher. Once quinoa is cooked, mix it into the beans. Flavor to taste or to the purpose you will be using the substitute. Makes six 1/2-cup servings. *If you happen to have red quinoa, it has better color than white quinoa for this recipe, but either will work. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #3 Ground Beef Substitute http://veggieconverter.com/whole-food-vegetarian-ground-beef-substitute-recipe/