Blondies with Nuts & Fruit

Melt 2 sticks of butter in a saucepan. Turn off the heat, and stir in two cups of sugar, then 1 cup of flour. Beat 4 eggs in a glass, then stir them into the mixture. Add a couple of handfuls of nuts and dried fruit, pour the batter into a greased brownie pan, and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the blondies are done.

I used macadamia nuts, dried cherries, dried apricots cut into quarters, and coconut, but there are lots of delicious things you could add instead. Here are some possible combinations:

Lemon zest, lemon juice, and almonds

Walnuts, raisins, chopped apples, and a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg

Orange zest, orange juice, craisins, and pecans

Carrot Salad with Craisins, Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, and Lemon

A delight to the eye and a delight to the palate, this salad has perfectly balanced flavors, textures, and colors. The carrots provide plenty of beta carotene. The pumpkin seeds provide iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and protein. The almonds provide manganese, vitamin E, vitamin B2, and protein. The lemons provide Vitamin C. The craisins provide fiber.

Here’s the recipe.

Peel and grate five medium-sized carrots. Add a handful of craisins, pumpkin seeds, and almonds. Squeeze half a lemon over the top. Taste, and add more lemon if you like.

How to Dress a Salad

Shake salt onto the lettuce. Pour a bit of olive oil over the leaves. Squeeze a lemon over everything.