BALSAMIC MAPLE SAUCE

This sweet and savory concoction is made on the stove and is one of those sauces that adds pizazz and awesomeness to most any ho-hum dish.  It was suggested for drizzle on the Quinoa Chickpea Confetti Casserole, and it made a really good meal more superlative.  Find your basil pasta a little dry?  Drizzle on a little BMS.  Got a case of sweet potato stew blahs?  BMS.  New brand of veggie nuggets a bit on the bland side?  BMS dunk.

QUINOA CHICKPEA CONFETTI CASSEROLE

Way better than I was expecting, and certainly interesting.  Quinoa (keen-wah) is the "it" grain these days, and no wonder; it makes these dainty little sprouts while it cooks, and has a fluffy yet springy pleasant texture.  Cooler yet, I did not have to cook the quinoa before compiling casserole; just threw it and fennel slices and red pepper pieces ('confetti') and a bunch of other good stuff into the dish and baked, stirring occasionally.  It was a weird casserole like that.  Tasted fantabulous, kids loved it, especially with the suggested Balsamic Maple Sauce.  Sadly, my sister and my niece started the drive back north just after I popped this dish in the oven, just missed it.

LEMONY CASHEW-BASIL PESTO ON PASTA

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND ALMOND HUMMUS

It is not the best picture I could have taken, but this stuff rocked!  I prepared it with freshly soaked and cooked chickpeas and ground up almonds and stuff the night before my sister and niece came to visit.  I served it to my sister with pita chips and she loved it!