Orange Sunrise

1 orange
2 blood oranges
4 or 5 red grapes

Slice 3 slices from center of orange. Section remainder of orange. For one slice leave white part on and place that on outermost edge. Stack round slices in center. Add orange sections, with blood orange sections next to top of round slices.Place blood orange sections at base of round oranges and sprinkle with red grape halves. Good for breakfast. Can be added to any meal.

Dunes with Green Sauce and Shredded Cabbage

This uses the same Sand Dunes recipe. This version has shredded cabbage and green sauce. It can also be topped with other veggies, chicken, fish or beef.

Sunrise Over the Dunes

Sand Dunes
1/2 t paprika
1/2 t chili powder
3 c couscous
2 c water
1 t chia seed
1/4 jalapeno, chopped finely
Boil mixture about 5 minutes, stirring constantly and making sure it doesn't dry out. It should be fairly stiff when finished. Form into "dunes" on plate by placing mounds and smoothing with fork.

Seared Sirloin Tip
1 pound sirloin tip, sliced lengthwise
2 sprigs rosemary
With heat and oil, sear and cook meat with rosemary.

Sunshine Beets
Peel and slice a golden beet and cut in shape of suns. Boil for 3 minutes.

Salsa
For this a prepared red salsa was used but your own salsa, green salsa and guacamole can also be added.

Place meat and rosemary at base of sand dunes and "suns" at top. Add small sprig of rosemary near suns. Add salsas, guacamole etc.

Cactus Pancakes-Prickly Pear and Cholla

Thanks to Lynne Fletcher and Rose Tyson for presentation help.

1/4 c amaranth
1/4 c barley flour
1/4 c mesquite flour
1 c whole wheat flour
2 eggs
1/4 t salt
2 t baking powder
1/4 c oil

Topping: Prickly pear marmalade with agave nectar

Beginning with dry ingredients, mix all ingredients together. Heat extra oil in frying pan and use a spoon to form the shapes. The prickly pear pads are somewhat oval and can be made individually and then arranged. The cholla is more compact and should be made in one large piece. Take care when turning over. Cook until bubbles appear on top side, then turn over. Use small spoonfuls of prickly pear marmalade for the buds and flower of the prickly pear pancakes. Both types can be topped with agave syrup.

Desert Mesquite Drink

This recipe is enough for one small demi tasse cup. It tastes very much like hot chocolate with a cinnamon and coconut flavor and is naturally sweet. No sugar needed. You can heat it for a hot chocolate-like drink, or serve it cold as a chocolate-tasting milk.

1 t mesquite flour www.casadefruta.com
1/2 c milk, soy milk or rice milk
Mix thoroughly. Serve hot or cold

Ocotillo Flowers-Photo

Photo: Borrego, CA

Series Introduction

This blog is part of a series of trial cook books featuring three areas of Southern California, with emphasis on San Diego County; www.wildmountaincookbook.blogspot.com, www.wildcoastcookbook.blogspot.com, and www.wilddesertcookbook.blogspot.com. It is an often revised learning process in preparation for books about the coast, mountains and deserts with their unique edible wild and native plants, as well as an attempt to translate these environments into food presentations. The blog also contains photos, videos, and art work to further illustrate the character of the region.

The native edibles in this blog are all commercially available in health and specialty stores. Foraging requires land ownership. It also requires positive identification of species and is therefore not recommended without expert advice.

Many of these recipes can be made into vegan interpretations by substituting eggs, milk and butter with egg replacer, soy or rice milk and butter substitute. For more information about the health benefits of an alkaline forming diet, please see http://thrivein30.com.

Thanks to all those who have been so helpful in inspiring, developing and contributing to the Wild Desert Cook Book, especially Lynne Fletcher, Rose Tyson and Carmen Rodriguez.

It is hoped you will visit and enjoy the blogs often to see what's new and try some of the recipes. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Pink Cactus-photo

Colorized Ocotillo-photo