Palm Grove Cookies

The fan palm is native to California, but not the coconut palm, which can only grow in areas where temperatures never fall below 5o degrees. Although this recipe does not contain native ingredients, it is a reminder of the canyon groves of fan palms found in the Southern California desert.

Sugar Cookies
1/8 c natural buttery spread
1/2 c light brown sugar
1 egg or egg replacer
3 c whole wheat flour
1/4 t salt
3 t baking powder
1/2 c milk/soy milk/rice milk
1/2 t vanilla extract

Mix together spread and sugar, add egg and beat well. Add dry ingredients, milk and vanilla. Roll on floured board and cut with palm tree cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Frosting
1/4 c natural buttery spread
1/2 c powdered sugar
Green and yellow food coloring

Thoroughly blend the spread with sugar and add one or two drops of food coloring. Frost cookies.

Desert Floor Omelet

3 eggs
1/2 c chopped red pepper
1/4 c chopped cactus
1 chopped green onion
1 finely chopped broccoli floret
1/4 t garlic salt
Salt and pepper to taste

Chop ingredients and add to beaten egg. Chopped cactus can be washed and dried with a towel so that it won't be so gelatinous. Add garlic salt and salt and pepper. Spray frying pan with oil. Cook on low or medium heat until the egg mixture is soft but slightly firm. Turn omelet over and cook until other side is done.
Other breakfast foods, biscuits, etc can be added to this base by placing around them around the
edges of the omelet.

Red and Green Cactus Apple Sorbet

Green Cactus Apple Sorbet
6 Green Cactus Apples
1/4 c Strawberry Kiwi Juice

Red Cactus Apple Sorbet
5 Red Cactus Apples
1 Orange
1/2 c Strawberry Kiwi Juice

For both these recipes, cut the ends off the cactus apples which have been washed. Then make a slit down the center and gently peel the skin off. Put juice in blender and slowly add pieces of fruit. Some persons leave the seeds in, but this example has been strained. You can try different fruit juices and add bits of different refreshing fruits to the final mixture. Pour into small bowls and freeze.

Topping or Addition (shown above on the plate above)
Finely chop rind and a bit of the fruit from a lime, lemon and an orange. These can be added to the blended mixture or placed on top as a garnish. You can also try other types of fruit such as pineapple or kiwi.

Desert Glow

2 Red Cactus Apples
1 Orange

Here is another simple breakfast wake up. After cutting both ends off a red cactus apple, cut it in half and place it in the center of the plate. Then section the other cactus apple and the half and place them in a spiral around plate. Alternate with orange sections.

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.