Spicy Corn Quesadillas

from Moosewood Cooks at Home

2 T oil
1 C chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 carrots, grated
1 fresh chile, minced, or cayenne to taste
3 C frozen corn
2 t cumin (I was out & subbed smoked paprika)
1 t coriander
1 T fresh cilantro
1 1/2 C cheese (I used cheddar & goat, cream cheese also good)
8 or 16 tortillas, depending on technique

Saute onion & garlic in oil 5 minutes. Stir in carrot, saute 2 more minutes. Add chile, corn, cumin, coriander, & cilantro. Cover & cook 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Salt & pepper to taste, remove from heat, and stir in cheese. Cover until cheese melts, stir again. Divide filling among 8 tortillas. Now you can either fold these in half, or top with another tortilla and fry in a little oil in a hot skillet. Serve with lettuce, avocado, sour cream, salsa, whatever looks good.

Chocolate Cookies

I don't know the provenance of this simple, delicious cookie recipe. I got it from my friend Monika, who's trying out the paleo diet and loving it. Paleo is a whole food diet with low carbs, minimal sugar, and no dairy. I prefer the low carb high fat diet which allows dairy. My ancestors were Northern European, therefore I have the gene that allows me to get nutrition from cow's milk. If your ancestors are from elsewhere, you may want to consider a non-dairy diet.

The idea of Paleo chocolate cookies makes me giggle. Cavemen did not eat cookies. Or chocolate. But we can, and they're delicious.

2 C almond butter
2 squares unsweetened bakers chocolate, chopped into chocolate chip-sized pieces
2 eggs
1/2 C cocoa powder
1 T vanilla
1/2 C honey

Mix together, drop about a table spoon at a time onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (I cut up paper grocery bags for this, rather than buying baking paper.) Bake at 350F for 10 minutes, and let set for 10.

PS Yes, that's supposed to be a tablespoon of vanilla, really. Best source of almond butter is Trader Joes or Costco.