Ruben's (Maid's) Tuna Pie

This savory pie was inspired by one cooked by my college roommate Ruben, who moved into our apartment armed with a list of recipes of his favorite meals prepared by his maid, whose name I unfortunately can't remember. The original recipe called for giardiniera, or pickled vegetables, which I would mostly pick out. In my version I threw in some of my favorite veggies and used a frozen crust to save time.



Ingredients

• 1 whole wheat pastry crust
• 1.5 cups white sauce (see below)
• 2 cans tuna, drained
• 3/4 cup frozen vegetables thawed and drained (i use broccoli and pepper combination)
• 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen corn ( thaw and drain)
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt

White Sauce

• 3 tbl butter
• 3 tbl sifted flour
• 1 cup milk + 1/2 cup water
  
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400. Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, whisk. Add 1/2 cup milk mixture at a time. Continue to whisk allowing sauce to thicken before adding remaining liquid. Add salt and pepper.
   
2. Turn heat down to low.
3. Add drained tuna, stir.
4. Add vegetables, stir.
5. Pour into pastry crust.
6. Bake for 35 minutes.
7. Cool and enjoy!
   

Best Blueberry Pancakes

After many misses with various pancake recipes, I've finally developed one that I like, or better yet, love. These come out nice, thick and fluffy. Enjoy with pure Grade A maple syrup, its worth the extra cost!

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (subs. regular all purpose flour)
  
• 1 + 1/2 cup vanilla soymilk at room temperature (subs. regular milk)
• 1 + 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  
• 1 egg or equivalent using EnerG egg replacer
  
• 4tsp baking powder
• 1 tbl sugar
  
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
  
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 3 tbl melted butter

Directions

1. Mix dry ingredients, whisk and set aside.
2. Mix room temperature milk, and melted butter and whisk.
3. Add egg or prepared egg replacer to wet ingredients, whisk until combined.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients, dont overmix, smooth lumps with a spatula, add blueberries.
5. Preheat griddle or frying pan to medium heat.
6. Lightly coat the hot pan with vegetable oil or cooking spray.
7. Pour 1/4 batter onto pan. Flip when edges appear dry or bubbles form on top.
8. Top with butter and syrup.