Easy late summer recipes

I indulged in a few decadent yet easy recipes this week. It's still very warm where I'm living, so I'm focusing on preparing light salads and recipes that involve minimal oven time. I hope you enjoy these recipe features as much as I enjoy cooking them up!

Tofu Chocolate Mousse

This chocolate mousse turned out so much better than I had expected. It was thick and smooth with a rich chocolate flavor. Just a small amount is enough to tame your chocolate cravings. I wouldn't necessarily say that it is a healthy recipe, but throwing a bit more protein into your desert probably helps you feel more satiated.

For lunch: Whole wheat pita with tarator sauce, cucumbers, sprouts, and tofu.
Tarator sauce is a delicious Middle Eastern condiment featuring pine nuts and tahini. I've been obsessed with tahini for several months now. I find that this goes very well as a spread on sandwiches, as a dip for pita chips, or on top of steamed veggies.

TARATOR SAUCE
1 cup pine nuts
2 small cloves garlic, minced
6 Tbs. tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 Tbs. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Cayenne or paprika to taste (optional)

Puree the pine nuts and garlic in a food processor until they form a paste. Add the tahini and lemon juice and puree again. With the machine running, add cold water by the tablespoon until the sauce is thinned to the consistency of sour cream. Add olive oil for a slightly more spreadable consistency. Season with salt and pepper, more lemon juice if you'd like, and cayenne or paprika. Enjoy!

Honeybee Cookies

These cookies are fantastic. Not only do they have a delicious, caramel and cinnamon flavor, but they are also quick to make and you probably already have all of the ingredients on hand. I will certainly put these on my list of easy treats to make for pot lucks and parties. Normally, palmiers are my standby easy cookie.