Mind Blowing Pesto Pasta

photo 4 As promised, here's my most absolute favorite way to eat the yummy pesto recipe I posted a few weeks ago!!! This is my go-to dish when I need to serve an army and I want to sneak feed them healthy, plant based goodness!!! What they don't know won't hurt them… Is that how that saying goes?! Dude, that's awful. But in the case of this delish pasta, the fact that there is not a stitch of cheese or oil should and will quite literally blow your mind. Ha, people use the term literally too much… but again, with this pasta it's so healthy and yummy, be warned, your head could explode. Okay, here's how easy this shiz is.

Step 1. Cut a hole in the box Follow and make this Pesto Recipe

Step 2. Boil Water

Step 3. Add your favorite pasta [I'm obsessed with Trader Joe's brown rice fusilli, so good and totes gluten free] to boiling water

Step 4. Add chopped green beans and asparagus to the boiling water party for the last 5 minutes of the pasta's cooking time

Step 5. DON'T OVERCOOK YOUR PASTA

Step 6. Drain pasta and veggies, leaving just a tablespoon or so of cooking liquid with the pasta

Step 7. Stir in pesto

Step 8. Enjoy like a Boss!!!

 

Recreating Perfection

photo 1 photo 2Last year I attended a friends wedding in Maryland and whilst in the DC area we were able to hang with some of our east coast peeps. One morning we ate at Busboys and Poets and my life forever changed. I had the most unbelievable and delish tofu wrap. It was seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten. I dream about it. I actually think about planning trips to DC just so that I can go and eat this thing again! Suuuurisly, it's totes that good. So after 8 months of craving, I had to try and recreate the tofu-y, faken' bacon-y, cheeze-y deliciousness. Note: this took a hot minute to prepare, so give yourself an hour if you want to enjoy this awesomeness. My wrap didn't turn out exactly like my dreams, but it was pretty tasty! The "bacon" was so super sweet and maple-y and the potatoes were a brilliant side. Feeds 4

Breakfast Potatoes

5 medium/small red potatoes, chopped small so they cook faster and crisp up easy

3 tablespoons of olive oil**

1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder

a few pinches of salt

pinch of cayenne [optional]

Place potatoes evenly on a baking sheet, mix well with oil and spices. Bake for 35 minutes at 375 degrees, then bump the oven up to 450 and cook for 10 more minutes to crisp those suckers up!

Maple Bacon Seitan

2 seitan slices [if you can only find chunks than, of course, use those]

2 tablespoons of maple syrup

1 teaspoon of liquid smoke

1/4 teaspoon salt

Let the seitan soak up the maple goodness while you are working on your potatoes! Then sauté in a hot pan until cooked through. 5-7 minutes on medium heat. Be sure not to overcook or you will end up with rubber faken-bacon, I know something about this. It does NOT taste good. Chop into bite sized pieces for the wrap!

Tofu Scramble

1/2 block of tofu, pressed and then smushed with a fork

3 tablespoons red bell peppers, diced

3 tablespoons red onion, diced

handful of spinach, cut into strips

1/2 teaspoon tumeric

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup of diaya cheddar shreds

quarter of a lemon

cooked setian bacon

flour tortillas

I cook this up just like my tofu scramble. I used a touch of oil to start the onions because I was desperately trying to recreate the meal. Once they are soft add red peppers and spinach. Once spinach is wilted add smushed tofu and all spices. Finish off by adding the chopped pieces of seitan and the cheese mixing until melted. Place into tortillas, and fold in the sides and roll up into a yummy burrito!!

**Yes, I used oil!!! I don't cook with much oil in my house. I find it pretty unnecessary in daily life, it's basically fat and calories that you don't need in your life. I know plenty of people have plenty of opinions on healthy fat, blah blah. As an informed human, I find that it should be treated, like a cupcake, as an indulgence. Here is a list of research that is truly eye opening!**

Tofu Scramble This!

photo 2Vegan breakfast food is quite a hard egg to crack… hahaha. Eggs. Vegan's don't eat eggs. In all seriousness, eating breakfast out, one life's greatest pleasures, is a ridiculous challenge when you are vegan. Living in Cali has its perks, but I still have yet to find a tofu scramble as good as my own… Yep, giving myself a big ole pat on the back! I've found heavenly vegan pancakes, the most delicious vegan biscuits and gravy, and the most amazing papas loco on the planet, but I love my tofu scramble. photo 1Serves 2-3

1 container of extra firm organic tofu, drained and pressed then smush with a fork, until it's crumbly

half of an onion, chopped finely

half a red bell pepper, chopped finely

2-3 handfuls of baby spinach, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 teaspoon of turmeric

nice big pinch of salt

squeeze of lemon

[Optional veggies: finely diced zucchini, mushrooms, jalapeños, carrots, etc. The possibilities are endless]

photo 3Heat a tablespoon of water or veggie stock in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Add red pepper and spinach, cook until spinach is wilted. Add tofu to the pan, add garlic powder, turmeric, and salt then mix well. Once mixture is heated through, turn off the heat and squeeze a quarter wedge of lemon. It just brightens up all the flavors!! I serve mine with warmed corn tortillas, avocado, and salsa or hot sauce. You. Are. Welcome.

Delish 3 Bean Chili

Vegan 3 Bean ChiliFall is here!!!! Sort of... In Southern California it's pretty much spring/summer all year long until magically it's winter for 3 months then bam back to 75 and sunny. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but sometimes you just want to see the leaves change color and wear a pair of boots in October without your feet sweating all nasty up in there. For near perfect weather year round I suppose there has to be a trade off. Well, it's October and that means Halloween which in turn means CHILI!!!! A Lanza family tradition!! I don't know when this started, but when I think of Halloween I think of Sandy's[my mom] chili. Now my version has slightly changed over the years, first to turkey, then to meatless grounds, and now to all beans all the time. Now in the past I've just used the meatless grounds and the meat eaters have been none the wiser, but this all bean version has so much flavor no one is going to miss the meat! This meal is warm, spicy, and the perfect compliment to a cool fall day! Vegan Chili Spices3 Bean Chili - Serves an Army

1 onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup chili powder

2 tablespoons cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust for personal taste, I like more!!)

1 bay leaf

1 15 oz can each of red kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans, all strained and rinsed

2 15 oz cans of fire roasted tomatoes with chilies

3 tablespoons + 1 cup of veggie stock

Add 3 tablespoons of veggie stock to a large ceramic pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft, adding more veggie stock if necessary. Mix in all of the spices and cook for 1 minute, then add tomatoes, beans, veggie stock. Mix well. Bring to a slow boil then reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for at least 30 minutes, but depending on your timeline for an hour or two. Stirring every so often. You can also do this in a slow cooker, I would sauté the onions in garlic before adding all the ingredients into the crockpot and cook on high for 3-4 hours or slow for 5-6.

Enjoy with diced white onions, avocado, corn chips, green onions, etc etc. The list is endless. I'm a onions and avocado girl myself.

Delectable Corn Muffins - Makes 12 muffins

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup diced green chilies

1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1 1/4 cup unsweetened plain almond milk

1 1/2 cup of cornmeal

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix all dry and all wet ingredients. Then gently fold the wet into the dry, be sure not to over stir. Pour  batter into a non-stick muffin tin and bake for 30-35 mins. Boom. Done.

This recipe is adapted from Alicia Silverstone's book The Kind Diet. I've been doing a no-oil/low oil diet for about a year now, so I look for any opportunity to cut oil.  This cornbread is super easy and just by switching out the oil for unsweetened applesauce you kick the fat in it's big ass. I also add some green chilies for some FIRE... 'cause I love FIRE... I don't know what I'm talking about.  I ate 5 of these because they are guilt free... I was feeling sad, missing The Captain, watching a Twilight marathon... Anywho, they are amazing!!! Let me know if you try making either recipe! Happy Fall!