Dairy Free Reuben Pizza with Vegan Corn'd Beef and Saurkraut

Okay, people. I've finally done it! I have been thinking about making this pizza from the very first day that I tried the plant based Corn'd Beef from the Unreal Deli and maybe everyday since! This, my friends, is my Reuben Pizza and yes, it's as remarkable as it sounds!

Bonus: Scroll down for my Vegan Thousand Island Dressing Recipe!

I started with a sauce that was a homemade, vegan, "Thousand Island" kind of dressing, next was the corn'd beef, topped with sauerkraut from my friends at Cleveland Kitchen, and a sprinkle of vegan cheese.

Dairy Free Reuben Pizza with Vegan Corn'd Beef and Saurkraut

Author: Sarah | June 16 , 2022
Servings: 2

• prep time: 10 minutes + 1 hour (for dough)

• cook time: 10 minutes at 500°

• total time: 20 minutes + 1 hour (for dough)

Ingredients: What You need to buy!

Pizza Crust or Dough. I bought fresh dough from the local grocery store but feel free to make your own or use a pre-made crust.

1 tbsp Olive Oil

Plant Based Corn'd Beef slices from the Unreal Deli

1/2 cup Sauerkraut, drained very well

1/4 cup Baby Spinach and Baby Arugula, or your favorite greens.

1/4 cup Dairy Free Cheese Shreds

2-4 tbsp of Thousand Island Dressing (see below)

Ingredients: To make the dressing/sauce

1/2 c vegan mayo

1/2 c vegan sour cream

2 tbsp ketchup

2 tbsp diced pickles, or relish

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp paprika

Pinch of salt

Instructions: What You need to do!

1. If you are using fresh dough like I did you are going to need to remove the dough from the fridge and let it rise for 60 minutes. For the recipe, I only used 1/2 of the dough to make a "medium" pizza. (about 12"-14" in diameter)

2. Drizzle the dough with olive oil and let sit, covered with a kitchen towel until risen.

3. Preheat your oven to 500° or higher, if you can! The trick to really great pizza crust at home is a ripping hot oven.

4. Stretch your dough to desired size/thickness

5. Top with the Thousand Island Dressing as a replacement for traditional pizza sauce! (Note: I know that most reubens use Russian dressing and not Thousand Island but I love the pickles in Thousand Island...use whatever you love!)

6. Add your pieces of Corn'd Beef. I like to shred it a bit and kind of mound it up so the tops get nice and crispy in the oven.

7. Add your sauerkraut. It's really important that your sauerkraut will well drained so that you don't end up with a soggy pizza.

8. Sprinkle with vegan cheese

9. Bake at 500° for 10 minutes, turning the baking sheet 180° halfway through baking.

10. Remove from oven and check crust. If your pizza crust need a bit more time, gently lay a piece on tin foil over the top of the pizza so the topping do not burn and continue to bake, checking every minute, until done.

11. Remove from oven and add greens. Let sit on hot sheet for 2-3 minutes before slicing. (Note: I choose to add the greens after the pie comes out of the oven so they don't burn up! The heat from the pizza will wilt the greens slightly as it sets)

12. Slice into 6 pieces and serve!

If you like Reuben Sandwiches, trust me...you're going to love this pizza! The best part? This entire pizza clocks in at just over 800 calories...depending on your ingredients! It’s also a great recipe to serve a crowd! Simply double the recipe for a “large” pizza! The packages of Corn’d Beef from the Unreal Deli actually contain enough servings to make 3 medium pizzas when you shred the meat up before topping!

I’d love to know if you give this recipe a try! Remember to tag me in your fabulous food posts online so I can see! - @plantbasedgingr

…and, as always, Love, Light, and Lentils, my friends!
Sarah

Curry Zucchini and Cauliflower Tacos

Who doesn’t love tacos? For a new spin on an old classic, why not try these Curry Zucchini Cauliflower Tacos? This Curry Zucchini Spread from Growee Foods is so creamy and packed full of flavor it’s the perfect swap for sour cream, (plus loaded with a lot more flavor…) making these tacos the perfect dish for all your plant-based AND dairy-friends!

With the creamy and dreamy texture of the Curry Zucchini Spread you honestly won’t even miss the sour cream on these Cauliflower Tacos…the best part? The entire recipe comes together in just about 20 minutes!

Curry Zucchini and Cauliflower Tacos

Author: Sarah | April 24, 2021
Servings: 4

• prep time: 10 minutes

• cook time: 15 minutes

• total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: What You need to buy!

1 jar of Curry Zucchini Spread from Growee Foods

Soft Tortillas or Taco Shells

1 can of Refried Beans

1 cup of Roasted Corn

Fresh Radishes, sliced thin

Vegan Cheese - (I used feta)

Fresh Parsley or Cilantro

1 tsp. Paprika

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

Pinch of Cayenne pepper

Non-Stick Cooking Spray

Instructions: What You need to do!

1. To start, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Break down your cauliflower into bite sized pieces and sprinkle with paprika, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper, (if you like a little kick!)

3. Roast for 10-15 minutes or until the cauliflower has softened.

4. Then simply fill your tortillas with refried beans, roasted corn, radishes, and add the spicy cauliflower.

5. Top each taco with 1-2 tablespoons of the Curry Zucchini Spread from Growee Foods!

6. Garnish with the vegan cheese and fresh herbs! The hardest part about this recipe is going to be trying to get these things closed! Better grab a fork, just in case!

What I really love about the spreads from Growee Foods is how they help you get all flavor with almost none of the prep! Fast food doesnt mean you need to sacrifice your nutrition! All of their plant-based blends are naturally rich in flavor and full of all the good stuff...free of all the bad! Real food with real flavor! Check out their website for more dinner inspiration!

Love, Light, and Lentils, my friends!
Sarah

Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos with Sweet Apple Onion Salsa

Warning: Not your traditional tacos! If you’re craving tacos but are tired of the traditional “beef and cheese” then you’re going to love these Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos with Sweet Apple Onion Salsa. One of my favorite flavor profiles is built around something hot and spicy combined with something tart and crisp and these definitely fit the bill.

Layered on a bed of buttered and wilted, shaved, brussel sprouts and topped with a touch of creme these tacos are fancy enough to serve for guests and easy enough for a Taco Tuesday at home with the family! Let’s make them!

Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos with Sweet Apple Onion Salsa

Author: Sarah | April 26, 2022
Servings: 4

• prep time: 10 minutes

• cook time: 10 minutes

• total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients: What You need to buy!

10oz Jackfruit (I like to use frozen but the canned will work just as well.)

6-8 Brussel Sprouts, shaved or shreaded

2 tablespoons vegan butter

1 Medium Apple (something tart and sweet works best, Gala, Fuji, or RubyFrost)

1/2 Medium Red Onion

Dairy Free Sour Cream

Tortillas

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon of liquid smoke

pinch of Chili Powder

Splash of Apple Cider Vinegar

Salt and Pepper, to tatse

Instructions: What You need to do!

1. Into a medium skillet with 1 tablesspoon of olive oil add your thawed and shreaded jackfruit and cook with the oregano, cumin, paprika, chili powder, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke, and minced minced garlic until the jackfruit has heated through.

2. Add salt and pepepr, to tatse. You can add a tablespoon or two of water if it becomes too try! (Think pulled pork texture and consistency)

3. While your jackfruit is cooking, shave down your brussel sprouts by starting at the tip and making very tin cuts all the way down to the stem/base. They should naturally pull apart annd shred on their own. (Think coleslaw texture)

4. Remove the jackfriut from the skillet and store under foil to keep warm. In the same skillet add 2 tablespoons of vegan butter and your shreaded brussle sprouts. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon seasalt.

5. The goal is to wilt the brussle sprouts not cook them all the way so keep your heat on mediu low and stir occationally. This should take about 5 mintes.

6. While your brussle sprouts are wilting, cut your apple and your onion into small 1/4" pieces. Combine in bowl with a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar. Using the back of a fork muddle the apple and onio together.

7. To serve tacos, layer the warm and wilted brussle sprouts onto the trotilla and top with the jackfriut and apple/onion salsa.

8. Garnish with a bit of dairy free sour cream...and sprinkle with just a dash of the smoked paprika.

If you’ve made it this far…I’m hoping that the list of unusual favors in this dish havn’’t scared you off! While I know that apples and brussel sprouts don’t seem like the traditional ingredients for a Taco Tuesday grocery run, something about how the buttery greens melt into the spiciness of the jackfruit and are complimented with that punch of crisp and tart apple onion salsa is just perfection. If you’re craving tacos but are tired of the traditional “beef and cheese” then you’re going to love these Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos with Sweet Apple Onion Salsa.

Make sure to tag me on social when you make them so I can see! @plantbasedgingr

Love, Light, and Lentils, my friends!
Sarah

Couscous with Roasted Zucchini and Blistered Tomatos with a Tangy Garlic Crema

This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a mid-week lunch! If you’re working from home, like I do most days, you can put the veg into roast and keep working while it cooks. The couscous comes together in about 8-10 minutes and boom...chow time...but you can also always make this dish the night before and reheat the next day for lunch!

Now, if you’ve been following me for any length of time you’ll know what a fan if couscous that I am! Easy on the budget, filling, and you can top it with just about anything. But, I do have a couple tricks! I always toast it off in a hot pan before cooking and for the best flavor, I always use broth, never water, to cook my couscous!

What you are going to need to buy:

• Pearled Couscous, 1 cup

• Veggie Broth, 1.5 cups

• 1 small Zucchini, cut into 1/2” cubes

• 1 cup of Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, halved

• 2 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast

• Olive Oil, 1 tablespoon

• Salt and Pepper, to taste

• 1 tablespoon of Minced Garlic

• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder

• 3 tablespoon of Dairy Free Sour Cream

• 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

• 1 teaspoon Garlic Salt

• Scallions, sliced into small rings, for garnish

What you are going to need to do:

1. To start, preheat your oven to 375.

2. In a small bowl, coat the cubed zucchini with olive oil, nutritional yeast, garlic, onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

3. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes.

4. After the zucchini has roasted for 15 minutes, add the halved tomatoes to the pan, cut side up, and roast both the zucchini and the tomatoes for another 10 minutes

5. Now, onto the Couscous!

   PRO TIP: In a non-oiled, medium saucepan, on medium/low heat measure out the desired amount of couscous, according to the boxed directions, for the number of serving you need to make. Let the couscous toast in the warm pan, stirring or agitating the pan often so that the contents do not burn. After about 90 seconds you should see the couscous pearls begin to turn from blond to light brown. When this happens take the saucepan off the heat. It will continue to toast, from the residual heat but you don’t want it to burn.

6. After you have toasted your couscous, prepare according to your boxed directions (or if you’re like me…use veggie broth instead of water!)

7. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, garlic salt and a pinch of salt and pepper.

8. To serve, present the couscous topped with the roasted veggies and drizzled with the crema. Add the scallions on-top, to finish!
   

   And, that’s it. I love this recipe because not only is is quick and easy, it doesn’t make me feel like I’ll need a nap afterwards, plus, it’s great on the budget. This would also make a great addition to your Easter table this year! I’d love to hear if you try it! You can always tag me online at @plantbasedgingr

   Love, Light, and Lentils, my friends!
   Sarah

Blueberry and Carrot Salad with Mustard Greens and Walnuts

I don't know about you but I'm ready for Spring and all the light, fresh, flavors that come with it and this Blueberry and Carrot Salad with Mustard Greens and Walnuts was just what I was craving.

Looking for a nontraditional spring salad for your Easter dinner table next month? This is it! The slight spiciness of the fresh mustard greens are the perfect balance to the sweet carrots and blueberries and the light and tangy dressing.

Dressed with a homemade vinaigrette made with brown mustard, lemon juice, and maple syrup its the perfect mix of tangy and sweet.

What you are going to need to buy:

• Carrots 2-3 large, shredded

• Mustard Greens, 1.5 cups, chopped into fine pieces

• Fresh Blueberries, cut in half, 3/4 cup

• Walnuts, chopped, 1/2 cup

• Olive Oil, 3 tablespoons

• Brown Mustard, 1 tablespoon

• Lemon juice, 1 tablespoon

• Maple Syrup, 2 tablespoons

• Māla Girl Sparkle Salt, 1 teaspoon

What you are going to need to do:

1. To begin, shred your carrots into a large bowl. Can you use the per-shredded carrots from the store? Honestly, I’m going to say no! There is just something so good and sweet about shredding fresh carrots. This salad simply won’t be the same with the per-shredded version!

2. Finely chop your Mustard Greens into small pieces. We’re looking for all the components of this salad to be roughtly the same size! Think of the texture that you’d chop cabbage for coleslaw!

3. Cut your blueberries in half.

4. Chop walnuts into bite-sized pieces.

5. Combine your carrots, mustard greens, blueberries, and walnut into a bowl.

Now, let’s make the dressing!

7. In a mason jar combine olive oil, brown mustard, lemon juice, maple syrup, and salt seasoning mixture. Shake dressing in the mason jar, for one minute, to combine.

8. Wait until you are ready to serve the salad to add the dressing to the carrot mixture. Mix well and serve cold! Serves 4-6, side serving sized.

This dressing is so, so simple, but I promise you, if you are a carrot fan, you’re going to absolutely love this spring salad…and because it’s totally dairy-free it’s the perfect thing to bring to pot-lucks and get-togethers this Easter! I can’t wait to hear how much you love it!

Love, Light, and Lentils!
Sarah

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Vegan Tofu Chick'n Parmesan

This Vegan Tofu Chick'n Parmesan is a recipe that I developed for my friends over at Māla Girl using their vegan, gluten-free, and adaptogentic blends. If you haven’t tried any of the Māla Girl products…you totally should! They’re local to Orlando, like me, everything is hand-blended and full of super-foods! This post actually isn’t sponsored…I just really love their products and I know you will too! Check them out here!

Just like an traditional chicken parmesan, this recipe does have several steps, but trust me…it’s so, so good! It’s seriously one of the best things that I have ever put in my face! You won't believe your tastebuds! It's almost magic how Māla Girl Soulfull Classic can make tofu taste so much like chicken! Let’s make it!

What you are going to need to buy:

• Māla Girl Fireball Basil, 1 Tbsp

• Māla Girl Oat Buttermylk, 1 Tbsp

• Māla Girl Sparkle Salt, to taste

• Extra Firm Tofu

• All-Purpose Flour, 3 Tbsp

• Jarred Pasta Sauce

• Olive Oil, 1 Tbsp

• Dairy-Free Mozerella

• Dairy-Free Parmesean

• Fresh Basil, chopped

What you are going to need to do:

1. Add 1 Tbsp of Soulfull Classic to the liquid that your tofu comes packed in and marinate tofu for 1 hour, up to overnight. This is honeslty the secret to this recipe! Don’t skip it, trust me!

2. Cut tofu into 1 inch, "chicken-shaped" cutlets and dredge in a mixture of AP Flour and Māla Girl Oat Buttermilk, with a pinch of Sparkle Salt.

3. Fry tofu, in a skillet, over medium heat, with 1 Tbsp of Olive Oil until a golden crust is formed on each side. Remove and drain on a paper towel to wick away any extra oil.

4. Add 1 Tbsp of Māla Girl Fireball Basil to one jar of pasta sauce and mix until well incorporated. Is this necessary? Nope…is it just plain good? Yep! Plus, if you are interested in this brand and what to try out their products, trust me, you’re going to want the Fireball Basil!

5. Spread 3-4 tablespoons of pasta sauce in the bottom of an oven-safe baking dish.

6. Add fried tofu cutlets to a baking dish and top with chopped basil, parmesan, pasta sauce, and mozzarella.

7. Sprinkle with a pinch of Māla Girl Sparkle Salt.

8. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and broil for 5 minutes until bubbly! Watch closely...so your cheese doesn't burn!

9. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with more warm Fireball Basil pasta sauce!

And…there you have it! I honestly can’t wait for you to try this recipe and see what you think! Make sure to tag me on all the socials @plantbasedgingr so I can see when you do!

Love, Light, and Lentils!
Sarah

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Vegan Spinach Lasagna with Homemade Dairy Free Ricotta

This cold weather is seriously making me crave comfort food. Anyone else? Made with my homemade ricotta, plus some delicious pasta sauce from my new friends over at Otamot, this delicious Vegan Spinach Lasagna totally hit the spot!! Read below for my easy, dairy free, and cashew free ricotta recipe!

My homemade vegan ricotta is so simple and because its made with silken tofu...it's safe for all my friends with nut allergies!

This recipe is for a 9x9 pan of lasagna…but is easily doubled if you want to make a large pan.

What you are going to need to buy:

To make the dairy free ricotta:
16 oz Silken Tofu, drained
3/4 c of Nutritional Yeast
2-3 tablespoons of Minced Garlic
1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 tablespoon Salt

To make the Spinach Lasagna:
Vegan Ricotta
Tomato Sauce
1.5 cups spinach, Chopped
1/2 cup Dairy Free Mozzarella
Lasagna Noodles
Dairy Free Parmesan

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

To make the dairy free ricotta:
Slowly pulse ingredients in a blender until the mixture comes together. Do not over-blend or it will get too runny! You can always finish mixing by hand.

To the ricotta mixture add your spinach and dairy free mozzarella.

To assemble the lasagna:

Cook your noodles based on the packaged instructions.
Add 3 tablespoons of pasta sauce to a 9 x 9 baking dish.
Layer your noodles, ricotta and cheese mixture, and pasta sauce and continue to build the lasagna until 3 layers have been achieved.

Top the final layer with noodles, cover with remaining sauce, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes until bubbling!
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving and enjoy!

Love, Light, and Lentils, my friends!

Coconut Curry Chickpea Lettuce Cups with BeanVivo!

Are you ready for the easiest dinner you could whip together in 15 minutes with less than 10 ingredients? Thanks to our friends at BeanVivo these Coconut Curry Chickpea Lettuce Cups with with Cilantro Lime Rice and Pineapple are so simple to make and packed full flavor even the pickiest eaters in your house are sure to gobble them up!

If you’re not familiar with BeanVivo…you should be! Their mission was to develop tasty meals & snacks for people on-the-go, like you and me, by using simple organic ingredients. They combine one of nature’s most nutritious ingredients, not to mention one of my favorites, on our planet…beans, with tons of unique herbs and spices from around the world. Their ready to eat packs are sustainable, convenience (ready to eat in 60 seconds) and are totally gluten-free, and vegan! So…let’s cook!

What you are going to need to buy:

Lettuce, use your favorite…I like butter lettuce

One packet of Coconut Curry Chickpeas from BeanVivo

Minute Rice

Dairy Free Butter

Lime Juice

Fresh Cilantro, chopped fine (or parsley, if you must!)

Avocado

Chopped Pineapple

Cashews

What you are going to need to do:

To begin, prepare your rice per the boxed directions allowing about 1/4 cup of cooked rice for each serving (3 lettuce cups, per serving)

Once the rice is finished cooking, stir in 1 teaspoon of butter, and add lime juice and cilantro (To taste…I like mine really lime-y)

Open and slice one small avocado.

Slice fresh pineapple into 1/4 inch chunks

Open your packet of Coconut Curry Chickpeas from BeanVivo . The best part is that you don’t even need to heat them! They are super delicious, right out of the packet!

Assembly!

Using your lettuce as your “shell” spoon your Coconut Curry Chickpeas from BeanVivo on top of a bed of the cilantro lime rice. Add avocado, diced pineapple, and cashews!

See, told you it was easy! Check out all the delicious combinations of BeanVivo products at their website HERE!

Spicy Buffalo Tofu Chick'n Sub

Can we say football food? Buffalo Chick'n Sub with feta, pickles, and spicy mayo! Made with crispy fried tofu, it's literally the best of a Publix Sub and a Popeyes Sandwich all rolled into one! Seriously these subs are so good that even your non plant-based friends with gobble them right up!

In all the years that I have been plant-based, I only recently started preparing tofu, using this method, to use as a chicken substitute, in dishes. This recipe turned out so good and flavorful and it’s honestly way easier than you may think!! The trick to these subs is the buffalo sauce and, of course slathering them in spicy mayo!

What you are going to need to buy:

Extra Firm Tofu

Vegan Butter - (This recipe used Earth Balance)

Flour

Corn Starch

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt and Pepper

Paprika

Buffalo Sauce, or make your own! (See below)

Dairy Free Mayo

Hot Sauce

Sub Rolls or Hot Dog Buns

Dill Pickles

Butter Lettuce

Dairy Free Feta Cheese

What you are going to need to do:

To start, crumble your extra firm tofu into 2” inch bite-sized pieces, or larger, if you like

In a bowl, mix together equal parts corn starch and flour, along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper (The quantities will vary based on the amount you’re making but the following should be enough for 4 portions.

1/3 cup of flower

1/3 cup of corn starch

1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

Dredge the tofu pieces into the dry mixture and coat well. The better you coat the pieces, the better, and more crisp they will be.

In a skillet, melt 3-4 tablespoons of vegan butter, on low heat and once the skillet is good and hot, pan fry the tofu, until a nice crust is formed.

Remove from heat and gently pour over your buffalo sauce: Be careful not to tear up your tofu while saucing

Buffalo Sauce is simply your favorite hot sauce, butter, a splash of white vinegar, and garlic! But, to be honest…I really like the Frank’s Brand Buffalo Sauce

In a small bowl, mix vegan mayo and your favorite hot sauce and paprika, to taste and slather your buns with the spicy mayo!

Top your buns with lettuce, pickles, tofu chick’n, and dairy free feta cheese and serve!

Orange Tofu Chick'n with Homemade Glaze

There’s a lot of buzz about the new partnership with Beyond Meat and Panda Express’ Orange Chicken but down here in Central Florida we don’t have it yet…and my mouth has been watering for Orange Chicken for weeks now, so I broke down and worked out an at-home version!

In all the years that I have been plant-based, I only recently started preparing tofu, using this method, to use as a chicken substitute, in dishes. This recipe turned out so good and flavorful and it’s honestly way easier than you may think!! The orange sauce is so much better than anything from a packet! It's remarkable how much better fresh, from scratch, flavors are!

What you are going to need to buy:

Extra Firm Tofu

Vegan Butter - (This recipe used Earth Balance)

Flour

Corn Starch

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt and Pepper

Orange Juice

Red Bell Pepper, julienned

Maple Syrup

Soy Sauce

Cauliflower Rice

Fresh Kale

Minced Garlic

Paprika

Ginger Powder

Vinegar

Cayenne Pepper, optional

What you are going to need to do:

To start, crumble your extra firm tofu into 1.5” inch bite-sized pieces

In a bowl, mix together equal parts corn starch and flour, along with garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper (The quantities will vary based on the amount you’re making but the following should be enough for 4 portions.

1/3 cup of flower

1/3 cup of corn starch

1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper

Dredge the tofu pieces into the dry mixture and coat well. The better you coat the pieces, the better, and more crisp they will be.

In a skillet, melt 3 tablespoons of vegan butter, on low heat and once the skillet is good and hot, pan fry the tofu, until a nice crust is formed. Remove from heat and set aside.

Wipe out your skillet and using another tablespoon of vegan butter, saute the red pepper and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic until the pepper begins to soften.

To the pepper and garlic, add orange juice, maple syrup, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Again, depending on how much you are making these quantities can vary.

1 cup orange juice

1/3 cup of maple syrup

2-3 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons of vinegar

1/2 teaspoon each of ginger powder and paprika

For a spicy glaze add cayenne pepper, to taste.

Stir to combine and increase heat to reduce the sauce. Allow to boil until the sauce is thick and sticky enough to coat the back of a spoon and able to cling to the tofu pieces. If you’d like to speed up this process you can make a slurry with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch and 2-3 tablespoons of water and add that to the sauce.

Once the glaze has thickened, add the crispy tofu pieces back into the orange glaze and turn heat down to warm.

I like to serve over butter cauliflower rice with some wilted kale!

Vegan Hamburger Helper with Homemade Cashew Free Cheese

If you’re an 80’s kid, like me, and you grew up in the States, you most definitely experienced Hamburger Helper as a part of your childhood. My mother went back to nursing school the same year that I went to kindergarten and when my brother was just out of diapers so needless to say, she was juggling a lot. I guess it goes without saying that we had a lot of “boxed” meals growing up. This recipe is all the nostalgia of those family dinners without any of the meat or dairy!

If I’m honest, I was a little hesitant to post this as a recipe because it wasn’t one that I carefully sat down and planned out. Truth is, I was under the weather last week and wanted comfort food. This was thrown together with a lot of odds and ends but when I posted it on IG last week everyone went a little crazy, so here we are! Hope that you all enjoy.

What you are going to need to buy:

Pasta, I used orecchiette because I had it on hand but an small noodle will work. I do like this shape because they are like little noodle bowls for the sauce!

Your favorite plant-based ground meat - (I used the ground from Impossible Foods)

Small Sweet Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (like this jarred options from Spice World!)

1/2 cup Vegetable Stock - Or half a cup of water and a veggie cube

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Salt & Pepper

Liquid Smoke

Homemade Vegan Cheese Sauce! (Find that recipe HERE!)

What you are going to need to do:

To start, let’s make the sauce!

I make this cheese sauce every month or so and have it in the fridge to throw into all kinds of things, which is just exactly what happened with this recipe! Hope on over and make it! Will you have some left over? Yep. Is that a bad thing? Nope!

GO TO THE CHEESE SAUCE RECIPE HERE

Welcome back!

The rest is pretty easy.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, begin to cook down your plant-based meat, along with the diced onion. Once you put them in the pan try not to stir or move them around too much because you want to get some good color/char on the meat.

After about 1-2 minutes stir the mixture and add a tablespoon of dairy free butter, a tablespoon (or more if that’s your thing…) of minced garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper, 8-10 dashes of liquid smoke and continue to cook until the meat is done and the onions are nice and soft.

While the meat and onions cook, bring a pot of salted water to boil on the stove and when it’s ready, drop 4 servings of your pasta (follow the box directions for portions and cook time.)

Next, add your veggie stock to the meat and onions and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any of the little bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan! This is where all the flavor is hiding!

Add in 1 cup of your cheese sauce and stir to combine.

A note about the cheese sauce: If you make the cheese sauce ahead of time, and I hope that you do because it stays good in the fridge for weeks…it will solidify a bit. It’s much easier to “melt” it back into your Hamburger helper if it’s runny so you can just scoop out what you need and toss it into the microwave for 10-20 seconds, stir, and that should do the trick!

Drain pasta, but save 1 cup of pasta water.

Add the pasta to the cheesy/meat mixture and stir to combine. If the dish is too dry and not all that “creamy” slowly add the pasta water to thin the mixture and help the sauce emulsify. You may not use all the water and that’s okay because if you get it too runny then you’ll need to cook it longer and let some of that liquid evaporate.

Taste for seasoning. Add salt, pepper, if necessary.

I like to top mine with fresh herbs to serve. Either thyme or rosemary work really well!

Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Shells Stuffed with Sage Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta

Looking for a fall twist on an old comfort classic? While we’ve still got a couple more weeks until Autumn officially arrives…over here I was craving some fall flavors...and these Butternut Squash Shells stuffed with Sage Sausage, Spinach and Ricotta totally hit the spot!

The best part of this recipe is that, while the flavor profile is different, the assembly is basically the same, so if you’ve ever successfully made stuffed shells in the past, these will be a snap. The entire dish does take a bit of time to make because you’ve got to roast the butternut squash and make the sauce so I would recommend that you plan to make a couple of recipes with squash so you can do some prep for several meals at once! Once the sauce is made, (which can be done ahead of time) the rest of the dish comes together in less than an hour!

What you are going to need to buy:

Medium Butternut Squash

Jumbo Shells

Medium Sweet Onion, diced

Minced Garlic - (like this jarred options from Spice World!)

1 cup Plant-Based Milk

1.5 cups Vegetable Stock

Dairy-Free Ricotta

Dairy-Free Mozerella

1/2 lb Plant-Based Sausage

Fresh Spinach

Just Egg, egg alternative

Olive Oil

Butter - (We love THIS ONE from Earth Balance)

Salt & Pepper

Fresh Sage

Warming Spices (Allspice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger)

What you are going to need to do:

To start, let’s make the sauce!

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Chop your squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Liberally salt and pepper the cut side. Roast on a baking sheet for one hour, flipping halfway through, until the squash is fork-tender.

In a high-walled saucepan or medium pot, saute in butter, the diced onion and a tablespoon of garlic until soft and translucent. Reduce heat and set aside.

Scoop out the roasted squash from the skin and into the saucepan with the onion and garlic. Add the plant-milk and the vegetable stock. Bring the mixture to a simmer and add a teaspoon of each of the warming spices.

At this point, if you have a stick blender, it’s helpful to blend the mixture for a smoother texture but it’s not 100% necessary.

Let the sauce reduce until it’s the consistency of pasta sauce. Taste for seasoning. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Now, onto the filling!

In a small saucepan, gently wilt one bag of spinach over medium heat.

In a large mixing bowl combine the following:

sausage (does not need to be cooked)

the wilted spinach

the equivalent of one egg

1.5 cups of ricotta cheese

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

2-3 tablespoons of minced, fresh, sage

salt and pepper, to taste

The Shells:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Follow your package directions and cook your jumbo shells in boiling water.

After the shells are boiled and tender, remove and drain.

In a large skillet or baking dish fill the bottom of the dish with the butternut squash sauce.

Stuff each shell with the ricotta mixture and place into the baking dish.

Depending on the size of your dish you should be able to fit 15-20 shells. Do not overcrowd the dish. You want the sauce mixture to be able to rise up around the shells on either side.

Sprinkle mozzarella onto the top of the shells and cover with tin foil.

Bake for 15-20 minutes covered. Remove the tin foil and bake another 15 minutes until the sauce and cheese are hot and bubbly.

Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

While the shells are resting, fry up some sage leaves in Olive Oil until crispy and crumble the leaves onto the top of the shells for garnish.

Serve the extra sauce on the side.

Enjoy!

Vegan Watermelon "Tuna" Tartare

Okay, I don’t know what kind of vegan voodoo this is but I finally tried my hand at making #watermelontuna and holy avocado did is turn out...amazing! Not only did it LOOK like tuna but the taste and texture were shockingly similar!

I decided to use my tuna to make a kind of tuna tartare or deconstructed sushi and it did not disappoint. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how this actually worked…but it totally did, and spoiler: it was actually really easy!

What you are going to need to buy:

To make the Tuna:

Watermelon - I used the pre-cubed watermelon that you can get in your local produce section. It ended up being about 12 chuncks of Watermelon

3 tablespoons Sesame Oil

2 tablespoon Soy Sauce

1/2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke

1/2 teaspoon each Salt and Pepper

Splash of Vinegar

Ingredients for the Tartare/Poke Bowl:

2 tablespoons Vegan Mayo

Hot Sauce, to taste

Rice

Edamame

Diced Mango

Sliced Avocado

(whatever else yo love in your sushi or poke bowl)

What you are going to need to do:

This recipe made 1 serving and you can scale it up, if you like. Don't worry too much about the measurements. As long as you have enough marinade to get each piece of watermelon coated, you should be good!

Start by preheating your oven to 375

The key to this recipe is having enough salt in the marinade when you are baking your watermelon that it balances the sweetness of the fruit.

Dunk all of the watermelon into the marinade until well coated. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Take your watermelon cubes (about 1.5” square”) and place them on a cookie sheet lined with a non-stick baking sheet, like a silpat mat OR onto parchment paper.

Bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn the watermelon over on the baking sheet and rotate the sheet in the over 180 degrees. Brush the turned tops of the watermelon with any marinade that is left over.

Bake for another 30 minutes.

At the 1 hour mark yo should see something that really, really looks like tuna. It’s remarkable, really. I was shocked.

Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

And, that’s really all there is to it! See, told you it was easy! Now that you have your watermelon tuna, you can use it just lie you would use any tuna.

I diced mine into small pieces, mixed it with some vegan mayo, a splash of vinegar, a dash of hot sauce, more salt and pepper, to taste, and served it on top of rice, topped with diced mango, edamame, and spicy mayo.

This is where you can get creative? Did someone say vegan sushi?

Enjoy!

Curry Chickpea Lettuce Wraps with Cilantro Lime Rice

Are you ready for the easiest lunch you could whip together in 15 minutes? I have legit been eating these Curry Chickpea Lettuce Wraps with Cilantro Lime Rice all of the time since I first made them a month or so ago!

If you are craving the flavors of curry but are short on time you are going to love these Curry Chickpea lettuce wraps! They are shockingly easy and even with roasting the chickpeas only take about 15 minutes to pull together with less than 10 ingredients that you probably already have in your panty! I used the lettuce as the “wrap” for this recipe but it would be equally as good wrapped in a tortilla or stuffed into a pita! Plus, the cilantro lime rice is so good you’re probably going to want to whip up a big batch to use in all kinds of dishes for the week!

What you are going to need to buy:

Lettuce

One can of Chickpeas

Curry Spice

White Minute Rice

Lime Juice

Fresh Cilantro, chopped fine (or parsley, if you must!)

Avocado

Dairy Free Sour Cream

What you are going to need to do:

Start by preheating your oven to 425

Open the can of chickpeas and drain. Do not rinse.

Keeping the chickpeas in the can add 1 tablespoon of curry spice to the can and swirl around so that all of the chickpeas get covered with the spices.

Place chickpeas on a baking tray with a silicone mat or lined with baking paper.

Bake for 15 minutes, rotating them on the pan about half-way through.

Prepare your rice per the boxed directions allowing 1/4 cup of cooked rice for each wrap you’re making.

Once the rice is finished cooking, add lime juice and cilantro (To taste…I like mine really lime-y)

Open and slice one small avocado.

Mix 3-4 tablespoons of sour-cream with a squeeze of lime juice, just to thin it out a little.

Assembly!

Using your lettuce as your “shell” place your roasted chickpeas on top of a bed of the cilantro lime rice. Add avocado and drizzle sour cream to finish. Garnish with more fresh herbs and a sprinkling of curry powder!

See, told you that was easy! Save any extra chickpeas to use in stews or just to eat as a salty and crunchy snack.

Enjoy!

Summer Squash and Sweet Corn Chowder

While everyone else is itching for pumpkins I’m trying to hold onto every last flavor of the Summer season that I can! With only a month or so until we fall into Autumn, I’m also trying to take advantage of the bountiful and inexpensive Summer produce while it lasts and this Summer Squash and Sweet Corn Chowder does just that.

If there is anything that you have left at the end of the Summer season it’s probably sweet corn and squash! This chowder, while isn’t necessarily a 30-minute meal, is still a great weeknight option because most of the cook-time is just simmering, making it a great multi-tasking dinner option. All in, you’re looking at maybe 45 minutes, because we are going tome our own stock, but trust me, it’s totally worth it.

What you are going to need to buy:

Fresh Sweet Corn (4 ears) - (I repeat, fresh…as in, on the cob, as in, not in a can!)

Yellow Squash - (I like the look of the yellow squash mixed with the yellow corn in this recipe….but if you’ve got zucchini to get rid of you can absolutely use that.

Mushrooms - 1.5 to 2 cups (We like either shiitake or cremini mushrooms. If you live in the South East and can find the “gourmet blend” at your local Publix, even better!)

Carrots

Medium Shallot, diced

Minced Garlic - (from the jar is fine…here is a great option from Spice World!)

Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper

Fresh Thyme

Dry White Wine - (Remember, if you wouldn’t drink it…don’t cook with it)

All Purpose Flour

Your favorite plant based milk - (I used the Forager Project Brand Half & Half)

Scallions, for garnish

What you are going to need to do:

Step one is to prep your corn. Remove the husks and as much silk as you can. Rinse and pat dry.
Using a sharp knife, remove the kernels from the cob, cutting as close to the cob as you can. Watch your fingers. Place corn in a large bowl and set aside.

In a large pot bring 6-8 cups of water to a boil, with 3 tablespoons of salt and 2-3 stems of fresh time. Once water is simmering, add your corn cobs to the pot (If your corn cobs are too large just cut in half) and allow to simmer for 30-35 minutes, stirring occationallly, while you prepare the rest of the vegetables. Stock should reduce by about half.

Chop shallots, squash and carrots into small pieces (about 1/2” thick) Mushrooms can remain slightly larger, as they will drastically shrink down when cooked.

In a large skillet, over medium heat, cook sweet corn and carrots with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper, until bright yellow and slightly softened. (3-5 minutes) Reserve 1/2 cup of corn/carrots for garnish when serving and set the rest aside in a large bowl.

In the same skillet, over medium heat sauté, in olive oil, garlic, squash, shallots, and mushrooms, being careful not to let. the vegetables take on too much color, or stick to the bottom of the pan. (about 5 minutes) After shallots have turned translucent, and mushrooms have reduced in size, add the corn and carrot mixture back into the skillet and sprinkle over 2-3 tablespoons of all purpose flour. Stir veggies to incorporate the flour. Cook for one-two minutes until the flour smells slightly nutty.

Deglaze the skillet with 1/4 cup of dry, white, wine and stir, somewhat vigorously, to thicken. Slowly add 1 cup of strained corn cob stock to the skillet. Reduce heat and set skillet aside.

Strain out all solids from the corn cob stock and gently add all of the vegetables into the stock pot. Mix until well incorporated, making sure there are no lumps. Increase heat to medium and add 2 cups of your favorite plant based milk. Bring to a light boil, reduce heat and let simmer for another 5-7 minutes before serving. Taste for seasoning. At this point, it almost always needs back pepper!

Serve sprinkled with a tablespoon on the reserved corn/carrot mixture from earlier and the diced scallions.

Additional, top with your favorite brand of vegan cheddar spreads - (We love the Cheddar Shreds from Follow Your Heart)

Serve and enjoy!

Bruschetta Inspired Mini Flatbread Pizzas

There are some flavors that are just a winning combination no matter how you use them. One of my favorite combinations is tomato and sweet basil…and one of the quick and easy ways that I like to use them are on these bruschetta inspired mini flatbread pizzas!

The perfect dish for a quick lunch or dinner, particularly if/when you are either too tired to cook a full meal, after a long day, or simply not that hungry. The use of both fresh and sun-dried tomatoes on these little pizzas makes for a complex, tangy yet sweet, tomato flavor that tastes way more fancy than it actually is. The other great thing about this recipe is that it is super customizable and by changing up the toppings these little flatbreads are a convenient way to use up “extra” odds and ends that you may have hanging around in the back of the fridge.

What you are going to need to buy:

Your favorite brand of tortilla or, if you prefer, and can find it, some roti from your local bakery.

Sweet yellow onion, small, sliced

Sun Dried Tomatoes - (We like California Sundry brand)

Vegan Cream Cheese - (We love the plain cream cheese from Kite Hill Foods)

Vegan Parmesan - (We love the Follow Your Heart shredded Parmesan)

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)  

Vinegar (Apple Cider or Rice Wine)

Olive Oil

Cherry Tomatoes

Fresh Basil - (If your leaves are large, chop down to size)

Italian Seasonings

Fresh Basil

Salt and Black Pepper

Balsamic Vinegar

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a small skillet, over medium low heat sauté your sliced onions, minced garlic and salt & pepper with some of the oil that the sun-dried tomatoes come packed in until the onions have turned translucent, and even taken on just a slight carmel color

Mix 1/4 cup of Vegan Cream Cheese with 1/4 Cup of Vegan Parmesan, a splash of vinegar and one teaspoon of minced garlic. Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings, to taste.

A note about cheese: The above mixtute is a version of a soft, spreadable cheese that I use a lot for a lot of different recipes. If you are not interested in making these little pizzas vegan, then feel free to use a low moisture mozzarella or even a feta blend.

Slice 3 or 4 cherry tomatoes, per pizza, into little round medallions lightly sprinkle with salt.

On a large cookie sheet lay out your tortillas or roti trying not to overlap the edges and lightly brush the tops with olive oil.

Begin with a light layer of cooked onions and then, in 1/2 teaspoon size dollops, spoon your cheese mixture on top, being careful to evenly distribute onto the entire tortilla.

Add sun-dried tomatoes, as well as fresh tomatoes, across the top of the flatbread.

Now, at this point I like to sprinkle some fresh basil onto the flatbreads. This basil is going to dehydrate and crisp up in the oven, so you don’t want to use it all but the crunchy and almost roasted flavor that is brought out by cooking some of the basil under the broiler is really nice. Again, don’t use all of your basil at this point because you will still want to add some fresh leaves to the top of the pizzas once they have come out of the oven.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 5 or 6 minutes and then turn on your broil setting and let the pizzas go another 2 or 3 minutes. Make sure to check about every 30 to 45 seconds once you have them under the broiler because if you are not careful they can burn…and quickly. The goal here is to crisp up the edges of the tortilla and melt all of the cheese.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with reserved basil leaves and just about 1/2 teaspoon of balsamic vinegar before serving. Enjoy!

Greek Inspired Impossible Kebabs with Tabouli and Tzatziki Sauce!

Need a dish that cooks up quickly, tastes amazing, and looks super impressive on the plate? You’ve got to try these Greek-inspired Impossible Kebabs served on a bed of Tabouli and topped with my homemade Tzatziki Sauce! And, no...you don’t need a grill to make a great kabob! These cooked up, quick and easy, in about 20 minutes...the whole meal is on the table in just 30 minutes!

Now, full disclosure, the tabouli in this recipe isn’t traditional. Typically tabouli would include diced tomatoes. For these kabobs, I knew that I wanted to use tomatoes on the actual kabobs so I decided to use olives in the tabouli instead. That’s honestly one of the most fun parts about cooking…don’t let yourself get too stressed about of ingredients and swapping out certain flavors for something else that you might prefer.

What you are going to need to buy:

Impossible Ground - (or whatever brand of plant-based meat you love)

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Liquid Smoke

Tomatoes

Onions

Flat Leaf Parsley

Fresh Mint

Black Kalamata Olives

Balsamic Vinegar (a white balsamic will be better for this recipe)

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Salt & Pepper, to taste

These ingredients are for the Kabobs and the Tabouli - you can find the recipe for my homemade Tzatziki sauce HERE!

What you are going to need to do:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

If you are using wood kabob sticks, make sure to soak them in water…you can do this while you make the pesto.

To start, in a medium bowl mix together your plant-based ground, minced garlic, to taste, a tablespoon, or so and a tablespoon of liquid smoke. Mix well.

For these kabobs, I formed my plant-based ground into little ‘bricks about 1 inch by 2 inches.

In a skillet, on medium heat, with a little olive oil, sear the little bricks on all sizes to get a nice color and some good char.

After all of the ground has been seared, you can begin to assemble your kabobs, alternating the meat and the tomatoes (or your choice of veg.

Place the kabobs onto a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through.

In the meantime…let’s make some Tabouli

It’s pretty straightforward and mainly just involves some chopping. You could even use a food processor if you’re not comfortable with all the dicing.

The trick to good tabouli, in my opinion, is making sure that everything is chopped/diced very fine.

Chop your parsley and mint into a very fine mixture. To the herbs add your finely diced tomatoes, some minced garlic. and finely chopped olives. Note: using olives in tabouli isn’t traditional. Typically you would use diced tomatoes. For these kabobs, I knew that I wanted to use tomatoes on the actual kabobs so I decided to use olives in the tabouli.

To your herbs and diced veg add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a splash of lemon juice.

Now, CLICK HERE for the instructions to make the Vegan Tzatziki Sauce to top these kabobs.

Serving!

Serve these kabobs on a bed of fresh tabouli and topped with your vegan tzatziki sauce.
Enjoy!

Spicy Jackfruit Carnitas Street Tacos with Apple Salsa

I don’t know about you but when the days get busier tacos always seem to be a go-to meal for me! Quick, easy, and who doesn’t love tacos? These Spicy Jackfruit Carnitas Street Tacos taste just like Summer to me. With an Apple, Onion, and Garlic Salsa, tossed with a balsamic glaze, and topped with some vegan crema and fresh herbs these sound weird...but taste amazing!

The smoky spiciness of the jackfruit with the cold sweet crunch of the apple salsa...in case you were wondering, yes...yes, this is one of best things I have put in my face in recent memory! I seriously could have eaten three more!

What you are going to need to buy:

Jackfruit - (Fresh or Frozen is fine. This recipe uses frozen from The Jackfruit Company)

Tortilla or Hard Taco Shells, whatever you prefer

Medium Apple

Medium Sweet Onion

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Sour Cream - (I’m a pretty die-hard Tofutti fan, so that’s what I always use!)

Balsamic Vinegar

Spices for your Jackfruit - (we used oregano, cumin, paprika, chili and a touch of brown sugar)

Liquid Smoke

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Fresh Cilantro - (or flat leaf parsley, if you must!)

Lime Juice

What you are going to need to do:

Honestly, these tacos look so fancy but they come together so fast and easy!
To start you’re going to finely chop your onion and 3/4 of your apple (reserving some apple for large slices as garnish, if you like.)

Into a bowl combine the apples, onion, minced garlic, (to taste, maybe a teaspoon), and a tablespoon of your favorite balsamic vinegar. Currently, I am loving this cilantro and garlic option from The Ancient Olive!

Set aside.

Preparing the Jackfruit:

In a medium skillet you’re going to saute the Jackfruit until it becomes soft and begins to give up up some of it’s juices.

With 2 forks, gently pull the bulbs apart like you would pull pork.

Reduce heat and add to the skillet: a dash of liquid smoke plus oregano, cumin, paprika, chili and a touch of brown sugar. Measurements will vary based on the amount you are making. Start out conservative and you can always add more of the flavors you like.

Salt and Pepper, to taste.

Assembly:

Onto your taco shell of choice, layer your Jackfruit mixture and top with your onion and apple salsa.

Drizzle some sour cream that has been cut with a teaspoon of lime juice and sprinkle with paprika to garnish. Additionally, garnish with apple wedges and fresh herbs.

Here’s a taco shell tip from Sarah: Can’t decide between hard and soft tacos? Drape your soft shells over the grates/rails of a hot oven and let them “crisp up” for about 4 minutes and boom, best of both worlds.

Poor Man's Vegan Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Who doesn’t love a good pasta dish? It’s the kind of comfort food that you crave when life get’s crazy and you don’t have any idea what else to make for dinner. Or, if you are like me, this week, it’s because you just need to go to the grocery store! This Poor Man's Vegan Chicken Parmesan Casserole is also the perfect way to use up the pasta that you have at home because just about any kind of noodle or shell will work for this dish.

I have made several versions of a plant-based Chicken Parmesan dish over the years, but honestly, this is one of the easiest and everyone, even the meat eaters in my life, always love it. Part traditional Chicken Parmesan, part pasta casserole, it’s the best of both worlds when you’re craving some comfort food, plus because you’re not doing all the breading and frying it comes together in half the time, just about 30 minutes, total.

What you are going to need to buy:

Your favorite kind of pasta shell or small noodle. (Pictured here is cavatappi, or as my niece calls them, corkscrews!)

Red Sauce - (Make your own or use your favorite jarred brand. Trust me, either way, it’s going to be delicious.)

Vegan Parmesan - (We love the Follow Your Heart shredded Parmesan)

Vegan Mozzarella - (The Miyoko's Creamery has one that melts and browns up so nice that you’ll never know the difference)

Minced Garlic - (we like these jarred options from Spice World!)

Breaded Vegan Chicken Strips or Tenders - (Pictured here are the Gardein Crispy Tenders)  

Salt and Black Pepper

Italian Seasoning or Fresh Herbs

What you are going to need to do:

To start, take your fingers out of the freezer so they can begin to thaw. (You can even pop them into the microwave for 30 seconds, or so…)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a stock pot, bring salted water to a rolling boil to cook your desired pasta.

Once your pasta is cooked drained, mix in your pasta sauce and parmesan cheese. Amounts will vary based on how much past you have cooked and how many portions you are making. You want the pasta nice and covered in the sauce because you’re going to bake this dish and don’t want it to dry out.

I like to also mix in a bit of minced garlic to the pasta and the shells at this point.

Layer the pasta in a casserole dish, leaving room at the top for the Chicken.

Lay the chicken strips on top of the pasta. It’s best if these are at room temperate at this point and not frozen.

Place a heaping tablespoon of red sauce on top of the tenders and top with a thick slice of mozzarella.

Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 15 minutes.

Uncover and turn your oven to broil. Broil, uncovered for 5 minutes to really melt that cheese and get some nice browning but keep your eye on it because it can go from brown and bubbly to burned real quick!

Let sit for 3-4 minutes before serving. Top with fresh herbs and serve with your favorite garlic bread!

 Enjoy!

Thai Inspired Spicy Lime Peanut Sauce (Only SIX Ingredients!)

Perfect for everything from stir-fry and noodles to veggie wraps, or even as a dressing for a Asian inspired summer salad, this sauce is something you’ll want to have in your refrigerator this summer. I love this recipe because it looks and tastes fancy but it comes together with simple pantry ingredients in just about 10 minutes.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I have a hard time spending the money on sauces and dressings at the grocery store that I know I can make at home and this Thai Inspired Spicy Lime Peanut Sauce is no exception! And…bonus, it only takes SIX ingredients to whip up! This recipe makes about 4 - 5 servings, depending on what you are using it for and how thin you make it.

What you are going to need to buy:

Peanut Butter - (creamy is best)

Sesame Oil - (You can use another neutral oil, but the flavor will differ a bit)

Chili Oil - (If you don’t have Chili oil, you can use dried chili powder)

Soy Sauce

Maple Syrup

Lime Juice

Water, for thinning

What you are going to need to do:

This can be done on a bowl with the aid of the microwave, or on the stove-top in a small sauce pot.

Mix together the following

8 tablespoons of peanut butter

2 tablespoon of sesame oil

2 tablespoon of Soy Sauce

1 teaspoon of chili oil

Heat these ingredients until the peanut butter becomes soft enough to incorporate easily into the oils and whisk to combine. After well combined add:

2 tablespoon of maple syrup

2 tablespoon of lime juice

Salt and pepper, to taste

At this point, taste your sauce…want a bit more tang, add another splash of lime juice. Like things a but more spicy…more chili oil. Once you get the flavor you like use 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin sauce to desired consistency. I like mine about the thickness of a ranch dressing, thin enough to drizzle, but thick enough to stick to vegetables, noodles, or as a dressing for wraps.

To Serve/Store:
Drizzle peanut sauce on top of anything and everything. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. (It won’t last that long, I promise!) Let sauce come to room temperature or warm slightly to re-serve. You can always add a bit more water if necessary after it’s been in the fridge a few days

Enjoy!