Pasta Primavera

 

This recipe came to my attention courtesy of my beautiful daughter and her boyfriend. The two of them made this over the weekend and enjoyed it so much I received an email containing the recipe along with photos! They found it on the Food Network website from Giada De Laurentis (I've included the link below). My daughter said it was easy to make and fairly flavorful. Her other comments were that it was good either hot or cold, but she preferred it cold, so it sounds like a great lunch too. The recipe below is a copy of what appears on the website but I added the two notes, "minus tomatoes," and "great for the omni's in the house". Thanks Lo!!!

Pasta Primavera

Makes about 6 servings  

Ingredients

• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
• 2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini, cut into thin strips
• 2 yellow squash, cut into thin strips
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
• 1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
• 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (great for the omni's in the house)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables (minus tomatoes) with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/pasta-primavera-recipe/index.html

Rustic Vegetable Soup with Almond Pesto Topping

I really like making soup. To me it's comfort and goodness in a bowl and all I need is a spoon. I made this soup and my husband had one word for it, "Delicious." It's easy to put together and with the pesto on top it has a fresh taste that's very satisfying.

Rustic Vegetable Soup with Almond Pesto Topping

2 T. olive oil
2 small onions, rough chop, 1 - 1 1/2 C.
2 carrots, rough chop, 1/2 C.
5 cloves garlic, rough chop
1 quart vegetable broth, low sodium
1 28 oz. can of fire roasted diced tomatoes, do not drain
1 cube of vegetable bouillon
1 16 oz. can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 19 oz. can of cannellini  beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can of butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 T. fresh Italian parsley, rough chop
1/4 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. dried basil
salt and pepper to taste

Saute the carrots and onion in the olive oil until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and saute another minute or two. Add the rest of the ingredients, excluding the salt and pepper, and cook slowly for 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the Almond Pesto on top. 

Almond Pesto Topping

In a food processor, pulse the almonds until chopped small. Add the basil leaves and pulse until the basil is shredded. Add the olive oil and pulse quickly just until fully incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste.

1/4 C. almonds
1/2 C. packed basil leaves
1 T. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Chickpeas and dumplins

I have a dear friend that is exceedingly conscience about what she eats... and for good reasons. She was diagnosed with asthma years ago and just recently followed the idea that food allergies may have some connection to her asthma attacks. She had allergy testing done, and as it turned out she was allergic to MANY foods. She's been vegan for about two years, but since her visit to the allergist her diet has seen even more changes and so has her health. One of the best? Her asthma has disappeared! 

I told you this story for two reasons. First, I think its interesting... I wonder how many of us suffer symptoms as a result of food allergies without any knowledge of it. Second, she has become a passionate cook with an enthusiasm for blogs!! Over the months she has sent me many recipes that she has made to rave reviews. The following recipe is one of them and I wanted to share it with you. It's really wonderful. The original posting is from the blog: Peas and Thank You. You can find it at:
http://peasandthankyou.com/2011/06/07/vegan-values-chickpeas-and-dumplings/ 
And to all of you that have health issues you're actively working on by changing your diet, I wish you the best.

Chickpeas and dumplins

Ingredients:

• Ingredients (Serves 4)
• For the chickpea stew base:
• 1 c. onion, chopped
• 1 c. celery, chopped
• 1 c. carrots, chopped
• 1 T. minced garlic
• 1/2 t. salt
• 3/4 t. curry powder
• 1/2 t. dried oregano
• 3/4 t. dried rosemary
• 1/2 t. dried basil
• 4 c. vegetable stock
• One 14 oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 T. cornstarch
• 1 T. apple cider vinegar
• For the dumplings:
• 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 c. unbleached organic flour
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. dried oregano
• 1/2 t. dried basil
• 1/2 c. non-dairy or organic milk
• 1 T. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance), melted

Directions:

Prep Time: 10 min.
Cook Time: 25 min.
Just like Grandma used to make. Only nobody died.

Instructions
Spritz your pan with cooking spray or oil and place over medium high heat.
Add onion, celery and carrot and sauté for 4-5 minutes, until slightly softened and starting to brown.
Add garlic, salt, curry, oregano, rosemary and basil and sauté for an additional minute, until aromatic.
Carefully pour in vegetable stock, chickpeas and vinegar and bring to a low boil.
Put the cornstarch in a small bowl and remove a ladleful of the hot broth from the stew base and add it to the bowl. Whisk to remove any lumps.
Pour the slurry back into the pan, while stirring vigorously. Return to a boil and then lower heat to low.
Meanwhile for dumplings, in a medium bowl, combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oregano and basil.
Add milk and melted margarine, and stir until a dough just forms. Do not overmix.
Plop dough by heaping spoonful on top of stew until dough is gone.
Cover with lid and allow to “bake” over low for 15-17 minutes.
As much as you may want to lift the lid to peek at these, don’t do it.
Serve while hot and slightly doughy.

Meg’s Veggie Won Ton Dumplings

I heart these won tons... and if there's one thing you do this week, it must be this (it's what I have planned)! The recipe comes from my neighbor and dear friend, Meg. 

My sister, Karen first introduced me to the “won ton wrapper” with a ground turkey recipe called “Steamed Won Ton Dumplings.” I made her delicious recipe for several years before I turned to a vegan diet.  I now make these delicious appetizers with a blend of vegetables and spices and they are equally (if not more) delicious! 

Meg’s Veggie Won Ton Dumplings

Yield: 36 dumplings

Ingredients
½ tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 large garlic clove
1 bunch (12-16oz.) fresh asparagus, trimmed, quartered crosswise
1 8oz. container water chestnuts, drained
3 green onions, white and green parts
3/4 cup shredded Napa or regular cabbage
2 carrots
1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
Kikkoman or Soy Vay Teriyaki Sauce


Finely mince ginger and garlic in food processor or hand food-chopper.  Add asparagus and next 5 ingredients.  Process/chop until asparagus and carrot is finely chopped but not pureed.  Moisten and flavor filling with Teriyaki Sauce.

Using wax paper or parchment paper, place 6 won ton wrappers on work surface.  Place 1 rounded tablespoon of filling in the center.  Moisten all four edges of wrapper with water, using a pastry brush.  Bring the four corners together at the top and seal the edges. 

Open a steamer basket and lay flat into a large skillet. Pour enough water into skillet to reach depth of ½ inch. Spray steamer basket with Pam. Bring water to a simmer.  Working in batches, arrange dumplings side by side (but not touching) on the rack.  Cover and steam the dumplings for 15 minutes. 

Serve dumplings at room temperature with Teriyaki Sauce

Coleslaw

I was asked to bring coleslaw to a luncheon. I didn't want to make a slaw I couldn't eat, so I came up with the following recipe. No one noticed it was minus the mayo, and by the end of the luncheon it was gone!

Coleslaw

6 cups of shredded cabbage
2 carrots, shredded
1 cup Vegenaise
1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons cider vinegar (I used Bragg)
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon light agave
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
salt and pepper to taste

Toss the cabbage and carrots in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Pour it over the cabbage and carrots and toss to coat thoroughly. Refrigerate.

White Bean Pasta

I have to thank my dear friend Maryann for her help with this recipe. This dish is easy, fast, delicious and there's enough for the next day. Now try it Maryann!

White Bean Pasta

Serves 4

1 onion chopped (1C.)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 C. organic vegetable broth, divided
1 jar of pasta sauce
1 carrot, shredded
2 - 15.5 oz. cans of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
¼ t. salt
¼ t. crushed red pepper
1/8 t. pepper
Whole wheat spaghetti
8 basil leaves
4 sun-dried tomatoes, diced

Using a large non-stick skillet, cook the onion and garlic in ½ cup of vegetable broth until the onion is translucent (about 5 minutes). Add the sauce and rinse out the remaining sauce in the jar with the other ½ cup of vegetable broth. Add the shredded carrot, beans, salt, crushed red pepper and pepper. Cook on low for 20-30 minutes. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and pour the pasta into the sauce. Gently mix and serve garnished with basil and sun-dried tomatoes.