Baked Puttanesca Penne

This is a delicious baked pasta dish that makes plenty. All you need to make this a complete meal is a side salad. If you don't like olives you can leave them out and double up on the capers. I think this would also be good with some fresh chopped spinach tossed in. 

• 1/2 cup minced red onion
• 6 ounce jar halved kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes (not the ones in oil)
• 3 tablespoons caper + 1 tablespoon caper brine
• 3 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire
• 24 ounce jar garlic marinara
• 1 8-ounce garlic tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 12-ounce box dried penne pasta
• 1 cup reserved cooked pasta water
• 1 package Daiya mozzarella shreds

Start a large pot of water to cook your pasta. (no picture) Cook according to package directions, but cook al dente. Since you are putting this in the oven the pasta will cook more.

While that's happening; make your sauce. In a large nonstick pan cook onions a a couple tablespoons of water. 

Add olives, sundried tomatoes, capers, caper brine, Worcestershire, tomato sauce and marinara to pot. Stir and when sauce begins to simmer reduce heat to low. Be careful it will spatter on you if you don't. 

Once pasta is done add the pasta to the pan with the sauce and give it a good mix. Add reserved pasta water as needed to thin the sauce if it's too thick. (no picture) Stir in the cheese. Mix well.

Add all of the mixture to a casserole dish. I used a deep dish that fits in my toaster oven so we didn't have to heat up the kitchen with the full-sized oven.

Bake in a 400F oven for about 20 minutes. You want the cheese to be melted .

I let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving with a side salad.

Enjoy!! The leftovers reheat easily.

Thai Chickpea Stew

When we had our cooler weather last week I knew it was a great opportunity to make a warm soup. I based this recipe on one that I saw online. I used the full can of coconut milk, mixed up the canned tomatoes, etc. We really enjoyed this soup and its flavors.

• 1 large sweet onion, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 large zucchini, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 15-ounce can stewed tomatoes
• 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 jar Thai green chili paste
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon sriracha 
• 1 can full-fat coconut milk
• juice of one lime
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• Garnish: chopped roasted peanuts, cilantro, chopped onion, lime wedge

In a soup pot sauté onion, bell pepper, zucchini and garlic in 1/4 cup water. Cook until onions are transparent.

Add cumin, chili paste, chili powder and a grind of black pepper. Stir well.

Add tomatoes, chickpeas, peanut butter, sriracha and water. Bring to a boil and simmer about 30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add coconut milk and lime juice.

Add to a soup bowl. Taste more sriracha and/or lime juice as needed.

Garnish with peanuts and cilantro. 

Enjoy!!!!

Bang Bang Cauliflower

This is amazing!!! I've made it twice and it's in permanent rotation! It's crispy and the Bang Bang Sauce is the perfect amount of heat. I have been on a yellow rice kick and that's what a made to serve with this dish and some sautéed asparagus. Just use whatever rice and veggie you have on hand.

Bang Bang Sauce:

• 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sambal oelek 
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Cauliflower:

• 1 medium head cauliflower
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sambal oelek
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 3/4 cup unsweet almond milk
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup Panko 

Mix all the sauce ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.

Add the panko to a different bowl.

Preheat oven to 450F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut cauliflower into bite sized pieces. In a third bowl mix the flour, sambal oelek, cornstarch, milk, lemon juice, black pepper, garlic and onion powder. Stir well. This should be a thick batter. If you think it's too thick you can add another tablespoon of milk. Toss the cauliflower into this batter. Then move to the panko. Put on baking sheet with a little space between them.

Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Remove from oven and toss them in the sauce. Coat them well and move them back to the baking sheet.

Bake for another 2-4 minutes for the sauce to soak in.

Remove from oven and serve. I served these over yellow rice and garnished with sliced scallion and sesame seeds.

Enjoy!!!