What's for Dinner?

Just because you cut out dairy, meat, wheat, sugar, fruit and wine doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor!

  Here are two recipes I cooked up this week.  

They are vegan and gluten free but oh so tasty!

Pasta Caprese 

Ingredients:

 2 tbsp. grape seed oil

1 small onion, chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

5 tomatoes diced or 14 oz can of chopped tomatoes

½ tsp. dried basil

1 bunch fresh basil rough chopped

1 package of brown rice pasta (or pasta of your choice)

*1 brick of firm tofu or 8 ounces of cubed mozzarella

salt

Directions

Warm the olive oil in a pan, add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add in the tomatoes and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  Crumble the tofu and add to the pan and stir.  Reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes.  Remove from heat and add basil, cooked pasta, and stir.  Salt to taste.  If your mixture is too dry, drizzle some olive oil and incorporate.

*If you allow dairy in your diet, you can replace the tofu with cubed mozzarella.  If you use the mozzarella, be sure to add to pasta mixture after it has slightly cooled to prevent your mozzarella from melting.

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Curried beans with rice

Adapted from Mels

 Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:

1 tbsp Grape seed oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 tsp tumeric

1 tsp yellow curry
pinch cayenne, or to taste
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Garam Masala
1 cup vegetable stock 
1 can black-eyed peas, lightly drained (I used lentils and black beans since that's what I hand)
2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1 brick of tofu (firm) cubed 

Directions
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; saute 5 minutes or until translucent and slightly browned. Stir in garlic stir constantly for 30 seconds. Add tomato; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in turmeric, curry, cayenne, salt, paprika, and garam masala; stir constantly for 30 seconds. Add stock, tofu, and beans. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cilantro. Serve immediately with brown rice

 Click here to view original Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe