Whether you are making breakfast in bed for your love, or your kids. Having a sweet lunch date, or a romanic dinner, these are tried and true dishes are easy to prepare, but seem like you spent WAY to much time in the kitchen, shhhh I wont tell if you don't, haha. I'll be making some of these for my family on Valentine's Day. I hope you enjoy your Valentine's Day and treat yourself with the same amount of love you are giving to others, because YOU deserve it! MUCH LOVE~ Des!
BREAKFAST-
Oat pancakesThese pancakes are easy even on a weekday.
Breakfast SausageWe always have sausage in the freezer ready to heat up for any special occasion when you want to seem like your going that extra mile without much work involved.
LUNCH- Creamy Baked Pasta can be prepped the night before. Make the sauce and pasta put in the oven safe dish cover and pop in the fridge. When your ready to bake top with bread crumbs and pop it in the oven. I'll be really honest... it's delicious without the bread crumbs and extra step of baking.
DESSERT- Chocolate Cake this is such an easy cake that literally takes no time and you probably have everything you need on hand.
Chocolate Chip Cookies are something that we take when our kids need to have options and share with others so if you or your kids are having a Valentine' day party make these and everyone will thank you!
This soup is everything I've ever wanted in a soup. It is hearty, healthy and oh so delicious! As quick and easy my Easy Vegan Lasagna is, this is even quicker, easier and the taste just as amazing! AND, I get to use one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.... The Instant Pot! If you don't have one don't worry, I've got you covered, with a stove top version. The whole family loved it or I wouldn't be sharing it. Even Ethan loved it. He is beginning to like tomato based dishes, which is so AWESOME! That just goes to show us that we really can begin to enjoy foods that we once didn't. OK, let's get cooking shall we! Ingredients:
1 medium chopped onion
3 celery stalks chopped
1 red or yellow bell pepper chopped
3 large carrots or a hand full or 2 of baby carrots sliced
8 oz. Mushrooms sliced
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 Tablespoon Tomato paste
2 teaspoons Dried Parsley
2 teaspoons Dried Oregano
1 medium or 2 small Zucchini sliced into half moons
32. oz of your favorite Marinara Sauce jarred or homemade (you can use the ingredients for mine here, just add the ingredients right to the pot)
Using the Sauté mode add the onion, celery, pepper and carrots and cook until soft, I add a little water as needed to prevent sticking (sautéing isn't necessary if you are in hurry).
Add the mushrooms, garlic, dried herbs and tomato paste, stir to combine then add zucchini stir
Pour in jarred marinara (or add the ingredients for this sauce), vegetable stock and water, stir. Adjust seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
Add broken pasta, stir to make sure the pasta is covered.
Check your instant pot lid to make sure the sealing ring and gaskets are all on properly. Put the lid on and set it to sealing.
Press the off button to stop the sauté mode. Then press Manual and adjust the time to 4 minutes (cooking pasta in the ipot is half time cook time on the box minus 1 minute).
Release the pressure after the 4 minutes is done. Remove the lid away from you.
Stir the soup then stir in the Spinach.
Optional: Top with your favorite vegan ricotta. Or make the THIS ONE from Easy Vegan Lasagna while the soup is cooking. It comes together so quick and it AMAZING! Add fresh Basil ribbons on top.
ENJOY!!
Stove top version: is super easy too. The only difference is the cook time after you add the pasta, follow the cook time on the box of Lasagna noodles you purchased.
Please make this! Especially if you like Lasagna, it's amazing. If you have any left over it won't be as soupy the next day, but it's still delish. You can top it with more marinara if you would like, but I don't think it's necessary.
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Watch the video if you want to see how I made it.
I forgot to stir in my spinach at the end... Story of my life!
You do better than me, and don't forget it, haha!
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I love lasanga, but I never liked making it because of the whole "labor of love" that goes along with it. But recently, I've had a hankering for it, and haven't made it since we went vegan. But, I needed something easy. All the recipes I've seen and even used to make, I had to cook a bunch of stuff before I even put it all together, and cook it again for another hour! That's not something I have time for, and honestly, if I had that kind of time, lasagna is not at the top of my list for long lengthy things to do, now a massage, that I'd waste hours on, I digress. So, I wanted an easy vegan lasagna I could layer some stuff, along with our favorite tofu ricotta, throw it in the oven and call it delicious.
I literally did just that, tossed a bunch of stuff that I know my family likes, and even snuck in some spinach, kale and arugula! I didn't precook anything! I know, I say this all the time, but please just remember this is a guide ADD the thing you know your family will like. But sneak in some chopped greens of choice your family will not bat an eye! You may be concerned the raw mushrooms will give off too much liquid, to be honest I kind of was too, but they don't! The noodles are the oven ready version so I didn't worry too much since 1. I didn't add a ton 2. the extra little bit of liquid would help the noodles cook. The tomato sauce is so easy too I opened a couple of 32 oz. cans of my favorite crushed tomatoes after they finished the job of pressing the tofu for my tofu ricotta. Which isn't totally necessary, but they needed a job while I figured out what I was going to throw into this Easy Vegan Lasagna.
Tomato sauce (recipe below), or use your favorite jarred sauce
Tofu ricotta (recipe below)
In a casserole dish add a layer of tomato sauce to the bottom, add a layer of oven ready lasagna noodles (you may need to break a few of them to make them fit, again you can watch the video to see how it worked out for me), then a layer of the tofu ricotta enough to cover the noodles, sprinkle the chopped greens of choice I use a spinach, kale and arugula blend, add chopped artichoke heart and sliced mushrooms, then add another layer of tomato sauce, noodles, ricotta, greens, artichokes, mushrooms, sauce, I sprinted a little almond "parm" of top it's just finely grated almond, nutritional yeast and salt totally optional. Cover with foil and bake according to the oven ready noodles you use. I baked at 375 F. for 50 minutes, then removed the foil and baked another 10 minutes. Let in rest for about 10-15 minutes. ENJOY! Please please snap a picture and tag me on Instagram!
Tomato sauce recipe:
Mix together
2 28 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes (I love Cento brand, you can find these at most grocery stores)
mix everything together no need to cook it or even heat it just put it to the side and wait until you are ready to add it to the lasagna.
Scarlet loves the Tofu ricotta she loves to help "clean" the spatula, haha.
Tofu Ricotta recipe and instructions:
1 block of extra firm tofu drained and pressed if you want to I do because I prefer the texture if you don't care do waste your time.
juice of 2 lemons and the zest of 1
3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast (I try not to use the enriched kind)
1/2 cup fresh basil
1 Tablespoon oregano
2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
salt and pepper to taste
Put everything in a food processor or blender pulse and scrap as needed until the consistency you like, I like it pretty smooth you can see the YouTube video here and below where I show the texture we like.
This is my plate and I went back for 2nd's!
We served it with salad and Homemade Bread you should always have some on hand!
Pin it and follow me on Pinterest, I'm just starting to add some of our recipes and I'd love to follow you for ideas!
Here's the YouTube video if you're interested in seeing how I there it together!
Asian inspired dishes are one of my go-to's here. For a few reasons, other than the obvious, it's delicious! It's also easy to veganize, it's quick, and I usually have all I need on hand to throw something together that my family will enjoy and I can feel good about feeding it to them because it's healthy! Who doesn't was to slurp saucy noodles. I use The Sauce on so many things, so I make it and keep it in the fridge to put on rice, veggies, dip sushi, pot stickers, spring/summer rolls, the list goes on and on...
Baked Tofu tossed in The Sauce and Stir-fried Rice
Most of the time any stir-fry I make starts with water sautéing, a large onion, mushrooms, shredded carrots, towards the end of the sautéing I'll grate a few cloves of garlic and a "knob" of ginger into the pan after the other veggies are soft. I'll add some of The Sauce (recipe below) to really amp up the flavor of the veggies, letting it soak up some of the delicious sauce. Add some steamed broccoli then your noodle of choice. I used spaghetti, because I always have spaghetti, most people can find it and I'm a rebel, I think pasta is a fine alternative to asian noodles! But, these Ramen noodles would be amazing too! You can use the veggies you like, any noodles you like, anything goes, just get in the kitchen a make it! Toss everything together and let The Sauce heat up and coat the noodles and veggies. I added some Baked Tofu, if you don't like tofu (I was you, make this tofu and you'll change your mind, I promise), or don't have any just leave it out. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and ENJOY!!
The Sauce:
1 Tablespoon Almond butter (You can add more, any nut or seed butter should work, it's optional so if you want a lower fat version leave it out)
1/4 cup Soy Sauce (Tamari, Liquid Amino's etc.)
1/4 cup Water
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
1-2 teaspoons Garlic powder
1-2 teaspoons Onion powder
1-2 teaspoons Ginger powder
1-2 teaspoons Mushroom broth seasoning (again optional, but it's so good, look for it at an Asian market it will be cheaper)
1-2 teaspoons Korean Red pepper flake (use your favorite red pepper spice, sometimes we add one of these instead Sriracha, Sambal Oelek, Sweet Chili sauce, I promise add what you like it will be awesome)
2 drops of liquid smoke (I use Hickory)
2 Tablespoons Corn Starch, ONLY add this when you are are cooking it. DO NOT add this if you are just making it to top or dip things in, the Corn Starch won't taste good uncooked, haha.
Here's the recipe video. I recommend watching it to see the steps, Much Love Always ~ Des!
*Links are to my Amazon Affiliate link. If you click or buy anything I will receive a commission at NO additional cost to you. It does help our family and we appreciate you support in this way!
This Baked Tofu is our favorite and I batch cook this pretty much weekly. Confession time, I HATED TOFU! I know some people that are transitioning to this lifestyle are saying, "MMM, yeah I'll never like tofu!", "I'll never eat tofu!", or "Uh, gross is that tofu?" I was you, not that long ago actually. I made the ever so popular Tofu Scramble, I hated it, my family liked it well enough. Not enough to request it, so that wasn't something that was on the menu. Until, we went on a 13 hour road trip.
The salad at The Tomato Head
We stopped at this great restaurant with vegan options in Knoxville, TN. Called The Tomato Head. I got this great salad with marinated baked tofu, and I was a believer! I promise there is tons of tofu under all that.
I had to try to replicate it at home, and make a few minor adjustment to suit my needs. The mouth watering picture above made with what I've been calling "The Sauce" all over it, that stuff is good on everything!
Baked Tofu Sammie
Here's how I make it in huge batches for the week, if I'm lucky it lasts that long. I prefer the texture of previously frozen tofu. When I get home, I put it in the freezer. I always have some ready to go in the fridge that I've already frozen and thawed, waiting for me. Once it's thawed, I drain it and press out as much liquid with my hand as I can, if I have time I'll press it between a couple of pans with about 5 cans on it, but more often then not, I don't. Once I've hand squeezed the liquid out, I marinate it.
Marinade: (almost just like The Sauce with a few exceptions)
1/2 cup of Water
1/4 cup Soy Sauce low sodium, (Tamara, and liquid amino's etc. will work too)
2 teaspoons Maple syrup
2 teaspoons Garlic powder
2 teaspoons Onion powder
1 teaspoon Korean red pepper flakes
1 Tablespoon Mushroom broth seasoning (you know what I'm going to say, optional, but it's SO GOOD)
2-3 drops of liquid smoke (I used Hickory)
I drop a few pieces of tofu in, flip and add a few more, continue. I can marinate about 2 blocks of Extra firm/Super firm tofu.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and line the tofu squares evenly.
Bake on 400 for 15 minutes. I do this a little different depending on what I'm making and how soft or dry, I want it. The longer you bake the dryer it will be, which I like because it has a good bite to it. I like it a little softer and moist for other things. I also toss the tofu in The Sauce after baking like I did for the main picture of this post. It depends on your preference. Play around with it, I promise you will be a tofu lover and if you make this and still don't like it, I'll still love you, I guess ;)
Much Love my sweet friend ~ Des!
I recommend watching this video so you can see the process. This is the dryer version, but you'll see the steps.
*Links are to my Amazon Affiliate link. If you click or buy anything I will receive a commission at NO additional cost to you. It does help our family and we appreciate you support in this way!
