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Lasagna Soup

Vegan Lasagna Soup

Lasagna Soup

Vegan Lasagna Soup: A thick, rich, delicious and fun soup-alternative to the classic lasagna. I included soy curls in my version, with lots of tomatoes and onions but you could also branch out… maybe add some roasted squash? Yumm! My favorite part is how the melted Daiya makes it all a bit creamy. This soup tastes so much like lasagna and is seriously perfect for these colder winter days we’re all started to have!

You could also have some fun with the type of pasta you choose. Because I’m moving, I’m trying to use up everything in my cupboards, so I used actual lasagna noodles, broken up into bite-sized pieces. Somewhat surprisingly, this actually worked out quite well. Maybe because the inclusion of that traditional pasta ribbon made it feel more like actual lasagna, or maybe just because the substantial pieces made the soup more filling… who knows? Anyway, the shape of the pasta you choose wont change the flavor, so I guess it just depends on whether or not you have picky eaters in the house.

I don’t have any picky eaters in my house, but I do have this guy:

He is a nappin’ fool!


Lasagna Soup (makes 6 servings)

If you’re using traditional lasagna noodles like I did, the best thing to do is (before you cook them) break them in half lengthwise (so you have 2 long, skinny pieces), then break each of those into thirds or fourths. The pieces don’t need to be uniform.

Ingredients:

  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic
  • 2.5 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup spaghetti sauce
  • 2 cups soy curls (unsoaked)
  • 6-8 cups water
  • 1 cube veggie broth bouillon
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1.5 Tablespoons dried basil (plus more for sprinkling)
  • 10 ounces of dried pasta
  • S&P to taste
  • 1 cup Daiya mozzarella shreds

 

Directions:

Water saute the onions and garlic until the onions are soft, 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle in the oregano, crushed red pepper flakes and rosemary. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, then add the diced tomatoes (including the juice in the can), spaghetti sauce and the soy curls. Stir everything together.

Add the water (6 cups at first, you may want to add more later), bouillon, basil and bay leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer (covered) for 15-20 minutes. Add the pasta and allow to simmer for another 20 minutes (or until the pasta is cooked through- depending on the type you use). Add S&P as needed. Also decide at this point if you need to add any extra water, if it’s boiled down too much. I added another 1.5 cups when all was said and done.

The last step before you’re ready to serve is to stir in the mozzarella and let it get a bit melty (1-2 minutes). Sprinkle and dried basil, and serve.

Enjoy!

{ 32 comments }

Sweet n’ Spicy Coconut Bowl

Sweet n’ Spicy Coconut Bowl

You know how sometimes you see a recipe on Pinterest and you just drool? This wrap from Flora Foodie was one of those recipes. I bought all the ingredients, but at the last minute decided to forgo the wrap (didn’t need the extra calories), and I subbed soy curls for tempeh, but other than that it’s pretty similar. The coconut rice was sticky-sweet and the soy curls had just enough Sriracha to give them some bite. It was a perfect weekend lunch, filling yet light, and the sweetness of the coconut made me feel almost as though I’d eaten dessert too!


Sweet n’ Spicy Coconut Bowl (Serves 2)

Recipe adapted from Flora Foodie

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups dried soy curls
  • 1 bag of ‘boil in bag’ rice (the 10-minute kind)
  • 2/3 cup light coconut milk
  • 3 Tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 Tablespoons non-dairy milk of choice (any will work)
  • 1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup (how sweet do you want it?)
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Sriracha (or more to taste)
  • 1/2 cucumber, sliced into matchsticks
  • 1 carrot, sliced into matchsticks

 

Directions:

Place 1.5 cups of dried soy curls into a bowl full of warm water, and set aside for 10 minutes.

Pour the coconut milk into a measuring cup, then fill with water to 1 1/4 cups total. Bring to a boil (with the bag o’ rice), then reduce heat to medium. Simmer covered until liquid is absorbed (about 10 minutes).

In a medium bowl, mix together OJ, milk, maple syrup and Sriracha. Add soy curls to the bowl and allow to sit for a few minutes. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the soy curls and mixture. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.

For each serving, layer the coconut rice, the veggie matchsticks, and top with the soy curls. Heat lovers might enjoy and extra squirt of Sriracha on top!

Enjoy!

{ 13 comments }

Taco Pasta

Vegan Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta

Taco Pasta is perfect for those busy weeknights when you just don’t know what to make for dinner. The ingredients are likely already in your pantry and fridge- and if they’re not, you can make all sorts of substitutions with this dish!

What has me so busy that I’m focusing on quick n’ easy dishes these days? PACKING! I hate to complain because I know a lot of people have it worse than I do, but my life is a bit upside-down right now. <big sigh>

But hey, at least I have some time for blogging, right? This is actually kind of funny: I was updating my recipes page yesterday and realized I only have 2 recipes for salads. Does that make me a really bad vegan? 🙂

Oh, and a little bit of housekeeping. Because Annie made it cool, I went ahead and had my Twitter account hacked, but all is back to normal so you should definitely go ahead and follow me. That’s all I got- I’m off to spend my long holiday weekend packing! UPDATED: And a little MORE housekeeping: I was just alerted to the fact that comments were disabled on this post. They’re also disabled on my Garlicky Pepper Tofu post. I didn’t do this on purpose, and future posts will absolutely have them turned back on. I’m glad someone told me… I was wondering why no one gave me any love on my tofu!


Taco Pasta (makes 5-6 servings)

Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything (non-vegan/vegetarian)

Ingredients:

  • 10 ounces dried pasta (I used rotini), cooked per package instructions
  • 1 small vidalia onion, chopped
  • 1.5 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 can RoTel (the kind w/ diced chiles!)
  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (more to taste)
  • 4 ounces vegan cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup vegan sour cream
  • 1/3 cup Daiya cheddar shreds
  • 3 Tablespoons dried cilantro
  • S&P

Directions:

Water saute the onion and garlic until the onion softens just a little bit. You still want it to add some crunch to your dish! Stir in the RoTel and beans, taco seasoning and chili powder and let simmer until heated through, 4-5 minutes.

Add the pasta, then stir in the Daiya, cream cheese and sour cream. Keep stirring (over medium heat) until it’s all nice and creamy, then do a taste-check. Now’s the time to add S&P and maybe some more chili powder. Add the cilantro and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

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Garlicky Pepper Tofu

Vegan Garlicky Pepper Tofu

Baked Garlicky Pepper Tofu

Here’s a simple yet healthy and delicious baked tofu recipe: it’s low-fat and  low-cal… and did I mention yummy? And easy? Neither the pepper or garlic flavor is too overwhelming- although you can definitely add more of either if you’re a big fan.

Something else that I need to mention: I have two of the most adorable dogs ever to grace the interwebs:

That’s not Sally’s sad face, by the way… That’s her sleepy face. I was at the computer, saw them cuddling, rushed to grab my phone and… woke her up. Sorry Sally!


Garlicky Pepper Tofu (Makes 4 servings)

Total baking time will depend on how well you press your tofu- the more liquid still in there, the longer it’ll take to firm up in the oven.

Ingredients

  • 1 package extra firm tofu, pressed and drained
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1.5 teaspoons black pepper (a little more or less, depending on your affinity for pepper!)
  • A squirt of lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment or tin foil and spray with a little cooking spray. Slice the tofu into 8 equal rectangles and place them on the baking sheet.

In a small bowl mix the remaining ingredients, then spoon about 1/2 of the mixture over the tofu (poking holes into the surface of the tofu with the spoon as you go). Bake for 20 minutes, then spray the surface of the tofu with the non-stick spray and flip. Spoon the rest of the flavor-sauce over the tofu, continuing to poke holes as you go. Bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the tofu is firm. Chop and serve over rice, quinoa, couscous… whatever you’d like!

Enjoy!

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Butternut-Sausage Stuffed Phyllo Cups

Vegan Butternut-Sausage Stuffed Phyllo Cups

Vegan Butternut-Sausage Stuffed Phyllo Cups

Welcome to the Virtual Vegan Potluck! Step over here to the appetizers table and fill your plate… There’s plenty of food, so help yourself!

Can you believe it’s already our second VVP? I know your day is super busy, visiting the 100+ blogs that are participating this year, but if you have a moment you should totally travel back in time real quick to see what I brought last year.

Are you back? Okay good… let’s talk about stuffing: Stuffing made with roasted butternut, tasty apple-sage (vegan!) sausage, and crunchy panko crumbs. Mmmmm! These little honies were first born as stuffed mushrooms, served at my Open House party last month- and they were very popular! We’re talking skinny-blonde-girl-in-high-school popular… only nicer. Seriously, those mushrooms would never gossip about the other appetizers behind their back!

Long story (somewhat) short, they were really good, but I got to thinking that not everyone likes the ‘shrooms. My mama, for example, hates them. I’m not sure why, I think they’re really fun guys! (Hehe, get it?)

Phyllo cups, on the other hand, are universally adored, so I’ve reincarnated the delicious stuffing with a brand new, crispier look just for you, my guests at the Virtual Vegan Potluck! Enjoy 🙂

Vegan Butternut-Sausage Stuffed Phyllo Cups

Enjoy the rest of the Virtual Vegan Potluck! Use the buttons below to visit all the other blogs, or click here for a complete list.

 


Butternut – Sausage Stuffed Phyllo Cups (Makes 30-40 phyllo cups)

You can leave out the mushrooms if you don’t like them, just keep in mind the final result will fill fewer phyllo cups!

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped mushrooms
  • 1 small butternut squash, roasted
  • 2 Field Roast apple sage sausage links, roughly chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic
  • 1 teaspoons parsley (plus more for sprinkling)
  • 1 teaspoons rubbed sage
  • 3/4 heaping cup panko crumbs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable broth
  • 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • A couple grinds of black pepper
  • 40 phyllo cups

Directions:

  1. Water saute the mushrooms over medium heat until soft, set aside.
  2. Scoop out 1.5 cups of the butternut squash and place in food processor with S-blade. Puree until smooth. Add the sausage and onion and run until the pieces are all tiny.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the butternut/sausage mixture with the seasoning, panko, mushrooms and veggie broth and stir until well mixed. Taste then season with S&P.
  4. Place in fridge for at least 2 hours. When you’re ready, fill the cups and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 for about 15 minutes, until they start to get golden and the stuffing is warm. If they need to be in there longer, I’d cover them with some foil so they don’t burn. ALTERNATIVELY– if you’re prepping these off-site for a party, you can also heat the stuffing and add it to room temperature cups. If you use a pre-made cup (like Athens) they’re already cooked and ready to go.
  5. Sprinkle with parsley if you saved some, then serve immediately- although they’re really good at room temperature too!

Enjoy!

{ 50 comments }

October’s Vegan Food Swap

This was my second vegan food swap, and it turned out to be just as much fun as my first (Minus the stray dogs of course)! If you haven’t heard of the Vegan Food Swap, well… it’s where people swap vegan food. Pretty simple, right? Cat from The Verdent Life pairs you up someone to send you a box, and third person for you to send one to.  Lots of fun, and the cool part is that you don’t need to be a blogger to participate- it’s open to readers too! Check out the details on how it works, and maybe you’ll join next year, when it starts back up again.

My sender this month was an awesome reader named Angelina… and here’s what she sent me (late night blurry cell pic, sorry):

Since the arrival of food swap boxes seems to coincide with drama & starvation in my life, of course the box was waiting for me when I got home at midnight after 1.) a long flight (made even longer by 2 hours on the tarmac before we took off), 2.) one seriously panicky hour spent looking for my car in the parking garage, late at night, with my foot in a cast, absolutely certain I was about to get mugged/murdered, and 3.) not having eaten in almost 6 hours. When I walked in and saw that box, I was pretty certain that Angelina was my guardian angel!

I tore into one of the jerky’s first, I don’t remember which one (she sent a BBQ and a Thai Peanut!) but it was delicious. The next morning I attacked the chocolate chip cookies and they quickly became my favorite. In her note, Angelina said they were the best cookies she’s ever had, vegan or not, and I now say the same thing. They were perfection, chocolatey but not too chocolatey. Sweet but not too sweet. The package said they were made by Loving Hut, but I threw it away before getting the website (it wasn’t LH, I don’t think).

Of course, once I tried the Danielle’s sweet potato chips, the cookies had some competition. I’m going to have to get my paws on more of each so I can decide which one wins 🙂 Everything was amazing though- the kale chips covered with nooch, and these delicious corn chips from a small company in CA… all yummy!

The package I put together went out to April at Beyond the Small Gate. As of right now, she hasn’t posted her review, but go check out her blog anyway! And here’s what I sent her:

  • Coconut cookies made with quinoa
  • 2 flavores of TastyBite cooking sauce
  • Pineapple-flavored coconut water (tastes like a non-alcoholic pina colada, yo!)
  • “Accidentally vegan” breadsticks from Delallo
  • Kit’s Organic berry almond bar (a fancy Clif bar) and
  • A “Lushus Lemon” Bumble Bar

I sure hope she liked my choices!

 

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Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta

Spinach Artichoke Pasta

What has spinach and artichoke in it, is really creamy, and super delicious? Spinach Artichoke Dip, right? Yes, but if you want to eat that dip for dinner (and not feel like a weirdo) you have to add PASTA to it, and boom: Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pasta! Dinner is served. Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta This stuff is crazy good! Creamy, just like any good spinach artichoke dip would be, but also spicy and a little crunchy from the panko crumbs sprinkled on top.  The original version was spotted on Pinterest (of course), just begging to be veganized. Literally, it was begging. The Pioneer Woman is obviously very popular, and her photography is beautiful, but WTF!? Is she trying to kill of her fans and readers with those unhealthy recipes? Yikes. If you’d like to hear more rant, head on over to The V Word, you’ll laugh your pants off 🙂 Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bottom line: If you’re craving dip for dinner but want to maintain the image of a responsible adult, just make this. Look at me, looking out for you guys!


Spinach Artichoke Pasta
Serves 4
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Ingredients
  1. 1 bag baby spinach
  2. 1.5 teaspoons dried minced garlic
  3. 1 can artichoke hearts, drained and sliced in half
  4. 1 Tablespoon Earth Balance
  5. 1.5 Tablespoons flour
  6. 1.5 cups So Delicious coconut milk
  7. 1/4 heaped teaspoon chili powder (more to taste)
  8. 1 teaspoon onion powder
  9. 3/4 teaspoon sea salt (more to taste)
  10. 1/2 bag Daiya Mozzarella shreds
  11. 6 oz Campanelle pasta, cooked per package instructions
  12. 1/4 heaped cup panko crumbs
  13. 1 Tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (more to taste)
  14. S&P to taste
Instructions
  1. Water saute the baby spinach with the garlic and artichoke hearts over medium heat until it’s wilted, 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Add vegan butter to pan and allow to melt, then stir in the flour. Stir until it’s combined and very thick (this is your roux). Pour in the milk and stir until mostly smooth and heated through, then add in the cheese, salt, onion and chili powder. If it gets too thick, add water.
  3. Fold in the cooked pasta, artichokes, spinach and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring gently. When ready to serve, add the panko crumbs to individual servings, along with more pepper flakes if you want it SPICY!
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
Adapted from The Pioneer Woman
That Was Vegan? https://www.thatwasvegan.com/
  Vegan Spinach Artichoke Pasta

{ 29 comments }

Macaroni n’ Cheese Sloppy Joe Casserole

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese Sloppy Joe Casserole

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese Sloppy Joe Casserole

File this one under “Really Random Casseroles”, but make sure it’s cross-referenced under “Delicious” too! It’s my famous (??)  Butternut Squash Mac n’ Cheese combined with my Sloppy Joe sammich filling and was inspired by one of those recipe magazines that litter the checkout aisle at nearly every grocery store in the world. You know the ones. I don’t know if I’ve shared this quirk habit of mine before, but I like to peruse them while I wait and if I see something that just needs veganizing I take a pic of the recipe with my phone.  I’ve gotten some comments (“What a good idea!”) and more than a few strange looks but no way am I going to support those animal-protein-and-cruelty-pushing companies with my dollars, thankyouverymuch!

<steps down, puts away soap box>

So, anyway, my phone picture gallery is pretty much stuffed with ideas gleaned from the checkout aisles. This particular one came from Taste Of Home magazine who has some really great photography. Unfortunately their picture is better than mine but I can content myself with the fact that mine is better because it’s cruelty-free and wont give you cancer 🙂

And it’s reeeaaalllly cheesy!

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese Sloppy Joe Casserole

Macaroni and Cheese Sloppy Joe Casserole (makes 8-10 large servings)

Adapted from non-vegan/vegetarian recipe

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray inside of 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray. Begin adding mac n’ cheese around the outer edges of the dish, just a few scoops, about an inch high, then add about an inch of sloppy joe to the center. Repeat until the dish is full. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
  2. Cover and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is nice and gooey. Add tomatoes if desired.

Enjoy!

{ 17 comments }

Messy McGlitchertons

We’re currently in the process of switching this little blog over to a self-hosted format, so if you see anything in the next few days that makes you go Hmmm… please just ignore it! 🙂

In case you’re wondering, all of your favorite TWV? recipes and posts can now be found on our new, self-hosted site!

If you have anything bookmarked, that’s okay, it’ll redirect automatically. But, if you subscribe to the blog via email you’ll need to update your subscription.

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The Best Fall Casserole

The Best Vegan Fall Casserole

The Best Fall Casserole

Hello all! I’m back, and feeling much stronger. Thank you SO MUCH for all your kind words about Betty’s passing, your support really meant a lot to me. I’m in a really good place. I miss her terribly, but I feel certain that I made the right choice, at the right time, for her. That gives me a lot of comfort. I’ve also been focusing on celebrating her life, rather than mourning her death. I’ll miss her forever, and I’m sure there are more tears in my future, but I feel strong.

It was a busy week- in addition to remembering Betty and, you know, crying,  I also had to pack myself on a plane and head to DC for work. I ate lots of vegan food and  got to see some old friends, which was very therapeutic.

Also therapeutic? This Fall Casserole! Or, if you’re like me and love the word ‘autumnal’, you can call this The Best Autumnal Casserole. Either way, with its hearty potatoes and thickly sliced vegan sausage, it’s perfect for these crisp autumn evenings.  Whether you spent the afternoon hiking and enjoying the changing leaves, or camped out on the couch watching football, once the divine smell of this casserole starts wafting through your house you’ll want to dig in like you haven’t eaten in a week!

Olive oil and a bit of melted earth balance add a rich layer to the flavorful veggie broth. Really, this dish is all flavor! It’s a new take on the roasts many of us used to make in our crock pots during our pre-gan days, right?

The Best Vegan Fall Casserole

My secret ingredient is vegan worcestershire sauce, and if you were so inclined, a couple glugs of wine would be really nice too. In the dish I mean, although in your glass is also a great idea!

Side note: Isn’t that little casserole dish adorably retro? I got it for $1 at a nearby thrift shop- a shop which donates their profits to local animal rescues! Isn’t that just the best?


The Best Fall Casserole (makes 5-6 servings)

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb potatoes (this is approximate, I used 1.2 lbs I think)
  • 1 lb bag of baby carrots
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon parsley
  • 1 1/4 cups vegetable stock
  • 3 T Earth Balance, melted
  • 4 Tablespoons worcestershire
  • 4 pack Tofurky Italian sausages, each chopped into thirds (or quarters if you’re feeding smaller kiddos)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 425. Wash, peel and chop potatoes into large (but still bite-size) pieces. This is a hearty casserole! Add with carrots to a 9×13 glass baking dish. Chop and add bell pepper and onion- keeping the pieces nice and big-bite-sized.
  2. In a medium bowl mix all the spices with the veggie stock, melted earth balance and worcestershire, then pour over the veggies in your baking dish. Mix very well, and add a bit of salt and pepper as needed.
  3. Cover with foil and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Add the sausage, stir everything together, cover and put back in for another 20 minutes. Remove and let cool for just a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

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