easy dinner – Kacey Tess

Baked Stomboli

Baked Stromboli

Ingredient List:

1 roll refrigerated whole wheat pizza dough

3 tomatoes ( I used celebrity tomatoes from my garden)

10 large pitted olives ( I used a mix of kalamata and green olives)

2 tbsp olive juice from jar

1 C fresh spinach

1 small package of sliced baby bella mushrooms

1 jalapeño sliced (deveined and seeded)

1 Red bell pepper sliced

10 slices of provolone cheese

Olive oil (to brush bread with)

Sea salt

Dried Thyme

Method:

Prepare and line baking sheet

Spray with non-stick spray

In a food processor mix tomatoes, olives and juice

On the baking sheet roll out the pizza dough

In the center of the dough spoon on the tomato-olive mixture, leaving a 2” border that will be folded over

Add spinach, mushrooms, jalapeno, bell pepper, and provolone cheese

Fold edges over so no cheese is showing (mine was not pretty, but that is okay!)

Brush with olive oil or spray olive oil

Sprinkle top with sea salt and thyme

Bake for 30-35 minutes until dough is browning and cooked all the way through. If dough is browning too quickly cover with foil

Enjoy!

Serves 4

Veggie pot pie casserole

What you’ll need:

1 package of extra firm tofu pressed (if you don’t have a tofu press place on a plate and wrap in paper towels, place heavy books or pans on top until excess water is removed)

Extra virgin olive oil

1 parsnip peeled and chopped
1 carrot chopped
1 russet potato peeled and chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
1/2 C sugar snap peas cut
1 yellow onion chopped
2 garlic cloves chopped finely
1/4 C unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 C water
1 vegetable bullion cube
1 Tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1Tbsp nutritional yeast
Sea salt to taste
Plain bread crumbs
Black pepper to taste
Fresh rosemary
Fresh sage
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

What you’ll do:
Hear oven to 400
In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium and add tofu
Brown tofu
Remove tofu from skillet and set aside
Add more olive oil to coat the pan
Add garlic, onions and carrots
Cook until onions are translucent
Add potatoes, peas, and parsnips
Mix thoroughly
Add flour, soy sauce and 1/2 Tbsp of nutritional yeast
Add water and bullion
Mix thoroughly
Add sage, rosemary, sea salt and pepper, tofu
Mix again
Transfer to a glass baking dish
Top with nutritional yeast, bread crumbs and red pepper flakes
Bake for 10 minutes
When playing top with fresh rosemary or sage

Enjoy!!!

I served mine with whole wheat toast topped with fresh avocado and ground peppercorn

Whole wheat pasta primavera

What you’ll need:

1/2 container of cherry tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 TBSP olive oil
2 garlic cloves chopped
1/2 TBSP Italian seasoning or to taste
1/2 white onion
1/2 container of sliced mushrooms
2 Cups if broccoli florets
1 package of whole wheat linguine

What you do:

Heat olive oil over medium and add garlic and olives, cook for about 5 minutes until onions start turning translucent

Add diced tomatoes and Italian seasoning

Lower heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes

Cook pasta according to instructions on box (normally for al dente pasta boil for 7 minutes then drain)

Strain pasta, add a small amount of olive oil to noodles to prevent them from sticking

Add pasta sauce to pasta

Enjoy!!!

Greek Salad

What you’ll need:

Mixed greens
1/4 red onion sliced
Marinated artichoke hearts (3-4)
Olives (green, kalamata, ect)
Marinated peppers
Marinated white beans
1 tomato chopped

Dressing:
1/4 Cup Red wine vinegar
1/2 lemon (juiced)
1 TBSP olive oil
Sea salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste

What you do:
Combine all salad ingredients

Combine all dressing ingredients

Pour on salad and enjoy!!!!!

Vegetable Soup with Vegan Sausage

What you’ll need:

1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
1 Leek chopped (only use the white and light green part of the leek, cut length wise then in
1/4 inch strips)
3 Celery stalks chpped
3 cans of beans, whatever you prefer (I used black, pinto and kidney) drained and rinsed
1 Box of vegetable stock
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 TSP red pepper flake
1 TSP cayenne pepper (you can leave out if you don’t like spice)
1 TSP sea salt or to taste
1 TSP ground black pepper or to taste
1 TSP ground coriander
Chives to garnish (fresh and chopped)
2 Links of vegan italian sausage cut into bite size pieces

What you do:
In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat
Add chopped leeks and cook for about 5 minutes until soft
Add all spices and continue cooking for another 1-2 minutes
Add vegan sausage, brown both sides
Add vegetable stock, beans and soy sauce
Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes uncovered
Taste and adjust seasoning if needed
Add chopped celery and cook for an additional 5 minutes
Spoon into a bowl carefully and add chives on top
Chive muffin goes great with this, see my blog post for recipe

Enjoy!!

Squash and Tomato Bake

What you need:
1 Cup of breadcrumbs (italian or add italian seasoning)
3 TBLS butter (melted)
1/2 Half bunch Italian parsley
1/2 Cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
2 Garlic cloves (minced)
1 Package of cherry or grape tomatoes
1 Yellow squash
1 Yellow onion
1 TBLS olive oil
1 TSP coriander
1 TSP turmeric

What you’ll do:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Spray olive oil in a small glass baking dish
In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium high heat
Add onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes
Add yellow squash and cook for another 5 minutes
Add turmeric and coriander
Add cherry tomatoes and heat thoroughly

Combine melted butter, parsley and breadcrumbs

Pour squash mixture into baking dish
Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of mixture
Add breadcrumb mixture

Bake for 30 minutes until breadcrumbs are golden brown

Enjoy!!

Beet and Apple Panini

What you’ll need:
Freshly baked bread (I used rosemary and olive oil bread I bought at Sprouts Market)

1 can of chickpeas
1/4 cup Veganaise
1/2 lemon (juice)
1 TSP sea salt
1 TSP coriander
1 red beet
1 granny apple
Sprouts ( I prefer broccoli sprouts)
Rosemary (optional)
Spray olive oil (you can drizzle the olive oil but I find it easier to use the spray for this recipe)

What to do:
In a food processor (I use a ninja) blend together chickpeas, lemon juice, veganaise, coriander and sea salt

Cut beets into thin slices
Cut apple into thin slices

Spread chickpea mixture on to the bread
Add beets, apples and sprouts
Spray both sided of the bread with olive oil
Sprinkle rosemary and sea salt on each side
Place in panini maker (I use my George Forman Grill)
Cook until bread is golden brown

Enjoy!!

Vegan Club Sandwich with Kale Chips

What you’ll need:
1 bunch of kale
Season salt
Sea Salt
Black pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)

Wheat bread
Tempeh
2 TBLS olive oil
1 TBLS balsamic vinegar
Tofurkey (I use peppered)
1 vine ripened tomato
1 avocado
Alfalfa sprouts
Pickles
Dressings: mustard, vegenaise, ect.

What you do:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Prepare a baking sheet with aluminum foil
Clean and cut kale into bit size pieces removing any veins
Place the cleaned, cut kale on the baking sheet
Drizzle olive oil over kale (I use a spray olive oil to coat the kale more evenly)
Sprinkle the season salt, sea salt, pepper and red pepper flakes on kale
Bake for 10-15 minutes until crispy

In a large frying pan heat 1 TBLS of olive oil and 1 TBLS of balsamic vinegar on medium heat
Place tempeh in pan and cook for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown

Spread mustard, veganaise (whatever dressings you prefer) onto the bread
Add: tomatoes, avocado, sprouts, pickles, tempeh and tofurkey
Sprinkle with salt and pepper

Enjoy!

Greek salad with roasted chickpeas

What you’ll need:
1 head of romaine lettuce
1/2 red onion cut into thin slices
large green olives
1 large avocado cubed
1 cucumber chopped
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Olive oil
Sea salt

What to do:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Line a baking sheet and spread the chickpeas out evenly (for added flavor you can soak the chick peas in white vinegar for an hour before you lay them on the baking sheet)
Lightly coat the chickpeas with olive oil
Sprinkle sea salt on the chickpeas
Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown
Set aside

Wash and tear romaine lettuce into small pieces
Place in a large mixing bowl
Add olives, cucumbers, onions, avocado and chickpeas
Add your favorite greek or balsamic vinaigrette dressing
(The recipe for the dressing I use is below)
Mix thoroughly and enjoy!

If you are wanting to add more protein to this meal grilled or baked salmon would be a great addition on top of this salad.

Balsamic Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
1 tsp sea salt
1 black pepper
Place all ingredients in jar with a screw top lid and shake until combined.

Vegan Tacos on Romaine

What you’ll need:
1 1/2 Cups walnuts (unsalted)
1 /12 Tsp Chili Powder
3/4 Tsp Coriander
2 TBLS Soy Sauce
1 1/2 Cups Cashews
1/2 Cups Water
1/2 Tsp Salt
1 TBLS Lemon Juice
Romaine Lettuce
1 Avocado
1 Tomato
1/2 Red Onion

What you do:
For “Taco Meat” in a food processor combine:
Walnuts
Chili Powder
Coriander
Soy Sauce

For “Sour Cream” combine in blender until creamy:
Cashews
Water (if too thick add an additional 1/4 cup)
Salt
Lemon Juice

Spread the “Taco Meat” onto romaine lettuce
Top with Sour Cream
Add: Onion, Avocado(I squeeze any left over lemon on the avocado), Tomato and Salt to taste

I learned this recipe at a cooking class at Beehive Essentials in Spanish Fork Utah(www.healthyeatersclub.wordpress.com) and have loved it. I made a few small changes in seasonings so feel free to use your favorite spice in place of the chili powder or coriander. I make this recipe almost every week, it’s a staple in our home now. Enjoy!!