Pasta-Less Veggie Lasagna

Who says you need noodles to make lasagna? Ok well maybe the noodle IS the name of the dish, but for those of us trying to cut down on starches, I created a noodle-less lasagna that was surprisingly delicious!

2 vegan veggie burgers
1/2 cup cottage cheese
handful of sliced mushrooms
handful of spinach
handful of broccoli
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
Dash of onion powder and parsley
3 cloves of chopped garlic
salt and pepper to taste

Saute the veggie burgers and garlic in a large pan with either olive oil or cooking spray. Scramble the meat and then add in the mushrooms and broccoli. Saute on medium heat until the burgers are cooked through and the veggies are tender. Add in the tomatoes, cheese, and spinach. Add in spices and mix through. Pour into a baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Just a Salad? I don't think so!

The word salad has become somewhat of a joke or taboo in our culture. Like oh "you're eating just a salad?" or "that's rabbit food" or "there is no way a salad will satisfy me!" Well this post is here to prove the non-believers wrong and turn all you meat and potatoes eaters into salad lovers.

I like to make a bunch of different types of salads depending on my mood and what ingredients look good at the time, but this is a recipe of what I would consider the ultimate salad.

1 bag or head of romaine lettuce
1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
1 heirloom tomato, chopped
A handful of baby carrots, sliced into small pieces
Half of one red onion, thinly sliced
1 bell pepper, cut julienne (you choose the color)
1/2 cup white mushrooms (sliced)
1 small can of black olives, sliced
1 cup of frozen peas, thawed
1 avocado, diced into large chunks
1/2 cup garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 cup kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 cup feta cheese or crumbled goat cheese
handful of alfalfa or broccoli sprouts
handful of slivered almonds
Greek Viniagrette (or dressing of your choice) to taste
Fresh ground black pepper

Healthy Pizza?! Well Kinda...

The words pizza and healthy hardly ever occur in the same sentence let alone recipe. I'm sure you are thinking man this pizza is going to be gross, but I assure you it's amazing. May be the best pizza I've ever tasted and don't just take my word for it, my boyfriend loved it so much he begged me to post it on here. Ok so here is the thing. This definitely isn't a "diet" pizza, so it is still a splurge meal that shouldn't be eaten all the time, but it is MILES beyond the nutrition factor of the pizzas you are probably used to. So here we go:

1 ball of pizza dough from whole foods (or homemade if you have the time)
1/2 container (about a handful) of pizza cheese from whole foods (I like whole foods if you can't tell but you can use shredded mozzarella or any other blend of shredded Italian cheeses)
1/4 jar of roasted vegetable pasta sauce (I prefer 365 brand....from whole foods)
a handful of sliced mushrooms
a handful of fresh baby spinach
1 heirloom tomato
a few sliced kalamata olives and few small cubes of feta cheese
olive oil

Thaw the dough and work it into a circle, creating your desired thickness for the crust. Lay it on an baking sheet coated with a drizzle of olive oil. Spread the pasta sauce onto the dough. Sprinkle with cheese. Arrange the mushrooms, spinach, olives, and feta on top. Finish with the slices of heirloom tomato and a light drizzle of olive oil. Bake in an 425 degree oven for about 15 minutes until the cheese melts and the crust browns. Try not to eat the whole thing!

Pasta Potato Primavera

What do you do when you barely have any food in the house, but you don't want to go to the store or waste the food you do have left? Make up a concoction (what my dad calls it...lol)! This is what I did a few days ago and it actually came out really well!

1 large russet potato
1 cup Spelt pasta
1 cup frozen green peas
1 cup frozen broccoli
1 tablespoon dried Porcini mushrooms
1 cup cottage cheese
2 slices provolone cheese

Place dried mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes. Wash and dry the potato and poke holes to vent. Microwave for approx. 10 minutes. Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water for 8-9 minutes. Drain and stir in cottage cheese and broccoli. Peel the potato and cut into small cubes. Stir in the potato, mushrooms, peas, and provolone cheese. Cook on medium-low heat until cheese is melted and vegetables are cooked through. Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

I Love Saturday Mornings!

My boyfriend's brother is in town for a couple weeks, so I decided to splurge and make us all my famous pancakes on Saturday morning. I normally don't like pancakes, especially since they can be so bad for you, but mine are a slightly healthier twist on the original.


3 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup Almond Milk (can substitute Soy)
Water


Combine all of the dry ingredients, then mix in the honey and milk until combined. Slowly add in water until the desired consistency is achieved. Cook on medium heat.

Ode to Avocados

There is something just so delicious about a plain avocado when it is perfectly ripe that I just can't put into words. Luckily I have two best friends that feel the same love for them as I do. The smooth, rich texture. Their firm, yet delicate bite. haha I know this probably sounds weird to most people to be in love with a vegetable...no wait is it a fruit...oh well doesn't matter. I love you either way Avocado and I'm so glad that you are actually good for me! So I'll keep eating you as much as I can...but you are expensive so sometimes I can't as often.