Testing for Isa's New Book

Isa, co-author/author of such awesomeness as Veganomicon, Vegan with a Vengeance, Vegan Brunch, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World, and the brand new Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar (good God, she can pump out cookbooks!) is currently in the process of writing a weight reduction/healthy cookbook. I tested previously for her for V'con and I hope to be doing a bit better (i.e. testing more recipes) this time around. So far I have liked every single thing I've tested, with a lot of love for some of them. My favorite definitely is the awesome Curried Corn Chowder. So! Good! Y'all should be in great anticipation for this new cookbook!

My most recent testing was for Pasta con Broccoli. With a whole head of garlic in it, this isn't for those who dislike this pungent vegetable. I didn't follow the recipe exactly since I didn't have all the ingredients, but I also added Gardein Seasoned Chunks that I had found on sale at a Safeway. I've had Gardein once or twice before and had just thought they were ok. I wasn't blown away like Ellen DeGeneres seems to be. I like that they seem to be made from all natural ingredients and healthy for you, but the texture is sometimes weird. So I tried them again. I added the chunks to the pasta recipe.....and they again didn't blow me away. I think I need to cook them longer so they get more firm. 

This pasta dish turned out pretty good. I think next time I'll cook the garlic longer and use a little less. I ended up throwing out quite a bit of it because the garlic slices ended up kinda big and I didn't like the idea of eating it straight up. The only time I don't mind that is when it's been roasted, then bring on the whole cloves! 

I used spinach bowtie pasta that I had picked up at Grocery Outlet. I love bowtie pasta and I love spinash pasta, so it's like a match made in my own private heaven!

Pasta Della California

Last night i came home from work and decided to use up some veggies that needed using. I happened to have an avocado and immediately thought of Pasta Della California from Veganomicon. I had been wanting to try it and i looked it up to see if i had enough of the ingredients (since i finally will make something even if i don't have everything, i'll just do as i can) and i pretty much did. 

What i didn't have: white wine and arugula. What i had instead: kale stolen from roommate, crimini mushrooms and zucchini. oh, and pine nuts. i didn't replace the white wine with anything. I also did use as much veggie broth since i didn't use 3 cups of greens. This recipe uses 8 cloves of garlic and i love garlic so i left that as is. I normally wouldn't put avocado in a warm dish like this, but i liked it. I felt like i was still missing something, but i don't know what.....maybe Joanna's faux parm? It was good though and it was so healthy looking since i had spinach fettucine and with the broccoli and kale.....yeah, yum! There's some kick in it from red pepper flakes and i felt like it was just the right amount. I'll definitely make this one again. 

more mac n chz....

Because who doesn't like the comforting warmth and goodness of pasta with a cream sauce with veggies (to make you feel like you're eating something healthy) and a protein?? who, i ask??

I don't think I had tried the Road's End Organics brand before. I possibly may be lying. But if I am, it was years ago. I was at the People's Co-op shopping with my roommate when I saw the box that showed shell macaronis on it, and was, like, Must! Have! I really like shell pasta and you don't see it very often. I also picked up the new seitan in town, Cast Iron Seitan, made by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and her husband Justin. They sell it in bulk at People's (as well as local company Ota Tofu, Earth Balance and Tofutti Cream Cheese) for $6-something/lb. So as soon as I got home, I started sauteing up organic Oregon cremini mushrooms and diced seitan, steamed some organic broccoli and frozen organic peas, and boiled the pasta shells. 

Now, don't expect it to taste like the blue box of mac n cheese. It's not the same flavor. (though I'm sure if you add enough salt, it may. b/c y'all know that cheese isn't real cheese. it's crap. like Velveeta) But it's comforting and I really liked it. I ate up the leftovers the next day. So I would say it serves two, but who would want to share?   :o)