Pasta and Sausage

I haven't put a new post up in a little bit, mostly because it's almost the end of my classes and I've been busy and also I made this amazing fish dish the other day but it looked horrible! Lol
This dish is so easy and super cheap, and variable! First, pick your favorite pasta (and if you are gluten-free then pick rice flour pasta). Then pick or make your sauce (I used fire roasted tomato and garlic) as well as your meat or sausage. I used a delicious Burgundy Pepper sausage but chicken, seasoned ground beef, shrimp (for pescetarians), pork, or whatever strikes your fancy! I prefer to use uncooked, fresh sausage and I specifically look for ones without nitrates. Uncooked meat does not require to be cooked beforehand so if you are really short on time, get cooked meat or pre-cook when you have time (up to a couple days in advance). While you chop up your veggies, start boiling your water for your pasta. Cook your meat (if you need to) with your vegetables and eventually the sauce when your meat is 2/3rds of the way cooked. When your pasta is cooked al dente, drain and rinse in cold water, and toss with your sauce, meat, and vegetables.
Dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes! Enjoy :)

Parents Weekend!

Justin and I headed back home to see our parents this weekend - which means some amazing home cooked food :)

It's kinda nice to not have to worry about planning and cooking sometimes - although I think I have it pretty easy most of the time since Justin helps me out in the kitchen whenever he can! :) And sometimes he will even make dinner for us when I'm out of commission! :)

My Mum made this wonderful dinner, a dairy-free calzone with homemade marinara sauce and an arugula salad. First, my Mum made the dough and let it rest in the oven to raise. You can use any dough recipe you like, and if you don't have the time (like me!) you can pick up pre-made dough in the fresh or frozen aisle at pretty much any nicer grocery market (Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, ect). Check the ingredients in the dough, but all of the stores I've been to have been dairy-free. Next, my Mum cooked mushrooms, bell pepper, and crushed red pepper and put it aside. She then cooked uncased sausage until 3/4 brown and then re-added the vegetables. She then added the mixture to the risen dough and folded the dough to cover the mixture. Stick the calzones back into the oven until golden brown and serve with your favorite marinara or bolognese sauce! The secret to a really great complementing sauce to your calzone is a bold red wine! You can also play on garlic, basil, or your favorite herb :)

Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoy this traditional dairy meal that you can now make dairy-free! This dish also can be made without meat for any vegans out there :)

Spicy BLT Soup

As I'm posting, I'm currently eating the soup and it is so good!
I took 2 lbs of tomatoes and roughly chopped them, sprinkled with sea salt and left for about 10 minutes. While I was waiting for the tomatoes, I chopped 1/2 of a large cucumber, 1/2 of a small yellow onion, and 1 Thai Dragon Pepper (from our garden!). In a food processor (the recipe recommends a blender but I am without!), I combined the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and pepper with:

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 slice bread without crust

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 smashed garlic clove

2 teaspoons of white-wine vinegar

Blend ingredients until smooth. Pour the soup through a fine sieve, discard solids. Cover soup and refrigerate until cold, up to 3 days. 

I topped the soup with crispy bacon, drizzled a bit of vinaigrette, and basil. I know its BLT, and I'm missing the lettuce but I didn't feel it was worth purchasing a head of lettuce for a couple bowls of soup!

This soup really allows the taste of the fresh vegetables (and fruits - tomatoes) to shine! What a great meal on a hot day :)