Happy Friday

What a wonderful way to wake up.
Today's Friday special on Amazon is Starbucks Via for 40% off!!!!

This is the cheapest I have ever seen it!!

Chickpea Simmer

Ingredients

1 1tbsp safflower oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 pinch hot pepper flakes

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 can diced tomatoes

4 cups packed fresh spinach, trimmed

Preparation:

In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat; fry onion, garlic, salt, pepper and hot pepper flakes until softened, 3 minutes. Add chickpeas and tomatoes; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until spatula drawn across bottom leaves space that does not fill in, 20 minutes. Stir in spinach.

Serve over brown rice.

Vegetarian Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 pound soft tofu
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 eggs
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 32 ounces homemade or store-bought tomato sauce (I love Bertolli organic with basil)
• 1/2 8-ounce package no-boil lasagna noodles (365 makes the best no boil noodles)
• 4 ounces fresh pre washed baby spinach (2 cups)
• 8 ounces mozzarella, shredded (2 cups)

• Directions

• Heat oven to 375° F.
• Combine the tofu, Parmesan, eggs, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
• Lightly coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Spread with about 1 cup of sauce. Arrange one layer of noodles on top. Spread with half the tofu mixture; top with half the spinach, a third of the remaining sauce, and a third of the mozzarella. Repeat layers, ending with noodles, sauce, and mozzarella.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 to 35 minutes. Then cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting. Recipe can be made ahead to this point. Cool, cover, and refrigerate up to one day ahead. Reheat at 325° F for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out hot.

*I've changed a few things- the original recipe was from Real Simple.

Mini Frozen Pizzas... for the Kiddos

What small child doesn't like pizza?
Mine sure does.. his favorite food is store bought bagel pizzas. I'm not against those as an occasional treat, but at the end of the day they are pretty expensive and full of things I prefer to not eat.

Using my pizza crust recipe I am able to make and freeze individual pizzas.

-Preheat your oven to 425

-Roll out dough and cut in to any shape you prefer. I usually stick with a basic circle, but I have done stars and other shapes for fun!

-Place dough on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper (easy clean up!)

-Spread store pizza sauce on each pizza (I love Trader Joe's sauce)

-Top with cheese (I usually buy Organic Valley)

-You can add any other toppings your kid will eat. My 3 year old is a "cheese only" kid right now, so we keep it simple.

-I cook them until the cheese is melted (usually 10 minutes)

-Let the pizzas cool on a wired rack and then freeze individually in the freezer

-Once the pizzas are individually frozen you can put them all in a freezer bag and they won't stick together.

Sounds tricky, but it's super easy and super cheap!

Easy Pizza Crust (Using Bread Machine)

This pizza crust is really good and really easy to make.
I've tried several recipes, but I always come back to this one.

*All ingredients at room temperature*

3/4 teaspoon salt
4 cups white whole wheat flour (I like King Arthur)
2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 and 3/8 cup water
3 tablespoons evoo

Combine all ingredients into the bread pan
Select dough setting

Once finished bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven.

This recipes makes two crusts. I usually freeze the second half to have on hand.

Tomato Basil Sauce & Brown Rice Pasta

This was tonights dinner.. and there are no leftovers!

Ingredients:

14oz brown rice pasta

1 14oz can of diced tomatoes

2 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon of evoo

1 handful of fresh basil

4oz fresh spinach

kosher salt

fresh ground pepper

2oz goat cheese

Cook pasta as directed.

-In a skillet.. heat evoo, add garlic, tomatoes, basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in spinach and cook until it wilts down (usually 5 minutes). Drain the pasta and add to the sauce mixture. Top with goat cheese crumbles before serving.

If you have little ones who won't eat spinach, set some sauce aside before adding the green stuff! It is still a healthy pasta dinner and kids won't give it the stink eye.

-I buy my pasta at Trader Joe's. They have 4 varieties of brown rice pasta and they are only $1.99 a bag.
-I use a shortcut for basil and garlic. I'm sure a gourmet chef would shudder at the thought, but the frozen stuff below is my friend. I also buy this at Trader Joe's.

Popcorn.. A Snack for the Whole Family

As parents to young kids, my husband and I find ourselves spending most Friday nights at home with popcorn and a movie. My three year old is obsessed with popcorn.. after spending tons of money on microwave popcorn I decided to buy kernels in bulk and make it the old fashioned way.. and it turns out that the old fashioned way is darn good!

Stove Top Popcorn

3 tablespoons of grape seed oil, 1/2 cup of popcorn

I add 2 kernels with the oil, when the oil is hot & those pop, add the rest of the kernels.

Little melted butter & sea salt.

These are the kernels I use. This bag seems to last forever!