Banana Splits for Breakfast!

Split a banana, lengthwise, and spread with peanut butter. Drizzle with agave syrup and sprinkle with raisins. NOM.

Vegetable Rotini w/ "Sausage"

I'm going to try and remember to get a picture of this the next time I make it and update here, but we ate it already and pictures of empty bowls aren't nearly as appetizing. :)

This is one of the few vegetarian recipes I've made that the kids really liked, so I don't want to lose it!

Ingredients:
1 tube Gimme Lean Sausage
1 large zuchinni
1 large yellow squash
2 cloves garlic
Olive oil
Lemon pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese to taste (optional)
1 box rotini pasta

Prepare pasta according to package directions, drain, toss with olive oil and set aside.  Dice zuchinni, squash, and garlic.

Coat large frying pan with olive oil and fry Gimme Lean Sausage. Add squash mixture and fry until heated through and vegetables are to desired tenderness. Season with lemon pepper to taste.

Toss pasta with squash and sausage mixture and top with parmesan cheese.

The kids loved this and so did I! The Man would have nothing to do with it. More for us! I'm sure you could add any veggies to this, I just happened to have the zuchinni and squash. If I had some cherry tomatoes I would have tossed them in as well.

First Green Smoothie!

Today is my first green smoothie. I used the recipe that Green Mom Zoe shares on her blog zoevblog.com which I'll type out here.

This makes 2 smoothies:
2 cups almond milk
1 frozen banana
1 apple
1/2 mango
handful of sprouts
2 cups kale

Put everything in the blender and blend until smooth.

It's a very fresh tasting, lightly sweet drink. I made it for the kids and I, but Goober and Munchkin refuse to drink it even though I attempted to tell them it was a Nickelodeon Slime Smoothie. Goober says it tastes like grass - and I can totally understand where he's coming from.

The first sip, I have to admit, did taste like grass. It really does take a few sips to get past it. But I'm now halfway through my smoothie and I'm honestly over the grass taste. Now it just tastes sweet to me.

I'm not sure if there's a better way to convince the other two kids to drink it. Maybe put more fruit in to make it sweeter... Bug thinks it tastes good and is drinking it up, which is wonderful because he's the one I'd like to get on a more vegan diet more than any of them.

Update on the Cornbread!

Veggie Tofu has posted an alternative to the Jiffy cornbread mix so we can have truly yummy truly vegetarian cornbread. WOOT!

From her blog:

Cornbread Mix

4 cup all purpose Flour
4 cup yellow Cornmeal
2 cup instant nonfat Milk Powder or dry Buttermilk Powder
2/3 cup granulated Sugar
4 tablespoons Baking Powder
1 tablespoon Salt
1 tablespoon Baking Soda

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir with a wire whisk until evenly distributed. Pour into a 10-cup container with a tight fitting lid. Seal container. Label with date and contents. Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 10 to 12 weeks. Makes about 10 cups Cornbread Mix.

Cornbread

1 Egg, beaten
1/2 cup Water
2 tablespoons Canola Oil
1-1/4 cups Cornbread Mix

Preheat oven to 425F (220 C). Grease a 5" x 3" loaf pan. In a bowl beat together egg, water, and oil. Stir in Cornbread Mix until moistened. Batter will be lumpy. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. makes 1 loaf.

Variations:

Adding grated cheddar cheese on top before baking is wonderful

1/2 cup of frozen corn to the batter

Thanks! Next time I make chili I'll bring out this recipe. ;)

Just Add Water Pancake Mix

8 cups flour
1.5 cups dry milk (the powdered stuff)
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons baking powder

Store in airtight container. Combine 1 cup mix with about 1/2 cup water (more or less depending on how you like your batter) and cook as normal.

CHEESECAKE!

http://bighairenvy.blogspot.com/2008/08/cheesecake-anyone.html

Must try that!

Easy Baked Ziti

Obviously this can be made with meat and sometimes I do make it with Italian Sausage. It's very easy to throw together when I don't have a lot of time and tastes great meatless.

1 package ziti
1 jar spaghetti sauce (whatever you like)
1 cup shredded mozzarella
4 or 5 slices provolone
Parmesan cheese to taste

Preheat oven to 350 or 400 (I usually make a loaf of frozen garlic bread with this and I just preheat the oven to whatever the garlic bread calls for)

Cook ziti just and drain
Pour cooked ziti back into pot and pour jar of sauce on top
Stir in mozzarella cheese while pasta is hot
Cover top with provolone

Bake in oven for 5 to 10 minutes (again, however long the garlic bread calls for)

Serve with a green salad