We’ve had a lot of success with our tomatoes so far this summer, so these babies are as fresh as they come! In other words, I’m an amazing farmer! Just kidding! However, I am glad we ended up planting the yellow pear heirloom cherries along with the red. Such a beautiful contrast, right?!

To get started, boil a pot of salted water. Grab your preferred pasta shape and cook according to the package directions. Don’t cook for too long though, just to al dente. No soggy pasta up in here!

While waiting on the pasta, go ahead and start prepping your veggies…

Dice up an onion and halve your tomatoes. Next, the best part…Garlic, man I love garlic! Go ahead a grab a full head of it! I added about seven minced cloves to mine. When you sauté minced garlic with butter and olive oil, it gets a sort of nutty taste. Delicious!

Next, melt the butter and olive oil in your skillet, add the onion and cook until translucent. Toss in the halved yellow and cherry tomatoes and cook until they release their juices and get soft. Most importantly, add in all of that beautiful garlic and stir! Once the garlic becomes fragrant, it’s time to add the julienned basil.

Next, add the pasta water. Start with two cups and add more if you want it saucier, but go slow. Lastly, add freshly grated black pepper and a bit more salt if needed.

Serve the pasta family style from the skillet or in bowls. Sprinkle on some parmesan cheese and garnish with basil. Voila, dinner is done! Garlicky tomato basil pasta pairs perfectly with a side of roasted asparagus or broccoli.

Feelin’ like something a little cheesier? Try this yummy mac! https://lalaandzo.com/mac-cheese-with-kale-bacon-vegetarian/

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Garlicky Tomato Basil Pasta

Garlicky tomato basil pasta, delicious and so fresh. Perfect for summer… or whenever! Double the recipe to feed a crowd!

Cook Time 30 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb Pasta, any shape
• 2 tbsp Butter
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 small Onion, diced
• 2 cups Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 7 cloves Garlic, minced
• 6 leaves Basil, julienned
• 2 cups Pasta Water, salted

Instructions

• Boil a pot of salted water. Grab your preferred pasta shape and cook according to the package directions. Al dente is best.
• Dice the onion and halve the tomatoes. Next, the best part…Garlic! I added about seven minced cloves to mine.
• Next, melt the butter and olive oil in skillet, add the onion and cook until translucent. Toss in the halved yellow and cherry tomatoes and cook until they release their juices and get soft.
• Add in all of that beautiful garlic and stir! Once the garlic becomes fragrant, add the julienned basil.
• Next, add the pasta water. Start with two cups and add more if you want it saucier, but go slow. Lastly, add freshly grated black pepper and a bit more salt if needed.
• Serve the pasta family style from the skillet or in bowls. Sprinkle on some parmesan cheese and garnish with basil.

The post Garlicky Tomato Basil Pasta appeared first on Lala & Zo.

Turn the oven on and set it to broil. Rinse and dry the poblanos. Place them on a foil lined baking sheet and pop them in the oven. Once the skin starts to blister and char, flip them to the other side. Put them back in the oven to let the other side cook. Remove from the oven and place the poblanos into a ziplock bag to let them steam and cool. Once cool enough to handle, scrape the charred skin off and cut them in half. Remove the seeds with the back of your knife and then dice them into bite sized pieces.

In a large skillet, add the olive oil and onions. Cook until translucent. Add 2 cups of frozen corn and 2 cans of rinsed black beans. Next, add a can of tomatoes and diced green chilies. Add the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir and give it a taste. Adjust seasonings to your liking.

Place the corn tortillas in a damp paper towel and cook in the microwave for 30 seconds. This helps them to be more pliable. If they crack, that’s okay too. They will taste just the same! Next, fill each warmed tortilla with the black bean mixture and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Lay seam side down in a large baking dish.

Scoop the remaining mixture over the top of the enchiladas. Sprinkle the leftover shredded cheese over the top and then drizzle the heavy whipping cream over everything. I know it sounds weird, but it works, trust!

Bake for 20 mins until hot and bubbly. Garnish with onion, tomato and avocado slices.

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Roasted Poblano Black Bean Enchiladas

Author Lala & Zo

Ingredients

• 4 poblano peppers
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups corn
• 2 cans black beans, rinsed
• 1 can tomatoes and diced green chilies
• 10 corn tortillas
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 1/2 cup shredded monty jack
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

• Turn the oven on and set it to broil. Rinse and dry the poblanos. Place on a foil lined baking sheet and put in the oven. Once the skin starts to blister and char, flip to the other side. Put back in the oven and let the other side cook.
• Remove from the oven and place into a ziplock bag to let them steam and cool. Once cool enough to handle, scrape the charred skin off and cut in half. Remove the seeds with the back of your knife and then dice them into bite sized pieces. 
• In a large skillet, add the olive oil and onions. Cook until translucent. Add 2 cups of frozen corn and 2 cans of rinsed black beans. Next, add a can of tomatoes and diced green chilies.
• Add the garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir and give it a taste. Adjust seasonings to your liking.
• Place corn tortillas in a damp paper towel and cook in the microwave for 30 seconds. Next, fill each warmed tortilla with the black bean mixture and a sprinkle of shredded cheese. Lay seam side down in a large baking dish.
• Scoop the remaining mixture over the top of the enchiladas. Sprinkle the leftover shredded cheese over the top and then drizzle the heavy whipping cream over everything.
• Bake for 20 mins until hot and bubbly. Garnish with onion, tomato and avocado slices.

Notes

Garnish with chopped tomatoes, onion and avocado slices.

The post Roasted Poblano Black Bean Enchiladas appeared first on Lala & Zo.

It’s so quick and yummy. We eat so much of it that we’ve started making it every other week. Having it ready to go makes breakfast a breeze on busy mornings. Oh heck, who am I kidding, it makes it easy on lazy mornings too!

A lot of granola recipes call for old fashioned rolled oats. However, I feel like you have to cook them a lot longer or they stay too chewy. I like mine super crunchy and really fast. Using the 1 minute oats guarantees a quick and crunchy texture.

To get started preheat the oven to 350. Next, pour the oats, and nuts on a large baking sheet and set it aside. Grab a medium sized sauce pan and pour in the vegetable oil and butter. Once the butter melts a bit, add in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Warm on low to medium heat until the brown sugar is dissolved.

Once the sugar is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat and add the vanilla. Give everything a good stir and then pour it over the oat and nut mixture. Stir until everything is combined.

Pop the sheet pan in the oven and let the mixture cook for about 30 mins. Make sure that you stir every 10 mins so that everything has a chance to get nice and toasty.

The possibilities are endless using this recipe as a base. If you decide to add dried nuts or chunks of chocolate, add them once the granola has cooled.

My favorite way to eat granola is sprinkled over blueberry yogurt. Side note, I was not a fan of blueberry yogurt until trying the one from Brown Cow. It’s gelatin free and the cream top is ah-mazing! Give it a try…

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Quick Granola with Pecans & Slivered Almonds

Crunchy, sweet and nutty with a hint of cinnamon. A perfect topping for yogurt or a peach crumble.

Author Lala & Zo

Ingredients

• 3 cups 1 minute oats
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350
• Pour the oats, pecans and almonds on a jellyroll pan or large baking sheet. Set aside. 
• In a medium sized sauce pan, add the vegetable oil, butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. Cook on medium to low heat until the brown sugar is dissolved. 
• Remove from heat and add the vanilla, stir to combine. Pour the sugar mixture over the oat and nut mixture and stir until coated.
• Spread in an even layer and bake for 30 mins. Making sure to stir the mixture in 10 minute intervals.
• Remove from oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container. 

Notes

Feel free to use any mixture of nuts you like. Adding dried fruit is really good too.

The post Quick Granola with Pecans & Slivered Almonds appeared first on Lala & Zo.

It comes together fairly quickly too. On this particular day, I made it in between games of a soccer tournament. Gotta feed the hungry players, right? You can use any pasta shape you like, I used cellentani. I love the thick spirals, they really hold on to any sauce you drench them in. Also, you can use pre-shredded cheese, I have in the past, but nothing beats freshly grated cheese. It melts smoother and stays creamier. Just do it!

Cook the pasta noodles as you’re shredding the cheese, that way you can set them aside and focus on the sauce. You don’t want to burn its gloriousness! I also like to throw the chopped kale in during the last couple of minutes of cooking the pasta. It helps to soften and cook a bit of the rawness out of it.

Once it’s all done, serve it hot in bowls with a sprinkle of extra cheese and the bacon crumbles on top. You can certainly mix the bacon crumbles into the mac, but they tend to get a little softer due to the sauce. Be like me, sprinkle them on top, because I like them to stay extra crispy.

If you want to get extra fancy, add the finished mac to an oven safe dish and top with a breadcrumb topping. Pop into the oven until it’s golden and bubbly.

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Mac & Cheese with Kale & Bacon

Mac & Cheese grown up style. It's creamy and rich with a smoky bite.

Author Leslie

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 medium bell pepper, yellow, diced
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup half and half
• 1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1 cup colby jack, shredded
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 cups kale, chopped
• 12 oz pasta, I used cellentani, cooked
• 6 slices vegetarian bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

• Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. During the last couple of minutes, add the chopped kale. Drain the pasta/kale and set aside while you make the cheese sauce.
• Melt the butter and olive oil in a medium sized sauce pan. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened.
• Add the cream cheese and half and half and whisk until the cream cheese is smooth. Add the milk, sharp cheddar and colby jack and whisk until the cheeses are melted. 
• Stir in the garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste. Add a splash of milk if the sauce is too thick. Pour the cheese sauce over the drained pasta and stir. 
• Scoop into bowls and top with extra cheese and the crumbled bacon. Serve hot.

Notes

If you want to get extra fancy, add the finished mac to a baking dish and top with a breaded topping. Pop in the oven to brown the topping and then serve.

The post Mac & Cheese With Kale & Bacon- Vegetarian appeared first on Lala & Zo.

They turned out so decadent, they were…

• rich
• cheesy
• smokey
• fulfilling

The creaminess of them reminded me a lot of scalloped potatoes. I guess they are essentially the same, just a different veggie. They came together quickly too, which will be a plus on one of the busiest kitchen days of the year.

I wasn’t sure how my kids would feel about them, as brussels are not one of their favorite vegetables. However, dun dun dun dunnn…They are so good they change the minds of brussels sprouts haters!

I like to buy my produce at Sprouts and saw these cute tender baby brussels. They are a bit smaller than regular brussels and were definitely tender! To get them ready to cook, I rinsed the whole bag and then trimmed the bottoms and cut them in half.

To a large oven proof skillet, add the olive oil and butter. Over medium-high heat, add the brussels. Cook until browned and crispy on all sides, about 5-6 minutes.

While the brussels are getting their brown on, cook the vegetarian bacon according to the package instructions. Chop into crumbles and set aside.

Next, add the minced garlic to the pan and stir quickly for about 1 minute, so you don’t burn it. Carefully pour the milks in and let it simmer until it becomes a thick creamy sauce.

Add in the chopped bacon and season with pepper, stir. Sprinkle the parmesan and monty jack cheese over the top and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Crank the oven to broil and broil for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Serve hot.

As you’re preparing for Thanksgiving this year, keep this recipe in mind. It’s sure to please and won’t take up a lot of your cooking time.

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Cheesy Scalloped Brussels Sprouts With Bacon- Vegetarian

Rich, smokey & comforting! Full of gooey cheese and smokey bacon, these brussels sprouts are so good, they change the minds of brussels sprouts haters! 

Author Leslie

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 lbs tender baby brussels, trimmed and cut in half
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 6 slices *vegetarian bacon, cooked and crumbled
• pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1/3 cup monty jack cheese, shredded

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350.
• To a large oven proof skillet, add the olive oil and butter. Heat on medium heat. Next, add in the prepared brussels sprouts and cook until golden brown and crispy, 5-6 mins.
• While the brussels are cooking, cook the bacon strips according to package instructions and then chop into crumbles. Set aside.
• Next, add the garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant, do not burn. Lower the heat to low and pour the milks in. 
• Simmer until brussels are tender and milks turn into a creamy sauce- about 10 mins. Making sure to stir and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Add the chopped bacon and pepper to pan and stir all together. Top with parmesan and monty jack cheese.
• Bake for 10 mins. Turn the oven to broil and let it go for another 3-4 mins to make the cheese golden brown.

Notes

*We like to use the Veggie Bacon strips from Morning Star.

The post Cheesy Scalloped Brussels Sprouts With Bacon-Vegetarian appeared first on Lala & Zo.

I was never super impressed by each of these soups on their own, but man does it do something when they are mixed together. This is now the way my family requests it. I must admit, I’ve never tried the actual zuppa toscana soup from Olive Garden, as we don’t eat pork. I’ve relied on close friends who say the knock off is just as good, if not better than the OG.

I know it’s only the end of July, but fall will be here in a blink. Plus, we actually enjoy soup and chili all throughout the year. Lets get to it, this is how we make it…

Notes…

We feel that the potato gnocchi are a bit too big once cooked and find ourselves cutting them in half while eating. You can cut them in half before cooking like we now do, or leave this step out if the full size doesn’t bother you.

Also, I use the Gimme Lean Meatless Veggie Sausage and my meat eaters can’t tell a difference. Don’t you love when that happens? Since the veggie sausage is not the real deal, it doesn’t put out a lot of fat. To combat this, I add a butter and olive oil combo to the pan when browning it. I also like to use a nonstick skillet, because it likes to stick.

Lastly, we love both spinach and kale. We’ve made this soup multiple times with both, so use whichever one you prefer or have on hand.

To a large pot add the olive oil and butter. Next, add the veggie sausage and cook until brown and crumbly.

Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set it aside while you let the trifecta of veggies cook. Onion, carrots and celery cooking together is one of the best smells in the world, don’t you agree?

Next add the garlic and flour. Cook for a couple of minutes to get the raw taste out of the flour. Pour in the veggie broth and crushed red pepper and whisk together. Add the sliced potatoes cook for 10 minutes. Add in the halved gnocchi and simmer for 5 more minutes. Next, add in the kale/spinach and half and half.

Let everything warm back up and serve hot in bowls with a crusty chunk of garlic bread.

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Zuppa Toscana & Gnocchi Soup

Savory, creamy and delicious. Full of chunks of potato, gnocchi and sausage. This soup is sure to satisfy whether it's cold out or not!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 6

Author Leslie- Lala & Zo

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 14 oz meatless veggie sausage
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
• 1/2 package potato gnocchi, each cut in half
• 3 cups kale or spinach, chopped
• 2 cups half and half
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp crush red pepper flakes
• parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Warm the olive oil and butter in a large pot, add and brown the sausage. When done, remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Next, add in the diced onion, carrot and celery, cook until tender. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, do not burn. 
• Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Next, pour in the vegetable broth and crushed red pepper, whisk together. 
• Add the thinly sliced potato and let cook for 10 mins. Cut each of the potato gnocchi in half. Add them to the pot and let simmer for another 5 minutes.
• Add in the chopped spinach/kale and let wilt. Pour in half and half and let heat through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot in bowls topped with shredded parmesan cheese.

Notes

We've also made this with almond milk in the place of half and half. It's not quite as creamy that way, but equally delish.

The post Zuppa Toscana & Gnocchi Soup- Vegetarian appeared first on Lala & Zo.

This tortellini with marinara dish is one of those after church on Sunday, stick to your bones kind of meals. You can eat it anytime of day and any day of the week, of course…you know what I mean. It’s got all the things a pasta dish should have and is topped with gooey melty cheese! Bonus, it comes together quickly enough for a week night meal.

I prefer to make my own sauce. It’s super easy to do and we always have the ingredients on hand. If you want to use store bought, that’s okay too. Judgement free zone over here!

First, start out by making the marinara so that it can simmer while you make the pasta and side dish of your choosing. To get started, add the olive oil to a sauce pan. Try to use one that you have a lid to, you don’t want simmering tomato to splatter everywhere! Cook the diced onion, celery and carrots until they are softened.

Next, add in the can of crushed tomatoes and the tomato paste. The tomato paste gives the sauce a nice richness and adds an extra layer of tomato goodness. Sprinkle in the seasonings and butter. The sugar and butter help to cut down on the acidity of the tomatoes. Pop the lid on and let the sauce simmer for 20-30 minutes.

While the sauce is simmering, cook the tortellini according to the package instructions. Dice up the fresh basil and green onions and set them aside. Shred the parmesan if using and open the package of fresh mozzarella pearls.

When the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the simmering tomato sauce. Stir until all the pasta is coated with the sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top.

My family likes to have the cheese melted, but I’m weird and like the cold pops of mozzarella in my hot pasta. Yum!

This particular time I just popped the lid on the pan to let the cheese melt a bit. You could also throw it under the broiler to really get things going. It’s been 100+ around these parts, so I decided against turning the oven on.

Lastly, top everything with the diced green onion and chopped basil. Serve hot.

It pairs nicely with a salad, fresh green beans or a big chunk of crusty garlic bread. Just invite me over when you make it, okay?!

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Tortellini with Marinara and Mozzarella Pearls

Author Leslie

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp butter
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 package cheese tortellini
• 1/2 package fresh mozzarella pearls

Garnish

• 4 leaves fresh basil, chopped
• parmesan cheese, shredded
• 3 green onions, chopped

Instructions

• Warm olive oil in a saucepan with a lid.  
• Add diced onion, celery and carrot. Cook vegetables until they are tender. 
• Carefully pour can of crushed tomatoes and tomato paste in.
• Add the garlic powder, sugar and butter, stir. Next add in salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover with a lid and simmer for 20-30 mins. The longer the better. Stirring occasionally. 
• While the sauce is simmering, cook the tortellini according to package instructions. Drain when done.
• Serve sauce over the tortellini or mix the two together and then top with mozzarella pearls.
• At this point you can cover with a lid and let the residual heat melt the pearls or you can pop the pan under the broiler for a few minutes. 
• Garnish with fresh basil, shredded parmesan cheese and green onions.

The post Tortellini with Marinara and Mozzarella Pearls appeared first on Lala & Zo.

We love eggs around here. They’re fast, easy and perfect for anytime of day. We were super busy this past weekend and didn’t make it to the store as we had planned, so we decided to use what we already had. Breakfast it was. My dad always loved breakfast for dinner, I must’ve gotten that from him. I decided to go with frittata, because not only did it sound good, it looks super fancy too. Seriously, when it’s done, it will look like you spend some major time on it, even though you were online shopping.

Since it’s summer, we have plenty of veggies around. I used some leftover mushrooms and a zucchini from my mom’s garden. The squash bugs destroyed my plants this year, so we’ve been blessed to get some from her.

There are so many different flavor combinations that can be made…

• Spinach and sautéed bell pepper with shredded pepper jack cheese
• Vegetarian sausage crumbles and cheddar
• Three cheese by adding a combination of parmesan, cheddar and mozzarella
• Vegetarian bacon crumbles with crispy potatoes

Really the list goes on. Also, fresh diced jalapeño can be added to any variation for a spicy kick. I always like to start sautéing the onions before the other ingredients because they become sweet and savory. I love onions in every way, shape and form!

This frittata comes together rather quickly. In about 40 mins, you have a hearty and filling meal. If you end up with leftovers, it reheats like a dream.

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Sautéed Zucchini & Mushroom Frittata

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 pint mushrooms, sliced
• 1 medium zucchini, diced
• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup cheddar, grated

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Add the butter and olive oil to a large, oven safe skillet. Melt over medium heat.
• Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent. Add the sliced mushrooms and diced zucchini and cook until golden. 
• Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl. Add the milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Whisk until thoroughly combined. 
• Add the shredded cheddar to the egg mixture, stir.
• Once the veggies are golden, slowly pour the egg and cheese mixture into the skillet. Do not stir.
• Put the uncovered skillet in the oven and cook for 25-30 mins. Serve warm.

The post Sautéed Zucchini & Mushroom Frittata With Cheddar appeared first on Lala & Zo.

Rice comes as a staple side dish at most Spanish and Mexican restaurants. This is surely because not only is it simple, but if done right, it’s packed full of flavor.

There are many ways to make it and this is my favorite. I like to use basmati rice, but most Spanish rice recipes call for a medium grain rice. Then again, I’m a rebel and use basmati rice in every recipe that calls for rice, even rice pudding. I feel that it cooks a bit quicker and is so fluffy.

I also like to use a combo of veggie broth and bouillon for optimal flavor. The best bouillon that I’ve found that is vegetarian friendly is Edward & Sons Not-Beef Bouillon Cubes. They are actually vegan and gluten free. I’ve also used and buy their other flavors and like them too. Just be careful, because they do have quite a bit of salt in them, so adjust accordingly when you use them.

Toasting the rice is also a very necessary step in my opinion. It gives the rice a slightly almost nutty flavor. Now that I think about it, I wonder what toasting the rice would do to rice pudding? I need to try that next.

Pair it with black beans and corn salsa to make nachos. Use it as a filling for rice and bean enchiladas. Or if you don’t want to make it vegetarian, add seared chicken for arroz con pollo, there are so many possibilities. It’s so good that I even like to eat it on its own.

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Spanish Basmati Rice

Author Leslie

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 cube not-beef cube
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder

Instructions

• Add the oil to the bottom of a large skillet. Pour the rice in and slowly toast the rice, making sure to stir often. Do not burn.
• In a blender, add the veggie broth, can of tomatoes and chilies, tomato paste, onion, garlic and not-beef cube. Pulse until blended.
• Once the rice becomes a light golden brown color, carefully pour the liquid mixture into the pan.
• Stir the seasonings(salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin) in. 
• Make sure the rice is completely covered by the liquid, if not add more veggie broth until it is.
• Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low-med.
• Cover and simmer until rice is tender. About 20 mins, depending on size of pan.
• Fluff with a fork and garnish with fresh cilantro.

The post Simple Spanish Rice With Basmati- Vegan appeared first on Lala & Zo.

Fortnite, have you heard of it? If not, it’s all the rage right now with the kiddies. This is my take on V-Bucks as frosted cookies. My nephew turned 9 and really likes the game, so that’s what I made for him. I used my old standby rolled sugar cookie recipe and iced them. I’m not a pro at frosting cookies, the icing can be so finicky! I needed the frosting to harden, so that the cookies were stackable. After mixing my icing, I frosted a tester cookie and waited to do the others until I was able to see how it would firm up.

Looking at this picture, I wish I would’ve gone a little thicker on the icing. I was too afraid of running out of icing though! Next time, I will double it. Lesson learned!

Every Christmas, I bake cookies in every shape and the whole family comes over to decorate them. Not only do they turn out looking great, they taste really good too! Here’s a kickback photo from this past Christmas. See what I mean about how I decorate cookies, Ha!

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Rolled Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

• In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the softened butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Mix until light and fluffy, scraping down sides of the bowl after about 1 min.
• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add half of the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture and mix. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add remaining dry ingredients. Mix well.
• Pat dough into a large flat circle, wrap in saran wrap and refrigerate at least 30 mins.
• On a floured surface or between 2 sheets of parchment paper, roll the dough out to at least 1/2 an inch in thickness. 
• Cut into desired shapes and place on cookie sheet.
• Refrigerate cookie shapes for at least 30 mins prior to baking.
• Bake at 375 for 8-10 mins. Cookies will still appear pale and only slightly golden on sides. Let cool completely before frosting.

Notes

This makes a soft, sticky dough. That's why refrigerating the dough before rolling is key. If you're still having trouble rolling with flour, place the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper to roll. 

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