cauliflower "cous cous" with leeks and sun-dried tomatoes

what if i told you that you could eat something that was so similar to cous cous that you wouldn't know the difference, but didn't have any of the processed carbs AND had all the nutrition of cauliflower?  are you saying you'd want to marry me?  i don't blame you, not one bit.  recipe and more after the jump!

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Sweet/Spicy Scallion Ginger Soba Noodles

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, noodles!  they're my happy food.  noodles with a sweet and spicy ginger scallion sauce?  in the eloquent words of rachel zoe:  i die.  that's right, i love these noodles like zoe loves chanel!  it's huge.  and i think you will too, especially on those nights when you barely have the energy to make toast but want something totally yummy and satisfying.  guaranteed to please and just a tiny bit more work than spaghetti, i promise.  lastly: this dish is healthy.  I KNOW!!!!!   {more after the jump}

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cous cous stuffed acorn squash

when acorn squash is cooked right i think it's in my top 3 favorite roasted squashes.  is it weird that i have a top 3 favorite roasted squash list? probably. do i let it stop me from threatening the butternut with a revocation when it doesn't cook up sweet enough? absolutely not.  

ok, enough of that crazy talk. this meal is super easy, it just takes a little patience during the cooking time.  and it satisfies in a way that only carbs and roasted vegetables can.  so i love it for that too.  and in spite of the heaviness, it's still really healthy! so eat up you weight-loss-new-year-resolutioners!  xx -sarah

recipe after the jump...

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creamy polenta with thyme roasted tomatoes

last night i got ambitious and did two things i've never done but always wanted to: 1. roasted tomatoes 2. made polenta. and now i'm left wondering, what the hell have i been doing with my life?!  roasted tomatoes are the bomb. and this polenta is like a salty, creamy, warm corn pudding. OMG. 

this recipe is a tiny bit more work than i usually put into a meal, but doesn't require lots of ingredients or planning. and it was totally easy and satisfying so we'll be having it for dinner many times again and i'm excited to see how i can tweak it to make it even better in the future!  oh, and heads up: this recipe makes enough for a family dinner. or in our case, lots of leftovers!

the what:

4 cups of vegetable stock

2 cups of water

2 cups of coarse polenta (not quick cooking)

1 cup of rice milk (or other unsweetened non-dairy milk)

2 tablespoons of earth balance vegan butter 

EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

thyme

black pepper

sea salt

6 vine ripened tomatoes, cut in half

the how:

- preheat oven to 350 degrees. slice tomatoes in half and arrange on a baking sheet.

- sparingly drizzle olive oil over tomatoes, place two sprigs of thyme on each tomato half and sprinkle sea salt and pepper on the tomatoes.

- bake tomatoes for 1 - 1 1/2 hours, flipping every 15 minutes (they just get better the longer they roast)

- during the last 1/2 hour the tomatoes are baking: bring vegetable stock and water to a boil and slowly whisk in polenta. reduce heat and continue to stir until the polenta has thickened. cover and let simmer until soft (10-20 minutes). 

-stir in earth balance vegan butter, rice milk, and season with sea salt and pepper to taste (don't be timid with the salt, this dish needs it!) stir and cook a few minutes more.

- when the tomatoes are done, serve over a bowl of polenta and sprinkle thyme over both.

*as a last minute addition to mine, i added a tablespoon of chopped kalmatta olives to the polenta. DELISH! 

if you cook polenta i'd love to hear what you do with it!  i'm looking forward to seeing what other yumminess will come!