Daniel Fast Recipe #4: (Spicy) Vegetable Pasta Bake

Ask Me Questions....

I was informed that some people are having some difficulty commenting on my blog. My apologies! This is my first blogspot attempt (I usually do wordpress), so I was not aware that you had to be a gmail user if you wanted to comment.

But never fear! You can email me questions or comments! Claireflorine@gmail.com
I'll look forward to hearing from you!

Anyways....

I'm on a roll with these recipes. 

Tonight I came home from work really having know idea what to make and not wanting to spend a whole lot of time on preparing food. This is usually not the case, as I am particularly obsessive about planning ahead, but today was "data day" at school and I was busy looking at my student's test scores (AKA, not my favorite thing to do). I also had to make a meal quickly because my husband is a movie star and had a video shoot for a french commercial. (I know, he's awesome!)

So I opened up my fridge and saw pizza sauce. This jar inspired the rest:

Spicy Vegetable Pasta Bake

(Recipe serves 4)

Ingredients:

4 cups whole grain pasta (I used whole wheat rigatoni. You can use whatever kind you like, but I wouldn't use Spaghetti...)

2 cups pizza sauce or canned tomato sauce

1/2 cup salsa*

4 slices of jalapeno, finely chopped*

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1 bell pepper, finely chopped

4 mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons or lime or lemon juice

Cumin, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

Cooking spray or olive oil

*NOTE: You may choose to leave out the jalapeno and salsa if you would rather not have a spicy dish. (In which case, if would be called just "Vegetable Pasta Bake") I realize not everyone is as big on the spice as Dennis and I are. Also, you may add 1 cup black beans in with the sautéed veggies and sauce if you are looking to add more protein to the meal.

Here's what you do:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil, then drop in the pasta
3. Heat a small amount of cooking spray or olive oil on a medium sized skillet
4. Chop up the vegetables of choice and add them into the skillet
5. Cook veggies for 3 minutes, stirring often, then season
6. Add the pizza sauce, salsa (if you want it spicy), and lemon/lime juice
7. Stir on low heat and wait until the pasta is tender
8. Lightly spray a baking pan with cooking spray or coat lightly with olive oil
9. Add one layer of drained pasta to the pan
10. Spoon out half of the sauce and veggie mixture on top of the pasta
11. Season with garlic
12. Add another layer of drained pasta so that the pasta is all gone
13. Spoon out the last half of the sauce and veggie mix and top with garlic or salt and pepper
14. Place in the oven for 30 minutes
15. Once dish is done, take out and serve with a big ole' serving spoon! Yum!

So How Was It?

The dish was pretty good! I enjoyed the spice, and the change up (we haven't had pasta in a tick). I think that baking the dish gave it more structure than if it were just sauce spooned over the wet pasta. However, I couldn't help thinking that it would be better with some cheddar-jack... I guess this the point where we should set our minds on God. In the absence of what our flesh enjoys (in the case, cheese) we must turn to the Lord and recognize that all of our earthly possessions belong to Him and we are to sacrifice all of it if it means we can grow just a little bit closer to Him.

We can live without cheese! We can live without meat! We can suffer in our eating for Christ (although the meal really wasn't as bad as all that...).

I No picture tonight! Again, we were in such a rush because of Dennis's film that I forgot to sign onto Instagram! You can blame the talented actor-man... ;-)


Just another "Claire Creation" brought to you by....well, Claire (duh!) 

Goodnight!

Eating like Daniel

Good afternoon fellow foodies, and non-foodies!

Today I had a request from Brother Erron Johnson for some "Daniel Fast recipes".
Allow me to explain:

My church is doing a 21-day fast which mirrors the fast which Daniel took in the Bible (in the book of Daniel Chapters 1 and 10). Basically, he eats only fruits, vegetables, and drinks only water. He does not use any sweeteners (honey or otherwise) or yeast (only unleavened bread), and consumes no alcohol or caffeine. His diet is basically a vegan diet that excludes any animal products, as well as what I mentioned before. He does this because he is in deep mourning and prayer because of instructions from God and visions he is exposed to (you can read your Bible if you want more information).

Now, to be honest, I am not partaking in this fast. Having a history with eating disorders in my too near past, I do not want to trigger any temptation to go back to old habits or fall into a relapse by limiting what I eat. I find that being even a little neurotic about my food gets me into trouble, which is why you'll never catch me posting anything about fat content or calorie counts on any of the meals I make. My goal is to be healthy, not to slip back into unhealthy behaviors. I'll be going on a different kind of fast for the next month, which you can read about on my other blog if you like.

I received a very clear message from the Lord to not restrict my own diet, but to reach out to help others who are fasting this month. I really think that the Sprit is calling me to use my cooking and writing skills to assist my church in a technologically creative way! (Why yes, the Holy Ghost is totally up to speed with social networking and internet; I never question that!)

That being said, I still would like to take on the challenge of posting some Daniel Fast recipes for the rest of my fasting Brothers and Sisters at Christ Temple Cathedral Church! It will be a fun practice for me at expanding my recipes and use of natural non-processed ingredients, and hopefully will be helpful to those who are taking this opportunity to fast and pray.

I'll begin my posting later this evening (after I try out a new recipe for dinner!) or tomorrow. For now, visit the Daniel Fast Website for any information or to browse their recipes.

See you soon!