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Sweet Potato Spaghetti Marinara

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Sweet potato spaghetti marinara is a great alternative to traditional pasta!

sweet potato spaghetti marinara

A few years ago I bought a spiralizer and I started spiralizing everything. I became one of those annoying people who forced new creations on anyone who came into my house. While some of them were excellent, some were… well… really, really bad. Just because you can make pasta ribbons and spaghetti out of lots of things, doesn’t mean you should.

So, I took a break from my spiralizer.

Now, let me tell you about this amazing marinara sauce.  Because it is truly is amazing. A few weeks ago I spent 5 glorious days on vacation in Anguilla.  I had the honor of being able to cook with a great chef from Italy and we made his favorite simple pasta sauce.  This is my version of his recipe (I used parsley instead of basil because I wanted to try it and I had some great looking parsley in my fridge) — it’s simple and it’s delicious!

I walked into Whole Foods the other day, and in the produce department, there they were — containers of pre-cut sweet potato spaghetti. They called my name. So, I’m back at it again… and I’m excited to make these sweet potato noodles so many different ways. But for now, I wanted a vehicle for this great sauce.

This sweet potato spaghetti marinara is awesome. It was a great experiment (I’m sure there will be some more losers along the way, but this recipe is great) and it was even good cold out of the refrigerator during the week.

And here’s another vegetable spaghetti that’s a winner: Raw Spaghetti Zucchini Antipasto Salad.

sweet potato spaghetti marinarasweet potato spaghetti marinara

Here are some of the reasons you should make this sweet potato spaghetti marinara recipe:

Sweet potatoes are good for your digestive system. They can be good for both constipation and diarrhea. These orange gems also help rid your body of excess water, are good for breast health, help people with diabetes and actually can help ease night blindness. In olden times, it was common in China to rub mashed sweet potatoes on poison insect bites to remove the toxins. I haven’t tried this, but if you see me looking a tad orange, this will be why…

Parsley has been shown to reduce tumors in the lungs and to neutralize the effects of carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. It is high in vitamins A and C, and is good for your heart. This herb is also a natural breath freshener. So, if you have a chance to use more than a few sprigs as a garnish, go for it.

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

sweet potato spaghetti marinara

Sweet Potato Spaghetti Marinara
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Recipe type: pasta, grain-free, paleo
Cuisine: vegan, vegetarian, Italian
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-3
Who doesn't like spaghetti marinara? Well, here's a great one, but the spaghetti here is made from sweet potatoes... awesome!
Ingredients
  • 1 lb sweet potato spaghetti noodles (I was able to buy them pre-spiralized, but you can spiralize a few large peeled sweet potatoes yourself)
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 very large shallot, peeled and quartered (feel free to use an onion instead)
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup packed parsley (leaves and stems)
  • 1 28-oz can tomatoes with basil (use whatever canned tomatoes you have on hand)
  • For topping:
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 scallions, sliced
  • ¼ cup parsley
Instructions
  1. Blanch the sweet potato spaghetti in a pot of salted hot water for 20 seconds, then drain it and set it aside.
  2. Make the sauce: In a large saucepan, heat the oil.
  3. Add the shallot, garlic, and parsley.
  4. Cook, over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. Carefully pour the tomatoes into the pot, season generously with salt and pepper, and let the sauce cook for 45-minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Let the sauce cook a little bit, and then blend it in a standard blender or use an immersion blender, until it's very smooth.
  7. Pour the sauce back into the pot, add the sweet potato noodles, and cook over low heat about 5 minutes or until the noodles are cooked, but still al dente.
  8. Meanwhile, sauce the scallions and ¼ cup parsley in 2 Tbs oil for about 1-min.
  9. Top the spaghetti with the sautéed scallions and parsley,
  10. Enjoy!

sweet potato spaghetti marinara

Chicken With Artichokes And Sun Dried Tomatoes

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This deliciously healing chicken with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes is made in a single pan!

chicken with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes

The night before I was to leave on vacation a few weeks ago, I was making dinner. I knew I wanted to cook something that would last for several days in the fridge… because… wait for it… I was going to a gorgeous beach with my sister — no husbands and no kids!!! I wanted to be nice and leave Steve some food.

I was perusing some of the blogs I love and I came across a dish from Diethood that made my mouth water and was a one-pan meal. I put a bit of my own spin on it and made it fit our needs and wow, it was really good.

I love simple roast chicken. This is simple roast chicken with some great add-ins. It’s chicken with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes. It’s chicken with lots of flavor. It’s healthy. It also has spinach. And carrots. And onion. And it makes for awesome leftovers for several days.

This is the perfect weeknight meal. It’s a great make-ahead main course for when you are entertaining. It’s just a great dish.
Oh yeah, and it’s really easy.

I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now (okay… always…), so let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a chicken recipe with your name on it…  So CLICK HERE  to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.

Here’s another great one-pan chicken recipe for you to try: Chicken, Potato, And Tomato Skillet.

chicken with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes

Here are some ways this recipe will help you out:

Chicken is something I push people to buy organic if possible. Organic chicken is a great, healthy protein to give you energy, lessen the pain of some types of arthritis, and boost your system when you are particularly weak — like after surgery or childbirth. People who have some conditions that we consider “excess heat” conditions should limit the amount of chicken they eat. So, if you have an illness that gives you a bright red tongue or severe dryness in your body, check with your doctor first. For example, if you have a lot of burning stomach acid, you should avoid chicken for awhile…

Artichokes are a good source of vitamins C and K and they also contain a healthy amount of magnesium. The are low in fat and calories but they do have some fiber, so they are a healthy choice. In Chinese medicine, we recommend adding artichokes to the diet to combat sadness, headaches, indigestion, and diarrhea. In olden times, steamed artichokes were sometimes prescribed to combat a yeast infection.

It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.

In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections. This recipe contains sun dried tomatoes, which have the same great capabilities and also taste amazing!

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

chicken with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes

If you make this Chicken With Artichokes And Sun Dried Tomatoes recipe, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.

Chicken With Artichokes And Sun Dried Tomatoes
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Recipe type: poultry, chicken, one-pan meal, simple
Cuisine: Recipe adapted from: Diethood
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 5
This one-pan meal is so comforting, so easy, and so healthy. It's flavorful roast chicken and great vegetables and it's delicious!
Ingredients
  • 2 chicken breasts on the bone, cut in half
  • 6 chicken drumsticks
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 1 med onion, sliced
  • 3 carrots, sliced
  • 1 14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained, and cut in quarters
  • a big handful of sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (I used 10 large ones)
  • 5 oz fresh spinach
  • ½ cup vegetable broth
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper
  3. Heat the oil in a large oven-proof skillet.
  4. Place the chicken in the hot oil and brown it on all sides.
  5. Remove the chicken to a plate.
  6. Add the onion, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes, and artichoke hearts to the skillet and sauté just until the veggies start to soften a bit.
  7. Add the broth and the spinach and stir just until it starts to wilt.
  8. Arrange the chicken in the pan with the veggies.
  9. Place the pan in the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through. (My chicken took 35 minutes in the oven because my white meat pieces were large and the rest was dark meat.)
  10. Remove from oven and place the hot skillet directly on a trivet on your table -- it's beautiful! Enjoy!

chicken with artichokes and sun dried tomatoes

Matcha Chia Pudding

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This matcha chia pudding combines the healing power of matcha and chia seeds… make it the night before and be amazed!

matcha chia pudding

Last week when I was really tired and a bit achy, my acupuncturist/mentor recommended green tea, but in the form of matcha or sencha. These intense green tea powders are so good for you, but I had forgotten all about them.

Honestly, I don’t know how I forgot about them because matcha seems to be everywhere these days… everywhere I look there are matcha smoothies, matcha cookies, matcha lattes. So, I figured, why not matcha chia pudding…

I do love a good chia pudding. Really, if you can make something the night before and have it ready for breakfast when you wake up, and have it taste delicious, what’s not to love?

This chia pudding is great. It’s not too sweet, has a distinctive green tea flavor, and is so energizing… it’s the perfect breakfast! I actually tried something new with this pudding and I put it in the blender in the morning to give it more of a creamy, dessert-like feel. I really liked it this way, but you can omit this step if you prefer.

For another great chia pudding recipe try my take on Raspberry Chia Pudding!

matcha chia pudding

There are so many reasons (other than the delicious taste) to make this Matcha Chia Pudding:

Matcha is a type of green tea powder made from whole leaves of tea. Green tea, in Chinese medicine is known to be good for the mind, reduces headaches and aids digestion. If you use Macha, you can really magnify the already great health benefits of your green tea — research shows that matcha has over 100 times the potency and nutritional benefits of regular green tea.

Chia seeds are ancient seeds that got their name from the Mayan word for “strength”. These tiny seeds have the unique ability to turn liquid into a gel-like substance when making puddings and they are great added to smoothies and shakes. They are really good for you because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber.

In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. I use coconut milk in so many recipes that call for dairy — it’s incredible!

Mangos are great for digestion and they help if you have one of those annoying dry coughs that just won’t go away. This delicious fruit will also help strengthen your bones and is good for your heart.

Strawberries help get rid of excess alcohol in your body and they are good for your heart. They even help reduce plaque in your mouth and can make you feel better if you have an annoying dry cough or if you feel bloated from eating too much. So, if you’ve overindulged, strawberries are great for you.

matcha chia pudding

Matcha Chia Pudding
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Recipe type: breakfast, make-ahead
Cuisine: American, Asian
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-3
Here's an easy, make-ahead, energizing, healthy breakfast! You can customize it and top it any way you like!
Ingredients
  • 1 can full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 tsp matcha powder (here's an organic one)
  • 1 Tbs pure maple syrup
  • 4 Tbs chia seeds
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • optional toppings: mango, strawberries, kiwi slices
Instructions
  1. Place the coconut milk, matcha, syrup, chia seeds, and vanilla into a mason jar. Cover and shake well.
  2. Place the jar in the refrigerator overnight.
  3. In the morning, you have 2 choices; just scoop the pudding into bowls and top with fruit, or place the pudding into a blender and blend for a smoother texture and then top with fruit.
  4. Enjoy!

matcha chia pudding

Paleo Vegetable Kugel

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This paleo vegetable kugel is light and healthy!

paleo vegetable kugel

One of the first things my mother-in-law asked me to cook was a kugel for Passover. She wanted a real kugel, as she put it, not one of my healthy recipes. So, she gave me a recipe and asked me to follow it. I think that kugel had two sticks of butter in it and a bucket of matzo meal!

This year, I won’t be home for Passover.  A few months ago I had to postpone a trip because I had the flu and the only time my sister and I could reschedule for was Passover week.  So, I had to decide between the traditional family seder or a trip to Anguilla with my sister to celebrate our big birthdays… I picked the trip… so don’t judge me… I will, however, miss this paleo vegetable kugel!

Here is my healthy answer to kugel. It’s delicious and it’s made with tons of fresh veggies and a little bit of oil and tapioca flour. Steve and I ate it for dinner last week as I was testing out the recipe. It’s a kugel (even if not as traditional as my mother-in-law would like) but it’s healthy and it’s good enough to serve any time of year.

And the leftovers are awesome for breakfast. A few sunny-side-up eggs served on top of a plate of this kugel… oh my, it’s like an awesome breakfast hash…

If you are looking for a great Paleo dessert to serve, try my Paleo Lemon Cake recipe.

paleo vegetable kugel
paleo vegetable kugel

This is the healthiest kugel in the world:

Leeks are known as “grass from the sun”. They are especially beneficial when the whether is still warm but starting to turn cold, or still cold and starting to turn warm (Spring and Fall). They are great for the liver and at helping the body relieve itself of toxins. Leeks are also good at helping constipation; they help the body rid itself of toxins in the digestive tract.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Sweet potatoes are good for your digestive system. They can be good for both constipation and diarrhea. These orange gems also help rid your body of excess water, are good for breast health, help people with diabetes and actually can help ease night blindness. In olden times, it was common in China to rub mashed sweet potatoes on poison insect bites to remove the toxins. I still haven’t tried this, but if need be, I will!

Zucchini cools your body off and makes you feel better during those hot days of summer. It helps your body release excess heat and it will make your mind feel more calm.

Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!

Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant. It’s not really a flour in the traditional sense; it’s grain and gluten free. It’s good for your circulation and your digestion. Oftentimes I will make recipes with tapioca flour — it seems to crisp things up well and it works as a great thickener too.

paleo vegetable kugel

Paleo Vegetable Kugel
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Recipe type: Passover, paleo, vegetables, casserole, side dish
Cuisine: recipe adapted from: What Jew Wanna Eat
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 9
Here's a great healthy side dish that's traditionally served for Passover, but it's good enough for any time of the year!
Ingredients
  • 2 large leeks, slices and soaked in bowl of cold water to remove any dirt
  • 1 large baking potato, peeled, sliced very thinly, and then cut into tiny pieces
  • 3 small sweet potatoes, peeled, sliced very thinly, and then cut into tiny pieces
  • 2 unpeeled medium zucchini, finely diced
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • ¾ cup tapioca flour (here's a good one)
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2-/2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil, divided, plus and extra 2-tsp to grease the pan
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat 1 Tbs oil in a large skillet.
  3. Add the leeks and some salt and sauté until they start to brown, about 15 minutes.
  4. Put all of the chopped vegetables into a large bowl. Add the sautéed leeks and the tapioca flour. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Add the eggs and stir until combined well.
  6. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with 2 tsp of oil.
  7. Spread the vegetable mixture into the dish.
  8. Bake until the top starts to brown a bit, about 45 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes.
  10. Cut into pieces.
  11. NOTE: When I cut this when it was too warm, it was hard to keep some of the pieces in neat squares, so if you can, let it cool completely (even in the fridge) before you cut it. I will say, though, that it was just as delicious when I cut it hot even if it didn't look quite as pretty!

paleo vegetable kugel

Roasted Lemon Shrimp

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I love a sheet pan dinner and this roasted lemon shrimp is a great one!

roasted lemon shrimp

I bought some beautiful looking shrimp at the market, with the best intentions of cooking them for dinner. But you know how it sometimes goes with the best intentions…

The weather was so nice outside, I saw an old friend for lunch, I had some binge-watching to catch up on…

Anyway, the next morning when I opened the fridge the whole bag of shrimp was staring me in the face. It was only 8:00 in the morning, I was putting my breakfast smoothie ingredients into my blender, and truly, the last thing I wanted to think about was the bag of raw shrimp in the fridge that was about to go bad.

So, I remembered my last sheet pan fish dinner that turned out so well (Roasted Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner), and I dumped the bag of shrimp onto my sheet pan. I added lots of lemon and some spices and ta-da, this awesome and soooooooooo easy recipe for roasted lemon shrimp was born.  And yes, I did this at 8:00 in the morning, and it was done by the time I finished drinking my shake while catching up on my emails. I put them in the fridge and I didn’t have to think about dinner again!

I’m not telling you to make this because it’s ridiculously easy (but it is). I’m saying you should make it because it’s so lemony and clean tasting that I know you will love it!

roasted lemon shrimp

roasted lemon shrimp

This recipe is simple, but healing:

Many of my friends used to stay away from shrimp because they were afraid that eating them raised cholesterol levels. Now, research shows that shrimp actually can lower triglycerides because they are rich in Omega-3s. And, they are high in protein and low in calories, so really, they are a pretty good thing. In Chinese medicine, shrimp are actually recommended as a food to promote longevity because they nourish the kidneys, and in Chinese medicine, the kidneys are the key to life. Shrimp are great to boost libido, lessen some lower back pain and weakness, and they can help new moms with lactation.

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. This recipe uses lemon juice and grated lemon zest.

Scallions, as I tell you often, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

roasted lemon shrimp

Roasted Lemon Shrimp
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Recipe type: seafood, shrimp
Cuisine: American
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This is the easiest recipe ever! And the shrimp are so lemony and clean tasting... it's just awesome! And, of course, it's a healing recipe!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 lb large, raw shrimp, cleaned, tails left on
  • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • ½ of a large lemon, juiced and tested
  • Another lemon, sliced
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 3 scallions, sliced into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Put the shrimp in a big pile on the middle of the pan. Add the oil to the pile, along with the oregano and salt and pepper. Also add the lemon juice and lemon zest.
  4. Toss with your hands to combine well and then spread the shrimp out in a single layer. (I do it this way so there's no need for a second bowl or pan.)
  5. Sprinkle the scallion pieces all around.
  6. Roast in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the shrimp are almost done, but not quite cooked all the way through.
  7. Remove the tray from the oven and change the setting to broil.
  8. When the broiler is hot, slip the tray back into the oven.
  9. Broil for a few minutes or until the lemons start to darken and the shrimp are cooked through.
  10. Enjoy!

roasted lemon shrimp

Roasted Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

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This roasted salmon sheet pan dinner is delicious, healthy, and so easy!

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

I think if I had to pick a cooking method that is my favorite way to cook, it would be roasting. Roasting is the most idiot-proof method of preparing food. When in doubt, roast it. You can roast meats, vegetables, fish, fruit… and if you season the food properly, it will almost always come out good.

A few days ago, my real estate agent told me she was showing my house around dinner time. What this meant to me was that the salmon in the fridge that was waiting to be cooked, would have to be cooked in the morning so as to avoid potential buyers thinking my house smelled bad. I’m not usually a big fan of cooking fish in advance, but I figured I’d try the sheet pan method, and to be honest, I was just hoping the food would be OK. I wasn’t expecting miracles, I was just hoping to avoid scrunched up noses of my visitors.

Miracles do happen. Even hours later (about 9 hours later), I took my cooked sheet-pan dinner out of the fridge where I had put it after I cooked it in the morning, and I covered it with foil, and reheated it in the oven… and OMG, it was awesome.

So, I will be bowing down to my old tarnished sheet-pans a lot more often! And not just for this roasted salmon sheet pan dinner… mark my words, there will be many others…

Sheet-pan dinners are deliciously easy time-savers. All you do is put your food on the pan, season it, and pop it in the oven. That’s it. Even non-cooks can make this recipe. And, let me tell you, when you take it out of the oven, you look all kinds of cool and funky if you serve the food right on the tray you roasted it on…  Maybe this is why I’m starting to see them pop up all over in my favorite food blogs.  This roasted salmon sheet pan dinner recipe was inspired by one of my all-time favorite food blogs:  Half Baked Harvest.

For another delicious simple fish recipe, take a look at my recipe for Lemon Pesto Fish Fillets.

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

Other than the ease and the deliciousness (is that even a word?) of this sheet-pan dinner, here are some more reasons to make this:

Salmon is the perfect food to nourish the blood and the yin. It’s especially great for women because it raises fertility levels by promoting a healthy endometrial lining. Salmon is also great for anyone who is in need of additional iron. Be sure to buy wild salmon because the levels of mercury are lower than in farmed salmon. This beautiful fish also contains large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, making it a good food source to combat breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, asthma, depression and diabetes. Lately there’s also been a lot of evidence that salmon is great at reducing intestinal inflammation and that it’s also good for your joints and muscles.

Beets are SO good for you. I try to find ways to fit them into my meals as much as possible. Really… many times a week. Beets nourish blood and tonify the heart. Athletes are starting to drink beet juice as a form of endurance therapy. They are anti-carcinogenic, good for anemia, and relieve constipation. I also think it’s a great idea to eat them raw sometimes because their amazing goodness is even more pumped up this way — I’m still learning to like raw beets, and in part of my “training” to like them, I am starting to under-cook them sometimes now…

Spring is asparagus season. In Chinese medicine, we use asparagus to heal the body from within; it gets rid of excess heat in your body, is good for circulation, can remove plaque from the arteries, soothes constipation and is good for hypertension. Many years ago, doctors used to prescribe asparagus juice to reduce cholesterol. Women can especially benefit from this vegetable’s healing abilities: it helps with menopause and fertility. One of my favorite Chinese herbs is called Tian Men Dong and it’s a form of asparagus. It’s great if you have yin deficiency (like so many woman do…), it can help if you have a dry cough, hot flashes, constipation, or night sweats.

Scallions, if you know me, are one of my favorites. In Chinese medicine, the root of the scallion is a healing herb (Cong Bai). I always keep scallions on hand in my refrigerator so that I can whip up a batch of cold and flu fighting tea (scallion roots and ginger) the second anyone feels that scratchy throat coming on. It helps the body sweat out toxins. Scallions are antiviral and antibacterial; they are good for the common cold and general nasal congestion — just don’t eat too many if you have a fever.

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

Turmeric is actually a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels. And, if you zest a lemon on top of your foods, you will notice a distinctly brighter taste!

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

Roasted Salmon Sheet-Pan Dinner
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Recipe type: seafood, fish, sheet-pan dinner
Cuisine: recipe inspired by: Half Baked Harvest
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Just put all of these awesome ingredients on your sheet-pan, season them up, and roast... and be amazed! And, to make things even better you can cook and serve in the same single pan!
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 lb fingerling potatoes, washed
  • 4 beets, peeled and quartered
  • 1-1/2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt
  • 1-1/4 lb wild salmon fillet
  • 3 scallions, roots cut off
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 Tbs coconut sugar (here's a good one)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp turmeric (I use this one sometimes)
  • ¼ tsp hot paprika
  • 10 large fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • the zest of 1 large lemon
  • 2 additional tsp extra-virgin olive oil (to add to the herb/spice mixture)
Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F convection setting or 450°F regular bake setting.
  2. Spread the beets and potatoes out on a large sheet-pan lined with parchment paper.
  3. Drizzle 1-Tbs oil over and sprinkle with salt.
  4. Place the tray in the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Add 2-tsp oil to the bowl and mix.
  6. Remove the tray from the oven and place the salmon in the center (move the beets and potatoes to the sides).
  7. Cover the salmon with the herbs and spices mixture.
  8. Arrange the asparagus in the spare space on the tray and drizzle them with the remaining 2-tsp oil and sprinkle with salt.
  9. Lay the scallions over the salmon.
  10. Place the tray back in the oven and roast until the salmon is cooked and the beets are tender enough for you. (Mine took 18-minutes.)
  11. Remove the tray from the oven and place it on a trivet or towel right on your table. Serve and enjoy!

roasted salmon sheet pan dinner

Sweet Potato Strawberry Arugula Salad

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This sweet potato strawberry arugula salad has everything your body needs to feel awesome!

sweet potato strawberry arugula salad

We are in the process of trying to sell our house so there are strangers walking through at all times. It’s hard to keep the house perfectly clean for all of the potential buyers stopping by! Especially the kitchen! Now, when I cook I try to be mindful of the cleanup, which is a real challenge for me because I use a lot of equipment and ingredients when I create recipes.

I went to the market the other day with absolutely no idea of what i was going to prepare when I got home. So many things looked so good… this might have been because I was hungry when I got there, which is probably not the best time to food shop…

It’s much more of a challenge to put my food together into a cohesive meal if I’ve shopped before breakfast. If I shop hungry, everything looks great. I feel like I get one of those cartoon bubbles above my head with experimental recipe ideas written out. Sometimes when I unload the bags at home, I can’t imagine what I was thinking. But sometimes, it just works.

So, I bought a bag of produce filled with beautiful colors. I bought beautifully orange sweet potatoes, huge firm strawberries, perfectly ripe avocados, fresh arugula and spinach, and oranges the size of your head.

When I got home I was starving! And, I still hadn’t eaten breakfast. And, let me tell you, this NEVER happens — I always eat breakfast. But, the fridge was bare… even my smoothie ingredients were severely lacking.

I heated the oven and put the sweet potatoes in to roast. Then I layed out all of my other ingredients on the counter. The colors were beautiful, but they didn’t seem to be conducive of a cohesive meal.

Salad to the rescue! Sometimes beautiful fresh ingredients come together in the most unexpected ways, like in this colorful, sweet potato strawberry arugula salad. I don’t want to call this a breakfast salad, because I’m well aware that a lot of people don’t like salad for breakfast, but if you’re game, you should try it because this is an awesome breakfast!

If you like salads with out-of-the-ordinary ingredients, try my Tomato And Herb Salad With Roasted Lemons too.

sweet potato strawberry arugula salad

This salad is delicious and so good for you:

Sweet potatoes are good for your digestive system. They can be good for both constipation and diarrhea. These orange gems also help rid your body of excess water, are good for breast health, help people with diabetes and actually can help ease night blindness. In olden times, it was common in China to rub mashed sweet potatoes on poison insect bites to remove the toxins. I haven’t tried this, but if you see me looking a tad orange, this will be why…

Strawberries help get rid of excess alcohol in your body and they are good for your heart. They even help reduce plaque in your mouth and can make you feel better if you have an annoying dry cough or if you feel bloated from eating too much. So, if you’ve overindulged, strawberries are great for you.

Avocados are one of my favorite foods, both for their health benefits and because they taste great. In Chinese medicine, some practitioners recommend avocados to raise the sperm count. I like them because they are good for anemia, dry skin, palpitations and hot flashes due to menopause.

Oranges will help boost your levels of vitamins A, B and C. In Chinese medicine oranges have been used for many years to help coughs, colds and anorexia. Lately, oranges have been widely touted for their ability to help heal colon cancer. I peel my oranges and lay the rinds in the sun to dry, and save them for tea or for cooking because the rinds are an actual Chinese herb. I dry out the peels of oranges, tangerines, clementines… whatever I have. Dried tangerine peel, or “chen pi” as it’s known in Chinese medicine, is one of the greatest and most easily accessible herbs around. It’s especially good for digestive issues like abdominal discomfort, distention, fullness, bloating, belching, and nausea. It’s also great if you have a cough with a heavy or stuffy chest.

Arugula has a good amount of calcium and it also contains vitamins A, C and K. It is rich in potassium and it’s extra beneficial in the summer because it actually cools the body down. This delicious peppery green is also believed to be a libido booster. One of the first things I learned when I started really taking care of my health through proper nutrition, was to substitute dark greens for lighter greens whenever possible. One of the easiest, tastiest, and healthiest switches you can make is to swap out some of your lighter salad greens for peppery, dark arugula.

It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.

Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (yes, really), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.

sweet potato strawberry arugula salad

Sweet Potato Strawberry Arugula Salad
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Recipe type: salad
Cuisine: American, vegetarian, vegan
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 2
The colors in this salad are beautiful and the taste is even better! This salad is filled with ingredients that will heal you and make you smile!
Ingredients
  • 1 cup arugula
  • 1 cup baby spinach
  • 8 basil leaves, torn into large pieces
  • 1 orange, peeled and sliced, slices cut in half
  • 6 large strawberries, sliced
  • 1 large roasted sweet potato, roasted and then sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • For Balsamic Vinaigrette:
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp coconut sugar (or other healthy sweetener)
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Arrange all salad ingredients on a large platter.
  2. Whisk all dressing ingredients together and drizzle onto salad.
  3. Enjoy!

sweet potato strawberry arugula salad

Vegan Macaroni And Cheese

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Yes, you can have creamy mac and cheese and stay healthy… try this vegan macaroni and cheese… it’s so good!

vegan macaroni and cheese

I have been pretty much dairy-free for too many years to count. And, for the last several years I eat mostly grain-free too.
And, honestly, there’s not too much that I feel I’m missing. That is, except creamy pasta dishes.

When I serve something that looks like this vegan macaroni and cheese, anyone who knows me backs up and asks what it’s made of. I can’t say I blame them because I’ve tried to replicate dishes like this with some pretty strange ingredients.

I experiment with lots of creamy pasta recipes. I mean, I do this a lot. Because pasta is awesome. It’s always been my favorite food. It’s the food that I find to be the most comforting food around.

I don’t post most of my experiments because truthfully, a lot of grain-free, dairy-free pasta dishes that are supposed to taste creamy and pasta-like really aren’t that good. But when I find a good one, I get really excited. And this vegan macaroni and cheese recipe is really, really good.

The sauce is made with potatoes, carrots, nutritional yeast, and coconut milk. I know it sounds a little odd, but the texture and look are just perfect. It’s so creamy and the nutritional yeast gives it a cheesy taste. My non-vegan husband ate big bowls of this.

The pasta is made from lentils. Just lentils. This is a great find (see the recipe below for details on this awesome grain-free pasta). The texture really is like traditional pasta… it’s my new favorite pasta.

If you like the feel of this dish, take a look at this recipe for another type of vegan cheesy pasta!

vegan macaroni and cheese

Here are some of the great ingredients in this dish:

Lentils help lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, are high in vitamin B and protein, and have hardly any fat. They are a good source of long-term energy and are very high in fiber. These tiny legumes also help with digestion and they are the perfect protein to eat in the summer because they actually clear the body of excess heat; long ago, cold lentil soup was prescribed for patients with heatstroke or fever.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Turmeric is a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, so it’s perfect here.

Carrots help strengthen the organs in your body. They also are good for the eyes (this is their claim to fame) and they promote healthy digestion. Many moons ago, people used to make carrot tea to ward off measles and to prevent cancer. Carrots help detoxify the body and in today’s world of Chinese medicine, they are prescribed to ease constipation and tonsillitis.

In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes.

vegan macaroni and cheese

Vegan Macaroni And Cheese
5.0 from 3 reviews
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Recipe type: pasta, casserole, comfort food
Cuisine: recipe adapted from:Vegan Yumminess
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
This mac and cheese really is reminiscent of the creamy cheesy pasta I remember from my childhood. But this one is grain-free and dairy-free.
Ingredients
  • 12 oz cooked pasta (I used this brand of grain-free lentil pasta)
  • 1 med baking potato, peeled, diced
  • 1 large carrot, thickly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1 Tbs lemon juice
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
  • 3 Tbs nutritional yeast (I like this kind)
  • ¼ cup coconut cream from the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk (I buy these in bulk)
Instructions
  1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
  2. Add the potatoes, carrots, and onion.
  3. Boil until the veggies are soft; mine took 13 minutes.
  4. Dip a measuring cup into the veggie cooking water, and save ½ of a cup of it, then drain the veggies.
  5. Place the cooked veggies in a blender with all of the remaining ingredients, except the pasta. Add the reserved cooking water.
  6. Blend until smooth and creamy (I used my Vitamix for this).
  7. Pour the sauce of the pasta and stir until well-combined.
  8. Enjoy!

vegan macaroni and cheese

Apple Cinnamon Smoothie

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It really is true what they say about an-apple-a-day, so you need to try this apple cinnamon smoothie!

apple cinnamon smoothie

I ran out of frozen fruit!!! I always have bags of frozen fruit in my freezer! Ok, clearly not always, but it’s such a rare thing for my freezer to be bare in this department, that it startled me a bit. My Vitamix was on the counter ready to go. My big glass was right next to it and my favorite glass straw was at the ready. I really wanted a fruit smoothie… so I searched the fridge. Apples! Now, I had a plan…

I make juice with apples a lot, but I couldn’t remember ever making an apple smoothie before. Sometimes, you just get lucky the first time… this is really good!

It’s tastes a bit like apple pie filling. And it’s really, really creamy. Something about this apple cinnamon smoothie is extra comforting. There’s just something about the combination of cinnamon and apples that is like a big hug. I know, that sounds really cheesy, but anything that’s reminiscent of apple pie just has to make you smile.

So, on this rainy afternoon when my tastebuds were ready for a berry smoothie, I made this apple cinnamon smoothie instead. I sat there on my couch looking out at the cold rain on the streets of Manhattan, and I savored this thick creamy hug of a smoothie. You really should try it…

If you are in the mood for a berry smoothie (and you actually have berries in your house), try this one.

apple cinnamon smoothie

There are lots of nutritional benefits in this awesome smoothie:

It really is true that an apple a day is a good thing. Apples help to strengthen your heart. They are also good for your digestion and they can help eliminate mucus when you have a cold. So, the combination of apples and cinnamon together are great for this time of year when everyone seems to be getting sick. Apples have a high antioxidant content, especially Granny Smiths and Red Delicious. This, combined with the fact that they have a lot of healthy fiber, is why apples are good at fighting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and some cancers. They have also been shown to help ward off diabetes, high cholesterol and gallstones.

Cinnamon is one of the best herbs to warm the body. It’s great if you have a cold. If you are nauseous or have diarrhea, go for the cinnamon. It also gives you energy and helps with menstrual pain. Cinnamon is a Chinese herb: “gui zhi” is the cinnamon twig and “rou gui” is the cinnamon bark. Both are warming and are used for a variety of ailments. In the winter I add cinnamon to all sorts of foods. It helps with the common cold, swelling, various menstrual issues and some aches and pains. Be careful with it if you have a fever because it is so warming. Here’s an article about the benefits of cinnamon from Well-Being Secrets.

In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. The base of this smoothie is made with coconut milk (the kind in the can), and it’s just perfect!

Dates are rich in potassium, dietary fiber and tannins. Fiber is good for your gut and tannins help the body fight inflammation and infection. Dates are also rich in vitamin A and iron. The most amazing thing about dates is that they can be used to replace sugar in almost anything.

Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healty choice. I know some of you have a problem finding raw nuts sometimes — I’m happy to try to help you locate them if you need shopping suggestions, so just leave a comment and I will try to help. I buy then whenever and wherever I see them. I’m also lucky enough to live near a Whole Foods, so I sometimes buy them from the bulk bins here. Cashews help add to the creaminess of this smoothie.

Research shows that pumpkin seeds may reduce blood sugar and increase bone density. And, because they are rich in iron, they are good if you are tired or have anemia. In Asian medicine, pumpkin seeds are sometimes used to get rid of intestinal parasites and to decrease inflammation in the body. I buy pumpkin seed protein in powder form because it’s a great easy way to add protein to my shakes and smoothies without adding any extra sugar. (See the recipe below for where to buy it.)

Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.

apple cinnamon smoothie (vertical single glass)-2139

Apple Cinnamon Smoothie
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Recipe type: smoothie
Cuisine: superfoods, American, breakfast, snack
Author:
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 3
Apples and cinnamon are delicious in this creamy coconut-milk-based smoothie. Just blend up all of the ingredients, and as you sip you can feel the healthy ingredients working!
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients in a blender (I used my Vitamix, so it was pretty quick), and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into glasses. Enjoy!

apple cinnamon smoothie

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

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This vegetarian shepherd’s pie tastes even better than the traditional version!

vegetarian shepherd's pie

I go through different food phases all the time. Sometimes I’m in a vegan phase or a vegetarian phase or a pescatarian phase… that’s why when I’m asked to label how I eat I usually say I am a flexitarian. To me, this means I eat healthy, but I like to switch it up depending on how my body feels at a particular time or in a particular season.

Right now I’m in a vegetarian phase. I’ve been eating vegetarian, but without the cheese. It’s kind of in between vegan and vegetarian. So, I’ve been saying no to meat and fish, but yet to eggs and butter. And I feel good… I don’t know if this will be a long phase or a quickie, but I like it!

This vegetarian shepherd’s pie recipe is awesome. Instead of being filled with meat, it’s piled high with lentils, mushrooms, peas, and corn. And, it’s topped with real mashed potatoes. Yup, authentic, buttery, creamy, mashed potatoes (but without the cream)… so good…

I’ve seen (and made) several variation of shepherd’s pie recipes, including really meaty ones and some vegan ones. This is the first one that I’ve made that’s vegetarian. The healthy veggies are sautéed with great spices and they go so well with the buttery taters that it’s just awesome. If you are looking for a vegan version, one of my favorite blogs, Minimalist Baker has a great one that also uses lentils.

Truthfully, I think I probably stacked more mashed potatoes on top of this vegetarian shepherd’s pie than anyone in their right mind ever would, but I wouldn’t change a thing…

One of the ways I was able to rationalize using such a big layer of mashed potatoes was by boiling the potatoes in a pot with some great Chinese herbs. I added some raw Huang Qi and some Dang Shen (see below to learn more about why these herbs are so great) to my pot of boiling potatoes so the great medicinal properties of the herbs infused into my heap of potatoes — so, why not eat a lot of them…?

If you are looking for another great recipe using lentils, try my Lentil Vegetable Soup.

vegetarian shepherd's pie

There are a lot of reasons to make this recipe for vegetarian shepherd’s pie (other than as a vehicle for sky-high mashed potatoes):

Lentils help lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, are high in vitamin B and protein, and have hardly any fat. They are a good source of long-term energy and are very high in fiber. These tiny legumes also help with digestion and they are the perfect protein to eat in the summer because they actually clear the body of excess heat; long ago, cold lentil soup was prescribed for patients with heatstroke or fever.

I love mushrooms. In Chinese medicine, mushrooms ARE medicine. They are herbs. They are one of the most healing foods around. In China, mushrooms have been used for many years as part of a natural cancer treatment. They are one of the best immune-boosting foods around.

Potatoes are good at soothing ulcers and neutralizing acid in the stomach and they help relieve constipation. These tubers also can help relieve arthritic inflammation. So, even though sweet potatoes are thought of as the white potato’s more nutrition sister, regular old potatoes can be just what the doctor ordered.

Green peas are good for the digestion, especially if you are feeling constipated. In the olden days, people used to drink pea juice with their meals to avoid indigestion.

Corn is one of the things I won’t buy unless I can find it organic; it’s a crop that’s just too heavily sprayed with chemicals and so much corn is GMO that I really like to be careful. I used fresh corn for this recipe but feel free to use frozen if that’s what’s available to you. Corn helps those who have hepatitis, heart disease, and hypertension. Cornsilk is also a Chinese herb (Yu Mi Xu). It’s often used to reduce edema,  and can reduce the symptoms of some painful urinary conditions.

Turmeric is also a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.

Huang Qi is like magic; it builds qi/gives you energy… you can really feel it working while you are eating. My family makes fun of my excitement for herbs, but they also are happy to reap the rewards when they eat my herb-infused foods, so think about trying out some herbs the next time you boil a pot of something…

I also added Dang Shen to the boiling water. To the novice, this herb looks like ordinary thick twigs. To me, these sticks are like gold. I added these herbs for energy; to raise my qi. If you are feeling fatigued, I highly recommend looking into some of these herbs.

vegetarian shepherd's pie

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
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Recipe type: casserole, comfort food
Cuisine: vegetarian
Author:
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6-8
Here's a comfort food, healthy casserole that's also vegetarian. Heaps of mashed potatoes top lentils, mushrooms and vegetables... it's easy and delicious.
Ingredients
  • 1-1/4 cup dried lentils, cooked until done, but not mushy
  • 8 medium/large yellow potatoes, unpeeled, cut into large chunks
  • sea salt and black pepper
  • 3 Tbs grass-fed organic butter
  • 2 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 med onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 portabella mushroom caps, cut into small dice
  • ½ cup green peas, cooked (I took the easy way out and bought them from a salad bar)
  • ½ cup organic corn, cooked (this came from the salad bar too)
  • leaves from 2 large thyme sprigs
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
  • ½ cup tomato sauce (homemade, jarred, or canned)
  • 2 sticks of raw Huang Qi (an optional Chinese herb)
  • 1 stick of raw Dang Shen (an optional Chinese herb)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Boil the potatoes along with any Chinese herbs you are using in a large pot of salted water. Cook until the potatoes are soft. Drain the potatoes and discard the herbs.
  3. Mash the hot potatoes together with the butter and salt and pepper to taste. You can do this by hand or with a food processor (I used the processor).
  4. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the oil.
  5. Saute the onions, garlic, and mushrooms for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the veggies are softened.
  6. Add the cooked lentils, peas, corn, spices, and tomato sauce. Stir, cooking, for about 3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Spoon the lentil mixture into a 9x9-inch baking pan. Spread the mashed potatoes over the top.
  8. Place the casserole in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the inside is hot and bubbly and the top starts to brown. If your casserole dish is overflowing (like mine was), you may want to put something under the dish to catch any oozing filling.
  9. Enjoy!

vegetarian shepherd's pie