Vegan Hawaiian Style Pineapple Spaghetti with Olives and Mushrooms

Vegan Hawaiian style pineapple spaghetti with olives and mushrooms

I got a little experimental in the kitchen the other day and decided to make spaghetti.  I started out normal, adding the usual suspects: olives, mushrooms.  Then, I peeped into my fridge and noticed that there were some pineapple that needed to be consumed.  I figured Hawaiian style pizza is good, why not Hawaiian style pasta?

This is a pretty easy meal to make, and it does not require much time and effort.  This is particularly good if you have a little one watching and waiting for you to cook.

To start you cook the pasta to your desired consistency.  I like my pasta al dente, but some like it all mushy.  It's truly up to you.

As the pasta is getting all cooked up, you get a big pan out and mix tomato sauce, a spoonful of brown sugar, the cut vegetables, and the spices.  Then at the end, add the drained and dried off pineapple.  I saved the juices for a smoothie. 

I also threw in a bit of vegetarian meat with the sauce.  Everything is optional, and you can add green peppers, onions, or whatever. 

Vegetarian meat being added to the sauce.

Hawaiian style spaghetti - almost done!

Ingredients:

• Tomato sauce (as much as you want, I like to use about 3/4 of the large can)
• A couple servings of noodles.  I use whole wheat.
• Spices:  Oregano, Italian Seasoning, Onion Powder, and fresh cut garlic.
• A couple spoonfuls of brown sugar (for the sauce)
• Vegetarian meat (optional)
• Fruits and Vegetables: Olives, mushrooms, pineapple, green pepper, onion, etc.

Enjoy your Hawaiian style spaghetti.

Delicious Vegetarian Peanut Butter and Broccoli Faux-Chicken Asian Noodles

 Tonight's Meal: Vegetarian Peanut Butter and Broccoli Asian Noodles with Faux Chicken.

What a better first post for a cooking blog than a peanut butter filled Asian dish?  Right?  The point of this blog is simple.  I have seen enough food blogs with beautiful pictures that can not be replicated in the real world.  In fact, most of us look at cooking blogs when we want to find a recipe to cook.  Therefore, I have decided to create my own food blog to "keep it real." 

These are real recipes for people on a limited budget who want to cook wholesome and half-healthy meals.  I don't cut back on things such as gluten, but I do try to keep foods close to being vegan.  However, with that being said, some of the stuff I cook will have a small amount of dairy sometimes. 

I was inspired to create a cooking blog when I saw the thousands of blogs out there who are trying to appeal to the imaginary person who has the perfect kitchen and a thousand different plates to take pictures of food.  However, many of us live real lives in small spaces.  Case in point: I live in a very tiny one bedroom apartment in Seattle with my wife and daughter.  As a father I would rather spend time with my child than spending half a day taking pictures for a food blog. 

However, while my pictures will not be the prettiest, my recipes are simple and delicious.  Items can be omitted and replaced with ease.  If you are not a chef, do not worry, there's something here for everyone.  If you are a great cook, you can customize and add to my recipes.  If you are a student, these are simple recipes that you can make in a very small kitchen.  In fact, my kitchen does not have real counters, just a long makeshift stand that was placed in the kitchen by my kind landlord.

Well, enough blabbing, let's get cookin'!

The Recipe:

• Soba Noodles (as much as you want)
• A dollup of peanut butter (1/4 a cup perhaps?)
• A healthy dose of broccoli
• one package of vegetarian style chicken
• One to two cloves of garlic
• Toasted Sesame seed oil (Olive oil works fine)
• A few spoonfuls of hoisin sauce
• Red pepper flakes if you are so inclined (for spiciness)

Now, for the eye candy! 

Soba noodles and a cutting board.

Peanut Butter

A pot of broccoli.

Vegetarian style "chicken."  You can pick this up at stores such as Trader Joes or Winco foods!

Adding the noodles to the peanut butter sauce.

The Finished Product: Peanut Butter Asian Style Noodles with Broccoli and Faux Chicken! 

Directions:

1.  Cook the noodles as directed on the bag. 
2.  Steam or boil the broccoli.
3.  In a small pan, create the sauce.  Start with simmering the oil and garlic together.  Add peanut butter and hoisin sauce to taste.   Feel free to make spicy with red pepper flakes or anything else you have on hand.
4.  Mix the sauce and everything else.
5.  Serve with your favorite sides.  I found that dumplings go well with this meal.

Estimated cost of this meal:  Under $7 for two people.