The Healthy Comfort Food Post

Good evening!

What is your definition of comfort food? As a main dish, pasta is always my go-to meal if I want something easy and comforting. And as for desserts… well pretty much all of the category applies ;).

I was at Diran’s last night and we studied all afternoon (at the library, then at Starbucks). He had a staff dinner tonight so I went home and ate some leftover Puttanesca Pasta. I made it yesterday and since I didn’t get to give you the recipe… here it is!

Adaptation of Pasta Puttanesca on VeganPandomanium

Print recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 box (300 g) spaghettini
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 6-8 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1/4 red onion, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 tsp Piment de Sainte-Béatrix, or espelette chili pepper flakes
• 3 tbsp sliced green olives
• 1/4 cup capers
• 1 can (796 ml) ready spiced diced tomatoes OR 1 can (796 ml) diced tomatoes + 1 tsp dried basil + salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Directions: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, put the oil in a saucepan and heat over medium-low. Add garlic, onion, pepper flakes, olives and capers and cook, stirring continuously, until the onion starts being translucent. Add the tomatoes (juice included), stir and let simmer over low heat.
When the water is boiling, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, put back in the pot, add sauce and toss.

Serves 4

This dish is tasty, healthy and simple!

It was still good as a leftover but it wasn’t as good… definitely the kind of dish you want to eat immediately!

After eating dinner, I really felt like making (and eating) a dessert. Still, I didn’t want to have too much dishes, or to make something complicated. What better than cookies to meet these requirements?

Adaptation of Molasses Cookies

Print recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp Earth Balance buttery spread, or non-hydrogenated margarine, melted
• 1/2 cup unrefined cane sugar, divided
• 1/2 flax egg: whisk 1/2 tbsp flax seeds, grounded, with 1 1/2 tbsp water until gelatinous
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup spelt flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

Directions: In a bowl, combine flours, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger. In a second bowl, whisk together melted earth balance, 1/4 cup sugar and flax egg. Stir in the molasses. Add the dry ingredients and whisk until incorporated. Put the batter in the refrigerator for one hour.
Preheat oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl. Make balls of dough the size of a walnut and roll them in the sugar before putting them on the cookie sheet, 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 minutes, until tops are cracked.

Makes 16-18 cookies

These cookies are delicious: hard on the outside and chewy inside!

I had them with my favorite herbal tea:

The Second Cup Caramel Rooibos is like a decadent treat for me, guilt-free! It is not that sweet: the caramel flavor is very subtle, but I am totally in love with it! Their tea bags are staple-free, which is great (staples on tea bags can alter the taste).

Going to bed soon… just waiting on Diran to come back 😉