Comfort food the healthy way.
Growing up we had pasta every Sunday. Homemade pasta through the winter and and on rainy days, spring, summer and fall when my dad wasn’t on the golf course. Fresh tomatoes jarred from the garden was the norm. I have really fond memories around the kitchen table and what I learned to love as comfort food. Even today, pasta is one of my favorite foods.
I am not know for my cooking skills. I am known for burning things and boiling things over while multi tasking. Even tonight, while I was carefully preparing shaved zucchini for my wholesome comfort food dish, I started boiling over my daughters pasta water.
I admit it, I’m not as good in the kitchen as I’d like to be. After all, I was married to a professional chef for 15 years and I got really spoiled. As I re-learn to eat the way I want to, I will share with you some of the dishes that I come up with, or venture to try.
Tonight I made my favorite comfort food using zucchini instead of pasta and turkey meatballs with oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs. (The zucchini can be substituted with spaghetti squash or brown rice pasta.) I find this very satisfying even being the pasta lover that I have always been.
Keep the sauce healthy to get the maximum benefits. I didn’t use oil, (although I do use oil, my favorite is first cold pressed olive oil) never sugar, just garlic and basil and a trick my Italian/Brazilian sister in law taught me, some carrots. Hot pepper to taste and cheese if you prefer and your good to go. Some people feel that good italian food is really in the sauce and cheese anyway. Comfort food without any guilt.
Vegans: Omit the Turkey Meat Balls for a wonderful Zucchini Mock Pasta.
Zucchini Mock Pasta with Turkey Meat Balls
YUM!! I admit at first glance when I was scrolling down to the pics, I thought to myself…”why did she post a picture of a regular pasta dinner?”. A few seconds later I realized it is the zucchini that really looked a bit like pasta! The turkey meatballs look awesome too. Great photos and great blog.
Looks yummy!
Okay, now I have to go get some Zucchini and ground turkey breast. The raw zucchini shredded is really better than pasta and doesn’t leave that “Now I’m too full” feeling. Thanks Josi, it looks amazing!
These pics look wonderful, thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work I’m routing for you 🙂
OMG! Looks so goooood.
Zucchini pasta. What a great idea!
Looks great. I had 100% whole wheat pasta tonight with marinara sauce and a 1/2 of vegan mushroom lentil tambale I had left over from yesterday with some kale.