Winter is on the way and I am back from a busy but delicious summer and fall. Getting the family together a few times a week for dinner Is still top of my mind.

Lets talk reality, there are some nights when everyone is going in different directions and time is on short supply.

I still think whenever you can getting together for even 15 minutes it can benefit everyone …. It does not have to be sitting down at the kitchen table, anywhere you can gather to have a bite will do the trick.

If your kids are anything like mine asking them “how was your day?” often garners a response like “it was ok” or “fine”. I want to use the time as much as we can to really connect and create a memorable space for us that we will benefit them for a life time. That said I need to arm myself with a few questions to help get things going sometimes.

Tell me something that made you laugh today

What weird thing did you hear at school today

Tell me something that someone else said today at school

What did your teacher say that made you stop and think

What can you learn today that you could teach me

What are you looking forward to

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I love pasta, so quick, easy, filling and warm. What I have learned through my adventures in the culinary ring is that protein is king ….. Pasta is a whole lot easier to rationalize when protein is added to the equation.  Sometimes with pasta I don’t want the extra calories of nuts and I am not a fan of beans with pasta ( that never felt right to me although Italians have favoured this combination).

I recently whipped up a great recipe for linguini smothered in a lovely rich cream sauce with crispy mushroom “bacon” on top … All vegan and lots of protein. Take a look at the recipe below – dinner can be on the table in 35 minutes and it makes a great meal any night of the week.

Linguini Carbonara with “Bacon”

Serves 4

Cream Sauce:

2T liquid coconut oil or other oil of your choice

1Large yellow Onion diced

4 garlic cloves, pressed

1-14 oz pkg of soft tofu

1/2c water

2T lemon juice

3t sea salt

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Mushroom “Bacon”

1/2lb shiitake mushrooms, stems off and thinly sliced

1/4c olive oil

sea salt and pepper to taste

1lb of pasta linguini or your preferred shape

Start with mushroom “bacon”:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• On a rimmed baking sheet toss mushrooms with oil, salt and pepper
• Bake for 30 minutes flipping and stirring every 8 minutes (or so)
• Bacon is done when mushrooms are nice and crispy.

Cook pasta to package directions and set aside

Cream Sauce:

• Add oil to sauté pan and heat over med heat
• Turn up heat to med-high and add onion and cook past shimmering until just starting to brown (about 8-10 min)
• Add garlic and sauté for 1 min more until fragrant (do not let garlic brown
• Add the onion and garlic mixture to the remaining sauce ingredients in a blender or processor and blend until smooth and creamy (about 2 minutes)

In a large serving dish pour sauce over pasta and top with the mushroom “bacon”

Enjoy!

Next post: tofu and all you can do I with it!!!