Eric, Steve, Dan, Shayne, and Steve worked on the deck this weekend and they got so much accomplished!
It almost looks like a deck now. :)
The weather was what the boys called, ‘Deck Building Weather’. Sunny and just warm enough to be comfortable.
The workstation Eric set up…heh
View from other end:
This is the view from our back door:
Our old deck didn’t extend this far, but we thought it would be really nice to walk straight out onto the deck so we extended the deck about 7 feet or so. I’m very happy about this extension because it will be much easier for me to carry my camera and food to the deck!
If you recall, it used to look like this…
On Sunday night, I treated Eric to a fancy smancy dinner as a thank you for all his hard work- Vegan Yum Yum’s Tomato Basil Cream Pasta dish that I have been meaning to try for a while now. This dish tastes so much like a traditional cream pasta, you could fool even the toughest critic!
Easy Tomato Basil Cream Pasta
Yield
2-3 servings
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
This is one of the best creamy pasta sauces I have ever tasted, vegan or otherwise. It is right up there with 15 minute Creamy Avocado Pasta! This was also one of those moments when Eric and I looked at each other and said, ‘Can you believe this is vegan?’ I find that cashew cream sauces can be a bit bland, but this one was fantastic (probably due to the basil, tomato, and garlic trio adding so much flavour). Lightly adapted from Vegan Yum Yum.
Ingredients
- 2 servings uncooked spaghetti (I used Kamut)
- 1 large ripe tomato or two smaller tomatoes
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2-4 garlic cloves, minced (I used 3)
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 3-4 tbsp water or wine, (optional)
- 1-2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup packed fresh basil, finely chopped
Directions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Chop tomato and add it to the blender (including skin and seeds). Now add the cashews, water, and tomato paste. Blend until smooth.
- Add your pasta to boiling water and cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, add olive oil to a large skillet and heat to low. Add the minced garlic and sauté for a few minutes being careful not to burn it.
- Pour the sauce from the blender into the skillet, stir, and bring to a simmer. Add the salt and let it cook for 4-5 minutes, watching closely. You may add water or wine to thin out the sauce to you desired consistency, but this is not necessary.
- Remove sauce from heat and stir in the chopped basil and pepper. Once the pasta is done cooking, rinse and drain it. Add the drained pasta back in the pot and now gradually add pasta sauce until your desired amount is achieved. Stir and serve immediately. Makes 2 servings, likely with sauce leftover.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
I love making pasta sauces because with just a few ingredients you can create something that tastes so gourmet and special.
And this was one of the best creamy pasta sauces I have ever tasted, vegan or otherwise. It is right up there with 15 minute Creamy Avocado Pasta!
This was also one of those moments when Eric and I looked at each other and said, ‘Can you believe this is vegan?’ I find that cashew cream sauces can be a bit bland, but this one was fantastic (probably due to the basil, tomato, and garlic trio adding so much flavaaaa).
Time to get to work and then I’m off to another Moksha hot yoga class at lunchtime. Ange took me to my first hot yoga class on the weekend and I loved it. Many of you have been telling me for a long time now that a class is so different from a DVD and I must say you are 100% right! I will give a recap of my experience on the blog shortly.
Have a great day 
i LOVE how this sauce is creamy! the ‘cream’ aspect makes is much more interesting than traditional tomato sauces! the deck is LOOKINg great!!!
Got it! Tanhks a lot again for helping me out!
What an amazing recipe Angela!
Eating vegan is a treat when i make your recipes
Enjoy your yoga, i’m hoping to try hot yoga out as soon as i can drag myself to my gyms Guelph location where its offered
Way to go on the deck :)
Even the pictures look just like the real deal! Awesome suggestion of adding tomato paste to the cashews.
ahh! I was browing through Vegan Yum Yum’s cookbook the other day and almost made this too! It looks soooooo good. I agree, yoga on a DVD is so different from a studio. I like both but prefer going to a studio for a much more relaxing and intense yoga session. :) I love the wood deck.. so rustic!
I just can’t get enough pesto. May need to start growing basil…
We’re both container gardening right now, and I’m tickled to see my plants are actually growing! The spinach leaves are large enough to eat. Here’s a raw, vegan spinach “slaw” you might enjoy. Nice bright colors and flavors.
http://bread-n-chocolate.blogspot.com/2011/05/straight-from-crate-spinach-slaw.html
I love fairly simple pasta recipes! I really think I’d enjoy the addition of the cashews.
Looks delicious- I am not surprised!
I’m definitely making this for my husband. I made my first vegan creamy pasta this weekend and he really liked it!
Oh this recipe looks fantastic!!! I think I just might have to add it to my meal plan for next week! :)
p.s. your deck is coming along great! can’t wait to see the end result.
This pasta looks great! I love the tomato/basil combo ~ especially in the summer when you can add it to pastas, salads and all sorts of grilled creations.
Ooh yum, the cream sauce sounds delicious! I’ve never tried making a cashew-based sauce myself but this looks really easy. The deck looks like it’s coming along really really well! Have a lovely time at yoga today. I wish I could be there too instead of at work – sweat lots for me! :)
I’m not vegan but I have friends who are and I never know what to make when they visit. This recipe will be at the top of the list though. It looks wonderful and in a couple months I can make it mostly out of my garden :)
That deck is looking really good! And so is that pasta :) yum!!
This looks incredible Angela! I love tomato basil soup, so this is up my alley.
The deck is turning out wonderful!
I love vegan cream sauces! I actually prefer them to regular cream sauces! There is something about them that is so light and refreshing but still creamy and rich. Thanks!
This might have to be my dinner tonight! I made pesto with cashews which was amazing. I can only imagine how good this is. Thanks for sharing! Your deck is coming along great!!
I need to make this ASAP. Gorgeous and the flavor sounds divine!
This looks amazing! I made your creamy avocado pasta a couple of weeks ago, and it was a huge hit with my omniverous boyfriend. :-) And with me, of course!
The deck is coming along great! I am sure you are feeling doing it yourself.. rather then dishing out the 30K that you were quoted!
That definitely does not look vegan! I would never think to use cashews to make sauce creamy.
This looks great! Just emailed it to myself so I don’t forget to try it.
Can’t wait to try this – moving into a new house in a couple weeks where deck building is required so maybe I’ll have to save this recipe for then!
I’ve made this recipe from Vegan Yum Yum a few times and love it too. I add more tomato, tomato paste and basil to mine. I plan on making this the next time I have company and I need to whip up something quick.
Wow that pasta looks so yummy…and I can hardly believe its vegan too! :)
Have fun at Moksha! I do it about once a month as a treat to myself! Love it :-)
That looks delicious! I love creamy tomato sauces, and I’m sure I’d love one made with cashews instead of cheese :-)
Thanks for sharing this recipe. It looks so amazing. I may try a creamy recipe with nutritional yeast added in as well as cashews!
This dish is one of my favorites from Vegan Yum Yum :) I think I am going to follow your adaptation and add more garlic (I think that was one of the things missing when I made it last time).
The garlic was great…:)
That looks beautiful, and I’m not even a huge pasta fan!
This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing :)
Good luck with all the construction! It really is coming together!
Oh my goodness this looks wonderful and I’ve been really wanting to try cashews as part of a cream sauce! Thanks for the recipe!
Mmmmm this would be SO good with Fresh Summer Tomatoes!! YUM!
oh boy this looks decadent and delicious. eric is a lucky guy! I’m now choosing between making this and your avocado cream sauce pasta dish.. the deck is coming along great, it looks like it will be an awesome spot for summer get togethers!
Hey Angela,
This pasta sounds so delicious……..just wondering if it would be good to reheat for the next day? As your Avocado sauce wasn’t good for reheating!
Thanks again for another awesome dish =0)
P.S. Glad to hear that you’re enjoying the Hot Yoga! Are you going to the James Snow Pky and Main St. Location (Milton)??
Hey Emily!
We didn’t have any leftovers so I’m not sure how it would reheat. I would guess that it would reheat much better than the avocado one though!
Mmmm looks delicious!
Wow, wow, wow! I am so impressed. I immediately e-mailed this to my husband so he could get a preview of what may be coming sometime in the days to follow :)
This recipe will be a definite winner in this house!! The deck is looking fabulous…way to go Eric!!!!
The deck is coming along nicely! I can’t wait to see the final product!
That tomato is the juiciest looking tomato I think I have ever seen! The sauce looks delicious!
The tomato in your photo looks absolutely perfect. It’s the perfect tomato red shade.
It was sitting on the window sill for 2 weeks…no joke!!
This looks so tasty. I’ve made your avocado cream pasta a couple times now so I can’t wait to try this one.
The deck is coming along so nicely! It will be so worth all the wait and hard work!! Your pasta looks so great! I’ll have to try this cream sauce. Normally when I cook vegan I make a sauce from veganaise, water and nutritional yeast and I love it! I haven’t tried any of your creamy sauces, because I never have cashews.
Hi Angela,
I saw you had trouble finding organic soil and wanted to follow up because I told you that you could find it at the store… :-( the kind we get is called Coast of Maine. It’s not sold in Canada but their website has a special order program for Canada. http://www.coastofmaine.com/dealers.shtml
Hope this is helpful! I think you are already all set but maybe it will help for next year.
Can’t wait to see your home grown veggies :) And the deck looks great!
Ellen
thanks so much!
Everything looks perfectly done…nothing like a fabulous bowl of pasta!
I can’t wait for us to get going on our yard in June, yours is an inspiration to us all! Great pasta dish too :)
Glad the deck is progressing well. Great looking recipe, thanks for sharing.
I will so be making this! I am a huge fan of your 15 min creamy avocado pasta! It’s a staple in our house! The deck is moving along nicely!!!
I have A LOT of basil on hand currently, so this pasta dish couldn’t have been more timely! I think I could get away with adding some nooch, too :)
Loving this. Just the thing to get the indulgent creamy pasta kick, without having to try and squeeze into my jeans. Brilliant- thank you!
I always make pasta sauces for Sophie’s meals and this sounds like a must try! As soon as I rule out any potential allergies :)
I have the Vegan Yum Yum cookbook too, and I have always been meaning to make this dish. But I still havent:( Your photos looks great, maybe I finally will make it:)