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!
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
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.
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 cashews – didn’t realize it could make a creamy sauce! Wonder if I could pry myself away from my marinara and cheese though…;)
MMMMMMM this looks soooo good! so simple too. I love the idea of having a deck, so unique and fun~
I have been making an effort to include more vegan meals into my diet and this one looks amazing!
And I have been craving Alfredo sauce and this recipe is going to fit the bill!
Great, now I can’t decide whether to test this recipe, or the creamy avocado pasta out on my 4 year old picky-eating kid brother. Both look amazing. You’ve made this so hard for me ;)
Also absolutely can’t wait to see your finished deck. love. after. pics.
LOVE this recipe! My meat-eater boyfriend could not believe it was vegan!
Same with Eric…he said I Swear there is cream in this! hehe. :)
I can’t wait to read about your Moksha yoga class. I’ve been doing Bikram yoga (a series of 26 postures done twice in a 105 degree F room) for a couple months now and absolutely love it!
The pasta shot right above where you have the recipe written is just PERFECT! Submit thee. :)
The recipe of course looks great, too!
And you are sure coming along on the gardening stuff…wow! My husband has never unloaded the dishwasher or cooked me a meal in 12 years. All that gardening work…Foreign.Concept. Mine plays Barbies with Skylar though like a champ…lol :)
Off to meet Marla. Wish you were with us!
comment went into moderation
not sure if you get notifications of it, but it’s there :)
Im having majaaaaa issues with my commenting right now. So many comments are randomly flying into moderation for no reason! I cant figure it out. :(
I do moderate them a few times a day though, so they eventually do get posted.
This looks great! I loved your avocado spaghetti. I will for sure be making this :) Your deck looks like it will be HUGE! I am very jealous :)
Now this is the sauce for me. In fact I am making it tonight for date night. :) Thanks!
Look at the progress on the deck, you guys are m-o-t-i-v-a-t-e-d, eh?!
Speaking of pasta, just wanted to tell you that I LOVE YOU and your 15-minute avocado pasta! It just changed my life. I’m in Cannes for the film festival running around and this is my official go-to meal — so quick, so easy to make (even in this tiny hotel-apt i am staying in), filling and DELICIOUS. Keep em coming, any other ideas for quick, filling but healthy meals are welcome! Bisous from Cannes!
Have a great time at Moksha! I’ve been going regularly to the Halifax studio for about 2 years now, and am completely obsessed!
making this tonight! YUM!
The deck is looking awesome! And that tomato is seriously perfection. So red and plump!
I am totally cooking this recipe tonight and if it is good I am blogging about it tomorrow! Yay! I love vegan pasta recipes! :) The deck looks great too. Good work hubby!
This looks delish! Definitely something everyone would like.
http://goldhearted.etsy.com
Congrats on the deck progress!
This sauce sounds fantastic with the creaminess from the cashews! After trying your avocado sauce, I’d follow you blindly into any sauce., :)
I have never had a cashew cream sauce, but it sounds good!
The pasta looks so good, and is making me hungry right now being that it is dinnertime!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
This sounds seriously delicious. I wish my deck was that nice this time of year!! We have to clean it so badly! Haha
You’re going to have a great time out on your huge deck this summer! How exciting!
The pasta looks super yummy, flavorful and creamy! Can’t wait to try it out with some gluten free pasta!