Dana Slatkin

Pasta with Creamy Vodka Sauce

01/11/2012 By Leave a Comment
pasta-vodka-sauce-2

A new year can seem like a mixed blessing. It’s 12 more months to accomplish our dreams, to matter more, to shoot for the moon. But from here it looks dang overwhelming. The holidays are over, and the next vacation seems miles away. Only a few weeks in and I am already snowed under. So I remember the words of my mother, the best pep-talker in the world: “Take small bites, and your plate won’t seem so full.” Whether you’re trying to lose weight, get organized, go meatless, or just be happier, take it one morsel at a time. One of my goals for this year is to help my kids learn to love what’s good for them. So I came up with this vegan pasta dish. The appealingly pink sauce uses no butter or cream but is rich, creamy, and properly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pasta Recipes

Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Lentils and Spinach

11/03/2010 By 3 Comments
Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Lentils and Spinach

When it comes to eating, my girlfriends and I love to compare notes. Best meal of the week? Home-run dinner recipes? Latest orgasmic restaurant feast? We need to know! It turns out birds of a feather tend to have similar appetites. When my pal Jessica reported she had been hungering for a big bowl of spaghetti with lentils and spinach, I couldn’t help drooling. With the chill of fall in the air and the imminent pressure of the upcoming holidays, we were both hankering for the hearty reassurance of this vegetarian dish. Inspired by a delicious menu item at a local Italian trattoria, Locanda Veneta, it makes a perfect meatless weeknight meal. The lentils lend a rib-sticking wholesomeness to the rich sauce without requiring much of your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pasta Recipes

Spaghetti with Tofu Bolognese Sauce

05/10/2009 By Leave a Comment
Spaghetti Sauce

This is the dish I always turn to the morning after a late night of revelry, especially when there are leftover bottles of red wine. I wouldn’t say it cures a hangover or sleep deprivation, but it sure is comforting. If you prefer, substitute ground beef for the tofu, but you’ll need to add it after you have caramelized your onions and garlic in step 2, and the sauce will take a lot longer before you can get it on the table (about 1-1/2 hours). I recently taught this healthy vegan recipe to kids in a cooking class, and there wasn’t even a noodle left (Sshhh!). Learn how to clean mushrooms. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pasta Recipes