Summer Pasta Salad

Hello everyone,

Happy almost summer! One my most often requested recipes by friends and family is my go to Summer Pasta Salad. In fact, a coworker just asked me for my secret ingredients! Well, I decided to give a video recipe a try. How’d I do? A printable text version of the recipe is below. Comment and let me know what your favorite summer side dish is!

Cheers & happy eating!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

5 from 1 vote
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Summer Pasta Salad

This quick & easy dish will be a hit at your summer picnic!

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword pasta salad, side dish, summer side, vegan
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 7 minutes
Chill 2 hours
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 12 people
Author The Vegan Hostess

Ingredients

Pasta Salad

  • 1 box elbow, spiral or other dry pasta
  • 1 15.5 oz can garbanzo beans (chick peas) drained and rinsed
  • 1 15.5 oz can kidney beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 15.5 oz can large olives drained and rinsed
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper diced
  • 1 stalk celery diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion diced
  • 1/2 cup banana pepper rings chopped

Dressing

  • 1 cup italian dressing I like Wishbone Far Free Italian.
  • 1/2 cup liquid from banana pepper ring jar
  • 1 tbsp oregano
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain all canned ingredients and set aside.

  2. Chop/ dice all vegetables and set aside.

  3. Combine spices, Italian dressing, and banana pepper juice and set aside.

  4. Cook the pasta according to package instructions.

  5. Combine the vegetables, beans, olives, and pasta. 

  6. Pour the dressing mixture over top and mix well.

  7. Chill for two hours. 

  8. Garnish with your favorite vegan cheese, freshly mined parsley or other herb and enjoy!

 

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Recipe: Vegan Rice Krispie Treats!

Hello everyone!

Happy Spring! It might still be snowing in Cleveland, but that hasn’t stopped me from thinking about my favorite sweet treats for the season. Ever since Trader Joe’s released their vegan marshmallows a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed with making s’mores and Vegan Rice Krispie Treats! A 10 oz. bag is just $2.99! Don’t worry—if you don’t have a local Trader Joe’s you can snag some Dandies on Amazon.

My recipe for vegan rice krispie treats is so easy to make, and it’s delicious, too! Give this simple recipe which will have you reminiscing about childhood a try! You won’t regret it!

Happy snacking!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

Continue reading “Recipe: Vegan Rice Krispie Treats!”

Game Day Treats: Vegan Pigs in a Blanket & more

Hello everyone!

Whether or not you like football, you probably like getting together with friends to snack and halfheartedly watch the halftime show. Or maybe you just watch it for the ads. Either way, if you’re hosting a party for the big day, you’re probably already thinking about what to serve your guests. Is it an all vegan crowd? Do you need to please vegans and omnivores alike? Looking for an easy meal or appetizer to satisfy everyone on Superbowl Sunday? Don’t want to make something homemade? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered. Today I’m bringing you Game Day Treats: Vegan Pigs in a Blanket & more! 

If you read my Vegan Cinnamon Rolls post, you know that I’ve been coming up with some unique uses for the Pillsbury® Recipe Creations Seamless Dough Sheet. I found the perfect game day, two-ingredient recipe—Vegan Pigs in a Blanket. Anyone could make this recipe. It’s simply foolproof, but it doesn’t taste like it! It’s the perfect party food, clocking in at just 15 minutes of cook time, and easily customizable from the size of the serving to the taste. If you want something delicious that will satisfy your craving plus make you reminisce about childhood, check out my complete recipe below!

Okay, maybe you’re looking also for some “just buy it and you’re done” items? I’ve got you covered on those, too. How about getting a few packs of Louisville Vegan Jerky to display in a serving dish? This jerky packs a punch with flavors ranging from Smoked Black Pepper to Smokey Carolina BBQ or my favorited Smoke Chipotle.

Your friends like cheese doodles or cheetos? Well, why not get some Hippeas for them to enjoy? These cheesy puffs are derived from chick peas, but they sure don’t taste like it!

Want to throw in some healthy snacks? You can’t go wrong with a crudité platter with cauliflower, baby carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, red pepper slices, hummus, and some Just Ranch, too!

Or check out other party-ready recipes from one of my all-time favorite vegan cookbooks, “Thug Kitchen: Eat Like You Give a F*ck.”

Check out my Vegan Pigs in a Blanket recipe below! Let me know what you’re making for game day in the comments.

Happy eating!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

Continue reading “Game Day Treats: Vegan Pigs in a Blanket & more”

Spooktacular Vegan Graveyard Cake

Hello Everyone & Happy (almost) Halloween!

Are you planning a halloween potluck? Heading to a boo-tastic bash? A frightful party? Why not make a spooktakular vegan graveyard cake?!

This fun dessert is quick, easy, and devilishly delicious! It’s not a made from scratch piece of art—instead it’s a cake that is easy to whip up so you can spend all that extra time on the decorations! There are so many “accidentally vegan” baking items on the market that are perfect for this recipe. Just grab a boxed cake mix, follow the instructions, add icing, and then decorate your ghostly graveyard cake! I’ve been making graveyard cakes off and on since I was in elementary school so I can attest that they never grow old! Why not give it a try?

Cheers and happy haunting!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

Continue reading “Spooktacular Vegan Graveyard Cake”

Recipe: Summer Pasta with Sautéed Eggplant & Zucchini

Hello everyone,

It might still be warm out, but that doesn’t stop me from cooking my one true love—pasta! My garden has been producing such nice squash, that I’m a bit tired of sautéing it and eating it “plain.” This week, I decided to use zucchini to make a chunky pasta sauce. Plus, I harvested the most beautiful Japanese eggplants. They are thin, sweet, and have the perfect texture! I combined these magical ingredients and made the best Summer Pasta with Sautéed Eggplant & Zucchini.

This hearty pasta dish comes together in under 30 minutes, but it looks like it would take much longer! It’s quick and easy—warm and inviting. It’s simply the perfect dish for a post-work date night. What’s your favorite date night dish? Let me know!

Cheers & happy eating!

Jocelyn

PS – Like this recipe? Check out my homemade gnocchi!

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support. Continue reading “Recipe: Summer Pasta with Sautéed Eggplant & Zucchini”