Vegan Summer Vegetable Mac and Cheese with Bolthouse Farms® Plant Protein Milk

This post is sponsored by Bolthouse Farms®, however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

I have been craving some mac and cheese like it’s nobody’s business! I know that’s a little strange since it has been nothing but hot and humid here for the past few weeks, but a girl wants what she wants and that’s some mac and cheese. So mac and cheese it was, and it was GOOD, so good in fact that I obviously had to share. Loaded with some of my favorite summer veggies, plant-based, and dairy-free, this recipe is sure to please the entire family. It’s packed with flavor and protein and is super easy and quick to whip up!

The star of this recipe is Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein Milk! Each serving contains 10 grams of pea protein and 50% more calcium than dairy milk per 8 oz. serving. It’s also non-GMO and doesn’t contain dairy, lactose, nuts, soy, carrageenan, or gluten. It comes in four variations – original, vanilla, chocolate, and unsweetened (which I used in this recipe) and can be found at your local grocer in the refrigerated area of the dairy department. Use their store locator here to find Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein milk near you!

So let’s get to it!

Here’s what you’ll need:
-7 oz pasta of your choosing (I used chickpea shells)
-1 zucchini, sliced in ¼” rounds and quartered
-Half a pint of cherry tomatoes
-1/2 cup Unsweetened Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein Milk
-1/4 cup nutritional yeast
-2 tsp Dijon mustard
-1 tsp lemon juice
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/4 tsp black pepper
-1/8 tsp turmeric
-1/8 tsp chili powder (optional)
-2 cloves garlic, chopped
-2 tbsp avocado oil

Instructions:
1) Toss the zucchini and cherry tomatoes with the avocado oil and season with salt and pepper as desired before baking them in a preheated 425-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes
2) In the meantime, cook your pasta according to the instructions on the box.
3) Once cooked, strain the pasta, and use the warm pan to combine the Unsweetened Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein Milk, nutritional yeast, Dijon, garlic, lemon juice, turmeric, salt, pepper, and chili powder.
4) Pour the sauce over the pasta, and mix in the roasted veggies.
5) Serve, and enjoy!

Let me know what you think of this summery plant-based mac and cheese in the comments below and be sure to check out Bolthouse Farms full line of Plant Protein Milk!

Spring Asparagus and Tomato Penne with Barilla ProteinPLUS

This post is sponsored by Barilla; however, I am sharing my own thoughts. All opinions are my own.

Spring is finally upon us, and I couldn't be more excited! That means fresh, bright produce and lots of outdoor time, so I decided I needed a recipe that celebrates all of the above! And what screams spring time picnics more than a fresh, veggie-packed pasta salad dish?

I had recently stumbled upon Barilla ProteinPLUS pasta at my local Walmart. It's packed with 17 g of protein (per 3.5 oz portion) from all natural vegetarian ingredients including egg whites, grains, lentils, and chickpeas. It's also a great source of fiber and ALA Omega-3. It seemed like the perfect base for a quick, easy, and delicious meal any day of the week, so I ended up picking up the penne to give it a try. 

I thought it would pair perfectly with some bright spring veggies like asparagus and tomatoes to make a light and fresh pasta (or pasta salad) dish while still being a good source of lean protein. I added in some lemon juice, pine nuts, basil, and a few other ingredients to bring that extra flavor, and it all came together to make a great meal or side that'd be perfect for your next picnic!

Here's What You'll Need:

-One 14.5 oz box Barilla ProteinPLUS Penne
-1 bundle of asparagus (~20 spears)
-1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
-1/4 cup pine nuts
-5 fresh basil leaves, chopped
-Juice of 1/2 lemon
-1/4 cup shredded or shaved parmesan
-1 tbsp EVOO
-1/4 tsp sea salt
-1/4 tsp black pepper

Serves 4 as a meal or 7 as a side or appetizer

Instructions:

1) Cook the Barilla ProteinPLUS Penne according to the directions on the box.
2) Remove the bottoms from the asparagus, and bake them in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes (may also grill or steam until tender instead).
3) Cut the asparagus spears into thirds.
4) Toast the pine nuts on the stove top until they begin to turn golden (about 3- 5 minutes).
5) In a large bowl mix together all of the ingredients until well blended. I reserved some of the pine nuts, basil, and parmesan to top it all off, but feel free to mix it all in if desired.
6) Serve warm or refrigerate to serve as a pasta salad, and enjoy!

Barilla Gluten Free pasta was recently named one of Parent's Magazine's "Top 25 Allergy Free Foods" making it a great choice to swap in for the ProteinPLUS penne if allergies are a concern! You can also use this Ibotta link to get some cash back when purchasing your Barilla pasta. Make sure to check out these other delicious Barilla recipes and their Pinterest board for more inspiration! And let me know what you think in the comments below!