Quinoa Pasta with veggies

Ingredients:


6 slices bacon chopped
6 oz quinoa pasta*
6 oz sliced mushrooms
1 small onion sliced
1 bell pepper sliced
1 cup zucchini chopped
2 cups spinach
2 cups marinara sauce
2 cups water
1/3 cup fresh parsley and cilantro chopped
1 TB dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh
olive oil (if needed)
salt and pepper to taste
parmesan cheese


Cook bacon in a big skillet until cooked through but not too browned. Add onions, mushrooms, peppers, and zucchini and cook until they are tender, stirring occasionally.
Then add quinoa pasta, marinara sauce, water, dried basil, salt and pepper, cover the skillet and cook until pasta is done.
Add spinach and fresh herbs, stir well and serve with parmesan cheese.


*Araksya's tip: You can use regular pasta instead of quinoa pasta. You can also add 1/2 cup regular quinoa with pasta
like I did to give it more texture.

Split Pea Soup

2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp marjoram
1 lb pork sausage
1 lb (2 1/4 cups) green split peas
3 quarts water
1/2 cup flour
1 cup diced onions
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced potatoes


Wash split peas and sort. In large saucepan combine water and seasonings (top 3 ingredients) and bring to boil. Add peas gradually so water doesn't stop boiling.
Cook sausage in the skillet, and add flour when the sausage is browned. Cook for a minute, and then add to the soup, cover, and simmer until peas are tender - 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Add veggies and cook for another half hour to an hour.