Yesterday was one of those days. I woke up late and everything else was crammed as a result. You see, Richard leaves for work by 5:00 a.m. I always wake up with him to make him breakfast and kiss him goodbye; then I usually head to bed for a few more hours. My work amount doesn’t change so I’m usually still working (and haven’t worked out) by the time he comes home around 2:00 p.m. When he comes home it’s playtime and I never want to work!
The solution seems to be to adapt to his schedule and both of us get to bed earlier so the 4:30 a.m. wakeup time is easier and I can stay awake. That way, when he’s home we can play and create all the delicious meals I have in mind!
Yesterday afternoon I tweeted “What is your favorite thing to do with butternut squash?” I got replies of stews, roasts and stuffed squash… and all sounded delicious! But when dinner time came, I needed something fast and easy.
Richard and I spotted this organic black bean spaghetti at Earth Fare last week and had to give it a try. I decided to cook it up with a few other semi-homemade items we had.
I set the timer and challenged myself to have dinner ready in 15 minutes.
Knowing the timer was ticking was actually fun! I tend to procrastinate but the timer was a sort of challenge! I ended up finishing in 17 minutes. For a beginner, I’ll take it 
We served the “pasta” with marinara sauce, carrots and a frozen vegan eggplant dish. So what did we think of the black bean spaghetti? Ummm.
- We were expecting the taste and texture of regular pasta. Turns out the only thing that’s regular about it is the shape.
- Richard didn’t like it at all. I’m one of those crazies who tends to like gross things when I know they’re good for me. So I ate my plate am in charge of finishing off the leftovers, but I’d hesitate to buy again (at least this brand?).
- Maybe a thicker sauce could mask the funky pasta taste.
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Rokit Fuel sent us four samples of their “cereal” to sample. I was so excited to try this with its “not for wussies” claims and fun packaging. They claim to be “endurance food for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts and the health conscious.”
This morning I chose Chocolate Dream for breakfast.
From the website:
This decadent yet nutritious delight is made with real Dutch Chocolate and 10 whole foods! Chocolate Dream is the best way to start a chocolate lover’s day.
Ingredients: Rolled Oats, Pure Cane Dark Brown Sugar, Semi Sweet Chocolate, Amaranth, Coconut, Pecans, Walnuts, Whole and Milled Flax Seed, Sesame Seeds, Cocoa Powder, Bee Pollen, Real Salt, Gotu Kola, Maca Root, Cinnamon.
Ooops. I mixed 1/2 water 1/2 soy milk into the dry mix but failed to watch it in the microwave!
After a quick cleanup I was good to go.
Rokit Fuel tastes just sweet enough and perfectly “healthy.” It was very natural and like a better, more complete oat mix than I’d make at home. I love how convenient is is for rushed mornings, traveling… or just lazy people 
Three hours later and my belly is still happy I’m excited to try the other three flavors!
*Don’t forget the Garden of Eatin’ Gameday Giveaway*
What is your favorite meal to cook in 15 minutes?
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Soup! Saute some onions and garlic and carrots, then dump a bunch of stuff on top (broth, beans, water, cans of tomatoes, spices, frozen veggies, macaroni) and let it simmer. 15 minutes or less to prep, then it simmers while you go do other stuff!
Bummer that the black bean “pasta” wasn’t so great–I’m always on the lookout for gluten-free pasta, and so far I haven’t found anything I like. My favorite meal to cook in 15 minutes is fish tacos or, when I can’t find gluten-free tortillas, fish taco salad. I pan-sear some tilapia marinated in salsa, and then create a little buffet with the fixings: purple cabbage, salsa, avocado, black beans, tortillas. It’s a fast, delicious, healthy meal!
Unlucky for the black bean pasta! I love black beans and I thought I could eat them in any form…maybe that’s not the case!
Me too! After all, I love black bean brownies!
That rocket fuel looks delish!!! I’m definitely going to try that out. Although, I’ll have to find another way to eat it, since I don’t own a microwave.
15 minute meal? Pasta w/ pesto, pine nuts, and sundried tomatoes! Easy and yummy.
You can eat it with cold milk/water or just add hot milk/water!
Your meal sounds yummy!
Aww! I wake up at like 4am to make my Husband coffee and breakfast
But he doesn’t get home until 6 or 7 at night (gotta love the military) so its extra time I get to see him.
My current fav meals that only take about 15 minutes are pasta w/veggies, sandwiches, and burgers.
At least he tried it! My husband would have looked at me like I’m crazy. He only eats meat, meat, meat and cheez-its for good measure:) I wish I had some influence in there, but that’s what growing up in Iowa will do to a boy!
I thought that rockit fuel stuff was ice cream. Eating ice cream for breakfast sounded like fun, but the cereal looks great too even blown up!
I tried that same black bean pasta once and once was more than enough
It was gummy and tasted pretty gross. I decided that regular gluten free pasta was much more to my liking 
Hmm my best 15 minute meal, breakfast for dinner!!! Can’t go wrong with that and it’s in your belly in 5 minutes flat hahaha!
I like to microwave a shredded zucchini and pour pasta sauce on it. It’s fast healthy and delicious.
I just made a tofu breakfast scramble on my blog the other day that took exactly 15 minutes! Other things…um, a bowl of cereal with fruit? So fast and easy, lol. I also like making oats or oatbran. And pasta with steamed veggies is always fast, too.
Dinner in 15 min? A bag of frozen veggies added to boil in the bag brown rice. Throw in a can of beans, top with cheese and call it dinner. We eat real fancy-like around here.
Just a non-Rokit Fuel-related comment… I love the new site! Especially the Aristotle quote at the top. For a few years, that was in my signature block of my email… This inspires me to consider a reprise…
Thank you so much for the kind words! I love the new site too
And that quote is awesome!
Spaghetti! Definitely. It’s easy and delicious.
Those Rokit Fuel oats look fantastic. I hate making oats because they take forever and I can never get the flavor just right. Are they available at stores?
They are! http://www.rokitfuel.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=86
So yummy
I thought that was ice cream at first
That spaghetti looks interesting… and tasty!
That black bean spaghetti is a disappointment.
I was so excited when I bought it, I bought 2 bags….lol let’s just say there’s one bag remaining unopened in my pantry. 
The same brand makes a mung bean pasta — that’s MUCH better! I’ve intentionally bought it more than once. 
haha i did that yesterday morning with my protein oats in the microwave..it exploded all over! i found myself licking up the microwave plate thingy it rotates on haha. Rockit Fuel sounds like a fabulous product! i love how theres even kola and maca roots in there!! <3
xoxo