Nana’s Vegan Southwest Pasta Salad – 10PPv

By now you know my mom is vegan, not vegetarian…vegan.  She doesn’t even eat honey.  It’s not because she loves animals (which she does by the way) it is because she was faced with over worked kidneys and a flailing liver after years of high doses of ibuprofen and other meds for rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.  When she stopped smoking she packed almost 100 extra pounds on her then 5′ 2″ frame which sent the other issues into overload.  When her phrenologist announced a little over a year ago that something had to give or her kidneys were shot my mom was on it.

Nana doesn’t do the Internet but she loves the library.  She delved in and spent hours at several different branches researching foods and eating plans that most closely followed what her doctors were saying.  To say that she is a doctor’s dream patient is an understatement.  Stop consuming artificial sweeteners?  Done.  No more caffeine?  Consider it off the list.  She’s a bit extreme, BUT it worked.  A vegan diet literally held all of the elements and then some.  So vegan it is.  I hope you enjoy her vegan adventure as much as we do…who knew tofu could taste good?

Nana’s Vega Southwest Pasta Salad – 10PPV per serving

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 15 oz canned black beans drained and rinsed
• 15 oz can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium sweet red pepper chopped
• 1 large fresh tomato diced (or a can of Rotel drained)
• 2/3 cup fresh corn kernels (or frozen if fresh is not available)
• 1 medium uncooked red onion diced
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup unsweetened lime juice
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
• 1 medium avocado diced
• 2 cups whole wheat pasta cooked

Directions:

If you have prepped everything as instructed on the ingredients list you are literally a toss away from being done!  Put everything as prepped above into a large bowl, toss gently with a large fork or spoon, serve immediately and try your best not to eat the entire thing 😍