Pasta with Broccolini and Pesto Tofu

We have been playing a lot of cards since the pandemic started.  Several nights a week, after dinner, we all gather around the kitchen table, the gloves come off, and it’s kill or be killed.   It’s kind of like the Olympics, only more serious and cutthroat. Actually, it’s probably more like a cage match.  Only more violent.

In the game, the person who plays immediately before you can cause you to pick up the entire discard pile, adding a lot of  “garbage” cards to your hand  depending on what card they play.  Since the winner is the first person to get rid of all their cards, you do NOT want to pick up additional cards.  Ever.  But especially near the end of the game.

After a few rounds, we typically have to play musical chairs since someone is not talking to someone else and is quietly plotting their death since they have been made to lose by the “mean girl” sitting next to them.

“I’m not sitting next to so and so,” we all declare, then make everyone else get up and switch seats.  We also play clockwise or  counter-clockwise depending on who is dealing and who doesn’t trust whom to feed them cards.  It’s pretty much a free-for-all.

Sadly, most of this doesn’t  help since everyone is in it for themselves and will not only throw everyone else under the bus, but will back it up over them multiple times.

“Why would I play my wild card and clear the deck for you when I may need it to win the game fifteen hands from now?” is a typical attitude that generally does not go over well.

Then, we have the cheaters.  And you know who you are…

Some people show other people what cards they have and ask, “Can you play really high or really low?” then pick the card from their hand which seems to be a kind gesture, but is really meant to  screw over the next person in line after them.

Others throw down a three and yell “nine” to see if anyone will notice they they can’t play anything as high as a nine and will have to pick up if they can’t pull the wool over everyones eyes.  Or, they will throw out two of a kind and declare, “Clear! ” (you do that when you have four of a kind in the pile, which generally helps everyone), once again hoping that no one notices they have just cheated their socks off.

And finally, we have the people who are pushed to their limit when the person sitting next to them makes them pick up three rounds in a row and they are holding two decks in their hands that they will never, ever get rid of and they finally snap.  From what I am told, the cloud of curse words  (some of which I invented ) is still hanging in the air over the table, although I believe I had an out-of-body experience and have absolutely no recollection of such an event.

At least that’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Ingredients:

• 1 (1 lb.) block of  firm tofu, pressed
• 1 1/2 cups firmly packed basil leaves
• 3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons parmesan (you can sub out nutritional yeast)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1-2 bunches of broccolini
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 pint of grape tomatoes, cut in half
• 2-3 Tablespoons minced garlic
• pasta, cooked (or zoodles)

Directions:

1. Cut tofu into bite-sized cubes.
2. In a blender, puree basil through salt to make the pesto.  Reserve 1/3 of the pesto and  pour the rest over the tofu. Marinate the tofu at least one hour or overnight.
3. In a large pan, add the 1/2 cup of water and the broccolini.  Bring the water to a boil and cover.  Stem the broccolini for 3-5 minutes till crisp tender (you may want to cut into smaller pieces instead of using the whole stems.  Remove the broccolini and set aside.  Allow the water to cook off.
4. Pour a splash of the pesto that you set aside into the pan and add the tofu (for crispy tofu, toss it in a bowl with some arrowroot or tapioca starch to lightly coat it first).  Saute over medium high heat till the tofu is warmed throughout and crispy (if using the flour), stirring frequently.  Remove from the pan and set aside.
5. Add another splash of the pesto and put in the tomatoes.  Saute till they begin to blister, stirring frequently.
6. Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds , then add the pasta and remaining pesto and toss. Add the tofu and broccolini back in. Toss and serve.

Enjoy!