by Lauren Von Lehe

Created on: November 19, 2009

It's time to celebrate! And that means spending time with friends and family for a Labor Day gathering. But before you whip up a family meal, do you really know what the holiday means?

The first Monday in September was meant for all the working class citizens who have held this country together and provided the man-power to keep the factories running. It's a holiday with an unfortunate beginning in a time period long forgotten.

This date was originally used to honor the deaths of US workers who lost their lives during a labor dispute in the 1800's. To ease the tension, the US government declared the day a national holiday and vowed to make labor issues a top priority during a time when children worked alongsie their parents, wages were often low, unions were just beginning, workers were often treated unfairly, and the people were made to work in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. The meaning may have waned in our memory, but the day is still honored as a holiday of rest and reflection.

So what do you serve to guests on labor day? If you're a vegetarian, finding meatless meals can be tough when you're also cooking for a non-veggie crowd. But the three things that always win over skeptics are:

1. A quality protein replacement

2. Great taste

3. A reliable recipe

Here's one meatless meal that will keep every well fed and oblivious to the sausage substitution.

__Hearty Penne, The Easy Way__

1 Box Penne Pasta

1 lb Veggie sausage

1/2 Cup V-8 juice

Italian Seasonings (Suggested are: Garlic Powder, Oregano, Pepper)

Spicy steak seasoning (powdered) or chili powder with a little regular stead seasoning

1/2 Onion, chopped

1 Carton cherry tomatoes, chopped

Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and let stand. In a saucepan, brown the veggie sausage in a little butter until almost done, then add 1/2 chopped onion. When fully cooked, add V-8 juice, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/4 tsp steak seasoning, and a dash of black pepper. Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Chop tomatoes and add last minute, stirring until tender. Pour sauce over pasta, toss and serve.

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