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Here is exactly how we made the meal on the WGN Morning News segment — simple steps, real food, no special equipment.

1. 1Prep the vegetablesCut up the mushrooms, zucchini, and yellow squash, then sauté everything in olive oil with a little mineral salt until tender.
2. 2Make a simple tomato sauceRub four tomatoes with olive oil and a sprinkle of mineral salt. Heat olive oil in a pan, add the tomatoes, and cook for about 5 minutes to get a little char going. Reduce the flame and let them cook for about 15 minutes. Once they start to soften, smash them down with a wooden spoon, add Italian seasoning, and let it cook down for another 5 minutes until everything comes together. Let it sit, then pour it into the pot when ready.
3. 3Cook the red lentil rotiniBoil the red lentil rotini in a pot until soft and tender. Drain it, leaving a little bit of the pasta water in the pot.
4. 4Combine and serveOnce everything is cooked, throw it all in the pot together, mix it up, and serve.

The $13.67 total reflects the groceries purchased for the meal. A few basic pantry staples — like olive oil and mineral salt — were already on hand.