Vegetarian Foodie

Hurry, Make Dinner

Do you ever have those nights in which you are hungry (well, everyone is hungry) and you just have to be there in the kitchen smiling and secretly hoping to find something inspiring to make?

This meal arrived out of desperation and is almost 3 ingredients or less....

• Spaghetti
• Walnuts
• Cheese (In this case Parmesan which has a permanent home in my kitchen)
• Green Beans (washed and stemmed)
• Garlic (however much you like)
• Olive Oil to drizzle here and there
• Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Prepare Spaghetti
2. Heat Olive Oil in a pan and add garlic.... then add green beans. Lower the heat and add the walnuts.
3. Top spaghetti with green bean mix and add cheese
4. Salt and Pepper to taste

Look- (relief!) it turned out super yummy:

Go Snack

These days are busy. I think a lot of people eat very small and quick meals or entirely on the run. I myself am guilty of having simply a banana and a few cups of coffee as breakfast. The result is extreme hunger at about 11 AM.

The only solution at that point is to stop what I am doing and fix a snack. Snack time is great because of two reasons: there is food involved and snack time is a built in break.

I urge everyone to take time for a break and a bit of delicious fuel. Here is a photo of one of my favorite snacks:

Crusty bread toasted in the oven and topped with your favorite cheese. Once the cheese has melted, top the bread with cherry tomatoes and cracked pepper.

So, go snack.

Easy Egg Roll with Peanut Butter Salsa

While peanut butter salsa can be served with just about anything, it is particularly nice beside an egg roll. I stuff my egg rolls with shredded carrot and green cabbage then fry them in a veg oil. Wrapping the egg roll is the most fun and the daughter always likes to join in. My local grocery stocks the egg roll wrappers that include instructions and I believe most do so I won't detail that experience aside from I like to have a small dish of water handy to seal the sides.

As for the salsa, mix a huge tablespoon of peanut butter with your favorite salsa until the consistency is creamy as shown below. Add a dash of cayenne if you like it spicy and lime on the side. 

Serve as is or decorate with chopped cilantro.

Feta Salad

I love this salad on its own or as a side. Not only is it colorful but also offers the perfect tango between crunch and smooth...

• Corn
• Feta Cheese
• Shredded Purple Cabbage
• Pepper

Beet Salad

It is not everyday that one has the opportunity to eat something the color of raging hot pink. Further, usually when I eat something of this color I am not feeling so good about it afterwards-not the case with this recipe. Beet salad is a fresh delight. 

• Shred a beet
• Shred an apple
• Add chopped walnuts
• Mix!

Sweet Potato Fries

I heart sweet potato fries...

Preheat Oven to 500 degrees F
Slice sweet potatoes and place in roasting pan
Drizzle fries with olive oil and add salt
Bake for 10-15 minutes

So easy and so very delicious

Roasted Summer Squash

Roasted summer squash is one of my favorite vegetable sides, I often include it in my casada plate.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees
Chop green and yellow summer squash into bite sized pieces
Place in roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil
Sprinkle with salt
Bake for about 15 minutes-until tender and browned

Kale

Kale is a form of cabbage. There are many varieties of kale and the kale pictured below is a raw French kale. Kale's dark leafy greens are extremely rich in nutrients and antioxidant properties.

Kale makes a delicious and simple side:

• Sautee kale in olive oil until it is a darker green and somewhat wilty
• Add salt and serve with lemon wedges

 

Herbes de Provence and Greens

One of the most reached for spice jars in my spice cupboard is Herbes de Provence. If you have not yet included this jar of spices into your life I highly suggest you do so. Herbes de Provence originated in France and usually comes dried. The aromatic mixture includes: Rosemary, Thyme, Bay Leaf, Basil, Marjoram and Lavender.

Although there are many uses for Herbes de Provence, one use is to make a delicious and quick salad dressing:

• A couple glugs of Olive Oil
• Balsamic Dressing
• A pinch of Herbes de Provence

Dress up a handful of greens with the dressing and top with shaved parmesan flakes. The dressing is also great for dipping warm and very crusty bread into. And please don't forget to pour yourself a glass of red wine.   

Tomato and Basil

Need an appetizer in a jiffy?

Craving a quick snack?

Perhaps you need a salad side because you have just discovered your lettuce has wilted (Ug!).
Never ever underestimate sliced tomatoes with basil. Add a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle cracked pepper to top it off.