Vegetarian Foodie

Three Bean Salad

Arugula is also known as Roquette (pronounced Rocket)...how can anyone deny a leafy green also know as Roquette? The kick flavor of arugula compliments the beans along with lots of lemon, salt and pepper.

• 1 big handful of Kidney Beans
• 1 big handful of Garbonzo Beans
• 1 big handful of Green Beans
• 1 Red Onion chopped
• 3 Garlic cloves minced
• 1 big handful of Arugula
• Lemon Wedges
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Chopped Parsley

I use a frying pan for this recipe. First heat your olive oil. Next, toss the garlic and onion and cook until browned.

Add all the beans and cook until tender but allow some crunch.

Mix beans with arugula.

Salt and Pepper to taste, chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

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.

Grapefruit and Avocado Salsa

The following is a salsa that makes the mouth simultaneously pucker and shape into a mmm smile....  Salsa is best served beside salty tortilla chips and washed down with an ice cold beer on a very hot day.

• 1 Pink grapefruit
• 2 Avocados
• 1 Sweet onion chopped
• Cilantro
• Salt and 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

Sloppy Joes

Thanks to quality vegetarian burger crumbles, sloppy joes are not just for burger eaters anymore. The following recipe for vegetarian sloppy joes is not only tasty but also quick and easy.

• Vegetable Oil
• 1 Onion chopped
• 1 Red Bell chopped
• 2 Garlic cloves minced
• 1 Cup vegetarian burger crumbles
• 1 Cup tomato sauce
• 1 Cup water
• 2 tsp Chili powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Buns of choice

Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the onion, garlic and red bell pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add water and burger crumbles. Reduce heat and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Add tomato sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes. Top your favorite buns off with sloppy joes mix.

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

 

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.

Bangers and Mash

Bangers and Mash is English pub grub which offers a plate of sausages, mashed potatoes as well as a vegetable. Often the plate is topped with onion gravy.
Boca makes a delightful vegetarian banger that allows a vegetarian spin off a popular meat dish.
Another thing I like about this meal is the amount of freedom it allows the cook. You can choose your favorite vegetable side or simply prepare what is on hand. The mashers can be instant or properly mashed potatoes depending on how much time and energy you have.
This meal cooperates with seasons in that it is delicious on a stormy night with a hot glass of wine or equally grand on a balmy evening while drinking ice cold frothy beer.