Good starter veggie recipes

Lots of my friends wonder what I eat if I don't eat meat.  They want simple recipes without weird ingredients. This recipe for taco soup fits that description.  Some black beans, brown rice, salsa, tomatoes and spices and you have one super easy and delicious veggie recipe. No meat needed! :)  Check out Mary's recipe http://mygreendiet.com/green-diet-plan-recipes/taco-soup/ When I make the soup I do not include the jalapeno since we don't like a lot of spice.

On March 14 also known as Pi day for the mathematical number 3.14.  I made a delicious potato pie.  This pie or tart did call for some ground beef substitute which I know my meat eating friends would not have but it is so delicious I bet you could just exclude it and it would be just as yummy.  Now this is no foofy veggie dish.  This is a hearty and delicious recipe that even the husband liked.  :)  Check out this delicious recipe on Kristi's blog http://www.veggieconverter.com/2011/04/vegan-meat-and-potato-pie-recipe.html.  I added some seasoning salt and celery to ours.  Also, use this recipe for the crust it's phenomenal!

2 Crust-Pie
2/3 cup plus 2 T butter, salted
2 cups all purpose flour
1 t salt
5-6 T cold water

First I cut cold butter into small squares.  Then in my standing mixer I added the flour and then a little at a time added the small butter squares and salt.  I let it mix on low until the butter and flour were well incorporated.  Then one tablespoon at a time I added the cold water until it formed into a dough.  Form a large ball and cut in half.  I refrigerated mine for a little bit because I made it ahead of time.  I don't think that is necessary.  Then just roll into a circle and line the bottom of your pie tin.  Put your filling in and top with remaining dough.  Eating the pie again for lunch. mmmm!

Hawaiian Black Bean Balls

One of my kids favorite meals is Waikiki meatballs.  Since I don't eat meat I decided to try an alternative and see if they went for it.  I started with a really basic black bean burger recipe and formed them into balls instead of patties.  Then I made the sauce as usual and served over brown rice.  The result was good not great.  The balls stay kind of mushy or bean like in the middle.  Next time I think I would form them into small balls and then flatten them a bit so they get more crispy.  The cool thing about these is that they actually look like meatballs.

Black-Bean Balls
2 cups black beans, can use 1 can or 2 cups homemade which is what I did
1/2 cup- 3/4 cup ground oat flour (place 1/2 cup or so of oats into food processor)
small handful of chopped cilantro (doesn't really need it but would be good as a burger)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 chia seed egg (1 T chia seeds and 3 T water)
2 T BBQ sauce
1 T nutritional yeast (optional)
1-2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Place the beans in the food processor and blend until smooth then add the cilantro, salt, garlic, and BBQ sauce. Mix well then add the flour a little at a time.  I may try it with breadcrumbs in the future.  Then refrigerate for 30 minutes, that makes it easier to roll into balls.  Heat 2 tablespoons coconut oil (or oil of choice) and heat in a large pan then add the balls.  Fry until crispy on both sides.  I think it will work better with smaller balls. Then pour Hawaiian sauce over them.


Hawaiian Sauce
1 can pineapple tidbits (13 1/2 oz) reserve juice
2 T cornstarch
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 T soy sauce

Mix cornstarch and sugar.  Stir in reserved pineapple juice, vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.  Add pineapple tidbits and pour over meatballs.

*The picture shows pineapple chunks not tidbits because I didn't have any.  My kids prefer it this way though.

The Verdict: 2 out of 3 kids liked it.  Veggie mom and dad thought it was good but might need some tweaking in the future.  I will definitely make this again.  Good source of protein! The green beans were cooked in some coconut oil with a dash of seasoning salt and the kids just thought that was great.  They even asked for more.  They will be veggie kids before we know it. :) Good luck!

Collard green wraps with homemade hummus

So I am doing a 6 week challenge to get fitter and healthier.  I decided I would eat at least one salad a day and usually that is at lunch.  But today I didn't feel like salad and I wanted to try something different.  I was perusing one of the many blogs I follow and I got the inspiration to make these collard green wraps.  The original recipe called for an almond mayo but I didn't have any soaked almonds nor did I have the time to wait for the almonds to soak.  So I set out to make some hummus.  I love hummus, I really need to start making more of it.  This is a great way to get all your servings of veggies! Enjoy!!

Collard- Green Wrap Serves 1

2 collard green leaves, washed and stemmed

2-4 T homemade hummus (recipe below)

1 carrot, sliced into matchsticks

1 yellow pepper, mine were the small kind you can buy in a bag 

1 red pepper, small, sliced into matchsticks

1 avocado

Wash and cut the stem off the collard green leaves.  Then spread a couple tablespoons of hummus on each leaf, top with veggies and roll them up. This would be good with a variety of different veggies but this  is just what I had on hand.  Cucumbers would be good. Next time!

Homemade-healthy Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup lemon juice

1-2 teaspoons garlic salt (or regular salt, I just didn't have any)

2 T olive oil 

1 T ground flax-seed

1/8 t cayenne

pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Adjust salt as needed. Mine was pretty salty but I like it that way.  I didn't have to put any salt on the veggies.