Another good replacement for mashed potatoes is to put cooked cauliflower through a ricer and mix with some margarine and salt and pepper.

But why would you wanna do that? Cauliflower's more expensive than taters, and them spuds ain't meat! LOL

(besides, we prefer our cauliflower raw!)

Or you could just use rice milk or soy milk like I do.

Cauliflower's more expensive than taters

It's a lot less fattening, that's why (and not starchy). I like cauliflower raw also. Just a suggestion as an alternative to spuds....sheesh!

Ok now, let's not take a pound of flesh in the vegetarian thread.

Mushroom Stroganoff.

Yum! I'll have to try that one!

Worcestershire sauce (while the taste may be different, you can substitute soy sauce for this one, as worcestershire uses anchovies).

Ick. Never knew that. (need a barfing smiley!)

Another good replacement for mashed potatoes is to put cooked cauliflower through a ricer and mix with some margarine and salt and pepper.

They have a "cheddar" cauliflower out now (it has beta carotene in it) that works well for mashing.  I put vegan butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder in mine.  Very yummy, and a good way to get a picky kid to eat cauliflower (she doesn't like it raw.)

OK, this isn't light at all.  Matter of fact, this is one recipe that keeps me fat.  But, I love it so......

No bake cookies (Vegan)

1/4 cup Vegan Butter
1 Cup sugar (I use raw sugar)
1/4 cup Soy milk (vanilla works well)

Boil those ingredients for 1 1/2 minutes, whisking continuously. Turn off heat and Whisk in (in this order):

2 TBS Baking Cocoa
1/2 tsp vanilla (orange is also good, btw, if you want to be different)
1/4 cup peanut butter (I usually add a couple more TBS, and I use crunchy)
1 cup quick oats

drop by TBS on waxed paper and let harden (about 20 minutes).  Then try to limit yourself to just one.....let me know how that works out   I usually eat two then make my hubby hide them from me.

I will try and post something "healthy" tomorrow

It's a lot less fattening, that's why (and not starchy). I like cauliflower raw also. Just a suggestion as an alternative to spuds....sheesh!

lol...

You can also mash turnips, as well (if you like the taste of cooked turnips, which I don't care for due to constant exposure to someone trying out the "turnip diet" at one point in my life; where I discovered, not coincidentally, the possibilities of mashed turnips).

No bake cookies

they sound delicious. I think I'll try them next weekend.

I'm having a hard time thinking of anything to add. I am usually only cooking for myself, so my meals involve a lot of pre-cooked stuff (I'm a big fan of morning star chik'n (or however they spell it) patties). Though I did have a bad experience with veggie hot dogs this weekend--yuck. If anyone has a recommendation for ones that taste ok, I'm all ears.

One of my favorite side dishes is white rice, salsa, corn and black beans all mixed together.

(I'm a big fan of morning star chik'n (or however they spell it) patties). Though I did have a bad experience with veggie hot dogs this weekend--yuck. If anyone has a recommendation for ones that taste ok, I'm all ears.

Yeah, those chic patties rock.  They are really good with BBQ sauce on them.  I also like their chic nuggets.

Soy hot dogs are nasty...which may be because regular hot dogs are nasty.  I have yet to find one that is worth eating.  My daughter loves hot dogs, so I wish I could find a veggie option that she'll eat.  For now, I buy her organic 100% beef hot dogs from Whole Foods. 

ah, those chic patties rock. They are really good with BBQ sauce on them. I also like their chic nuggets.

I'm a big fan of their cheddar burgers too. I might try the 100% organic hot dogs from Whole Foods. I mainly eat the vegetarian alternative in an attempt to be more health conscious--but the veggie dogs aren't going to last long. Luckily I had mixed them in with mac and cheese, so the taste was mostly overwhelmed.

The morning star breakfast patties are also pretty decent. Throw them in a english muffin (I add some eggbeaters too) and you've got a tasty breakfast sandwich.

Here's another one of my favorite dishes, but it includes fish, so I'm not sure if it counts as vegetarian or not:

Fill a glass caserole dish with spinach and mushrooms (you can actually use any vegetables you want, but these are my favorites). Lightly sprinkle extra virgin olive oil over veggies. Take fillets of white fish (the recipe calls for cod, but I usually use tapilia because its on sale more often). Cover one side of the fish in pesto and then roll the fish up (they will look like little logs). Place rolled fish on the bed of veggies. Lightly sprinkle lemon juice and salt/pepper. Cook at 350 for 25 minute.

I usually serve with garlic mashed potatoes (an easy way to make garlic mash is to add garlic cloves to the potatoes as they are boiling, then you mash them right in with the potatoes) or mustard mash (add whole grained mustard to potatoes after they are mashed.

Here's another one of my favorite dishes, but it includes fish, so I'm not sure if it counts as vegetarian or not:

Fish is not vegetarian.  If it has a face, it's not vegetarian
Sounds like a good fish dish, though (for the "light" meals)

If it had a mother, it's not vegetarian/vegan.

I love no bake cookies. Now I will have to make some. Is all your fault if I get fat(ter)

Fish is not vegetarian. If it has a face, it's not vegetarian

That's what I figured, but then some of my "veggie" friends eat fish and eggs. I suppose the recipe is for what Gid calls the "semi-vegetarians."

 

Is all your fault if I get fat(ter)

  Sure...blame it on me

That's what I figured, but then some of my "veggie" friends eat fish and eggs.

eggs are OK for Vegetarians (not vegans) but Fish is not.  People like to kid themselves, though

OK, recipe for the day.  I'm lazy and copied this from what I posted on the "humus" thread:

Hummus (Vegan)

1 can Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) (reserve liquid)
3 TBS roasted sesame seeds
3 TBS olive oil
3 cloves garlic (more if you like)
2 TBS lemon juice
2 tsp salt
1 TBS Cumin

Blend in food processor or blender until smooth (or as smooth as you like).  Add reserved liquid if needed.

 

eggs are OK for Vegetarians (not vegans) but Fish is not. People like to kid themselves, though

It's funny, because I had a friend who described "lacto-ovo vegetarian" as including "anything that came from an egg (thus chicken and fish were acceptable under that terminology).

For the record, I did not coin the term "semi-vegetarian"; it's a pretty widely accepted term, actually.

It's funny, because I had a friend who described "lacto-ovo vegetarian" as including "anything that came from an egg (thus chicken and fish were acceptable under that terminology).

LOL.  It's funny how people kid themselves like that.  The only true vegetarians are the strict Vegans who make their own food (since you never know what "natural" flavorings are).  A Lacto Vegetarian would be closer, since you don't kill an animal to get milk.  Lacto-Ovo gets into a grey area, since the egg could have turned into a living creature.

I'm just glad I eat this way for health, not ethics.

I'm just glad I eat this way for health, not ethics.

Oh, I couldn't agree with you more. And that's why meat comprises so little of our diet. It's an indulgence.

(I have a hard and fast rule on salad bars. I'm entitled to everything on them that isn't meat).

If it had a mother, it's not vegetarian/vegan

good rule, mason. I'll remember that!

One thing that I was eating *way* too much of was cheese.  I love fresh parmesan.  Since I gave it up, I realized that we were spending over $10 a week just on cheese.  So, I will save $30 a month by not eating it (my husband and daughter still eat it, but not as much as I did).  I wish there was a better cheese alternative.  Soy cheese is just not right (just like soy bacon is not worth the money).

Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Vegan)

1/2 cup soy milk (vanilla is good in this)
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 banana
1/2 cup water (less if you like it really thick)
Blend all ingredients until smooth

There is only around 150 calories in this (50 from the soy milk, 35 from the strawberries and 65 from the banana).  Makes a good after-workout treat.

As far as someone saying eating fish is still vegetarian, here's the arguement I use:

Sharks eat lots of fish. Are sharks vegetarians?

Baked Beets (Vegan)

4-8 small to medium beets.  Beets still attached to greens are best.  (You can also eat the greens)

Cut greens 1-2 inches above beets.  Scrub beet (I use a green scrub pad) to remove dirt.  Do *not* peel or remove root.

Place beets in foil lined pan.  Wrap foil around beets to make a pouch (to keep moisture and heat in)

Bake in 325 degree oven for an hour.  Turn down to 250 and cook for another 20 minutes. 

To peel (this is easy) Take cooked beet (hold by remaining green top) and run under cold water.  Use a scrubber (I use the green scrubby) to brush off skin and root.

Hold by root top, and slice up to top.  Place slices in baking dish, garnish with herbs if preferred (I like fresh parsley), add a little olive oil if you want (not needed) and return to oven to bring back up to heat.

Beets are very good for you.  They help your liver and kidneys remove toxins from your blood.  They are also fairly cheap to buy, and are naturally sweet.

Oh, and lemon juice gets the stain out of your hands

Easy Minestrone (Vegan)

1 Can Kidney Beans (Drained and rinsed)
1 Can Dark Red kidney beans (Drained and rinsed)
1 Large Can Tomato juice
2 Cups frozen green beans
2 Potatoes, diced
2 Carrots, sliced
2 Stalks celery, sliced
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1 Cup elbow macaroni
2 cups veggie broth

Combine all ingredients except macaroni and broth.  Bring to a boil, then simmer until veggies are soft.  Add macaroni and veggie broth, and cook until macaroni is al dente (don't cook too long or you'll have really mushy noodles in your left overs).

Karma:

Check out this blog http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com --it's a blog a day on what she packs in her son's vegan lunch box. Some of the stuff is incredible--and it's given me some good lunch ideas as well!