Monday, May 13, 2013

I'm a vegetarian. What are some simple recipes?

Q. I recently bought tofu and a few broths from whole foods. I didn't even know what I was doing when I was grocery shopping. Anyway, please let me in on some good recipes and/or vegetarian cookbooks.
Excluding the obvious of course. i.e. SALAD! Haha. I need some real meals. Also, I don't eat fish or shellfish because I am allergic. Keep in mind I am 16 (going on 17) so simplicity is key.

A. What about a tofu scramble. You can use it the same way that you would use eggs. I go on tofu binges often so I cook it so many different ways. There are so many different types too, silk or firm are my favorites.
For a tofu scramble it is simple I will give you 2 recipes. One I make is a soy scramble, use soy or tamari. I saute some minced garlic, onions, carrots until tender then add the tofu and scramble it like it was an egg, then top with soy, salt, pepper, and for me always some hot asian chili paste or sauce and green scallion If you have black bean add it with the veg. Another one is to use Balsamic, oregano or basil and the some peppers if you like. More italian or greek influence. So now you have the basic try your hand on a scramble. Another thing I make is chili, I use the tofu like ground turkey or beef. I cook the onions, garlic, spice then add tofu and beans and more spice. You can even make a burrito scramble and put it in some whole wheat tortillas for breakfast or lunch. Tofu curry is always good, tofu with ginger, scallions, peanut oil and soy cold is good. It is good in noodles. I always make tofu curry with eggplant, longbeans, garlic, and thai green curry with a little kabocha pumpkin. The skies the limit with what you can do, make a tofu and veggie meatloaf or a loaf with chickpeas and veggie or lentils and veg. Good luck!


Rising food prices any economical ideas??
Q. With rising food costs, any ideas about grocery shopping to save money? Will take recipes also..thanks

A. Strategies for saving money:

Look for specials on meats and vegetables

Buy seasonal vegetables and fruits

Frequent farmers' markets for fun and savings

Processed food coupons are generally a rip off compared to cooking it yourself or buying store brands

Eat lower on the animal - chuck rather than porterhouse, sholder chops braised rather than loin chops grilled

Eat lower on the food chain - chicken instead of cow, beans instead of chicken

Eat vegetarian one or two nights per week.

Plan your week morphing leftovers into later meals. Roast chicken on Sunday, chicken sandwiches on Monday and green salad with chicken and kidney beans for dinner on Tuesday night.

By whole chicken, cut them up yourself and make your own delicious fresh chicken stock with the bones and so forth.

Start the meal with soup, salad or pasta as a separate course, people will eat less of the main dish.

Make your own bread. Store bought french bread costs $3 - the fool proof crusty bread from the NYT cost about $1.25.

Don't buy chips, cookies or boxed cereals - corn flakes are more expensive than you think. Switch to bulk whole grains like rolled oats, bulgar etc.

Make a big pot of bean soup. My husband and I will eat it three times in a week with big smiles on our faces and friends over for dinner one of the nights (with the homemade bread and the salad first course they feel that they have a had a real treat!)

Comfort food are generally comfortable on the budget - meatloaf, mac&cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, tuna noodle casserole, pot roast.

Have fun, we'll survive.


Vegetarian meals made by (and for) a teen?
Q. My mom is not supportive of my vegetarianism, so most of the time I'll have to cook my own meals. I need recipes for some simple meals with EVERYDAY INGREDIENTS.

I can handle breakfast on my own, but I'm desperate for lunch and dinner recipes. Lunch would have to be something pre-made and packable.

I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian, so there's no need to substitute dairy or eggs.

Thank you so much!!

A. Hi, great choice to become a vegetarian. I am also a teen and have been a vegan for almost four years now. I am still the only one in the whole entire family of 100+ meat lovers, so as you can imagine I had to be extremely focused, determined and self motivated to pull it off. I remember my first days as a vegan asking around on-line and I never got any satisfactory answers, so I had to learn it the hard way. Through that experience I decided to help others and share my knowledge with you.
FYI WITH THE FOLLOWING RECIPIES YOU WILL GET ALL THE VITAMINS YOU NEED. HOWEVER YOU MIGHT WANT TO TAKE SOME VITAMINS AND PROTIEN POWDER ON THE SIDE! Don’t forget to regularly see the doctor.
____________________________________________________________________
First here are some links:

Great recipes here
http://www.vegcooking.com/

Great support site
http://www.goveg.com/

Great packable lunch ideas with pictures
http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_archive.htl

Here is a week long meal plan and some ideas:

________________________________________________________________________
DAY 1
Breakfast
-Oatmeal
-banana
-nuts

Lunch
(Trader Joes and Whole foods have great pre-packed meals)
Or a California super wrap
-Pita or tortilla wrap
-lettuce
-mayo
-vegan lunchmeat (optional)
-cheese
-ranch dressing
-tomato
-avocado

Dinner

My Fave Patented
Movie Star delux Salad
-Avacado
-tomato
- Romaine lettuce
-Candied walnuts the best and easiest thing on earth in less than 3 minutes!
(So easy!! Put almost equal parts of nuts and plain sugar into a frying pan with some butter and let it all melt. Then swirl and pour it out on parchment/baking paper. Let cool and break into salad)


Desert

Make your own snow-cone with blended ice and juice


DAY 2

Breakfast

A protein shake

-Milk or soy milk
-peanut or cashew butter
-splenda or sugar
-banana
-strawberries
You could top it off with whipped cream
(If you do not have a blender do the following)
-microwave a medly of frozen fruit until warm
-place it in a bowl
-top it off with crumbled cinnamon toast crunch
It tastes like a cobbler YUM!!!


Lunch
Classic Ranch BLT

-Ranch on 1 slice of bread
-Butter on the other
-lettuce
-tomato
-vegan bacon
(If you do not have veggie bacon do the following)
-Cut bacon sized strips of cheese
-Place it on parchment paper in microwave
-Season it with BBQ sauce(just a bit)
-Microwave until crispy and peel off the cookie sheet

Dinner

Mock meatloaf
-onions
-bbq sauce
-crumbled nuts(a bit)
-Splash of egg white
-some mozzarella
-crumbled stale bread
-any fave veggie
-now mix it well and put it in the oven and bake until you like it best

Desert
Jamaican me crazy tropical banana
-fry banana slices in a pan
-add some cinnamon and honey
-top with whipped cream

____________________________________________________________________

DAY 3

Breakfast
French Toast
-Dip stal bread in mix of sugar cinnamon and egg
-fry in a pan
-eat it with a piece of fruit

Lunch
Burrito
-Avocado
-diced tomato
-refried beans from can
-veggie beef(if you have any)
-Cheese


Dinner
Easy veggie salad pizza
-Buy a Pillsbury biscuit can
-flatten out one portion of dough on a cookie sheet
-top it with sliced tomatoes and cheese
-bake at 375 until done
-top with fave lettuce and dressing

Desert
Cute coco Fondue
-melt any random chocolate over fruit

DAY FOUR

Breakfast
Omelet
-put your fave cooked veggies
-spinach
-seasoning salt or pepper
-egg
-put this all in a pan and mix then let it cook
-one minute before it is done add on cheese

Lunch
English Queen Burger
Put
-katsup
-lettuce
-tomato
-A veggie pattie
On an English muffin

Dinner
-ready or frozen Rice
-Teriyaki Sauce
-veggies
-stir fry/cook until ready

Desert
Good old Ice cream

DAY FIVE

Breakfast
-Cut Apples and peaches
-add granola
-one pack of splenda
-milk
Great for hot days

Lunch
Classic PB&J with a side of fruit
Dinner
A fun take on the southern style make three dips
-Corn off the cob with some mashed avocado
-collard greens (in the frozen isle)cooked mix with cream cheese
-Beans with melted cheese
-now arrange this on a plate with your fave seasonings
And dip in with chips or ritz cracker

Lunch
Greek Feast
-Feta cheese
-romaine lettuce
-baby tomatoes
-Gorbanxo beans(from a can)
-put in pita bread and take it to go!

Dinner
“Cheese Fondue”
-melt the following in the microwave
-1/4 cup cream cheese
-1/4 cup of Velveeta
-1 slice of swiss cheese
-After all has melted, mix well
-cut up your fave veggies and dip into cheese like a fondue
(put cheese mix in a thermos when going to school)

Desert
Try some fruit with lemon juice and splenda


DAY 6

Breakfast
Breakfast burrito
-egg(scrambeled)
-spinach and onion cooked
-fave cheese
-flour tortilla
-wrap it up and enjoy with a piece of fruit

Lunch
Pre prepared “vegkabob”
- diced and micro waved/cooked tomatoes
-chunks of tofu, veggie burger or mushroom micro waved/cooked
-diced zucchini micro waved/cooked
-put it in a pattern form on spears
-if you don’t have a meat alternative put on chunks of cheddar cheese
-for the final touch add your fave bbq sauce

Dinner

Mac and cheese”MY WAY”
-Ready macaroni noodles(cooked)
-add a bit of seasoning and softened crème cheese
-cheddar cheese
-veggies
-tomato sauce

Desert
Candied Walnuts (see recipe above)



DAY 7

Breakfast
-oatmeal
-micro waved/warm frozen berry medley
-granola

Lunch
Chinese Steamed veggies
-Teriyaki and peanut sauce mixed
( for cheap peanut sauce microwave peanut butter with a bit of oil and sour cream and stir)
-Carrots, Zucchini, eggplant, water chestnuts, (you can get a frozen mix)
-boil veggies in water until tender drain and mix in sauce
-top with sesame seeds and tofu (optional)

Dinner
Spaghetti for the whole family(no real meatballs for us but veggie ones can easily be made)
-onions
-BBQ sauce
-crumbled nuts (a bit)
-Splash of egg white
-some mozzarella
-crumbled stale bread
-any fave veggie
-now mix it well
-roll it into balls and coat with flour
-place on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven to bake until brown hot and ready
____________________________________________________________________-

I really hope this helps I had my mom look it over (She’s a medical M.D. PhD and it is 100 percent approved, tasty, certified and copywrited ©.

Vegan to Vegetarian and Teen to Teen I wish you the very best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





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