Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Mini Pizzas

Day 198

I know we have these a lot. Here's why:

  1. We like them
  2. We usually have leftover stuff to use and pizza makes sense
  3. They're quick to make
  4. They're easy to make
  5. We really like them


Mini Pizzas

Ingredients


  • English muffins
  • Carmelized onion naan bread
  • Marinara sauce
  • Mozzarella 
  • Fresh mushrooms
  • Black olives
  • Red onion
  • Tomato
  • Sea salt
  • Black pepper
  • Dried oregano

Pizza stuff

Pizza toppings

 Sensations Carmelized Onion Naan Bread

Naan & English muffins

Ready for the oven

Laura's naan pizza

My naan pizza

Reviews/Comments

As mini pizzas go, I give these a 9.. A meals, it gets a 7.


Leftover Shepherd's Pie

Day 197

Monday, May 4

Still sooooo good.

Leftover Shepherd's Pie

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Day 196

In honor of Imogen Curran's birthday, we decided to have Shepherd's Pie for supper. I think this is our first Shepherd's Pie since we stopped eating meat. This is not really a quick meal. Easy enough, but takes a bit of time to make. However, for Gen...it's worth it.

Shepherd's Pie


Shepherd's Pie 

Made in layers, the bottom layer of traditional Shepherd's pie is made with meat...possibly even shepherds. We used veggie ground as a substitute this time, but next time we are thinking of trying mushrooms. My favorite layer is layer # 3, just in case you were wondering. Potato layer. :)

Layer 1: Veggie Ground
  • Yves veggie ground
  • Onion
  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • Sea salt & black pepper
  • Vegetable broth
  • Gravy browning stuff
Chop the onion and sauté in oil until clear. It's okay if their slightly browned too. Add the flour, salt and pepper and stir while cooking about another minute. 

Onions, flour, salt & pepper

Add the veggie broth and the gravy browning stuff while stirring and continue to stir for about 30 seconds until it comes back to a boil and starts to thicken. Then turn the heat down or off, depending on how much more time it might need to thicken. 

Veggie ground gravy

Pour into casserole dish. I determined that I had too much food for one dish so I grabbed a bread loaf pan and divided the mixture to make two Shepherd's Pies.

Layer 1

Layer 2: Corn
  • 1 can cream style corn
  • 1 can whole kernel corn
Open the cans. Drain the liquid from the whole kernel corn one. Mix them together in a bowl. 

Cans of corn, mozzarella, onion, veggie ground

Pour corn over the veggie ground mixture in casserole dish.

Layer 2

Layer 3: Potatoes
  • 9 potatoes, various sizes
  • 1/4 cup butter - the real stuff
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3/4 cup almond milk
  • Sea salt & black pepper

Peel and boil potatoes until soft. 

 
Eco-Spud potatoes
Mash.
Mashed potatoes

Whip the butter, milk and sour cream in.

Whipped potatoes

Spread potato mixture over corn in casserole dish.

Layer 3

Layer 4
  • Mozzarella
Grate the cheese and spread over potatoes in casserole dish.

Layer 4

Bake at 375 for 40 minutes until bubbly and the cheese starts to brown.

Shepherd's Pies

Reviews/Comments

I have to give this a 9. So good I even took seconds.

Laura gives it an 8. A 10 as Shepherd's Pie goes. But, as meals go, an 8.


Sloppy Joes & Beet Salad

Day 195

Saturday, May 2

Sloppy Joes

As usual, we make our sloppy Joes using Yves Original Veggie Ground. It's not bad. It sort of mimics the texture of ground beef, enough to make enjoyable sloppy Joes, tacos, Shepherd's pie, etc. The flavor is not beefy, more like beans and onions, etc. It works.

Sloppy Joes & Beet Salad

I've blogged our Sloppy Joe recipe before, so just click here to see how it's made.

Sloppy Joes & buns on the stovetop

Beet Salad

Like the kale salad of yesterday, this one is from a kit. The kit contains kale and sprouts, etc, and for the extras, they include golden raisins, diced cooked beets, feta cheese and white wine vinegrette.

Beet salad

Sloppy Joes & Beet Salad

Reviews/Comments

I give this an 8 or 9. Our sloppy Joe recipe is really, really yummy...and these salad kits are surprisingly fresh and delicious.


Quinoa Burgers with Kale Salad

Day 194

Friday, May 1

This was as quick and easy as I could think of on Friday night.


Quinoa Burgers with Kale Salad

Other than chopping and sautéing some mushrooms and onions, that it, it was quick and easy. 

 Mushrooms & red onion sautéing

These salad kits you can get now are soooooo awesome. Open the bag and dump contents into a bowl. The produce contents include:
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Chicory
  • Kale

Kale salad kit

Inside are packets of yummies and salad dressing. This one came with pumpkin seeds, craisins and poppyseed dressing.

Kale salad kit

We used the SOL quinoa burgers again. I like these ones because they don't contain soy. We eat enough soy as it is, so I try to find other options when I can.

Burgers & buns, etc

Burger condiments

Quinoa Burgers with Kale Salad

Reviews/Comments

I give the meal a 9. It was super good, and best of all, didn't take long to make or clean up after, so I can enjoy the rest of my Friday night.


Tran's Palace Egg Rolls & Mushroom Rice

Day 193

Thursday, April 30

Egg Rolls & Mushroom Rice

Leftover Nightshade Pasta

Day 192


Wednesday, April 29

Leftover Nightshade Pasta