Vegetarian Week: Haystacks

Haystacks
adapted from allrecipes.com

1 Can Red Kidney Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1 Can Diced Tomatoes, Drained
1 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
1 Onion, Chopped
1 Cup Salsa
2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
Salt and Pepper, To Taste
Fritos Chips
Spinach (or Lettuce)
Sour Cream
Cheddar Cheese

In a medium saucepan, combine beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, salsa, chili powder, and salt and pepper.  Cook over medium heat until heated thoroughly.  To assemble, place chips on a plate, then spoon bean mixture on top of chips and top with spinach, sour cream and cheese.


This dish was so easy; once the veggies are chopped it only takes a few minutes until it all comes together.  You can easily adapt this recipe to your own taste by adding other taco fixings such as olives, corn, another variety of beans, or hamburger meat (but then it wouldn't be very vegetarian!).  Haystacks will definitely be in my busy-soccer-mom dinner rotation!

Vegetarian Week: Grilled Green Apple and Mozzarella Sandwich

Grilled Green Apple and Mozzarella Sandwich
makes 1 sandwich

from allrecipes.com

2 Slices of Bread

Butter

1/4 Granny Smith Apple, Cored and Thinly Sliced

Grated Mozzarella Cheese

1/2 Teaspoon Honey

Tiny Little Bit of Salt and Pepper

Preheat a skillet over medium heat.  Butter one side of each slice of bread, then place it butter side down in the skillet.  Layer apple, cheese, and honey evenly on the bread in the skillet.  Sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper.  Top with remaining bread, butter side up.  Cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until bread is browned and cheese is melted.

The original recipe calls for Gruyere cheese, which the local Target doesn't carry, so I substituted the mozzarella.  The sandwich was pretty good, but I think it would have been even better with the Gruyere or some Kraft singles!  This is a great way to jazz up a plain old grilled cheese.  Bonus:  like a regular grilled cheese, this takes practically no time to make and you can snack on the apples while waiting for the sandwich to cook!  Also, I loved the honey in the sandwich, it perfectly balances out the tartness of the Granny Smith apples.  Hopefully I can find some Gruyere in Grand Forks for next time!

Vegetarian Week: Tunisian Vegetable Chili

Tunisian Vegetable Chili
makes 4 servings
from bhg.com

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion, Chopped (1/2 Cup)
1 Medium Carrot, Chopped (1/2 Cup)
1 Small Yellow or Green Bell Pepper, Chopped (1/2 Cup)
2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
3/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Salt and Pepper, To Taste
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin
1 (14.5 oz.) Can Diced Tomatoes, Undrained
1 (15 oz.) Can Canellini, Great Northern, or Pinto Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1 Can Vegetable Broth
1 Can Corn
1/2 Cup Apple Juice or Cider
1/3 Cup Raisins, Chopped
Several Dashes Tobasco Sauce
2 Cups Hot, Cooked Couscous
1/4 Cup Peanuts, Chopped

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan. Cook onion, pepper, and carrots covered over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, or until soft. Add chili pepper, salt and pepper, cinnamon, cumin, tomatoes, beans, vegetable broth, corn, apple juice, raisins, and Tobasco. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cook covered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with couscous and garnish with peanuts.

This chili was delicious. The sweetness of the raisins and corn balance out the spicyness of the Tobasco. This recipe was very simple, as well as very adaptable. Don't skip on the couscous, I love the texture that it adds! 

Vegetarian Week: Red Bean and Rice Burgers

Red Bean and Rice Burgers
makes 4 burgers
from bhg.com

(1) 14.5 oz. Can Red Kidney Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Onion
1/4 Cup Finely Chopped Celery
1/4 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Clove Garlic, Minced
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Oregano
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
3/4 Cup Brown Rice, Cooked
4 Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns, Split and Toasted

In a medium bowl, coarsely mash beans with potato masher or fork.  Stir in onion, celery, bread crumbs, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper.  Stir in rice.  Shape the bean mixture into 4, 1/2-inch-thick patties.  Preheat a large skillet or grill pan over medium heat.  Add patties to pan and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until heated thoroughly, turning once.  Serve burgers on buns with red onion, spinach leaves, sliced and mayo, if desired.

I was a little skeptical about this recipe because I've never made or even tried anything like it.  As I was plating it, I thought to myself "if this doesn't workout I don't have a back up!".  I was so pleasantly surprised!  My husband said they were awesome.  The burgers weren't overly bean-y, they had great flavor.  I'm definitely going to be making these again! 

Vegetarian Week



Don't get me wrong, I love meat.  Love it.  But I don't really like to cook raw meat, or touch it.  So I had the idea for a week of all vegetarian dishes.  I hope you enjoy!

Bruch-osaurus

Brunch-osaurus

family recipe

2-3 Hard Boiled Eggs, Chopped (How to Cook Hard Boiled Eggs)

1/2 Pound Ground Sausage

Butter (Optional)

2 Tablespoons Flour

1 Cup Milk

Salt and Pepper To Taste

Brown the sausage, breaking it up as it cooks over medium heat.  Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon.  Pour out drippings except for 2 tablespoons.  Add an additional 2 tablespoons of butter, if desired.  Whisk in the flour until smooth and bubbles start to appear.  Slowly pour in milk, while whisking and let it cook until it slowly bubbles and thickens.  Toss in the cooked sausage and hard boiled eggs.  Cook until sausage and eggs are heated through.  Season to taste.  Serve over toasted English muffins.

Brunch-osaurus rawwwwwrrrrrr!  My mom use to make this when I was growing up and when she sent me the recipe, she it needed a name.  So when I made it for brunch the other day, my creative husband suggested "brunch-osaurus", which I couldn't top.  He also said this was the best brunch that I've ever made!  Plus, I love sausage... and hard boiled eggs... and my husband :)

Peaches and Cottage Cheese

Peaches and Cottage Cheese

I love canned peaches with a big scoop of cottage cheese.  My mom use to eat this all the time and I thought it was so gross - until I tried it.  It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea, maybe it's considered an acquired taste.  Of course you can try this with other fruits (pineapple or fresh strawberries are really good too!).  I like using canned because that syrup is so good with that cottage cheese!