Pasta

I love pasta, Love it! So I decided to start expanding the kinds of noddles we use. Sunday we were having spaghetti but I decided to use Garden Rotini. It was really good. I also made garlic bread. Yummmm(and the "m"s could go on and on!).

We just used a store bought Spaghetti sauce(meatless of course)
1 box of Garden Rotini

Garlic Bread
1/2 cup butter(or earth balance), softened
Garlic to taste
about 10 slices of bread(thicker bread is better but we only had sandwich bread)

Mix the butter and garlic, spread onto each slice of bread. Stack bread and wrap in foil. Put it in a 350 degree oven for about 15 min.

There you have a super fast meal that tastes super yummy!

Vegkabobs

Rich grilled up some vegkabobs for me on Friday. I used a Greek vinaigrette to dip the veggies in. Here is what was on them:
Mushrooms
Green Bell Pepper
Red Bell Pepper
Yellow Bell Pepper
Onion
Yellow Squash
Zucchini

So good!

Salad, Yum!

I had a really yummy salad on Saturday night.
Leafy lettuce(you know the stuff that looks like leaves)
Pecans
Blackberries
Raspberries


It was such a good combination, the flavor was excellent.

What's for dinner? Part 2

Scratch that. I decided to make my own. So here's what I made:

3 garlic cloves, minced
1 pkg. Rice Noddles(also called rice sticks)
1/2 Red bell pepper
1/2 Green bell pepper
Mushrooms(gasp I used canned, it's all I had)
3 Tbs Soy sauce
1 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp salt(optional)
Zucchini, Shredded
Green onion, chopped
Veggie broth, 1/2- 3/4 cup
Prepare noddles a directed on package. Then chop noddles into smaller, pieces not really small just to a little bigger then bite size.
Saute all veggies and garlic. Mix Soy sauce, sugar and salt. add to veggies. Add noddles, mix.
I added extra garlic powder because I love garlic, it's up to you if you want to do the same.
It's really yummy!

What's for dinner?

I found a recipe for Mai Fun(Rice noddles) that I will be trying tonight. When we go to Chinese restaurants This is the first thing I go for. I love these noddles. Here's what I'll be making:

8oz Mai Fun (Rice Vermicelli Noodles)
2 stalks green onion
16oz bag frozen stir fry vegetables
2 tbsp stir fry oil

Sauce:
½ cup chicken broth(I will be using Veggie broth)
3 tbsp soy sauce
½ tsp salt

**I am sure you can just cut up your own veggies instead of using frozen. Let me know what you think!

Vegan Vs. Vegetarian

Before starting this journey I didn't realize that there were so many different none meet eating categories.
Where do you fit in?

VEGETARIAN:
Vegetarian is a blanket term used to describe a person who does not consume meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.

This grouping includes vegans and the various sub- categories of vegetarian; however, it generally implies someone who has less dietary restrictions than a vegan.

SEMI-VEGETARIAN:
The term semi-vegetarian is usually used to describe someone who is a vegetarian who consumes dairy products, eggs, chicken, and fish, but does not consume other animal flesh.

**I have read that many people who are Vegetarian don't believe that this is even a category of vegetarianism, they feel that either you eat animal flesh or you don't end of story. I think be what ever you want to be and call yourself what you want!**

OVO-LACTO-VEGETARIAN:
Ovo-lacto vegetarians are vegetarians who do not consume meat, poultry, fish, and seafood, but do consume eggs and milk. This is the largest group of vegetarians.

OVO-VEGETARIAN:
Ovo-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume eggs.

**an ovo-vegetarian does NOT consume Dairy**

LACTO-VEGETARIAN:
Lacto-vegetarian is a term used to describe someone who would be a vegan if they did not consume milk.

**This is where I fit in(Between Vegan and Lacto-Vegetarian. I do eat dairy on occasion but I do not eat eggs and try to stay away from other edible animal bi-products**

VEGAN:
Vegan is the strictest sub-category of vegetarians. Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products. Some go as far as not even consuming honey and yeast. Others do not wear any clothing made from animal products.

Kale Chips

Kale Chips. Sounds odd, right? I made some because I happen to have kale(don't even remember why I bought it), and while I like them just fine, this is what happened when I asked Logan to give one a try:
Me: Logan will you come try these?
Logan: umm, what is that?
Me: Kale chips.
Logan: Do I have to try it?
Me: Logan it's the smallest one! Please just try that one if you don't like it you don't have to eat another.
Logan:(talks himself into it, you know, "I can do this, I can do this" It was pretty funny) UGH, I don't like it!!
Me: just finish that one.
Logan: Okay.....I really don't like those!
Me: what did it taste like?
Logan: Grass.
Me: When have you ever eaten grass?
Logan: I just did!

I was laughing pretty hard by the end of this conversation. I am posting the recipe I used because I thought they were pretty good and I'd make them again, next time I think I'll add a little garlic powder.

Kale Chips
Small bundle of Kale(about 3-4 leaves)
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Vinegar(optional)
Salt to taste

Cut the stems from the leafy parts, Cut or tear into bite size pieces. Wash and dry leaves. Coat in the oil and vinegar(if using). Put in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 300 Degrees for about 20 min. Salt right after you take them from the oven. Enjoy!


If you try them let me know what you think.