Pinterest Win: Vegetable Lime Chickpea Chili

Guess what day it is... MEATLESS MONDAY! Ok fine, so my play on the camel with Hump Day didn't go over well. Just cuz you don't think I am funny doesn't mean I don't think I am funny.

This is my third Meatless Monday post, and I have to say that I am really enjoying these recipes. One of my besties, Bambi, is vegan so I invited her over tonight to try my new dish. Bambi said she liked it, and Bambi doesn't lie. I mean, hello, she is vegan... people who don't eat meat can't lie. They don't have enough energy to do that. tee hee hee

I have said in earlier posts that participating in Meatless Mondays is healthier and saves you money. Pretty sure my clothes aren't fitting looser, but I can say my grocery bill isn't as high. In addition, it is interesting and challenging to find recipes not based on meat. Most my meal planning started with what meat I had in the fridge or freezer, and then building the meal around that. On Meatless Mondays, it is what vegetables and alternative protein choices I have on hand. Basically, it is similar to switching from building an outfit off what shoes I have, and starting to build outfits from the jewelry on hand instead. I might have lost some men on that analogy, but pretty sure I got my point across.

Back to Bambi's and my dinner date. To be clear, a bottle of wine was involved. I know some of you were worried.

I pinned a recipe on Pinterest over a year ago, and am glad that I found it again. This is posted on my Gluten Free board. The recipe comes from a blog called Two Peas & Their Pod. Maria and Josh are a married couple who love cooking & entertaining and created a blog around it. Their blog literally puts mine to shame, it is good stuff. They have great recipes, and pictures of/references about their son Caleb who is a cutie. You should definitely check out their blog, and their stories.  You will feel like you are a part of their inner circle. :)

Maria and Josh have a recipe for Vegetable Lime Chickpea Chili. It comes from a friend of theirs cookbook. I agree with Maria that the recipe just looks great with all the fresh ingredients.

Photo from http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com
 

For me, one of the best parts is how quickly you can make this chili. The longest part is chopping up the vegetables. This is such an easy meal. The flavor is simple but so good at the same time. Not complex, not over done, just perfect. It is not a "heavy" chili, definitely one you can have in the summer or spring and still feel you have warm, comfort food.

I started sautéing the zucchini and squash first, then added the mushrooms & onion. I made sure the vegetables were cut around the same size so that they will cook evenly. Then all the other ingredients came in and it made a great meal. This literally took about 30 minutes and was very flavorful. This recipe is a go-to for the crazy busy SAHM's and those of us who spend our days behind the desk. Easy, simple, full of flavor ~ definitely will be loved by all.

If you don't believe me, then just ask Bambi. She had two bowls... fine, we both did. And we finished off the bottle of wine. I call that a great Monday night!

I know many of you have rolled your eyes at me trying this Meatless Monday thing, but I encourage you to try some of these meals. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.... and more importantly, full!

Go make you some Vegetable Lime Chickpea Chili!

Pinterest Win: Bruschetta Quinoa Casserole

You know from last week that I am trying the whole Meatless Monday thing. No, I am not becoming a vegetarian. But I hear on The Chew that trying this out can save you $4,000 a year. That is over $300 a month, people! Now, if you are single like me and cooking for only one or two people then it probably isn't that much money. But saving money is saving money, I don't care how much it is. {PS: Yes, I know today is Tuesday. Like I said, yesterday was a recovery day. Quit judging me!}

My friend, Carrie, and I discussed over the weekend to start eating clean this week (after the Monday recovery day, of course). I am not really sure that she and I meant literally eating clean, but at least healthy. Either way, I found a clean recipe on Pinterest a couple months ago that I have been dying to try.

Not only do I like trying healthy dishes, which I inevitably make a little less healthy. (Dude, I am human...) I have been dying to try cooking quinoa. For some reason I have found it to be quite intimidating. The main ingredient of tonight's recipe is quinoa. There are so many health benefits for quinoa, but the one I care about most is the amount of protein it has. I am always trying to find different ways to incorporate protein to my diet. This might sound crazy, but sometimes I am just tired of eating meat. Yes, you read that right... I am a meatatarian, from Texas who just said she is sometimes tired of meat. I would agree that hell has frozen over but it is hotter than (enter explicit here) in Houston. So, that can't be true.

The recipe takes one of the ingredients I am scared of, quinoa, with one of my favorites: bruschetta. How could this go wrong??? Notice how I ask that question long after I made the dish. We both know that would have totally jinxed it. Speaking of the dish, let me get to it.

The Bruschetta Quinoa Casserole comes from a blog called The Iron You. It is written by a gentleman named Mike who is a triathlete and who likes to eat healthy. We obviously aren't dating. However, I am willing to try some other of his healthy recipes. I mean, if the picture of his Bruschetta Quinoa Casserole is any indication... I am eating his recipes all...the...time!

Photo from http://www.theironyou.com

This one is a bit more labor intensive than the last few, but don't let me saying that turn you off. The recipe is not difficult, and I promise that the end product is totally worth it. I swear to you, you must make it.

I followed this recipe pretty closely, except adding more cheese of course. I also added more red pepper flakes. I like things cheesy and spicy... kinda like me!

My version of this came out very well. So well that I ate about 3 portions, rather than one. I don't think this is what The Iron You guy meant when he called it healthy. Don't worry, I did leave some for leftovers for the rest of this week.

Sorry for the portion missing in the picture. It smelled so good that I got too excited to try it and forgot to take the picture first. Rookie move, but I am kinda a rookie so I say it's ok!

If you aren't ready to participate in Meatless Monday fully, try this as a side dish along some grilled chicken or maybe even shrimp. I even think adding mushrooms could make this a little "meatier".

Please visit my Clean Eating Pinterest board for the recipe. I promise you will not regret it! This is absolutely delish!

Pinterest Win: Dynamite Tofu

I have seen a lot of postings on Pinterest about "Meatless Monday". I know that I surely could eat healthier so I figure "why not"? Of course, I launch this tonight... the same day that I meet my friend Felicia for lunch downtown at III Forks for Houston Restaurant Weeks. That's right, Momma had a steak - medium rare - for lunch. It kicked butt. So, going meatless tonight probably was a really good idea. Look at me! Woot woot!

Over a year ago I pinned a tofu recipe called Dynamite Tofu. Hello... it has the word dynamite in it. The dish has to be good!

The recipe looked crazy easy so I obviously had to make it. Granted, the actual recipe calls for it to be served with broccoli and rice. I skipped the rice trying to be healthy, but still steamed some broccoli to eat with the "dynamite" tofu.

I went to the store on the way home to pick up the tofu and broccoli. I had all the other ingredients on the website. Conveniently I love making Asian food, so that is helpful when I find new recipes.

Yes I have said this before, but the dynamite tofu recipe is literally one of the easiest ones to make. I believe it was written so that you can easily change the recipe for your personal liking. I prefer spicy food so I added more Sriracha than the recipe calls for and I added red pepper flakes. Yes, it was hot... and yes, it was SOOOOO good.

Including the prep time of cutting the tofu (which literally takes less than a minute), the total cook time for me was 24 minutes. That, ladies & gentlemen, makes me happy after a day at work - especially a Monday.

To get to the part you have been waiting for, the recipe can be found on my Hungry Hungry Hippo board on Pinterest. Since I have so many recipes on that board, I recommend you fun a search for "tofu". It will show up much easier. Doesn't the pic look yummy?



Photo from http://www.peta.org

Now, I have to be honest that I didn't realize the above beautiful picture would take me to the PETA website when I clicked on it. If you have met me then you know I heart animals, maybe not roaches or spiders, but definitely animals. However, I also think fur coats are soft & comfy. Man, did I just set myself up to get harassed by a hippie? Dangit.

In all seriousness, the PETA website actually has some awesome recipes on there. I definitely recommend you checking it out. Don't worry all my Oil & Gas working friends, I think your company will allow you on the PETA site. At least I think so. I dunno.

Back to me... I mean the recipe. So easy. So tasty. So awesome. Definitely will make this again. Now, my picture doesn't look at yummy as PETA's but pictures can be deceiving. This dish was delish, or shall I say DYNAMITE! (Below is my sad, pathetic picture...)

Maybe next time I should use a smaller plate...

Now go out there and try some tofu. I swear you won't notice a difference from chicken. That's right, I am not gonna lie - you'll know the difference from steak. Definitely will know the difference between tofu and steak. Give me a break, I am a true Texas girl... through & through.

Hope you join me for Meatless Monday!