weeknight meals – happy & we know it

Plant-Based Soup Swap: 2nd Annual

November 22, 2016November 22, 2016 by happycatie, posted in Happy, Nutrition, Recipes

Plant-based cooking seems to leave a lot of people perplexed – what is plant-based cooking? How boring is a soup with just plants in it!? What about THE MEAT!?!?!?!?!

Well, let me tell you, plants and veggies are so much more than boring! Vibrant, nutritious, scrumptious, spicy, crunchy, flavorful, bright, tasty…I could go on and on.

My girlfriend invited me to a soup swap a few years back, where people brought homemade soup, told a bit about how they made it, then exchanged them with friends. Brilliant! Last year, I put my own veggie twist on it and held my first plant-based soup swap.

Last year’s Plant-Based Soup swap was such a hit, I knew I had to have another one. This year I threw the invite out to new friends, family and I myself whipped up two delicious soups for the occasion.

This year, we had 4 beautiful ladies, 5 beautiful, home-made, plant-based soups. Below are the recipes. Enjoy!

4 Bean Veggie Chili

1 onion chopped
1 cup celery chopped
1 cup carrots chopped
Saute’ olive oil till onions are are clear

4 cans trio of kidney beans
2 LG cans roasted tomatoes
2 caned green chilies
2 cans drained black beans
1 can chick peas
2 tabs dark chili powder
1 can diced tomatoes
Heat and enjoy!

Chunky Tomato Soup

I used this recipe – but altered it to make it plant-based by using homegrown tomatoes, coconut milk and veggie broth.

Spicy Thai Noodle Soup

This soup turned out great, just not as thick as I thought. I bet if you added another can of coconut milk with some sriracha, it would pop! It was still delicious though – only thing I altered was not adding the sprouts.

Quinoa Peanut Soup

Ingredients

2 tsp canola oil
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup diced sweet potatoes
1/2 cup of quinoa
4 cups of veggie broth
2 cups of water
1/2 cup of chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup of natural peanut butter
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon Tabasco
Ground pepper to taste

Preperation

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in onion and cook, stirring until soft. Stir in garlic & cook for 30 seconds. Stir in carrots, potatoes, and quinoa, then add broth and water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa is cooked and the veggies are tender (about 18 minutes). Stir in red pepper and cook, stirring for about 3 minutes. Stir in peanut butter until it is combined into the broth. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley, hot sauce and pepper.

Butternut Squash Curry

January 19, 2016January 18, 2016 by happycatie, posted in Happy, Nutrition, Recipes

It’s the second week of the #forward21 challenge and I’m feeling good, eating tons of veggies and sticking to my goals.

Last night, Meatless Monday, I whipped up a Butternut Squash Curry that was delightful and super easy. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

1/2 roasted butternut squash, skinned and chopped (I didn’t use any oil, halved my squash and baked for 35-40 minutes at 375)

1 tablespoon of cumin, 2 tablespoons of curry powder, 1 teaspoon of tumeric, pinch of salt

1/2 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 can of chickpeas
1 small sweet potato, cubed
1/2 small onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced

1 can of lite coconut milk
1 cup of veggie broth

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions

Heat oil in a pot or deep saute pan and add onion & garlic. Cook 10 minutes, or until brown. Add the butternut squash, spices, and veggie broth. Stir for a minute or two. Add the coconut milk and stir.

Get an immersion blender and blend the mixture until smooth. Some lumps are ok.

Add sweet potatoes, stir and cover over medium heat, for 15 minutes.

Add the cauliflower and stir, turning it down to low and cooking for another 15 minutes.

Add the chickpeas, stir. Serve over brown rice or lentils & top with sriracha!

Happy eating!

Meatless Monday: Cauliflower Fried Rice

January 11, 2016January 11, 2016 by happycatie, posted in Happy, Nutrition, Recipes

Welcome to Day 1 of the #Forward21 challenge & the first Meatless Monday of the challenge.

Incorporating more whole foods & veggies into your meals not only boosts you nutritionally (whole foods have vitamins, minerals, live enzymes needed for your health) but helps lesson the carbon footprint we leave. Consuming a plant-based lifestyle takes less water, less land, and less resources overall.

So, today’s Meatless Meal features loads of veggies, good fat and a plant-based protein: Watch my YouTube Video showing you how to make it!

Ingredients

1 cup of kale
1 small onion, minced
1 cup of carrots
1 cup of frozen peas
1/2 block of tofu, drained & cut into cubes
1-2 handfuls of brussel sprouts, cleaned & cut in half
1 head of cauliflower, chopped
1 tablespoons of coconut oil
2 tablespoons of amino acids
1/2 tablespoon of toasted sesame seed oil
2 cloves of garlic minced
Sriracha (to taste)

Cut head of cauliflower into smaller chunks & put into a food processor and pulse until it’s as fine as rice.

Heat coconut oil in a wok on medium low heat. Add garlic & onions & saute for 3-5 minutes.

Stir and add tofu & saute for another 3-5.Tofu should be browned on one side.

Stir again, then add brussel sprouts and carrots, turning up heat to medium for 2 minutes.

Stir then add cauliflower along with a tablespoon of amino acids. Cover, turn down heat, and let sit for 3-5 minutes to let veggies simmer.

Let simmer, stir again, add the peas along with another tablespoon of amino acids for a minute or two, stirring under medium low heat. Add the sesame seed oil then top with kale and saute another minute.

Scoop & enjoy (I put a bit of sriracha on mine)!

Happy Monday!