Original: 10/6/18
Edited: 12/28/22

Quick
Vegetarian

I’m teaching my students how to write narratives, so I’ve been doing a lot of model writing for them.  A good narrative has a hook that makes the reader want to read your story.  This is a skill that I struggle with when I’m writing my blog posts.

However, it is important for a writer to have a hook to get the reader to read what you have written.

Like a writer needs a hook, sometimes you need a beef taco.  Since I’m a vegetarian, I don’t have the typical beef taco.

I’ve tried TVP, which is textured vegetable protein but usually turns into a brown soupy mess.  Yuck!  Not appetizing.

Then I tried the Beefless Ground Beef along with their soy chorizo.  It’s just the right texture.

“Beef” tacos get into my belly.

What you need:

• a third of a package of Trader Joe’s “beefless” ground beef
• a third of a package of Trader Joe’s soy chorizo
• a third of a jar of Trader Joe’s enchilada sauce

“Beef” Tacos

Stars of the recipe:

• 1/3 of a package of Trader Joe’s “beefless” ground beef
• 1/3 of a package of Trader Joe’s soy chorizo; make sure to take off the casing
• 1/3 of a jar of Trader Joe’s enchilada sauce (You may need a little more than the third.)
• Tortillas (hard or soft)
• Your favorite toppings

Steps:

1. Combine the “beetles” ground beef, soy chorizo, and enchilada sauce in a saucepan.
2. Cook on medium heat until heated through. Add more sauce if it’s not coated enough.)
3. Enjoy on a tortilla with your favorite toppings.

This recipe is vegan before you add your toppings.

Happy vegetarian eating,
Traci

Original: 10/7/ 18
Edited: 12/28/22

Vegetarian
Gluten-free
Easy
Meal Prep
Quick
Kid Friendly

While I was sick with my gallstones last year,  I had one food that did not bother my stomach. Okay, it did bother me if it was greasy, but if it was cooked with no oil or grease, I had little to no problems.

Potatoes were my friend during those 4 months. I would spiralize potatoes and then cook up like hash browns on the stove.

That is until I started to cook the home fries in my oven. We love a roasted potato in the household, so this made things much easier.

Hubby might debate if these potatoes are better than the ones we get at a local breakfast place called Butter Cafe. He adores their home fries.

What you need:

• 2 red potatoes or 4 to 5 baby red potatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 red onion
• olive oil
• garlic powder or your favorite seasoning

Better than Restaurant Oven Home Fries

Stars of the recipe:

• 2 red potatoes, cubed or 4 to 5 baby red potatoes, quartered, or even cut into eighths
• 1/2 to 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1/2 to 1 red onion, cut into chunks
• 1 Tbsp. Extra olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder or your favorite seasoning

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Place the potatoes, bell pepper, and onion on a rimmed baking sheet.
3. Pour the extra virgin olive oil over the veggies. Using clean hands or a spatula, ensure the veggies are covered with the oil.
4. Sprinkle the seasoning over the veggies.
5. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes at 425 degrees.
6. Enjoy!

I enjoy using the onion salt from Trader Joe’s on my potatoes.

We love to use sriracha ketchup from Red Gold on our fries and roasted potatoes.

This recipe is not only vegetarian but also vegan. Score!

Happy vegetarian eating,
Traci

Original: 10/3/18
Edited: 12/26/22

Vegetarian
Gluten-free if using gluten-free pasta
Easy
Meal Plan

In August, I finally met some family members I had never met before. They live on the west coast, Oregon, and don’t get to Ohio very often.

My mom’s first cousin, their mother, lives in the Phoenix area. She comes into town more often than her children. She was planning to visit the family and decided her children should also come to Ohio.

Since they came into town, one of my mom’s first cousins decided we needed a family get-together with a potluck dinner.

My aunt flew into town from New York. That was an adventure in itself. (Needless to say, her maybe 4-hour trip took almost 12 hours because of plane delays and missed connections).

Any-who, on the same day as the family, get together, our church had its annual picnic. I needed to make something that could be served at the picnic and the get-together. That’s when I decided to make this Greek pasta salad. It’s quick and easy to put together.

This recipe can either be prepped for the week or eaten as a side dish. If you decide to prep it for the week, add the dressing before you eat the pasta salad, so it does not get soggy.

The dressing I used for this recipe was the Greek Feta cheese dressing from Trader Joe’s. However, you can use whatever Greek dressing you desire.

What you’ll need:

• Box of farfalle pasta (bow tie pasta) – You can use any shape,o like penne, but I just like the shape of the bow ties.
• Jar of artichokes
• Kalamata Olives
• Bell Pepper (orange, red, or yellow)
• Feta Cheese
• Sundried Tomatoes
• Greek dressing
  

Happy vegetarian eating,
Traci

Original: 10/2/18
Edited 12/23/2022

Vegetarian
Gluten-Free
Quick
Easy
Meal planning

When you buy Greek yogurt with fruit on the bottom, the price ranges from around $0.70 at Aldi’s to almost $2.00.

It’s easy to make your own. Making your own is also economical. Especially with the way the economy is going currently.

I purchase my frozen fruit and Greek yogurt at Aldi’s for 5 to 10 dollars. You can make about 6 to 7 fruit on the bottom yogurt cups.

My favorite is the berry blend. I top my yogurt cups with granola when I’m ready to eat the yogurt.

What you need:

• 16 oz. frozen fruit
• maple syrup
• cornstarch
• water
• Greek yogurt, regular yogurt, nondairy yogurt (flavored or unflavored)
• granola
• Mason jars or small lidded container
• honey

Fruit Compote

Stars of the Recipe:

• 16-ounce bag of frozen fruit, do not thaw
• 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 tsp. cornstarch

Steps:

1. Place fruit in a saucepan.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the saucepan. Stir.
3. Cook on medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the sauce is thickened.
4. Remove from the heat. Allow the compote to cool.

Fruit Compote

Stars of the Recipe:

• Large container of Greek yogurt
• 8-oz. Mason jar
• Fruit compote
• honey

Steps:

1. Place 2 to 3 Tbsp. of the fruit compote on the bottom of the Mason jar.
2. Top with a fourth to a half cup of Greek yogurt.
3. Squeeze about a Tbsp. of honey over the yogurt.
4. Place the lid on the yogurt.
5. Enjoy with your favorite granola.

Use the yogurt cups within a week.

Happy vegetarian eating,
Traci

I’m sorry I’ve been AWOL for the past few days.  I’ve been exhausted and had ZERO writing bug.  Every time I thought about writing, I was like Nah!

So today I’m back with the writing.

On Thursday, I shared with you my favorite meat substitutes.  Today I’m going to share one of the ways I use the meat substitute.

One of our favorite meals is sloppy Joes.  So instead of eating Sloppy Joes with ground beef, I make mine with the meat substitute.

What you need:

• 1 batch of the meat substitute
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 sm. can of tomato paste (6 oz)
• 1 sm. can of tomato sauce (8 oz)
• yellow mustard
• apple cider vinegar
• brown sugar
• chili powder
• salt and pepper

Happy vegetarian eating,
Traci