Vegetarian Tacos

I've shared before that Dan and I try to enjoy 1-2 vegetarian meals a week to help keep our grocery budget down and for health purposes. When I first suggested this idea, I wish you could have seen the look on my husband's face! He could eat meat with every meal and the thought of not having a meat with supper was especially appalling. I've come up with a few meals  now that he loves and they have no meat at all. Here is one that I posted earlier in the summer.

Tacos have always been a favorite in our house. We normally eat them about once a week. They are so easy and quick. These vegetarian tacos are even quicker than normal tacos and equally delicious. This recipe serves about 4 people.

What you'll need:

2 cans of black beans

1 1/2 cans corn or 1 1/2 cups of frozen corn (in the summer, I use 2 ears of fresh)

1 can diced tomatoes with chili peppers

1 package of taco seasoning

toppings for tacos: cheese, lettuce, sour cream, cabbage- whatever you like

hard or soft taco shells

Here is the EASY part: 

1. Drain the beans and corn from the liquid in the can, and put in a medium pot. Add the tomatoes and taco seasoning. Cook uncovered for about 10 minutes on medium high heat, stirring every few minutes.

2. Put mixture in the tortillas, add the toppings you like, and enjoy!

It doesn't get much easier or healthier than that! You can also take the mixture and add cheese and make quesadillas with it. It is also delicious.

We enjoy this meal now once a week, at least. My husband, who used to think he could never eat a vegetarian meal, always asks me to make this recipe. :)

The BEST (quick) breakfast!

Well, I've completely failed at blogging over the past few months! Life, i.e. working 50+ hours weekly, taking graduate courses, and other life happenings, took over for a while. Things are beginning to slow down a bit and I have tons of recipes that I hope to share over the next few months.

Like I mentioned above, I lead a busy life- like I'm sure many of you. However, I like to take a few minutes in the morning to enjoy breakfast. I leave home for work at 6:15 am, but I don't eat lunch until 12:50. I'm always trying to find new things to eat for breakfast that will hold me over until lunch time. This breakfast is super simple and easy. It's also very healthy and fillling.

 I'm not even going to call this a recipe, because its really not. It's simply one piece of whole wheat toast, spread with 2 tsp. of all natural peanut butter. Top the toast with sliced banana and drizzle with 1 tsp. of honey.

The star of this breakfast is really this honey. I love the Savannah Bee Company and this orange blossom honey is amazing.

You could also mix it up, and top your toast with sliced pear, which is equally delicious.

Hope you enjoy!

Tomato Basil Pasta

Over the past few months, my husband and I have been trying to have a vegetarian meal one night a week. I know- to some people that is a crime! Being vegetarian is not necessarily healthy, but it is very economic and is healthy when done right. Since it is summer, vegetarian night has become one of my favorites. Veggies are just so darn good right now! This is also, yet another tomato and basil dish. I promise that with fall on the way, I'll stop posting about tomatoes. I will have to because our garden is slowing down and will be finished producing soon, but until then... I invite you to humor me with one more tomato dish and to try this vegetarian meal this week!

 

Here is one of my favorite mid-week vegetarian meals.

 

Tomato-Basil Pasta

1. Use this blog to to prepare your tomatoes. You need about 3-4 cups of raw, cut tomatoes. Follow the directions of the blog until your tomatoes are cooked. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to a boil for pasta. Once boiling, add a dash of salt, one tsp. olive oil, and desired amount of pasta. I use whole-wheat pasta for the extra protein (something you need, but miss out on with sans-meat meals).
2. Add 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. of pepper. Pour tomato sauce in a medium bowl and set aside.
3. In the same pot, add 1 tbsp. olive oil. Saute one clove of garlic for about 1 minute on medium-low heat.
4. Add tomatoes back to the pot and add 1/2 c. of chopped basil. Cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat. If you like a smoother consistency, you can pop this mixture in the blender and make it as smooth as you like!

5. Place pasta in bowls, spoon sauce on top, and top with Parmesan cheese and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil for an extra bit of decadence.

 

 We did enjoy this meal without meat, but it is perfectly okay (and delicious) to add a grilled chicken breast seasoned with Italian seasonings. Also, if you don't want to prepare fresh tomatoes, a can of whole tomatoes works too. Just cut them to the consistency you want.

Happy Eating!