Meal Planning

Time for weekly meal planning.  I'll probably go grocery shopping tomorrow.  Here is what I currently have on hand to use up:  one green bell pepper, a pound of baby spinach, 14 oz organic white mushrooms, a few remaining hamburger buns, a loaf of sourdough, and a couple pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes.  Here is what I'm making:

Creole Red Beans & Brown Rice

This is tonight.  The red beans are cooking in the InstantPot right now.  It'll use up the diced red bell pepper in my freezer and part of the green bell pepper in my fridge, as well as the rest of the red onion currently in my fridge.  This is a tasty, easy, healthy dish that even Simran loves, so I make it often.

Five Guys-Style Veggie Sandwiches with Cheese

I don't know what Sim will make of this, but Sameer and I like them.  I've never made this myself before, but it seems easy enough based on having eaten the sandwich from the restaurant.  Maybe I can make baked seasoned fries from some of the potatoes too.  The sandwiches will use up the rest of the green bell pepper, some of the mushrooms, and some onion, as well as the remaining hamburger buns from when we did veggie burgers the other day.  Again, I already have everything I need to make these.

Vegan Chana Pulao

This looks and sounds good, so I want to try it.  It'll also utilize bunch of random vegetables I have on hand in my fridge and freezer.  I also have a couple containers of good cashew yogurt on hand that'll work for this.

 

Jalapeno Popper Melts

Because it'll use up a good portion of the sourdough loaf and also because I love it.  Maybe Friday or Saturday.

 

Chickpea Flour Omelette

I might do this one of the nights it's just me and Sim.  Or save it for next week.  It would use up some more of the baby spinach though, and I have everything already on hand.

 

Vegan Breakfast Burritos

I also like having these ingredients on hand for a comfort food lunch, so maybe I'll make these one night for Sim and me.  I could use up the potatoes on these.  And if I also make pancakes, I can call it "brinner" and Sim will get excited no matter what.  I would also make sausages. 

Cherry Sorbet

Because I love this and haven't made it in a long time.  Also I'm trying to lose weight, and having healthy sweet treats on hand helps keep me from eating much more calorie-laden foods.  I'll probably make mango sorbet (from canned unsweetened mango pulp) again later in the week too because Sim loves it so much and it's easy too.

Meal Planning

Time for weekly meal planning.  The main things I have to use up are a julienned red bell pepper, a couple nearly empty tubs of plain yogurt, and about 8 ounces of arugula.  I also have a few varieties of cheese in different containers.  Here is what I'm making:

Vegan Vegetable Lo Mein

I'm making this tonight because I haven't gone to the store lately and I can make this from things I have on hand. Also I can put the red bell pepper and arugula into it.  [Edited after dinner:  I really enjoyed this.  Sameer did too.  It tasted like basic restaurant lo mein to me.  I used whole wheat spaghetti for the noodles.  Sim gave it a "neutral thumb," which is a pretty good rating for something made of mostly random leftover vegetables with no cheese on it.]

 

 

 

Turmeric Miso Soup with Ginger, Garlic, and Tofu

I think I'll make this tonight too.  It sounds good, and I'm always trying to include more turmeric in my diet. Plus this should ensure I have enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.  [Edited after dinner: Sim gave the soup a thumbs up, which was unexpected and is rare.  Sameer and I really liked the soup too.  It reminds me of a soup I can't remember the name of from Grasshopper Cafe in Allston that I always loved and Sameer would bring me when I was sick during college.  The next time I get a cold, I'm making this.]

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Nice Cream

I want to make this tonight too.  I have a giant bag of bananas in my freezer, and I looked up whether anyone had made chocolate and peanut butter flavored nice cream into a thing, and fortunately it was already a very popular idea, so I'll use the proportions in this recipe rather than guess as I go. [Edited after dinner: Sim did not love this.  She ate a little.  I think she couldn't wrap her head around it being so banana-y even though she knew what it was going into it.  She also doesn't put a lot of value into healthiness of desserts.  I liked it a lot.  Sameer liked it too.]

Veggie Burgers and Crudites

We bought some Morningstar frozen veggie burgers the other day, so we have those to eat.  Maybe Saturday since it's so quick and easy.

Pizza and Green Salad

Because Sim really wants to have pizza.  And this could use up some or most of the mozzarella, parmesan, and sharp cheddar in the fridge.  

Spiced Spinach Tofu Stir-fry and Brown Rice and Garlic Naan

Maybe I'll make this again already.  We had it last week and it was really good and really quick and easy.  Plus we could finally finish off the garlic naan in the fridge and freezer.

Creole Red Beans & Brown Rice

Because I already have all the ingredients on hand, including some diced red bell pepper in the freezer.

Vegan Hot & Sour Soup

I'm not sure if my family would like this or what I'd pair with it (some kind of salad or mostly vegetable dish I think), but I'm putting this here as a reminder to try it later.  It sounds good for when I next buy cabbage, and soup makes for good lunchtime leftovers.

My Favorite Grilled Cheese

This is based on the grilled cheese sandwich recipe from Woody's Lunchbox at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  I just tweaked it a bit to make it more to my liking.  It tastes to me like very cheesy garlic bread, but in sandwich form.  And it's so rich that it makes me actually want tomato soup with it.

Ingredients

2 slices sourdough bread 

1 oz. cream cheese

1-2 slices mozzarella (depending on size and thickness -- you want a consistent layer of each cheese across the sandwich)

1-2 slices extra sharp cheddar

1-2 tbs garlic mayo (I make this by putting a bunch of garlic in my food processor with some Vegannaise)

Directions

1) Heat a skillet over medium heat.

2) Apply a thin layer of garlic mayo to one side of each slice of bread.  You don't want too much because it can blacken rather than increase the flavor.  Lay one slice on the hot skillet, mayo side down.

3) Layer cream cheese, mozzarella, and cheddar evenly onto the bread.  Top with the remaining slice of bread, mayo side facing out.

4) When the cheese begins to melt, flip the sandwich.  Cook until both sides are browned to your liking and cheese inside is melty. 

Meal Planning

Time for weekly meal planning.  I currently have a bag of fresh green beans, a few fistfuls of spring greens, three rapidly aging tomatoes, a pint of cremini mushrooms, celery, and a package of vegetarian kielbasa.  Here is what I'm making:

Vegetarian Kielbasa with Sauerkraut and Seared French Beans with Caper Bagna Cauda and Steamed Mushrooms

I'm making this for Sim and me tonight while Sameer fasts.  She loves the green bean dish, but not sure how she'll feel about the kielbasa.  This will use up both the green beans and the mushrooms and half the kielbasa -- more if I eat the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.  

Avocado Grilled Enchiladas and Red Cabbage Slaw

Sameer wants to make this for Valentine's Day tomorrow night.

Classic Vegan Fish Tacos with Pico de Gallo  

For Sim and me Tuesday night.  It'll finish off the tomatoes as well as the Gardein veg fish in the freezer.  I already have chipotle mayo in the fridge from the last time I made it, and there should be red cabbage slaw leftover from Monday night.

Ravioli with Arugula & Pecorino Romano

This will finish off the bag of cheese ravioli in the freezer.  Saturday night because it's so quick and easy, and I hate cooking on Saturdays.

Vegan Shepherd's Pie

Because it'll use up some of my carrots, celery, lentils, and frozen peas.  I'll use boxed mashed potatoes and soy milk for the topping because it's easy and I already have it. 

Spiced Spinach Tofu Stir-fry and Brown Rice and Garlic Naan

I still have a bunch of garlic naan in the freezer, so this seemed like a good use of it.  I chose the spinach tofu because beans and greens are the hardest things to get enough of in my diet.  I can also throw any leftover frozen greens in this.  I saw a bag of something dark and leafy in the back of my freezer recently and I'd like to use it up.

 

Thursday Sim and I will have some kind of leftovers or sandwiches while Sameer is fasting.  We should have plenty of surplus food from the other days.

Meal Planning

I've pretty much used up the bread and vegetables, so I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow.  Here's what I'll make this week:

Vegan Saag Tofu and Masoor Dal Tadka and Brown Basmati Rice and Garlic Naan

This is my favorite saag paneer recipe, but it isn't vegan, so I'm substituting firm tofu for the paneer and coconut milk for the heavy cream.  The naan will just be the Trader Joe's kind from the freezer section.  I think I have at least two bags of it in my freezer.

Black Bean Burgers and Crudites

I made and froze a double batch of black bean burgers last week to use up the mushrooms I bought for making veg meatballs. This should be an extra easy dinner for Saturday night when I have no desire to actually cook.

Thai Green Curry Stir-fry Noodles

 

Taco Night