Recipes, Meals, and Whatnot

Sameer's mom is coming to stay again starting Saturday. My goal this week is to use up as many ingredients I have on hand as possible and make things I don't make when she is here. Here is what I'm making:

Pasta Primavera

Because I don't want to go to the grocery store today while Sim is still off from school, and I can make a sauce from leftover open jars and cream cheese in the fridge, and I have enough frozen vegetables and vegan chik'n slices in the freezer to fill it out.

Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread

Tomorrow because I have lots of dry beans in the pantry and Sim has voice lessons starting up again and this one can be ready in the Instant Pot when we get home.

Black Bean Burgers

Because I have some homemade burgers still taking up space in my freezer.

Chilli Miso Pasta

I love this and have most of the ingredients on hand, and my MIL doesn't eat mushrooms so I won't make it while she's here.

Veg Big Macs & Fries

Friday night junk food dinner. My MIL does not eat fake meat, and I would like to have burgers before she arrives. This one will require buying most of the ingredients, but that's okay.

Black Bean Quesaritos

I might make this Saturday when MIL arrives because we all like it, the only ingredient I need is Mexican rice. I'm starting a new medication that day so I don't know how I'll feel, and I can prep most of it in advance.

Other Dinners I Want to Make Soon:

Vegan Lentil Quinoa Loaf and Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Veggie Side

Because I have a whole bag of organic sweet potatoes to use up.

Spinach & Feta Pita Bake

Because I have a jar of sun-dried tomato pesto. This one might wait until my MIL arrives since I can leave the mushrooms off hers.

Tofu Pot Pie

I think I can make this while my MIL is here, and the chilli miso pasta will yield enough leftover tofu to make it. The only reason I'm not making it today is because I'm out of tofu.

For Breakfast:

Moong Pizza Muffins

Monday, December 15, 2025

Christmas 2025

Deviled Eggs

Gardein Turkey Cutlets with Gravy

Green Bean Casserole

Stuffed Mushrooms with Horseradish Cream Sauce

Boxed Mashed Potatoes

Dinner Rolls

Candied Pears

Sweet Potato Pie

Monday, December 1, 2025

Meal Planning

It's that magical time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas when I try to eat healthy and also use up stuff from my pantry. I currently have way too many beans, courtesy of the Rancho Gordo Bean Club. I'm trying to increase my protein intake without giving myself a stomachache, so I'm experimenting with some hummuses. I just made a classic hummus out of black tiny chickpeas from my latest bean box, which looks and tastes basically like any other classic hummus because it turns out the chickpeas aren't black on the inside. I'll buy some carrots to go with it. I replaced the oil with more aquafaba because I can't tell the difference in the final product and it makes it lower in fat.

I also want to try gingerbread hummus for eating with apples because it looks lower in fat than peanut butter and lower in sugar than date caramel, and I don't care for plain apples. It's snowy and cold out this week, so here is what I'm making for dinners:

Tofu Pot Pie

Tonight. To finish off the tofu in my freezer.

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa and Black Beans

Tuesday, with easy guacamole, because Simran has rehearsal until late.

Vegan Irish Sausages and Colcannon (The No Meat Athlete Cookbook, pg. 164)

Because I want the high protein sausages and it's a pretty low-fat, healthy meal.

Vegan Hot & Sour Soup

Because it sounds good and will use up some of the cabbage leftover from the colcannon.

Chilli-Garlic Noodles

To finish off the cabbage.

Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon

It's a nice cold weather stew.

Tofu Manchurian

Because it looks good, and I can scale up the sauce to include any leftover cauliflower from the bourguinon. I want to try making this in the air fryer instead of a skillet, but it might be smarter to just do the skillet version first. I'll probably go with skillet this time.

Vegetarian Chili and Cornbread

Seven-Layer Tortilla Pie

Catalan Polenta with Spinach and Butter Beans