Meal Planning

Leftovers

We went out to Cheesecake Factory last night for Father's Day, so tonight we're eating leftovers from that and Friday's falafel night.

Vegan BBQ Ribs and Red Bean and Arugula Salad with Mango Balsamic Dressing (The How Not to Diet Cookbook, pg. 55) and Seared French Beans with Caper Bagna Cauda and Deviled Eggs and Pasta Salad

Because I'm still trying to use up the bottle of barbecue sauce in the fridge, there is a bunch of arugula leftover from last week's tortellini with arugula, and I bought green beans and eggs last week that need to be used up. The pasta salad will be from the last of the uncooked cheese tortellini in the fridge -- I haven't decided if I'm going to find a recipe or just throw it together with some cut veg and bottled dressing from the fridge. I'm making way too much food Monday night with the intent of feeding off the leftovers for a couple days.

Vegetable Barley Soup and DIY Sandwiches

Tuesday will be very busy with appointments and Simran's voice lesson, but if I cut the vegetables ahead of time for the soup, this should be easy to pull off with the Instant Pot. 

Wednesday we'll probably do leftovers again to clear out the fridge in preparation for a short trip. If we can't finish the soup in two days, I might put it in the freezer.

Burgers & Bagged Salad

I could have this in the fridge ready to go when we get home Friday night.

Next week, to use up ingredients I already have:

Falafel (plus Red Sauce and Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Hummus) with Fresh Pita Bread and Greek Salad

Pizza Moong Muffin 

I also want to make bran muffins again soon to use up the unsweetened applesauce in the fridge, and I have nonfat yogurt in the fridge that could become pancakes or something. I think we've finished off the pancakes from the freezer.

Meal Planning

Vegan BBQ Ribs and Easy Bean Salad and Summer Salad (The How Not to Diet Cookbook, pg. 37)

Vegetarian Chili 

Vegan Fried Chicken Salad with Ranch

Ravioli with Arugula and Pecorino

I have some tortellini in the fridge I plan to sub in for the ravioli.

Salad & Sandwiches

Because I have vegetarian turkey and ham slices in the fridge that need to be used.

Falafel (plus Red Sauce and Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Hummus) with Fresh Pita Bread and Greek Salad

Other Salads I Want to Try:

Red Bean and Arugula Salad with Mango Balsamic Dressing (The How Not to Diet Cookbook, pg. 55)

Chopped Salad Bowl (The How Not to Diet Cookbook, pg 62)

Super Salad with Garlic Caesar Dressing & Hemp Hearts (The How Not to Die Cookbook, pg. 83)

Meal Planning

Easy Cheese & Bean Enchiladas

From some leftovers in the fridge and a giant can of enchilada sauce in my pantry.

Tofu Salad Sandwiches and Cucumber Salad

Because Tuesday is supposed to be hot, plus Simran has a voice lesson so I need something I can prep in advance.

Vegan Fried Chicken Salad with Ranch

Didn't end up making this last week.

Vegan BBQ Ribs and Easy Bean Salad and Fresh Veg Side

To use up the open BBQ sauce bottle in the fridge since we're going to have some cool days in the future.

Fettuccine Alfredo and Grilled Halloumi Bruschetta Salad

Simran is making dinner herself for the first time, so I told her to pick out a main and a salad to make, and this is what she chose.

 

Pizza Moong Muffin

To try for protein-laden breakfasts when it's cool enough to bake again.

Meal Planning

We just got back from Boston this week. I'm trying to increase my vegetable intake as well as protein. My MIL doesn't eat vegan "fake meat," so I'm trying to maximize how much of that I enjoy while she is visiting family.

Everything Salad

Hard boiled some eggs and cooked some zipper cream peas from the pantry to add to a base of Greek Salad and some cherry tomatoes and lettuce greens I had to use up.

Vegan Pad Thai

Fresh Veggie Tacos with Fresh Guacamole

Burgers & Bag Salad

Easy Saturday night stuff. I already have bag salad in the fridge that needs to be used.

Vegan Fried Chicken Salad with Ranch

I have lots of soy curls in the pantry, plus some homemade yogurt ranch already in the fridge. I can throw any sprouts leftover from the veggie tacos into the salad.

French Onion Skillet Lasagna 

Because I can throw any leftover mushrooms from the veggie tacos into this, and it'll also use up my box of lasagna noodles.

Vegan BBQ Ribs and Easy Bean Salad and Fresh Veg Side (made of whatever I've got or whatever looks good at the store -- probably a green salad and maybe corn on the cob)

I have lots of dried beans to utilize, plus fat free Italian dressing already in the fridge.

Bran Muffins

While it's cool enough to bake in the oven. I also want to try a batch made in the style of Mocha Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins  by omitting the Craisins and including instant coffee, overripe bananas in place of some of the applesauce, and cacao nibs that are currently taking up space in my pantry.

Meal Planning

Tofu Salad Sandwiches

Vegetable Lasagna

Zucchini Noodles with Haloumi and Pesto

Red Chile Enchiladas

Veg Big Macs & Fries

Bran Muffins

 I made these muffins last week to use up a bag of oat bran that was taking up space in my freezer. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup plain non-fat yogurt

• 2/3 cup water

• 1/2 cup date sugar

• ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce

• 1 tbs ground flaxseed

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 ½ cups bran (wheat and/or oat)

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (or substitute another whole grain flour)

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup Craisins (or raisins or other dried fruit)

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Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Combine wet ingredients (yogurt through vanilla extract). Combine dry ingredients (bran through salt). 

3. Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Add Craisins and mix until combined.

4. Fill muffin liners in muffin tin and bake 15 to 20 minutes. 

Meal Planning

Ready-Made Frozen Indian Food and Dal Lasooni and Basmati Rice

Because I have the frozen meals taking up space in the freezer already, and I want to use up the can of tomato sauce I opened the last time I made the dal.

Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa and Black Beans 

Because it's quick and easy and Simran has her voice lesson Tuesday.

Gnocchi with Spinach and White Beans

Wednesday, so I can have some spinach set aside for pita pizzas Saturday.

Falafel (plus Red Sauce and Cucumber Yogurt Sauce and Hummus) with Fresh Pita Bread and Greek Salad

Friday, because I want it. I'm going to make extra pitas for the purposes of pita pizza Saturday night.

Pita Pizzas

Saturday, because it's tasty and very easy.