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Easy Summer Vegetarian

First of all, no, the title is not Jon’s pet name for me.

Uh hem.

And technically, I’m not a vegetarian. I WOULD be a vegetarian were it not for the carnivores with whom I reside. I purchase and prepare meat for them, and then sometimes partake of said meat. I’m not very creative with meat. I mostly grill or broil it. Sometimes I use the crockpot. It’s sort of my passive aggressive way of persuading them to dislike meat, too. If I keep making it bland, they’ll stop wanting it.

I’ve totally stopped serving beef after I read this headline. So don’t be expecting any beef recipes from me, ever, K?

Anyway, I have some great vegetarian recipes that I want to share that are tasty and easy. I wish I had some pictures of them. They are gorgeous, too!

But that would mean that I would have had to prepare them recently…which I haven’t.

You don’t want pictures of what we’ve eaten recently. We’re getting ready to leave for vacation, so I’m pulling everything out of the fridge and pantry that will go bad before we return. Otherwise known in our house as “Hodge Podge.” No recipes required for “Hodge Podge.” And no photography, please.

“Here kids: We’ve got half an apple, some strawberry yogurt, two potatoes, a cheese stick and a dozen eggs that expired yesterday . Want catsup with that, honey?”

In less than 48 hours, I’ll be dining ocean-side. Everything tastes good ocean-side. Even “Hodge Podge” tastes good ocean-side. Maybe even beef would taste good ocean-side–but that may be pushing it.

So for those of you who will be home, enjoying the early days of summer, these favorite recipes of mine are for YOU. If you try them, let me know.

This first one is great as a main dish for a lunch or light dinner, or you can take it to a summer cookout as a side dish because it can be served at room temp. Last time I took it to a family potluck, my entire family wanted the recipe.

And it literally takes about 7 minutes to make.

Couscous Salad

1 ¼ cups water
1 (1 lb) bag frozen broccoli, red pepper, onion and mushroom blend (if you can’t find that blend, it’s OK to use a little of each from separate bags. It doesn’t have to be exact and it can be veggies you like.)
1 (5.8 oz) Near East roasted garlic and olive oil couscous mix (they have a whole wheat one now, which would make this even better!)
¼ cup fat free Caesar salad dressing, divided
1 (10 oz) bag fresh spinach, thinly sliced or chopped
1 cup (4 oz) crumbled feta cheese

1. Combine water, frozen veggies and seasoning package from couscous in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil.

2. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes until liquid is absorbed
3. Add 1 tablespoon dressing and fluff with fork
4. Combine couscous mixture, spinach, and remaining dressing in a large bowl; toss well, sprinkle with feta and serve.Makes 5 servings, 2 cups each
Calories: 233
Protein: 11 grams (more if you use whole wheat)
Fat: 5.9 grams
Carbs: 35 grams

This next one, I’ve served to company many times and I always get rave reviews! That’s right. I serve vegetarian to guests. If it’s good, they don’t even notice! Goes great with a fresh green salad or fruit salad and some hot crusty bread! Yum…”Hodge Podge” is sounding pretty pitiful right now…
Asparagus-Pesto Lasagna
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 ½ cups low fat milk, divided (you can cut some fat and calories here by going with skim)
6 Tbs pesto, or more to taste (I buy mine jarred in the Italian aisle, but you can also find it fresh in the refrigerator section or make your own)
2 Tbs grated Parmesean Cheese, plus additional for garnish
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp olive oil
1 ¼ lb asparagus spears, tips cut off and reserved, spears trimmed and chopped into ¼ inch pieces
1 clove garlic, minced
16 no-cook lasagna noodles (I actually use whole wheat and cook them)
2 cups shredded Fontina or part skim mozzarella cheese divided1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Whisk flour and ½ cup milk in saucepan until smooth. Gradually whisk in remaining milk. Bring to boil over med heat, whisking constantly, and boil 1 minute, or until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in pesto, Parmesean, salt and pepper. Reserve 1 cup white sauce.
3. Warm oil in large nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Add chopped asparagus (not tips) and cook, stirring often, 5 min or until tender. Add garlic, cook, stirring 1 min and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
4. Coat 13×9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place layers of noodles in dish, overlapping slightly. Layer with half of cooked asparagus, ¾ cup Fontina or mozzarella and half of sauce. And another layer of pasta, remaining asparagus (not tips) and ¾ cup Fontina or mozzarella.
5. Top with layer of noodles, then with reserved 1 cup sauce. Arrange reserved asparagus tips over top in a fancy shmancy pattern and sprinkle with remaining Fontina.
6. Bake uncovered 35-40 min or until golden. Let stand 10 min before serving.
Makes 10 servings
Calories: 413
Protein: 21 grams (more if you use whole wheat)
Fat: 17 grams
Carbs: 44 grams

Alright, alright. If you just can’t fathom dinner without meat and you want something that looks different and fancy, but really is NOT…try this:

 

Super Easy Fancy Shmancy Chicken Skewers

Boneless, skinless chicken breast, one for each person
Your favorite Italian dressing
Your favorite bar-b-que sauce
Little wooden skewers soaked in water

1. Cut up boneless-skinless chicken breast into 1 inch cubes. Marinate half of them in Italian salad dressing and the other half in bar-b-cue sauce for a few hours.

2. Place cubes on little wooden skewers.

3. Spray grill with cooking spray (BEFORE you light it!!! I hope you know that, but I’ve learned not to assume)
4. Place skewers on grill. These cook up really fast, so turn often, continuing to brush with more dressing and sauce.
5. Take them off the grill and put them on a pretty platter that that you only use for holidays.
Serve with baked potatoes or over steamed rice and a fresh green salad or a big platter of fresh cut veggies.My kids thought I was a culinary genius when I made this. Even though it’s just grilled chicken, there’s something about having two kinds in one day and having them on little skewers that just makes them look and smell totally incredible.

Even for those of us who would not be eating meat, were it not for the carnivores with whom we reside.

Have a great weekend!

Thanks for never missing an adventure!

22 Comments

  1. These look DELICIOUS!!!

    Too bad I can't just copy and paste them into my oven. I'll have to do a little tweaking to make them vegan, but I'm definitely going to start with the couscous. I've never tried it before. YEAH!!! Something new to add to the oh so tiny menu I have so far.

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    And I joined up with you with Mr. Linky. Sorry that sounded a little awkward. I posted a butternut squash/apple recipe. Come check it out.

    Reply

  2. These look DELICIOUS!!!

    Too bad I can't just copy and paste them into my oven. I'll have to do a little tweaking to make them vegan, but I'm definitely going to start with the couscous. I've never tried it before. YEAH!!! Something new to add to the oh so tiny menu I have so far.

    Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

    And I joined up with you with Mr. Linky. Sorry that sounded a little awkward. I posted a butternut squash/apple recipe. Come check it out.

    Reply

  3. Delighted to meet you. I can smell the goodness coming from your kitchen. As a missionary family, we truly are learning the importance of eating well and cooking everything from scratch. Got any new recipes to spice up rice and beans?

    Enjoying my time on your site, I'll be back.
    Sarah Dawn

    Reply

  4. Delighted to meet you. I can smell the goodness coming from your kitchen. As a missionary family, we truly are learning the importance of eating well and cooking everything from scratch. Got any new recipes to spice up rice and beans?

    Enjoying my time on your site, I'll be back.
    Sarah Dawn

    Reply

  5. Delighted to meet you. I can smell the goodness coming from your kitchen. As a missionary family, we truly are learning the importance of eating well and cooking everything from scratch. Got any new recipes to spice up rice and beans?

    Enjoying my time on your site, I’ll be back.
    Sarah Dawn

    Reply

  12. Thanks for the recipes! I'm a vegetarian and am always on the lookout for new recipes! I'm going to try that lasagna this week…should be a bit hit…my kids love asparagus!

    ~Heather

    Reply

  13. Thanks for the recipes! I'm a vegetarian and am always on the lookout for new recipes! I'm going to try that lasagna this week…should be a bit hit…my kids love asparagus!

    ~Heather

    Reply

  14. Thanks for the recipes! I’m a vegetarian and am always on the lookout for new recipes! I’m going to try that lasagna this week…should be a bit hit…my kids love asparagus!

    ~Heather

    Reply

  15. Great recipes Sandy. Just keep on trying with the family. LOL. I hope you have a wonderful, restful vacation by the ocean. Oh, I wish I could fit in your suitcase. I know, you guys need time alone as a family. Love you.

    Reply

  16. Great recipes Sandy. Just keep on trying with the family. LOL. I hope you have a wonderful, restful vacation by the ocean. Oh, I wish I could fit in your suitcase. I know, you guys need time alone as a family. Love you.

    Reply

  17. Can I just say that I'm so jealous of you for leaving on vacation… jealous in a good way!

    Funny, I'm not a beef eater either.

    I had no idea what I was going to post about, but when I saw your post I decided to share a recipe as well.

    I am definitely going to try those chicken skewers. They sound fabulous!

    Reply

  18. Can I just say that I'm so jealous of you for leaving on vacation… jealous in a good way!

    Funny, I'm not a beef eater either.

    I had no idea what I was going to post about, but when I saw your post I decided to share a recipe as well.

    I am definitely going to try those chicken skewers. They sound fabulous!

    Reply

  21. I am just now getting by to see this. I am sorry I haven´t been able to link up in 2 weeks. I really have loved doing Fitness Friday but with the end of school and my in-laws coming I have not been able to blog much.
    I pray to be able to tomorrow.
    Thanks for some good recipes.
    Have a great Fitness Friday!

    Reply

  22. I am just now getting by to see this. I am sorry I haven´t been able to link up in 2 weeks. I really have loved doing Fitness Friday but with the end of school and my in-laws coming I have not been able to blog much.
    I pray to be able to tomorrow.
    Thanks for some good recipes.
    Have a great Fitness Friday!

    Reply

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