Fast and Delicious

After a busy, busy weekend (catching up after our trip the weekend before!) I not only had little time to plan meals, but little time to cook them. So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to try some quick recipes. As you can see from the first photo, I was getting some "fast meal" ideas from Sarah Kramer's adorable little book, Vegan A Go-Go!, which has a lot of older recipes in it but is really perfect for taking with me when I travel to the in-laws with meal ideas!

First off, I reverted back to college days, when all I could afford was beans and rice and this amazing Bayou Magic Cajun Seasoning that I bought while living in Tennessee. I could never find it after I left, but the miracles of the WWW brought me to their site and their seasoning to my pantry! Unfortunately, I forgot over time just how spicy this is! With the cilantro added (next pic) it was much more manageable. Phew! I was sweating. But, cheap and very fast. Just cook the rice (brown, of course!) in your rice cooker, add the beans from a can (the heat of the rice warms them up just fine) and then season to taste! Two and a half stars (way too spicy).














Later in the week, I had a little more time, but still, Tara's Pad Thai from Vegan Fusion World Cuisine was wicked quick. Just press the tofu while you open the mail and feed the cats, then chop up a couple things and start cooking! The rice noodles take no time at all (3 minutes, to be exact) and I added canned baby corn and canned bamboo shoots (on the sale table - only a dollar each, if that!) along with chopped peanuts and cilantro. Great spice to this meal, but a little dry due to too many noodles and not enough sauce. This was a great way to break into my tamarind paste, which I found at a local (but hidden) Asian market! Three stars ***.

Just last night, my husband requested this Kale and Cannellini Stew, from The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook. Another pretty quick meal, with only some peeling and chopping to do. Very few ingredients but great spicy taste! We added extra kale and it could have used fewer beans. Also, I exchanged a sweet potato for one of the regular potatoes, and it added a nice sweet balance (very light!) to the spiciness of the stew. The only problem was that the sweet potato cooked much more quickly so it was a bit over-cooked by the end. Overall, three and a half stars! Almost perfect!
So, here are some other meals from the past that are great ideas for when you have little time and want something good and vegan!

Olive-Oregano Wine-Baked Tofu...
(click for the recipe!)







Any kind of smoothie is almost instant! Great for lunch.












Don't forget that mac and cheese made with nutritional yeast or Chreese!












Tempeh Salad (made with grapes and agave nectar) is a delicious, quick lunch idea, and especially nutritious served over baby spinach!










Cumin-Lime Tofu can marinate while you're at work and then bake while you prepare a grain and veggie!
















And of course, "eggstra" quick Eggless Salad sandwiches made with firm tofu always hit the spot.

Next week, we'll be at a Supper Club, so I'll spend the week picking out my yummiest desserts to make- any suggestions??