Goulash

I cook much like the way I was raised (minus the meat.) For the most part it is simple cooking with non-expensive ingredients. Both my parents are decent cooks who don't really use recipes. They throw stuff together that sounds good and it usually ends up being tasty. This is why I don't really post recipes often, but for some reason I have had the urge too.

This is a meatless take on a meal growing up that my parents called "Goulash"
(measurements are basically guesses)

1 cup cooked pasta (elbow or shells)
3/4 cup spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas)
any other veggies you want.

Throw it in a pan and heat and serve.


Now for some ideas for giving back this season:
Donate cans to your local food pantry. Canned food can be bought relatively cheaply. Here you can buy a can of veggies, fruit or beans for $1. You can spend less than $5 to help someone who needs food. All over the news is stories of longer lines at food pantries with less to go around.

An eco-tip:
There are many ways to save wrapping paper: Use bags that you can reuse or reuse old wrapping paper. Wrap presents in old paper shopping bags, cloth or old ads.

Have a merry Christmas all and a happy holiday season. :)

Soothing Lentil soup

Well, I've been sick for the last few days and haven't cooked much. I know I don't post recipes often anyway, but the last two things I baked turned out poorly. So, I've been relying on cans of chili and baked beans etc. They are fine but not as well balanced as I normally try to eat. Luckily I turned to some fool-proof comfort food. I pulled out the crockpot (or slow-cooker), tossed in the ingredients and let it do the work while I went to church. When I got home I had a big pot of steaming soup waiting for me. A perfect lunch for a sore throat.

Lentil Soup
-4 cups water
-1 cup dried lentils (picked through)
-2-3 baby carrots
-1 small potato or 1/2 a medium sized one
- 1 radish
-1 celery stalk
- 1/8 cup onion, diced
-salt and other spices (i.e. dried oregano,pepper) to taste

Plug in crockpot and pour water and lentils in. Turn on high w/ lid off while preparing veggies. Wash and chop veggies and add to pot. Add a small amount of seasonings. Put lid on and leave for about 3 hours. Towards end you can check and taste to see if you want to add more seasoning, but try to leave lid on. Note: you may substitute split peas with lentils and just use carrots and celery (maybe even some zucchini.)
Enjoy!

Recipe

Roasted Fall vegetable medley
1/2 sweet potato
2 small onions (about the size of pearl onions)
3 baby carrots
1 small red potato
olive oil
dash salt
dried herbs (i.e. basil, oregano etc) to taste

In the bottom of a small ceramic dish drizzle olive oil (a few tablespoons should do it.) Dice veggies and any other veggies you like (i.e. zucchini, squash) and place in dish. Sprinkle herbs and salt on top. Roast/bake on 350 for about 20 minutes. Best served with a slice of multi-grain toast and a cup of steaming apple cider.

The all (or should I saw new?) American lunch

Today I had Amy's california burger on food for life's wheat bran bread with mustard, tomato and sauteed onions. MMMMMMMM I also had a "milk"shake with it. It reminded me kinda of the 50s having a shake and burger for lunch. I don't normally post recipes here, but this shake recipe I got from my mother's cookbook was good. Well, by the time I veganized it and played around a little it is hardly like the original recipe. I call it "Monkey Madness"

Monkey Madness:
1 banana
1/2 cup vanilla rice milk (or soy)
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon nutmeg

So it tastes to me like a cross between orange julius and eggnog. Hmmm... I thought it was good, but it's probably a preferred taste.