VEGGIE MONTH, WEEK 2 MEAL PLAN

Spicy Szechuan Tofu Stir Fry is set for Monday.

Hurray for learning new technology skills! I upgraded my desktop software so I could make a PDF of this week's vegetarian month meal plan, then learned how to add it to my blog so you can download it. I must really, really like sharing food ideas and recipes. Oh yeah, I do.

Last week's menu plan was done in a big hurry, so I think this week's is better. More varied (e.g. pasta only once), more use of beans and whole grains, more uniformly low-fat, and more clip art too. I love clip art.

If you try any of these, please come back and comment and share your review and your family's reaction. Or, you can share your favorite healthy vegetarian recipe. I would love to talk about food!

DOWNLOAD WEEK 2 MEAL PLAN

ODDLY TASTY

My nephew gave his mom this recipe "in case
you don't like what Aunt Jenny sends." Love.

Today was day 1 of vegetarian month, and my brother and I cooked the same rice dish 200 miles apart. Was it fried rice? Was it risotto? It was hard to say, but my sister-in-law described it perfectly: oddly tasty. It was a strange dish, and maybe a little far out for the very first day, but in the end most of the kids ate it and we all got a serving of soy, mushrooms, and squash so I'll call it a success.

Dinner table conversation was interesting. Owen: "What's wrong with meat anyway?" My nephew: "I just don't understand WHY we have to be vegetarian!" But we all survived and everyone is looking forward to tomorrow's offering: Spicy Peanut Sesame Noodles. I'll share that recipe with you now in case you want to cook along.

RECIPE: SPICY PEANUT SESAME NOODLES

P.S. If you'd like a copy of my weekly meal plans, including recipes and shopping lists, leave me a note in the comments.

RECIPE: SPICY PEANUT SESAME NOODLES

Adapted from the Joy of Cooking
Serves 4-6

2 cups peanut butter (creamy, chunky, your choice)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup rice vinegar
2 tbsp. garlic puree or equivalent roughly chopped fresh garlic
3 serrano peppers, cut into pieces (more or less to your spice preference)
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil (divided)
2 tbsp. chili oil
1 cup brewed black tea
1 lb. lo mein or spaghetti noodles
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into thin strips
Chopped cilantro

Start the pasta water. Blend peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, peppers, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Scrape into a bowl and stir in 1/2 cup sesame oil, chili oil, and tea. Drain pasta, toss with 2 tsp. oil, and place in a large, shallow pasta bowl. Top with sauce and toss. Garnish with cucumber and cilantro.

We are having this with steamed broccoli on the side.

JANUARY FOODIE FUN AND WEEK 1 MEAL PLAN

I'm so excited to be reprising Vegetarian Month this January. My family did this last January and I blogged about it at Fair-Weather Vegetarians. (A friend pointed out this is January in Minnesota, so it should have been titled Foul-Weather Vegetarians). The blog and project was fun, but it ended on February 1, when my boys (all three of them) requested a pound of bacon for breakfast.

My purpose then was just to try something new, get out of a cooking rut, and detox from the holidays. And while we did maintain the vegetarian diet all month, we weren't exactly eating healthy all the time (see Best Macaroni and Cheese and Spinach Quiche for exhibits A and B).

This year, vegetarian month takes on a new meaning and challenges. Vegetarianism (or veganism) is really the best way for me to eat heart-healthy. This year's challenge, though, will be not relying on cheese, eggs, or dairy to round out the menu or make it feel richer and more satisfying. (My boys are not exactly thrilled about this either - check out this video from last year!)

I'm also creating weekly meal plans and recipes and sharing them with my brother and his family, 200 miles away, who have signed on for this month's experiment. I can't wait to hear their reviews of the recipes, especially since they have four kids 7 and under! And of course, I plan to share the best we discover here.

Stay tuned for updates on my kind of mid-winter foodie fun. I can't wait to get started!

DOWNLOAD WEEK 1 MEAL PLAN