Vegetarian Slop, Sloppy Joes

1-2 TBS oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1-2 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
package of frozen vegetarian meat crumbles (Boca or Morningstar) equal to 1 pound of meat
16 oz can tomato sauce
1 TBS vegetarian Worcestershire Sauce
Tabasco Sauce to taste
salt & pepper to taste
approximately 1/4 cup water

• Heat the oil and saute the chopped vegetables about 5-7 minutes until browned and slightly softened
• Add the minced garlic and veggie meat crumbles, combine and cook for a few minutes to thaw the crumbles
• Add tomato, Worcestershire and Tabasco sauces, combine
• Add salt and pepper and about 1/4 cup of water, simmer while you make the salad and toast the buns, stirring occasionally.  Add more water if necessary to keep it from drying out.
• After about 20 minutes, it should be heated through and thickened.
• Serve on toasted buns with any desired condiments.

Thai Fried Rice

3 cups cold, cooked Jasmine rice
1 pkg extra firm tofu
2 TBS oil
crushed red pepper
2 cloves garlice, minced
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 chopped red pepper
1/2 diced fresh hot pepper
1 chopped carrot
1 fresh lime
1/2 c frozen peas
3 green onions, sliced
2 TBS soy sauce
2 TBS hot sauce (Siracha)
1/2 diced fresh tomato
2 TBS chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

• Cook the rice, refrigerate to cool
• Slice your drained and dried tofu into 1/2 inch slices, fry in hot oil until both sides are browned, cool then cut into desired size - I cut each slice into eighths
• Heat oil in large fry pan, like your trusty electric skillet (Thanks Andrew)
• Add garlic and pepper flakes and fry for about 30 seconds to flavor the oil
• Add chopped onion, peppers, carrot and fry for about 5-7 minutes until tender
• Cut lime into quarters, squeeze the juice of 2 quarters into vegetables, then throw the quarters in the pan along with the peas and fry it together for a few minutes while you whisk the hot sauce and soy sauce together and chop the cilantro and peanuts.
• Add the rice and the hot sauce/soy sauce mixture, combine it all together in the fry pan.
• Add the tofu and tomato, add salt if needed and stir it all together
• Fry for a few minutes to get everything nice and hot
• Remove the fried lime quarters (ewww)
• Place in serving bowl, squeeze the juice from the other 2 lime quarters over the rice, top with chopped peanuts and cilantro

Pasta with Broccoli and Almonds

1 lb tube pasta
1/2 large onion
1/2 red pepper
1 carrot
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 TBS olive oil
1/4 - 1/2 tsp basil
crushed red pepper to taste
salt
1 package frozen broccoli florets
1/3 cup slivered almonds
Parmesan cheese

1.  Start the water to boil to cook 1 lb of pasta
2.  Preheat the oven to 350°
3.  Chop onion, red pepper, carrot, garlic
4.  Heat olive oil over med hi heat, put the veggies in and brown
5.  Sprinkle on basil, salt and crushed red pepper
5.  Add a package of frozen broccoli florets, turn heat down, cover and allow to steam while the pasta finishes cooking
6.  Toast 1/3 cup slivered almonds in the oven for about 5 minutes ( you can put the garlic bread in too)
7.  Drain the cooked pasta, toss with olive oil, salt, then add to veggies in the skillet. Allow to fry in the pan for a few minutes so some of the pasta gets a little browned and crunchy.
8.  Toss in the toasted almonds.  Serve topped with Parmesan cheese.

Tomato Pesto Pasta Dinner

• Set the oven to 350°
• Start the pasta water to boil
• Wrap the french bread in foil and throw it in the oven. 
• Put 1/3 cup of pine nuts in a shallow baking dish and toast in the oven until brown and fragrant
• in a big bowl, mix 1/3 cup olive oil, 1 can tomato paste, a blob of minced garlic,1 tsp basil, 1 tbs dried parsley, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and the toasted pine nuts
• When the water boils, put the pasta in to cook, 
• Before you drain the pasta, add a couple of spoonfuls of the pasta water to the tomato paste mixture
• Make a salad of salad mix, dried cranberries and croutons (add anything else you want).
• Drain the pasta, mix it in the big bowl with the sauce, serve straightaway with the salad, warm bread and wine.

Pizza or Caroli/Stromboli/Calzone Dough

1 cup of hot water (microwave for 30 seconds):
1 package/1 TBS of yeast
1 TBS sugar
1/2 tsp salt
about 1 TBS olive oil (glug glug)
2 1/2 to 3 cups flour

• Dissolve the sugar and yeast in the hot water
• When it gets nice and foamy,add the salt, oil, and 2 cups of flour
• Knead or process in food processor, adding flour until smooth & dough no longer sticks to the side.
• Place in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, lid or a clean dishtowel
• Let rise in a nice warm place (Like on the counter above the running dishwasher)
• After about an hour, punch it down and roll it out into 2 pizzas or 4 carolis
• Top/fill with your choice of cheeses and veggies
• Bake at 425° until golden brown - enjoy!

Greek Salad

The Dressing
6 TBS olive oil
4 TBS red wine vinegar (you can use fresh lemon juice instead)
1 tsp oregano
about 1/2 tsp mined garlic
black pepper
whip it together then toss with the salad.

The Salad
salad greens
tomatoes
bell peppers
Kalamata olives
red onion, slivered
feta cheese
cucumber if you like it
whatever else you want - we added mushrooms, marinated artichoke hearts, grilled red pepper strips, and julienned carrots. 
OPA!

Black Bean Patties

1/2 onion, minced
1 tsp minced garlic
16 oz can chopped roasted tomatoes
1 small can chopped green chiles
2 green onions
1/4 cup salsa
1/8 tsp nutmeg
salt to taste
1 can or 2 to 2 1/2 cups cooked black beans
1/4 cup or so water

• Saute the onion and garlic in oil on med hi until browned and softened.
• Add the green chiles, green onions, salsa and nutmeg, stir to combine.
• Mash up the black beans in a medium large bowl and add water until the beans can be combined with other ingredients but still be firm enough to hold its shape as you form into patties.
• Dump the sauteed mixture into the  bowl, mix it all together and form into about 8 small patties.
• Fry in oil until crispy on both sides.

Serve sprinkled with cheese garnished with salsa, sour cream, guacamole.