Meatless March Meal #9: Grilled Zucchini

For our Sunday dinner this past week, we didn't really do anything too fancy. We just had grilled zucchini & grilled asparagus, fresh garden salad, and rosemary-garlic mashed potatoes {yum!}. It was so healthy and delicious and we both left dinner feeling so good.

Grilled Zucchini & Grilled Asparagus

Ingredients }} prep time: 5 minutes }} grill time: 5-10 minutes

Olive Oil

Kosher salt {you can use regular salt, but kosher salt is much better}

Asparagus

Zucchini, quartered

1. Pour olive oil and salt into ziploc bag with zucchini and asparagus. Shake bag until the asparagus and zucchini and asparagus are covered with salt and oil.

2. Grill the vegetables {asparagus for about 5; zucchini for about 10}. 

 Rosemary-Garlic Mashed Potatoes

  

Ingredients }} total time: 30 minutes (approx)

Potatoes {we used 8 yellow potatoes and it made a lot}

Crushed garlic

1 T rosemary

1 t baking powder

Warmed milk

1. Boil potatoes until soft. Drain. Put into mixer safe bowl {aka, not a pot with stuff that can come off}

2. Pour baking powder, garlic, and 1/4 c warmed milk into bowl. Use hand mixer until mashed and creamy. Add more milk if you so desire {I probably ended up using 1 1/2 cups, but that is a total guess, but it was very good}. Once potatoes are creamed to your liking, add rosemary {I just poured some in, I didn't measure, so this is a guess as well, but you don't need a lot!!}

Garden Salad

  
Ingredients }} total time: 10 minutes
Romaine lettuce
Tomatoes
Onions
Carrots
Cucumbers
Any other vegetable you like

1. Cut up all ingredients, put in a bowl, and serve {easiest recipe ever :) }

Meatless March Meal #8: Vegetarian Pot Pie

My husband love chicken pot pie. I was going to just make potato pot pie instead, but I found this recipe and decided to give it a try. It wasn't bad. I think I used a little too much liquid, so this is my updated, suggested version.

I think I would give it an 8 out of 10. Maybe better if I make it less liquid-y next time.

Vegetable Pot Pie
{It's hard to see, but we made this on St. Patty's day, so I threw on a little tribute to that}

Ingredients }} preheat to 400 degrees }} prep time: 30 minutes }} cook time: 20-30

1 T butter

6 C vegetables {I used red peppers, tomatoes, spinach, onions, and zucchini}
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 C flour
1 1/2 - 2 C warm vegetable stock {the original recipe says 3 C, but that was way too much}
1/2 t Thyme
Salt & pepper
Pie Crust {I use the Pillsbury stuff}

1. Dice all your vegetables into small bite size pieces (or smaller). Heat a skillet and stick the butter on there to melt.



2. Then toss in all your vegetables and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes.



3. Sprinkle on the flour and stir it in for two minutes. Next, slowly pour in the vegetable stock. Stir until it thickens. Just be careful not to pour in too much liquid.


4. Pour your vegetable mixture into the pie crust and bake at 400 degree F for 20-30 minutes or till the crust is browned. And make sure you poke some decorative holes on the top {okay, they're not just decorative, you need the holes}.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Meatless March Meal #5: Black Bean Croquettes with fresh salsa

I have a confession to make. I did not take ANY pictures {Sorry}. But in my defense, I was gone until 8:30 and my husband doesn't get home until after I leave at 5:30. But fortunately, it did not take too long to make. {Maybe a little longer than mac&cheese would have, but soo much better...and better for you!}

Black Bean Croquettes

Since I didn't take any pictures, I will just post the link to recipe.



I think I would do a few things to spice this recipe up, since it was a little bland. {Although generally, croquettes tend to be bland. I don't know but I love them anyway, especially my grandmother's.} But the recipe does provide you with the means to make some super yummy fresh salsa, so that's good. Overall I would give it an 8 and I will definitely be making these again.

Meatless March Meal #3: Homemade Mac & Cheese

This is one the easiest recipes ever! And it's super easy. There are only 3 ingredients {okay 5, but salt & pepper barely count} and it's done in a half hour.

This was a staple in my house growing up. We had it at least twice a month {not counting leftovers; my mom made tons, so there was always lots of leftovers}. So here goes...

Homemade Mac&Cheese

Ingredients:
Elbow macaroni noodles {cooked}
1 can of whole peeled tomatoes
Cheese {in block form}
Salt
Pepper
{Note: There are no size amounts because it really depends on how much you want to make.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour cooked macaroni noodles into baking dish. Cut cheese into cubes and mix in with the macaroni noodles.

2. Pour the canned tomatoes in a separate bowl and chop them into smaller pieces. {Note: Below, you will see that I used already diced tomatoes. However, it did not have enough tomato juices in it, so I would recommend using the canned whole peeled tomatoes.} Mix together and put into oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted.


3. Take out of oven and enjoy! {We paired our mac&cheese with homemade applesauce--recipe to come}