I need some help with a Vegetarian Meal.?

Start with some hummus and pita chips

Then a salad

Main course (I will post a couple of my go to recipes that my meat eating family & friends like a lot)

Then end with chocolate dipped strawberries

Vegan Mexican Spaghetti with Sauce

1 Package veggie grounds (I use Boca because they are vegan)

¾ Cup Onion, chopped

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Jar (26 ounces) Meatless Spaghetti Sauce

1 Can Black Beans, rinsed and drained

1 Can (14-1/2 ounces) Diced Tomatoes, with juice

1 Cup frozen Corn, thawed (we are using canned this time)

¼ Cup Salsa

1 Can (4 ounces) Chopped Green Chilies

1 Tablespoon Chili Powder

¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper

Hot Cooked Spaghetti

Directions

Makes 10 large servings and can easily be doubled or tripled for large family gatherings.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, sauté until translucent.

In a large saucepan, combine Smart Ground (non-meat based alternative), spaghetti sauce, beans, tomatoes, corn, salsa, chilies, chili powder and pepper. Stir in sautéed onion. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer uncovered 20-30 minutes.

Serve over spaghetti

Lasagna - Love Potion (So I've been told)

1 Block Medium Firm Tofu

3 TBL SP Miso

3-4 TBL SP Tahini

Splash of Rice Vinegar (1 TBL SP)

1 Onion

1 Cup (Or two small Packages) Chopped Fresh Basil (REMOVE STEMS)

3 Cloves Garlic

1/8 Cup Pine Nuts

1/8 Cup Olive Oil

1/8 Cup Nutritional Yeast

12 Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles (Pre - Al Dente)

1-2 Jars of your favorite pasta sauce. (*Hint: Something that you thing will go well with the pesto and mushroom theme)

1 Block of Vegan Cheese - Shredded (*Hint: I like Follow Your Heart Vegan Mozzarella*)

2 Cups Frozen Spinach

1 Package Mushrooms (*Hint: Mix it up and choose some exotic ones! I like to mix Oyster, Portabella, and White Buttons)

Directions:

***You will need 2 large skillets (One for the mushrooms, and one for pesto-tofu mixture), a food processor, and a 9x13 casserole dish***

1) Heat up some oil in both pans over medium heat.

2) Preheat Oven to 375 Degrees F

3) Chop up whole onion, and saute half in each pan.

4) Prepare tofu by removing excess water by wrapping tofu in several paper towels and squeezing. Set aside.

5) Slice up mushrooms, and thaw out 2 cups of frozen spinach in the microwave. Add mushrooms to the "Mushroom" Pan. (Don't forget to stir the frying mushrooms occasionally, while you're preparing everything else.)

6) Add Miso and Tahini to "Tofu" Pan Stir it around in the onion and oil mixture until liquidy.

7) Crumble in drained tofu (Think Ricotta, only not gross!), and mix it all up!

8) Time to make the Pesto, while everything is cooking. Put Basil, Pine Nuts Peeled Garlic Cloves, Nutritional Yeast and 1/16 Cup of Olive Oil into the food processor or chopper, and process away! If it's too solid I add a teeny bit more olive oil or water so that it will blend more smoothly.

9) Splash in the vinegar over the tofu mixture (Just a couple of dashes), and stir in evenly.

10) Turn off the heat! (Both pans)

11) Blend Pesto in with tofu. Add as much as you like! Sometimes I reserve a little to spread on some crusty bread. to go with the lasagna.

12) Drain the thawed spinach as much as possible. We don't want a watery lasagna.

13) Time to layer the lasagna.

a) First Coat the bottom of the pan with some of your favorite sauce.

b) Add four noodles across, then spread half of the pesto-tofu mixture across the noodles. Sprinkle half of the mushrooms, and half of the spinach over the tofu. Cover with a thin layer of sauce.

***REPEAT.***

14) Finish with the last four noodles, and cover with Sauce.

15) Sprinkle as much shredded vegan cheese over the top of the casserole, as you like. I usually use half a block.

16) Bake @ 375 F for 45 Minutes. If the "Cheese" hasn't melted yet, broil it for a few minutes a the end.

Note on Decadence: If you want it to be even more sinful, melt in some vegan cream cheese and up the anti on the nutritional yeast in the tofu mixture. Being bad is, oh so good. :-)

Serves: 8

you can use dairy cheese if you prefer in this but it is perfect just like it is.

How about a compromise

You can get a TOFURKY which is a tofu turkey

substitute....(not just for thanksgiving) loved by

vegans and meat eaters alike

and

then add on sides like

some nice rosemary zest baked

red potatoes

garden peas

a tossed salad with dressing

some fresh garlic bread

for desert

go for a heart shaped cake

or some heart shaped cookies

dont forget to set the mood of

the table with some roses

and candles.....

I know you said you don't like to make pasta but in situations like this that tends to be the best choice though if your willing to spend some time soups are good to. I'd just go with simple spaghetti with tomato sauce and maybe a salad or (again) soup for the side. For a good vegetarian soup try potato or tomato everyone loves those vegetarian or not.

Salad:

1) Put lettuce leaves in a bowl

2) Add chopped up carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes, and peppers.

3) Sprinkle with chopped baked nuts.

4) Drizzle on some olive oil.

You should also educate your boyfriend on the dangers of meat, and remind him that he is contributing to the slaughter of billions of sentient beings every single year. Also, say that you love him, and want him to become a vegetarian because he is 30% less likely to become obese, and less likely to develop diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases.

I was thinking a veg lasagne (pasta...i know) or make veggie burgers. Or you could do a veggie curry (potatoes, mushrooms, lentils, etc). Soups are good too.

I am guessing you dont eat any fish?

do with quorn meat though.

Hey, I see your a big fan of cooking and you really love to cook different types of foods. I just purchased a really great recipe guide online and my guests have been complimenting me on how great the food tastes. You might want to check it out.

Heres to your success!

The vegweb site has tons of recipes.

For that matter, many of the internet recipe sites have vegetarian recipe sections. I'll post links.

BTW, thank you for this post. It's a shining example of how being veg*n is not as easy as people claim.

for recipe research use the one-word-a-search-idea with words such as: raw, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, greens, casserole, souffle, tofu, and dinner in the search box of :

vegetarian times at http://www.vegetariantimes.com/

and veg web at http://vegweb.com/

You can always go out to eat.

http://www.happycow.net/

http://www.chooseveg.com/