It's just a meatless maniac Monday...

CAUTION!! Delicious recipes below!  I have had quite a few food flops in the past month,  but these are some of the highlights from the past few weeks.

Breakfast for the hubs:

My husband often says, "I don't have time to eat breakfast." And I reply, "That's dumb, wake up earlier jacka**."  Recently he has been working around the clock and training for his ultra, so in lieu of calling him names, I decided to whip him up a solution.  These oatmeal bars solved our little hungry-boy problem (and they will work for anyone on the go- that isn't concerned with gluten). 

Ingredients: 

1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup chia seeds
OPTIONAL: throw in chopped almonds or nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc.

** or sub applesauce for smashed banana mmmmm

Preheat oven to 350

1) Mix applesauce and honey
2) Add eggs, baking soda, salt, and vanilla...mix everything well
3)Add oats and flour and mix well
4) Spread mixture in a 9x13 pan
5) Bake for 20-25 minutes
6) Remove from oven, let cool, individually wrap or sandwich bag them
 

Right out of the oven.  Just ignore that taste test corner! 

Super Bowl Chili 

This packs a little spice punch but is delicious! The longer it simmers the better it tastes, so start this early.  It is a lot of chopping but totally worth it!

Ingredients: 

1 can black beans
1 can chickpeas
1 can kidney beans
2 peeled and chopped sweet potatoes 
1 chopped yellow pepper
1 chopped orange pepper
1/4 white onion chopped
1/4 red onion chopped
2 cups chopped mushrooms
2 garlic cloves chopped
2 jalapenos chopped and seeded
3-4 cups of vegetable broth
1 cup chopped cilantro
2 tbs chili powder
1 tbs cumin
1 tbs garlic powder
1 tbs red pepper flakes
1 tsp (or 2) of cayenne pepper
1 tbs pepper
1 tbs olive oil

(You may have to taste test the spices but start with this)

1. In a large pot mix the oil, onions and garlic for 3 minutes. 
2. Once onions become translucent start placing all other ingredients in the pot.  Mix well.
3. Pour 2 cups of vegetable broth in at first. 
4. Cook on medium heat for 20 minutes stirring well. 
5. Place a lid on the pot and simmer.
6. Let simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender, Or let sit for 4-5 hours.
7. Add more vegetable broth if you like a more soupy chili. 

Beans beans good for your heart the more you eat the more you're smart!!

Lentil Burger Heaven! 

I love a good burger, and these are the perfect meatless solution.  My friend, Laura, sent me this recipe from Martha Stewart Lentil Burgers , and I made a few tweaks to make them gluten free and as dairy free as possible. 

Burger Patties: 

1 cup green lentils
1/2 small red onion
2 eggs
1 cup corn flake crumbs
1/2 cup parsley
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bunch of chard leaves
1 tbsp minced garlic
 salt and pepper

Burger Sauce:

1/2 block of firm tofu
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 cup parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp curry powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper (less if spice isn't your thing)

Sauce Steps: Place all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Easy peezy. Add a squeeze of lemon if you have it. 

1) Put lentils and 3.5 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, season with salt, and simmer until lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and let cool.
2) Combine lentils, salt, diced red onion, eggs, breadcrumbs OR corn flakes, and parsley in a medium bowl.  Either place ingredients in a food processor or mash with a potato masher for a thicker burger.   Or just use your hands to mash and smoosh.
3) Form about 6  round patties.
4) Put oil in a frying pan, place lentil patties in pan 3-4 minutes on each side. 
5) Wrap burger in a chard leaf and cover in sauce. 
6) Devour!                

Delicious burger wrapped in chard leaf with sauce!MMM!

Green sauce! Dairy free!

Lentil Burger patties! Won't be yellow if you use breadcrumbs.

                                                    

Happy Eating! 

“Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.”
-Albert Einstein, physicist

Einstein say what?!?