I used to be a vegetarian for 6 years. Then I came back to meat. But for 3 weeks Ive been veg again. I'm doing it completely different this time though. This time I have also cut out completely... Sugar, Wheat and ALL processed foods. Here is one of my favorite recipes:

32 oz chicken stock (or vegetable stock)
5 large carrots sliced
1 small bunch of celery sliced
1 can white beans
3/4 cup long grain brown rice
4-6 cups baby spinach (or escarole, I dont use that cause I'm alergic to it)
1 med size red or white onion chopped
2-3 Tblsp Olive Oil
Sea salt
black pepper
5 cups water

In a stock pot put in chick/veggie stock, the 5 carrots sliced and the long grain rice and simmer.
In a frying pan add olive oil, chopped onion and celery and saute until the onion is translucent.
Add to carrots and rice.
Add beans
Add water
Add salt and pepper to taste
Add spinach
Simmer for about 1-2 hours.

I make this and then eat it all week long. Its hearty almost stewy and delicious. I also add a few white potatoes cut up but this may be too starchy for some people. This can be served as a side to your meat eating family or can be eaten by itself
I have another version where I do this plus add a can of crushed tomatoes and squash and zucchini. Thats very good too.

Jess

Yeah Mr. I!!! I've been a veg since April.

Have found that I need a protein supplement but many (Ariann - I think i remember you saying you don't) don't.

Also OnlyWhnChased is one also (16 years I think she said).

Anyway, Good luck I think you will do great!!!!

My fav. is beans parmigiana. Great northern beans, pasta sauce, and mozzarella shredded cheese. Heat 3-5 min. in microwave. mmmm

oh for taco night (my fiance is a meat eater) we put red kidney's in a pan and heat (no syrup), As they heat up mash with a fork and add taco powder. We make ours with refried beans, tomato, cheese, and sour cream. Fiance adds salsa and jalapeños.

I also made this GREAT vegetarian chili which we add regular but when we got tired I melted taco cheese on it and used it as a dip with sour cream on corn chips!

We also make miso soup (miso is this really salty paste that you dissolve in water) and serve it with buckwheat noodles.

Ohhh i'm getting hungry just thinking about all this food goodness!!

an added thought we tried fried tofu it was great. So you can use firm or extra firm tofu. Cut into slices and press it (I put it in between paper towels on a plate and set a heavy pan on top of it for half an hour. ) Then marinade in a mixture of soy sauce, chili powder, and garlic. Save excess marinade. Heat skillet with oil when hot put in tofu. It will get crusty. When satisfied with crustiness. Put rice on plate, pour excess marinade on rice, put fried tofu on top. I'm not a huge tofu fan but that was yummy!! I know you said no tofu Mr. I but thought i'd share anyway!

http://This message has been edited by ShanGen (edited Nov-02-2007).

Will you be eating eggs? cheese? milk products?

If so, quiche would be a great dinner. Or, you could make a southwestern breakfast casserole with eggs, cheddar cheese, salsa, black beans, sour cream, olives.

Nachos! Refried beans, homemade salsa, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, olives.

Baked potatoes topped with chili and cheese.

Grilled cheese sandwiches with soup.

Boca burgers are a pretty good veggie product. My favorite way is on buns with all the fixins'. Some people use the patties and crumble them into chili, but personally I don't care for that.

Pizza! You could make a unique flavor to try to detract from the fact that there is no meat. We like to use BBQ sauce for the sauce. TJ's makes a really good, smoky jalapenos one. Top with peppers, red onions, black olives, cheddar cheese.

Stir fries have lots of different flavors and you can pick whatever veggies you like.

I would suggest trying to make different recipes instead of trying to make your usual meat recipes with meat-free substitutions. Otherwise they will be doing a direct comparison. Now, if it's a completely different recipe they can simply enjoy those new, fun, delicious flavors instead of looking for the meat.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by mrinertia:
Most of the meat substitutes I've seen have enough sodium to choke a horse so I'm shying away from those. Morningstar farms did have a crumbled meatish filler thing that had a moderate sodium content.
...
I've also decided no fake meat. No vegetarian bratwurst, no flippin tofurky - such things are an abomonation.
<HR>

huh?

If you're going to use the Morningstar farms crumbled "meat," I have a delicious and very down-home American kind of dish called Calico Beans that utilizes them to great effect. It's like a BBQ flavored meatloaf with beans. High sodium, though (involves ketchup and canned beans, but using no-salt added canned beans would help). I'll post it if anyone would like. We eat it with greens and roasted potatoes.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by knifey:
I would like the recipe. I became a vegetarian in June-and am struggling. I don't eat any meat, poultry or fish. Any new recipes or EASY cookbooks that call for only a few ingredients would be appreciated. I don't cook and that has been the hardest part-dinner seems easier for someone who doesn't cook if your making meat (i.e.-put meat in oven, put frozen mashed potatoes and frozen veggies in microwave-eat-very simple)...unless I just eat salad all the time, which I cannot do. I am sure there must be something easy, I just don't know what it is. Thanks!<HR>

Knifey,
(funny handle name as I am a " Chef" by trade, so we sort of go together..lol) There is a great vegetarian cookbook that I have had for YEARS that is tailor made for you. " The Vegetarian 5 Ingredient Gourmet" by Nava Atlas. It'a a paperback, and really simple and some really yummy recipes in them. Some of my favorites are Sweet Potato Burritos, Parmesan Corn Fritters, and Black beans cooked from scratch. Try to find this book on Amazon or something. It will solve alot of your dilemmas. Promise~

Best,
Cheffy

Um, I don't know about nut meatballs, but they sound like they could be good. I like Whole Foods brand soy meatballs. I have also had lentil loaves (like meat loaf, sort of), that have been really awesome and are good as sandwich stuffers.

This is the original Calico Beans recipe, my notes are in brackets:

Calico Beans

1 http://12 oz., frozen package burger-style crumbles (like Morningstar Farms)
1 big onion, chopped finely
1/2 cup brown sugar I use evaporated cane juice and only 1/4 cup
1/2 cup ketchup I only use 1/4 cup
1 teaspoon mustard or more
2 teaspoons vinegar
2 16 oz. cans beans, your choice, drained (kidney, butter, black, etc.)
1 16 oz. can vegetarian baked beans

Directions:

Combine everything in a large bowl and mix well. Pour into a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

i have been vegetarian for a long time --16 years? In the beginning, because i was young and did not know a lot, i ate a lot of pasta and rice a roni with tofu thrown in it

I do not need protien or iron supplements. I eat a lot of beans and dark greens, which are fine. I would recommend logging your food on a site like spark people or fitday to monitor your protein.

the morningstar burger crumbles are great for chilis, tacos, sloppy joes, etc!!! I love making taco salad. I take a big plate of shredded lettuce and spinach, throw some taco "meat" on it, sprinkle on about 2/3 cup of black beans, some corn, maybe some cheese or soy cheese and dress with taco sauce. YUMMMMMY!