Today, I thought I would share a couple of my favorite recipes that I have made. One is from the Engine 2 Diet and the other is my own creation. One of the many benefits of going vegetarian is that you have an amazing variety of ingredients with which to use.
One of the things I used in the beginning is the soy meatless products. I do try to look for non-GMO as much as possible. When you are trying to convince your child that vegetarian is as good if not better than McDonalds or Mom's meat recipes, you need to ease them into it. And the meatless products have helped tremendously. The one thing I would say is that nothing is off limits. If you can create it, go for it.
Engine 2 Diet Banana Ice Cream
Take 4 ripe bananas, peel and slice them. Place them in the freezer until firm. Remove from freezer and put into a blender or food processor on liquefy setting. The consistency of the bananas actually makes them very creamy. Add 1 tsp. of vanilla and you're done. This will make a really thick smoothie. If you want firm ice cream, just put back into the freezer. You can add other items as well. I have made Strawberry Banana Ice Cream by adding frozen strawberries as well. You can add chocolate syrup and make a sundae. Yummy!
Eunice's Accidentally Amazing Pita Pizza
Ingredients
2 pocketless pitas
roasted red pepper hummus
mixed greens (enough to cover the two pitas)
fresh chopped green or red peppers
fresh chopped onions
crushed red pepper
Italian seasoning to taste
shredded cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the pitas onto a cookie sheet. Spread the hummus onto the pita as if you were using pizza sauce. Add chopped mixed greens of your choosing ( I use kale, spinach, and arugula lettuce) to coat. Add a layer of onions and peppers. (You can use frozen if you like but sauté first until warm). If desired, add Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Lastly, add just enough cheese to cover. You can also use Nutritional yeast in place of the cheese if you wish to remain vegan with your pizza. Place into oven and warm until cheese is melted (about 5 minutes). Cut into fourths and serve. Makes 2 servings.
Sautéed Butternut Squash
Take frozen butternut squash and sauté in a skillet on med heat. Do not add oil. There is enough water in the squash to keep it from sticking or burning. When almost heated through, add cinnamon and honey to taste. This makes it taste more like a dessert than a vegetable. You can also substitute spices and a little oil if you would rather it taste traditional. I would recommend cumin or adding a sliced hot peppers to give it a little heat.
Try these or share your own! Happy Cooking!
