Vegetarian Eggrolls

First, let me say, this is one of my husband's FAVORITE foods. Egg rolls. This recipe was inspired by my mother's glorious egg rolls. In her recipe she uses ground beef and fries them in oil (oh yes, so good:). However, for my recipe there is no meat and they are baked to a golden brown with a light crispiness. They were heartily approved by my favorite critics - my hubby and my little guy:)

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 small/medium head cabbage
I pkg egg roll wrappers
1 clove, garlic
5 green onions
1/2 cup carrots (shredded - I just guess - it's not an exact science:)
1/4 cup soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Wash and remove the outermost layer of cabbage.
2. Slice cabbage - discard hard white center pieces (see photo right).
3. Chop cabbage into small pieces.
4. Heat olive oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat.
5. Put cabbage into pan and let it begin to cook.
6. In a food processor, place carrots, green onions, and garlic. Chop/grind to desired consistency (I make mine into a fine consistency).

7. Place this into the pan and mix with cabbage.
8. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover with lid. Let cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. Add soy sauce, salt, and pepper - stir, and let cook for 5 more minutes.

10. Fill each egg roll wrapper with approx. 2 Tbsp of mixture.

11. Fold egg roll and seal with a little water.

12. Brush with olive oil before baking.

13. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy! 

These are great served with rice and extra soy sauce on the side. 

Just FYI, I found a non-gmo (non- genetically modified organisms) brand of soy sauce - woohoo! It's tasty!

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Zuchini Boats

This is not a meatless recipe, but could be adapted to be - just leave out the chicken and replace with your favorite bean! 

Ingredients: 

4-5 small to medium Zucchinis

1 cup shredded chicken

8 oz Tomato sauce

1/2 cup salsa (your favorite - I used Newman's Own mild)

Homemade Taco Seasoning

1/3 cup water

3/4 cup Shredded cheddar cheese (or as much as you want:)

Instructions:

For Tomato Sauce:

1.  Place tomato sauce and salsa in a pot.

2. Let simmer (low to low medium heat) while you prepare the boats and chicken.

Zucchini Boats:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 

2. Wash and slice zucchini in half

3. Use a melon baller or teaspoon (what I used) to scoop out the centers.

4. Keep the centers to be added with chicken mixture. 

5. Place in 9 x 13 baking dish.

Chicken: 

1. In a pan place shredded chicken, taco seasoning, zucchini centers and water.

2. Cook over medium heat until chicken has absorbed all the liquid/spices, then reduce heat.

Putting it together:

1. Place chicken mixture into the center of each zucchini (be generous:).
2. Pour tomato sauce over zucchini.
3. Top with shredded cheese.
4. Bake for 20-30 minutes*
*I baked mine for 30 minutes and the zucchini still had a little crunch - you don't want to bake it too long or it will be mushy

 

Step 1: Rinse off Zucchini. Slice in half lengthwise.

Step 2: Use a melon baller (or a measuring spoon) to scrape out the inside of the zucchini. Set aside what you scrap out - don't throw it away!

 Step 3: Place Zucchini in a 9x13 baking dish.

 Step 4: Cook chicken. Add zucchini and seasoning. Make tomato sauce.

 Step 5: Place chicken mixture into zucchini boats.

Step 6: Pour tomato sauce over zucchini. Top with cheese

Step 7: Back @375 F for 20-30 minutes (or longer if you want a "softer" zucchini boat)

*Serve with sour cream and tortilla chips!

No time to say hello, goodbye, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!

Do you remember that line from Alice in Wonderland? The rabbit is hopping by and says to Alice, "I'm late, I'm late, I'm late - for a very important date. No time to say hello, goodbye! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!" Good stuff:)

All that to say, as you've noticed, I've not been blogging lately. I haven't even been creating any new meatless recipes for Meatless Mondays (gasp!) either. The truth is, I've wanted to, but I just haven't been able to. Why?

I'm pregnant:) I've been battling morning sickness, and the thought of food in general (meatless or not) has been repulsive to me. I can barely manage to get food prepared for my husband and son, and when I do, I generally don't want to eat it (let alone take pictures and post about it ha!:).

I'm sorry if you've been disappointed by my lack of activity, but know it was for good reason. Hopefully soon I'll be feeling back to "normal" and will surprise you with something yummy for a Monday or any day really. We'll see.

Little Balls of Energy

No, I'm not talking about my son or little kids. I'm talking about these No Bake Energy Bites! I stumbled across this recipe while on pinterest (of course:). Here's how I made mine:

1 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 natural peanut butter

1/2 cup flax meal

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup all natural chocolate chips

2 tsp cinnamon

1. Combine wet ingredients (peanut butter and maple syrup).

2. Microwave for 30 seconds, then stir.

3. In a medium sized bowl, stir together oats, flax meal, cinnamon, and choco chips.

4. Add wet ingredients and stir until combined.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes

5. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

6. Shape into balls (approx. 12).

7. Keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

*Note: These are pretty crumbly, although DELISH. Next time I will probably add more maple syrup:) They are filling and healthy! My 2 year old even loved them (and the hubby:)!

It's the End of the World as We Know It

I've really been struggling with something lately. When you talk about China's notorious "one-child" policy, generally, the American people are appalled. Appalled that a government would put such a practice into law. Appalled that people would intentionally kill their daughters so that their son's could live because a son is worth more than a daughter.

Any of this sound eerily familiar? I can't believe how hypocritical the American populace can be and not even see it. They cry "pro-choice!" A woman should have the right to take the life of a child because it is inconvenient, painful, unwanted. Oh, but it's not actually a child until it breathes it's first breath. And maybe it's not a child until "it" can take care of itself somehow, so after-birth abortion is ok too. Who get's to decide when someone becomes a person anyway? A doctor? You? Me? What if my definition of person is different from yours?

Although our government does not force you to have an abortion, they do force everyone to pay for it. What happened to MY choice? Why don't I get to choose NOT to pay for or support abortion without being labeled "anti-women's rights?" And, excuse me, but I am more for women's rights than the pro-chioce side. Why? Because I care about the long-term overall health of these women. Pro-choice supporters are only concerned about the moment. The act of abortion is not a long-term or permanent scar, it's a "simple" choice. Maybe the woman wants to pursue a career? Maybe she wants to finish school? Maybe she was raped and doesn't want to have to have a child with someone she did not choose?

Well, what if the baby forming in these wombs is a female? We're not concerned about her rights because she's not actually a human being? Her rights don't count because she relies on the mother for nourishment and sustaining? We only care about adult women's rights?

I hate to tell you, but we all rely on someone for life. No man is an island. If you were the only one in the world, you would not live very long because you'd have no reason to live. We've legalized a form of murder. How long until I can kill you just because you made me mad? You are inconvenient to me. You are keeping me from accomplishing what I want so I'm going to get rid of you. How do you feel about that?

Whether you are a Christian or not, this is an important issue. Every decision and choice has consequences. Be willing to accept those consequences and don't make an innocent child pay for your mistakes or the cruelty of another.

This is what comes when "everyone does what is right in their own eyes." (Judges 21:25) "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned -EVERY ONE- to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.: (Isaiah 53:6) There is hope. Despite the fact that we are all as filthy rags, God has laid all our sins (our lying, stealing, cheating, aborting, killing, etc) on his Son, Jesus Christ. We have new life and a great hope. Do you have this hope? Or are you lost in this hopeless world where everyone does what is right in his own eyes?

Spinach and Tomato Pizza

This week brings us to Spinach and Tomato Pizza. Who doesn't love a good pizza? I could honestly eat pizza every day, but I do have SOME self-control:)

I used this recipe for the dough, but of course, I did 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 white flour - it gave it a nice hardy flavor and texture.

 

Ingredients:

Dough Recipe

1 Tbsp Olive Oil (give or take)

2 tsp Garlic Powder

3 Roma Tomatoes (or your favorite)

2 oz Fresh Spinach

3/4 cup Pizza Sauce (I used Prego's all natural)

8 oz Shredded cheese (Mozzarella) 

Instructions

1. Make dough according to instructions. Preheat oven to 425 F.

2. Press or roll dough onto desired pizza pan (use non-stick cooking spray).

3. Brush dough with Olive oil and sprinkle with the garlic powder.

4. Spread sauce evenly. 

5. Layer tomatoes and then spinach. Top with cheese.

6. Bake at 425 F for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is slightly browned.

7. Enjoy!