Recipes

I haven't posted in a while, and I have food on the brain, so I thought I would post a few of my favorite recipes that I make at home.

1. Vegetarian Fajitas!

Ingredients:
1-2 Green bell peppers
1 White or yellow onion
1-2 Serrano chilis (to taste)
1 Red bell pepper (optional)
1 Clove of garlic
2 Tbsp of olive oil
Lemon pepper to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Flour tortillas
Dress with shredded chedder, sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole

Directions:
Chop onions and peppers into strips, chop serrano into thin slices, mince the garlic
Combine veggies in large skillet with garlic, olive oil and seasonings
Cook on med-high, stirring frequently, heat for 10-15 minutes until veggies are sizzling hot
For "charred" flavor leave unstirred on high heat for a few minutes before serving
Put veggies on tortillas with cheese, sour cream, salsa or whatever else you like!
Serve with black beans and mexican rice or chips and salsa. Mmmm.

2. Better than Veggie Lasagna
This is not your standard lasagna recipe, its better!

Ingredients:
1 Red bell pepper
1 Zuchinni
1 Broccoli floret
1/2 Red onion
1 Cup mushrooms
2-3 Cloves garlic
Italian seasoning blend to taste
Crushed red pepper to taste
2 Tbps olive oil
1 Jar prego (unless you want to make your own sauce)
Lasagna noodles
Shredded mozzerella cheese
Fresh (not powdered) parmesan cheese

Directions:
Chop all veggies into very small chunks, mince the garlic
Combine veggies and garlic in large skillet with olive oil, italian seasoning and crushed red pepper
Cook veggies on low-medium heat until onions are translucent
Boil lasagna noodles
Layer lasagna in caserole as follows:
1) Noodles
2) Veggies and a little sauce
3) Noodles
4) Sauce and mozerella cheese
5) Noodles
6) Veggies and a little sauce
7) Noodles
8) Sauce and both cheeses, with some italian seasoning sprinkled on top
Bake lasagna at 350 until it is heated through and cheese is melty. Usually 30-45 minutes, but allow up to an hour.

Great served with garlic bread and a salad!

3. Veggie Side Dish #1

Ingredients:
1/2 Broccoli floret
1/2 Zuchini
1/4 Red onion
1 Clove garlic
Italian seasoning blend to taste
Black pepper to taste
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
Sometimes I add a little lemon juice or crushed red pepper

Directions:
Chop the veggies, mince the garlic, combine all ingredients in small skillet and heat
This is great as a side dish when you are lacking green foods in your meal.

4. Veggie Side Dish #2

Ingredients:
4-5 Cherry tomatos
1/2 Broccoli floret
1/4 Red onion
1 Cup baby spinach leaves
2 Cloves garlic (beware of breath after you eat, but it tastes so good)
Italian seasoning to taste
1 Tbsp olive oil
About 1/4 cup red wine (merlot works)

Directions:
Cut the broccoli and tomatos into small pieces, cut the tomatos in half, mince the garlic
Combine all ingredients but the wine in a pan and heat until spinach wilts
Add wine then cook for about 1-2 more minutes

5. Whole Wheat Macaroni and Tomato Sauce
This is an old recipe of my Mom's. Some people don't like it much, but for me its a great easy comfort food.

Ingredients:
1 Cup whole wheat elbow macaroni
1 Cup plain tomato sauce (thats right, tomato sauce, not marinara sauce)
2 Tbsp butter
Lots of black pepper

Directions:
Boil pasta and drain, then add the rest of the ingredients and stir well.

Most of my other recipes are kind of standard, like garlic red mashed potatos, so I won't post them. And of course sometimes I just eat pizza bagels or a lean cuisine, or order a thin crust vegetarian pizza like tonight.