Hi everyone,

So I have recently become vegetarian, and while I haven't forced this on my family, I do cook most of the meals, so therefore they are eating mostly vegetarian.  The problem is I don't have a lot of recipes for vegetarian cooking, that they will eat.  I do vegetable lasagna, and some pasta and mexican dishes along with the typical store bought veggie burgers.  My husband doesn't even like beans very much!  So if any one has any hearty meal suggestions, (I would really like a good chili recipe, and homemade veggie burgers)  I would be very apprecitive.


Thanks
Kim

I'd suggest checking the vegetarian mother's cookbook - cathe olson or olsen) out of the library. My copy is so worn out from overuse that it is literally falling apart. My kids have liked everything I have made out of it, and my husband as well.

For chili, I kinda wing it. I soak lots of beans (black and pinto usually), add cans of tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, and sometimes corn depending on my mood. Oh, also saute some onions and garlic and add those as well. I know this isn't very specific, but I vary it frequently. I will get you a copy of a good veggie burger recipe, it's been a while since I had it but I loved it. (for what it's worth, I didn't care much for the veggie burger recipe in vegetarian mother's)

I second the recommendation for the Vegetarian Mother's Cookbook.  Also, the Moosewood Cookbooks are really good.  I have several and have never made anything from them that didn't taste good.  You can also try making some of the recipes you already know your family likes (things like casseroles), just without the meat.   I have a couple that my family has made for years, I can email them to you if you like.

Thanks everyone,  I have been trying out some things, tweaking my familys recipes to be vegetarian.  I'm going to go to the library this weekend and checkout the book you have all recommended.  I thought I would add my recipes that I have done successfully so far in case any one is interested, I try to make stuff that is as uncomplicated as possible!


Vegetarian Lasagna

Half box lasagna noodles, boiled and drained (could use the no boil kind)
1/2 large zucchini, or whole small one peeled and diced
1/2 eggplant, peeled and diced
half a bag shredded carrots
1 small yellow onion peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery diced
1/2 red bell pepper diced
1/2 green bell pepper diced
2tbs garlic finely diced
fresh basil( or dried) to taste
1 jar store bought pasta sauce(your choice)
1 can tomato sauce

1 large tub cottage cheese ( I use fat free)
2 large eggs
1 bag mozzarella cheese
3 tbs parmesan cheese(the powdered stuff is fine)

Preheat oven to 425

In a hot pan put 1tbsp olive oil

add onions, celery, & garlic and cook till onions are transparent
add peppers and carrots cook 3 minutes
add zucchini and eggplant ,cover, cook for 5 min on low to medium
add basil and cook 1 min

in a bowl add cottage cheese, eggs, 1c mozz cheese and parmesan cheese, add salt and pepper. stir together until blended

in seperate bowl mix together pasta sauce and tomato sauce

in 9x13 casserole pan put just enough sauce to cover bottom
layer noodles
layer veggies
layer noodles
layer  sauce
layer cheese mixture
layer noodles
layer sauce
layer veggies
layer cheese mixture
layer noodles
layer sauce

bake for 45 minutes

take out put remaining mozz cheese on top put back in oven to melt cheese
take out let cool for 15 min and serve, makes enough for 8


Tex-Mex stew/goulash ( this is super easy and fast)

1 bag morning star crumbles
1 bag frozen corn with bell peppers (I use birdseye)
1 bag frozen spanish rice (kroger brand) or you could make from scratch
1/2 peeled diced zucchini
1 small yellow onion
2tbs diced garlic
3 stalks diced celery
1 can drained, rinsed black beans
1 can diced tomatoes for chili
1 small can diced green chilis


in pan heat 1tbsp oil, add onion, celery, and garlic cook till onions are clear

add zucchini and green chilis cook covered 5 min
cook rice in microwave
add crumbles, beans, and corn to pan with veggies cook till heated through, add tomatoes
cook till bubbly 3 min
serve over rice, top with cheese if desired

So I am going to try and document my trials in vegetarian cooking, by posting when I come across a successful recipe, so maybe I will help out other mommas who are looking for something new and not to hard for dinner. So last night I made pizza dough for the first time and we had vegetarian pizza, it was so good!  Anyway heres the recipe.

Vegetarian pizza and savory pizza dough

Pizza dough

• <!-- --> 1 1/2 cups warm water
• <!-- --> 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 <!-- -->cups flour (all purpose or bread)
• <!-- --> 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• <!-- --> 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• <!-- --> 1 tablespoon italian seasoning ( I used Mrs. dash tomato, garlic, oregano)
• <!-- --> 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Add ingredients in pan of bread machine in order, you could probably do this by hand, but I have only used my bread machine.  Set machine to dough cycle, when cycle is complete, remove dough and stretch onto pan, load up with topping, I used jarred pasta sauce, red and green bell peppers, red onion, and fresh basil, with mozzerela cheese on top.  Bake at 450 for 12-15 min.

enjoy!!

My go-to cookbooks are Moosewwod Cooks at Home (most recipes are 30 mins or less, yay!) and the Low Fat Moosewood cookbook.

I've also found a surprising number of great veggie recipes in the Joy of Cooking.

I made the Moosewood Low Fat Eggplant Parm again this week, since eggplant is in season.  It is so good!  I was wondering though, does anyone know how eggplant freezes?  We can't finish the parm right now and I want to freeze some for later if possible.