Bought a New Cookbook!!! I think...

I don't recall ordering this cookbook from Amazon but I'm so glad I did. The cookbook is called Vegan Junk Food by Lane Gold.  No meat.  No Dairy. I know right?  She is a vegan chef here in Los Angeles.  I was trying to find out where but I couldn't find that information.
This cookbook has everything from breakfast to deli favorites.  Comfort food to bread.  Vegan party essentials and dips to all kinds of sweet things.  Don't let the title fool you.  Although it is "junk food" I don't know too many junk foods with ingredients like carrots, pumpkins and fresh cilantro and parsley.  Seriously.  Last night I stopped by my local Whole Foods and picked up some ingredients I didn't already have and spent less than $25 for dinner.  I adjusted for my own tastes.

Sloppy Joes

serves 4
1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill TVP
2 cups water
3 tsps vegetable bouillon base
1 tsp vegan beef bouillon base
1 tbsp oil
1/2 chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot (to save time I went to my favorite section and bought already shredded carrot)
1 chopped garlic clove (I used minced so like WHATEV)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbsps brown sugar
2 tsps balsamic vinegar
1 tsp Annie's vegan worcestshire sauce
4 tbsps tomato paste
1 cup tomato sauce
Rudi's whole wheat hamburger buns

heat the water and add the vegetable and beef bouillon base to a boil.
add the TVP and stir a little bit and let it rest for 10 minutes
over medium heat, saute onions and carrots in oil until onions are translucent.
adjust the heat so it doesn't burn.
add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
drain the TVP reserving the liquid.  use a wooden spoon or spatula and squeeze out the excess liquid.
add TVP to the vegetables and cook for about 5 minutes.
add all other ingredients except the buns and stir.
add 1/2 cup of reserved liquid and bring to a boil.
turn heat down to medium and cook for 10 minutes.

spoon the joes onto your buns and enjoy.

This you can you freeze so go ahead and double the ingredients.  It was so good I wish I had leftovers for lunch.

I'm Just Sayin'.......

It isn't easy preparing meals and cooking meals daily. Whether you are a SAHM or work outside of your home or have no kids at home or too many kids you can do it. It takes a bit of planning and shopping ahead of time to make it all come together. A really good idea is planning your meals one week at a time. I bought this really cute magnetic pad that has one side the days of the week where you write each dish per day and on the other side the shopping list. I picked one up at Michaels and there are 30 sheets per pad. That's 30 weeks! Take that shopping list and buy everything you need. I like to buy in bulk so diced tomatoes, tomato paste, commonly used seasonings, etc. I buy at Smart and Final. It is just like Costco except it is smaller, no membership fees, and they only sell things you use in your kitchen and cleaning supplies. So you are not tempted by all the extra stuff you don't REALLY need. The rest of my shopping list I go to Whole Foods. It isn't really all that expensive. I do not buy name brands unless I have no choice. Sticking to their brand is the way to go. They also sell some veggies already diced and minced for you which, let's be honest, when you are busy and don't want to spend alot of time in the kitchen, saves alot of time. For example, I picked up chunks of butternut squash for dinner to be used today. Easy and convenient and although it is cheating, you are still saving money in the long run because you are not eating out. Lots of the veggies you can prepare on the weekends and keep refrigerated and when you are ready to begin dinner you just take out of the refrigerator and are almost done! You can also make sauces over the weekend and refrigerate or freeze until you need it.

At the end, you will have yummy meals for you and your family. It doesn't have to be difficult. Just delicious.