Savory Oatmeal wtih Spinach and Tomatoes

I enjoy traditional sweet oatmeal with cinnamon and honey, but this morning I was craving something a little different. I approached breakfast with half a plan and the rest came together quite nicely. Here is a recipe for savory oatmeal that will give your morning a real boost. 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups broth
• 1/2 cup steel-cut oats
• 1/2 tsp crushed garlic
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 big handful of fresh spinach ( roughly 1 cup)
• 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 large roma tomatoes diced
• 1/3 cup ground sausage style-vegetable or soy protein crumbles (optional) ( used 1 chopped Tofurky veggie sausage)
• 1/4 cup sliced onion
• 1/4 sliced mushrooms (baby bellas work nicely here) 

Directions:

1. Boil broth and stir in oats, reducing heat to medium. 
2. Add garlic and salt and cook for about 4 minutes.
3. While oats are cooking, lightly coat a pan with olive oil.
4. Saute the onions, sausage and mushrooms over a medium heat for about 5 minutes
5. Stir in spinach and nutritional yeast into the oatmeal and continue to simmer on medium heat about 3 minutes or until spinach is wilted and oats are at preferred chewiness. 
6. Add the chopped tomatoes, and cooked sausage mixture to the oats and cook an additional minute. 
7. Serve immediately. 

Super Simple Black Bean Chili

I think Chili may be my second favorite comfort food, behind pizza. And like pizza it can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. For a lazy Friday night, I went for super simple. This recipe avoids chopping anything, uses one pot, and involves spices you likely already have in your pantry.
This recipe was officially meat eater approved. Enjoy!

Super Simple Black Bean Chili

Here's What You Need:

1 cup dehydrated soy crumbles

2 cups warm vegetable broth

1 15 oz can of Black beans

1 15 oz can diced tomatoes

1 cup frozen sweet corn

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dry thyme

1 tsp dry basil

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

 Here's What You Gotta Do:

1) In a medium pot, add the dehydrated meat crumbles and warm vegetable broth. Let the crumbles sit for 15 minute to rehydrate the crumbles. (If using frozen beef-style veggie crumbles, skip this step)

2) Add all of the remaining ingredients to the pot and bring to a soft boil.

3) Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes.

Serve over rice or eat alone.

Note: You may use 1 ½ cup of regular crumbled beef style veggie crumbles. If so, just use 1 cup of vegetable broth and skip step one.

The no salt added tomato can was definitely picked up by accident, but it worked wonderfully in this dish. 

If using unsalted vegetable broth, add 1 tsp of salt at step two.

Life is Delicious...Go Taste It!

Vegetarian Sloppy Joe

It's family game night at my cousin's house and I am so excited. Sloppy Joes and sweet potato fries are on the menu. I am byov- ing ("Bring Your Own Vegetarian") this event. Here is my version of sloppy joes for tonight's festivities. I've broke with tradition and left out the tomato paste. I'm not a fan of the stuff when it has a prominent flavor, reminds me too much of ketchup.

Here's What You Need:

• 1 1/2 cup dehydrated beef crumbles
• 2 cups warm vegetable broth (salted)
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp finely minced garlic
• 1 tsp vegetable oil
• 2 tsp cumin
• 1 cup sliced green and red bell peppers
• 2 1/2 tbsp agave nectar
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp liquid smoke.
• 1 14 oz can of diced roasted tomatoes
• 12 slices of toasted bread or buns ( 2 per sandwich)

Here's What You Gotta Do:

1. In a medium bowl combine the crumbles, broth, onion powder and garlic. Let sit for 15 minutes or until the crumbles are fully rehydrated.
2. Add oil to a  large sauce pan and heat to medium. Add cumin and heat for 30 seconds before adding the bell peppers. Cook until bell peppers are soft.
3. Add the beef crumbles ( broth and all) to the pan Let simmer until all of hte liquid evaporates, about 15 to 20 minutes.
4. When there is very little liquid left in the pan, add all of the remaining ingredients. Let simmer for an additional 10 or until most of tomato liquid is thickened.
5. Spoon out a portion of the sloppy Joe mix onto the toasts or buns and Enjoy!

Makes 6 sloppy Joes more or less*

Serve on top of a toasted bun with or without cheese.

This one was amazing with pepper jack cheese.

Brain fuel...bring on the Board Games!

Life is Delicious... Go Taste It!