Plant-Based Meals

We've been eating a lot of plant-based meals lately.  One of the easiest ones, and a new favourite, is this satisfying meal of artichoke melts and tahini spinach.

Artichoke Melts

(Makes 4 bun-halves)

• 2 buns, sliced
• 1 can artichokes (14 oz/398 ml), drained
• 1-1.5 T mayo
• 1 T minced onion
• 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp smokey paprika
• 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne 
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• grated cheese to top them with (to taste)

Chop up the artichokes well (I like to chop them similar to flaked tuna).  Add the mayo, onion, and spices (or whatever you like really).  Top the four bun halves with the mixture, top with cheese, and broil on high 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden.  Watch! 

Tahini Spinach

(Makes 2 portions)

• 1 T tahini
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 large pack of baby spinach (312 g/11 oz)
• 1 tsp sesame oil

Mix the tahini, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar in a small bowl. Put the spinach into a dry, large pot, and stir and let it wilt over medium heat.  It will give off its water.  Keep stirring for 1-3 minutes until all is wilted. Remove from heat and squeeze all liquid out of the spinach. (We use a clean silicon oven mitt to really give it a good squeeze.  You want all liquid drained off, so squeeze it well.) You can let it cool if you need to, then squeeeeeeeze.  Drizzle the drained spinach with sesame oil, and toss it with the tahini sauce. Serve warm or cold.

We have the tahini spinach as a side dish multiple times per week.

On the side with daal and rice:

With a baked potato and beans:

With kimchi potatoes and roasted broccoli:

Other plant-based meals we've been enjoying include tempeh stir fry:

Borscht perogies with saurkraut:

Vegan alfredo pasta:

Tofu and veggie, rice bowls with peanut sauce:

Bean and sweet potato burritos:

So many vegetarian dishes from Caraway:

Panang vegetable curry, with Thai sticky rice:

Falafel pitas with homemade super-green falafels, and alllllll the pickled turnips:

Sushi rolls on the day we were supposed to leave for Japan 😢:

Grilled veggies with halloumi cheese:

Nachos!

And burgers made with smoked portobellos instead of beef patties:

(Note the tahini spinach on the side again.  We're hooked.)

And we even had plant-based dessert recently - mango with sticky rice.

Have you had any good plant-based meals lately?

Do you try to incorporate plant-based meals into your diet?

Good morning lovelies! Thank-you so much for all the sore throat remedies - I am going to try them all because I find sore throats UNBEARABLE!!
A couple of people commented that dinner last night looked good ... the reason I didn't post the recipe, is that it wasn't that great!
The hubby only ate half of his. I like mine and ate it all, but it wasn't the best pasta I've ever had. If anyone really wants the recipe I will happily share it though ... just thought I should let you know why I didn't post it initially.

For breakfast this morning I wanted an extra blast of nutrients to help fight off this cold.
I made a GREEN Monster with about 1 cup of this:

One of these:



3 Giant Handfuls of this:



One package of this:



1 T of this:



And 1 scoop of these (chia seeds):



It was delicious and FULL of nutrients.
Perfect way to start the day, in my opinion.

I am off to work with a cup of black java ... have a great day everyone!

One Foggy Monday

Good morning darlings! I looked out my window this morning, and instead of snow I saw FOG!

I woke up really hungry today - which is strange because for the last few days I have not been hungry at all in the morning.

I made a GREEN Monster (3 large handfuls spinach, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, really ripe banana):

I also had a slice of whole wheat toast with some margarine:



And a cup of black coffee of course:



Can you believe it is October 19th already!!?? I feel like this month just started!
I am really excited for Halloween to come and go - because then the Christmas stuff will come out! I absolutely LOVE Christmas shopping, and I start the second Halloween is over :-)

Do you like Christmas shopping? When do you start?