Dinner (Now!): Vegetarian Fried Rice

You still have time to make this for Dinner has changed its name to Dinner(now!). Mostly because it's less typing for me. The idea is still the same: less than 5 ingredients, and less than 20 mins. of hands-on Cooking time. And this is a blog hop, see the links to other great vegetarian meals below!

Vegetarian* Fried Rice

I have to give credit for quick dinner recipe to my mom. She was the queen of healthy dinner for four in 20 mins. or less. While I complained plenty at the time, I see the wisdom in it now.  Fried riceis a quick treat that we used to have regularly, since I we got a rice cooker for Chirstmas, we do it once a week. It is so easy make a little extra rice, or even make some fresh, why not.

5 Ingredients:

Mostly Left-overs

Tonight I'm using about 2 cups of left over Rice, two kinds of left over mixed Veggies however I usually take the time to rip open a bag right from the freezer, if you go that route try the Asian mix, high heat oil, and 2 eggs. Quantities are all very flexible and I'll usually add an egg for each cup of rice. I like to be generous with the veggies for obvious reasons, I'd like to put a few shrimp but my son and husband and son don't really like them.

10 Minuets on the Stove:

1) Heat the oil, and scramble the eggs. We got this nifty Wok when we got married, but my dear mother just used a big fry pan or one of those avacat0 green electric things with the handles. scoop them out and set aside. *Protein from eggs could be substituted if you are vegan. @SandraKohlmann over at Vegan Mother Hubbard recommends finely crumbled firm tofu, just drain it and press the water out before crumbling. If you're family is of the meat eating type, my friend Alisa says, cook the left over chicken or shrimp before the eggs, and set aside as well.

2) Fry the rice. Add a bit more oil and if it's cold out of the fridge you may need to break it up a bit. Move it around the pan.

3) Veggies go in next. frozen may take a bit more time to heat up, so in that case put the top on for a few. I'd imagine that if you were adding some left over chicken peices, now's the time.

4) Last, return those eggs (or tofu, and meat) to the pan, as some soy sauce to taste, and sesame seed if you like.

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This even reheats well and actually the kids, (even my picky one) request it. It s pretty simple and surprisingly satisfying.

The Problem of Time

I have two small(ish) children, (please take a moment to meet seeds.) We have two cats. My sweet, talented and ambitious husband has a day job, and is starting a business. This in reality means two jobs. I am trying to find a least one or two careers for myself. I have two blogs, and about two tons of extra-curricular interest, too many to list here. We only have one car, and strangely only one me.

Managing time is the biggest problem I seem to have. This is not an exhaustive list, but it helps. This is how get to all the things I need to, and sometimes I get to do the things that I want to.

• Let some things go. There is cat hair on my duvet. I did not send out any cute holiday cards or organize the cookie exchange this year. I said no. I let some things go. This is the most difficult thing to do. If you read a few blogs – especially ‘Mom-themed’ blogs, you could start to believe that there are women who do “do it all”. They have perfectly behaved children who were potty trained at 18mo.; they blog about designing a line of hand painted greeting cards while their artisan bread rises but only on their days off from underwater Sanskrit brain surgery. Fact: there are people out there who do MORE than you do. So what? It is your life. Spend a little time to prioritize, draw a line and everything below it, LET IT GO. Give yourself a little acceptance. This has given me a handle on my time. It may sound trite, and that’s because you will never have the time to knit that sweater or write that novel or learn to oil paint if the cat hair on the duvet is keeping you up at night. I just read a great blog post about even reusing a few towels to cut on the laundry.

• A little organization goes a long way. I am the least organized person that I know. I know that it is not my nature. If you are someone who can find the stamps right now, I commend you. I know I have a lot to learn. One of my new year’s resolutions was to use organization as a way to get stress out of my life. My 5yo son hates to get dressed in the morning. It takes forever, it takes tears, and it often takes the entire family to get an appropriate type and quantity of clothes on the boy. In the last couple of months, I have started laying out the kids’ clothes the night before. It takes the exact amount of minuets to select skivvies and a sweatshirt, but not the ever-precious and bleary-eyed morning minuets. The same goes for planning meals out for the week, instead of trying to come up with some thing on the way home from swim class. Even, steal one of my dinner (now!) ideas. Whatever that all consuming, stress inducing, time-suck there is, see if a little bit of planning and organization can take some of the stress out of it.

• Use the Technology. I know you have a computer, (or at least a smart phone). There right now you have more technology readily available than all of our fore mothers combined. The trick is to use it and not let it use you. You gotta love the UPC scanning shopping list like Grocery IQ but ultimately you have to get the time to actually go to the store! There are two applications that I rely on: Google Calendars and Toodledo. I use the calendar because I can easily share a “family calendar” with my husband and this facilitates sharing a car, and making plans. It online, in our phones, there is no excuse for not knowing when swimming ends, or Joey’s birthday party starts. The real key is when you are proposing an all family underwear shopping trip, be sure to put it in the penciled-in until the Steelers are out of the play offs. I use Toodledo mostly to prompt me for recurring items, like getting to that cat hair on the duvet. It helps to know that everything does not need to be done right now!

How to you get everything in? I’d love to add a few more tools to my tool kit, because who wouldn't just want to spend more time playing with those two cuties in the picture up there.

You Still Have Time to Make This for Dinner: Vegetarian

Sorry, it's so yummy, I forgot to take the pic first :)

Not only is this quick, it isn't even home made. Basically you warm up your favorite canned soup. What makes this a special meal around our house in the cold winter evenings is the CHEESY BREAD!  It was the only thing K-dog requested for his 5th birthday dinner.

I used to make grilled cheese to go with soup, but I'm not really good at cooking things on the stove without burning them so I've started making a sort of Bruchetta, but with cheese instead.

• Preheat oven to about 350 (400 if your in a hurry.)
• I melt about a tablespoon of  butter and add about the same amount of olive oil for a nice loaf of french bread.Let the kid brush/ drizzle this mixture on sliced bread
• Sprinkle with garlic and herb seasonings, fresh herbs are nice but not essential.
• and of course CHEESE! (and by cheese I mean whatever cheese you like or have or can borrow from the neighbors.

 I pop it in the oven, and heat up the soup on the stove. Its usually all ready at the same time, if you add some salad it's even a balanced meal.

Not what you have a taste for tonight?  See my other Dinner (now)  post!

You Still Have Time To Make This for Dinner: Breakfast!

As it turns out everyone in my family likes breakfast, and it is always a special treat to have breakfast for dinner.  The real trick is to also make it a balanced nutritious meal.  So last night we had spinach mushroom and cheese omelets.  My kids my be a little odd in their affection for spinach and I may have their grandparents and the creators of Popeye the Sailor Man, but butter doesn't hurt.

I like to saute my mushrooms.  These are baby portbella's here, but sometimes i go for whatever is already sliced in the market. When they start to sweat I put in onions and garlic. Now you probably don't have to chop them this fine, but my son does not eat onions he can see.

spinach thief!

Spinach - Mushroom mixtu

While that's going I thaw a package of spinach in the microwave, and drain. Here, daughter A is stealing some. If you are a bit more organized than I you could use actually fresh spinach.  I like to warm that all up in the pan. and put it aside.  Then I made up omelets: Eggs, splash of milk  fill with spinach mushroom mixture and Swiss cheese. You can adjust the  cheese or veggie for each family member. We added whole wheat toast, a side of soy bacon and apple cider.  What is your family's favorite breakfast for dinner menu?

Not what you have a taste for tonight?  See my other Dinner (now)  post!

 

You still have time to make this for dinner (vegetarian): Ravioli Bake

I did not invent this recipe, but I'm sure I don't know where I found it. Its so easy and forgiving that who needs a recipe?

What you need: whatever pasta sauce you like or have. I use a whole one and half if there's one open in the fridge, a pound of still frozen ravioli, spinach (thawed) & shredded cheese.

Put it in a pan in layers


















sneak in some veggies, we like spinach and mushrooms, what does your family like?










Put more cheese on top bake in 450* oven until a ravioli is cooked and it's a bit brown (about 35 - 45 mins.)

Even my son loves this one, and usually I make a little extra for lunches.  I'll admit it, its got loads of cheese, and DD's favorite "oodles in there!" It is comfort food, but every now and then that's what everyone needs.  I'd love ideas for different veggie combinations. Has anyone tried carrots or a different kind of ravioli?


Not what you have a taste for tonight?  See my other Dinner (now)  post!

You still have time to make this for dinner (vegan)

 

It's rare but it's 3pm and I know what we're having for dinner tonight. I'm sharing this because you still have time to make this for tonight as well!  Here's a link to the recipe: Vegan Quinoa Salad.  This one dish meal has something for everyone, and works well as a picnic side too (no pesky mayo to keep you up at night).  I always forget how much every one loves this dish but fortunately DH made the request. It calls for cukes, bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli and of course quinoa.  I have in the past substituted for each of these ingredients (i even accidentally made it with cous cous, and it was still very good. Its' 15 min. on the stove and a while to chill, but if you don't put the veggies in right away you can chill the cooked grain in the freezer for quick summer supper that even my DS will eat. Aside from looking yummy quinoa is a source of complete protein and other nutrients ==>Nutrition Facts Here<==; and if you don't really feel like cooking and just want some colorful history associated with it ==>Quinoa on Wikipedia here<==

fresh cukes

uncooked quinoa from bulk section

 

the worlds easiest dressing

BTW: this is my 100th post, but that's counting the one that DD made from my phone by accident. Anyway I'm thinking of revamping and renaming this site so look for coming changes. And some more frequent post as well!

What are you having for dinner tonight? Because I have no idea what I'm making for Thursday.

You Still Have Time To Make This for Dinner: Salmon patties

not really a recipe but here's what I do

per 1 can of salmon (we love this so I make 2)

1/2 bell pepper & 1 small onion chopped fine (as K-dog won't eat onions that he can see). Beat 1 egg, in large bowl combine egg, chopped veggies, and salmon. You can try to get the little bones out but they have calcium and they're pretty soft anyway. add enough bread crumbs (or crushed croutons in a pinch) to be able to make little balls. Maybe a 1/2 cup. A sprinkle of old bay if you have and like it. I pan fry these in canola or safflower oil. You can make ahead and reheat in the oven, or just form the patties and put the in the fridge which will firm them up a little for frying which is helpful sometimes. I serve with a little dip 2-3 tbls. Mayo, squirt Lemon Juice, and pinch Dill.

We like rice and veggies with. This was totally a rip off from my cousin Craig T Patterson's totally slammin' Salmon patties he made for A-d Christening, since he's the Godfather and all.


Not what you have a taste for tonight?  See my other Dinner (now)  post!

Bok Choi,

The Bok choi for dinner looks very good.