The plan was to go vegetarian this week. Just a week. It shouldn’t be that hard.
I started Sunday with a vegetarian lunch and then followed through all day yesterday. It’s been okay except for one thing. Now I don’t want to be too blunt in saying this, but I think I’ve made just a minor mistake in that every meal I’ve made is full of black beans. Thus, I am full of black beans.
Here’s the thing you should know about me: I love beans. I was the gross kid in elementary who filled my entire tray with baked beans fully aware of the social torment I would get for it. I didn’t care, they were too delicious.
I accidentally over-do it on them quite a bit, but these last few days really take the cake for my bean consumption. They are indeed the magical fruit, but they don’t always make you toot, sometimes instead you just bloat and feel things popping inside of you that doesn’t seem quite right.
So that’s what’s going on with me right now.
My friend Christine gave me the vegetarian cookbook, Thug Kitchen and I’m kind of obsessed with it. I love both the food and the writing in it.
You know when you see a recipe that calls for one ingredient you don’t recognize and you immediately back off and are all like, ugh no thank you that looks too hard. Well this book totally calls you out for that. They’ll mark ingredients with a *, and then you’ll look below and the note will say, “Don’t be so fu*king lazy, have you heard of the internet? Use it.“
Yesterday, per your suggestions on Instagram, I started with my own version of the black bean torta. I don’t follow recipes very well so once I get a general idea I just kind of roll with it. I had it for lunch and then made it again for Chris for dinner. I’ve gone through four cans of black beans in less than 48 hours…
For breakfast I’ve been obsessed with the greenish smoothie than I’ve been drinking every day for almost a year now. I like this smoothie just because I’m not a huge vegetable person so it’s a good way to get at least a handful of greens every day. And it actually tastes good. I know it seems unlikely, but try it sometime.
And now today I have no idea what to cook because I need to scrap the other black bean recipes I had planned. Have a suggestion? Let me know. I prefer easy.
I feel like I should apologize for this boring post. I didn’t mean for it to be this blah, it just kind of happened.
I was up until 3:00 a.m. packing shirts and my mind is a little off. Also Chris and I had a very privileged yuppy argument just a little while ago when he accidentally grabbed my Mac to bring to work instead of his. As soon as I saw what happened I was all OH Hell NO. Why is everything ten times more dramatic in the morning? He was mad at me for moving his computer, I was mad at him for taking mine. Let’s just say WE WERE MAD.
Living with someone is great. It’s also challenging at times, don’t you think? Have I ever told you that Chris and I share ONE closet? When I see blogger closets it always makes me giggle because they’re often the size of our bedroom. That shall be my post tomorrow.
But today, today I need your meatless recipes. And now I have to go workout. Ughhhhh.
I love Thug Kitchen. This is good & doesn't contain meat or black beans =) http://www.persnicketyplates.com/spinach-artichoke-pizza/
I heart you. I am updating my blog today as part of the 100 day challenge I keep hearing about. I'll start w a veggie recipe! Thanks for the shoutout – and you can do this. Rooting for you, T shirt lady!!
Thug Kitchen is so great.
Also, pinchofyum.com has really great recipes. "The Best Detox Crockpot Lentil Soup" is delicious, easy and will give you leftovers for a bit..it just requires a good amount of chopping.
I have nothing to say on this because michael would literally die without meat. but good luck to you!!
I've been a vegetarian, well pescetarian, for almost 5 years now. But when I first started thinking about it, it took me a good 6 months to fully transition away from meat. I'm going to have to try the black bean tortas. I love this chickpea stew http://www.rickiheller.com/2011/03/anti-candida-sugar-free-gluten-free-vegan-chickpea-tomato-and-potato-stew-recipe/ (still a bean, but not black beans). If you like eggplant, give these a try http://sweetlittlekitchen.com/adobo-eggplant-quesadillas/. And this flatbread is so good http://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a43148/pesto-corn-flatbread-recipe/. I also love making pizzas on veggies instead of bread like eggplant or zucchini slices or portabella mushroom caps. Let me know if you need more recipes, I have a lot that I like to rotate through!
This recipe is EVERYTHING. I've made it twice, and have received rave reviews from my husband, and the company we had over. It does use beans, but they are white…? 🙂
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/kale_white_bean_potpie_with_chive_biscuits.html
This cracks me up. I love beans, too, so I totally feel your pain. Good luck!
That book sounds awesome. I like meat. A lot. But I also enjoy good vegetarian meals too.
Also: mushrooms are EVERYTHING TO ME. they replace meat in SO many dishes. I'll email you a few.
I have two Thug Kitchen books and they are both amazing. Gotta love Newbury Comics Christmas gifts!
I feel your bean pain – haaaaave you met lentils?
My meat-loving boyfriend recently tried his first lentil, and has then since demanded this soup about once a week – http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/lynne-kasper-moroccan-harira-red-lentil-soup . Chris could probably add shredded chicken as my boyfriend started doing.
I am not a botany expert but I don't think chickpeas have the same uhhh qualities as black beans. This curry is so easy and so delicious. I always keep some in the freezer for the days when turning on the stove is too much effort http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/curried-cauliflower-and-chickpea-stew-352533
Good luck!
Order a veggie pizza. You're welcome.
I've been a vegetarian since I was 6 and I think the easiest way to do it is not to look for things made for specifically for vegetarians, but to make vegetarian dishes that everyone tends to eat with their meat and just bump up the portion of your plate that it takes up. I'm not sure if that made sense. Anyway, my go-tos are an omelette for breakfast, a wrap with black beans, sliced bell peppers, and greek yogurt for lunch, roasted vegetables for dinner, and a smoothie for any meal I'm too lazy to properly make.
My favourite vegetarian recipe is definitely falafels YUM (I think the recipe I use is on Pinch of Yum)
Ah good for you! Try this super simple couscous stuffed peppers recipe w/ a basil sauce that is so legit, you can put it on cardboard (or anything) and you'll eat it all!
http://dreamofhometonight.blogspot.com/2012/06/meatless-monday.html
I love spinach lasagna! I make up my own recipe because I'm pretty picky, but there are tons out there if you just google it!
You crack me up!! This recipe from Natalie is our new favorite go to — http://www.designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/2015/08/roasted-veggie-rice-bowls-avocado.html — she has TONS of vegetarian recipes on her blog, check it out!
We gave up pig products last year (i can't get into how inhumanely they are treated… but you get the idea) then Tim decided to try beef too… So that's where I'm at. I love meat and all, but it kind of feels good taking a small stance. We are sticking to chicken and venison for now.
This does have black beans, but it's really good. You could leave the beans out. My husband doesn't like vegetables, but he will eat this!
http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/09/one-pan-mexican-quinoa/?m
I made the decision to attempt a vegetarian diet the other day (after I come back from vacation though).
Any kind of bean really does a number on my digestive system…but there are plenty of different variants out there as others have suggested!!!
I'm definitely adding that cookbook to my birthday wish list!
Black bean brownies!
I often go without meat because I am too damn lazy to cook it, or I can't afford it, just saying I do like to have eggs and chips a lot or roast spuds with eggs
I'm mostly vegetarian these days and go through a ton of black beans as well. You should try making the dry beans, it's super easy: Soak overnight rinse and crock pot them on high for 4.5 hrs. They are so much cheaper than the cans.
Also for recipe ideas…. eggplant parmesan, Mediterranean Chickpea Burgers, french onion baked gnocchi, Evelyns pasta, Pizza (i mean comeone pizza) oh here just have this. http://www.sweetloveandginger.com/tag/vegetarian/
OMG i am def gonna check this book out. I love meat… but I can give this a go I suppose. Ugh I just love food lol The struggle is real
XO Ellen from Ask Away
http://www.askawayblog.com
Can I give you some solid vegetarian advice? Trader Joes Soy Chorizo. Sounds gross, is actually delicious. Even non-vegetarians like it (ahem, my husband). It helps keep my meat cravings in check. Also smoked cheeses (YAAASS). If you add smoked cheddar to a dish it totally gives it a meaty quality. And I feel you on the eating too much beans thing. I feel like that happens to me accidentally way more than it should.
I've found some sweet potato patty/burger recipes on Pinterest that are good and really filling. My favorite vegetarian dish is dragon noodles. So cheap and good http://www.budgetbytes.com/2012/08/spicy-noodles/
Falafel! Stir Fry! Curry!