August 7-11, 2017 – What the VEG is for dinner?

Shopping List

Spices

Ginger
Thyme
Oregano
Salt
Pepper
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder

Veggies and Fruits

Frozen Steamer Pack of Broccoli + bag of frozen Broccoli for Stir-fry
Frozen Green Beans- Buy whole fine or super fine if available
Frozen Mixed Veggies
Fresh Ginger 2+ Tablespoons worth
White Button Mushrooms
Portobello Mushroom 1 lb (large or small)
Carrots (3)
Bell Peppers (3)
Green Onions
Sweet Onions (3)
Small Cabbage
2-3 Sweet Potatoes
1 Lemon
Fresh Italian Parsley
Roma or Grape Tomatoes (1 Pint)
Red Onion
2-3 Ears of Corn
Fresh Ginger Root (in Fresh Veggie Section)
Firm or Extra Firm Tofu Or 2 eggs (Vegan or Veg. choices)
Minced Garlic (Because garlic is in so many of my meals I buy a large jar of pre-minced garlic, available in the un-refrigerated, shelved section of the store)

Everything Else

Dried Cranberries
Unsalted Sunflower Seeds
Vegetable Broth (The taste is important. Better Than Bouillon gives excellent broth)
Vegan Butter
Vegan Wonton Wrappers
Olive or Canola Oil
Sesame Oil
Rice Vinegar
Soy Sauce
Brown Sugar
Dry Brown Lentils
Basmati Rice
Whole Wheat Pita Bread
12” of French, Ciabatta, or Baguette Rolls
Vegan Provolone (Optional)

Daily Breakdown

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

MONDAY

Vegetarian French Dip Sandwich, Steamed Broccoli

This sandwich was just scrumptious! It was easy to make and the taste makes you want to go back for more. To make it vegan simply substitute vegan cheese or leave it off completely. I made ours without any cheese and it worked great. This recipe does contain some brown sugar. I don’t know what would be an adequate substitute since it actually affects the flavor. If anyone tries it with a different sweetener leave a comment and let me know how it tasted.

Vegetarian French Dip Recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/12/vegetarian-french-dip-sandwiches/
Steamed Broccoli: For this meal I bought a steamable frozen broccoli pack. Microwave according to directions.

TUESDAY

Marinated Lentil Salad, Corn on the Cob, Pita

I had my doubts about this salad as I pulled leaves off the Italian parsley and chopped and mixed. I never used fresh parsley before and I left out the feta cheese to make it vegan, so I wasn’t sure how it would taste. All my doubts ended with the first test bite. It is amazing! I had more the next day for lunch and it tasted even better the second time around. Serve with corn on the cob and pita bread.

Notes:

Pre Cook your lentils for faster prep. I cooked mine in the morning before work and they were ready to go when I got home.
In addition to making dinner for tonight take a few extra to cook your rice for Wednesday and Friday. 2 cups of dry rice and 4-6 cups of water will make enough for both meals. When it is done refrigerate it in a clean storage container until ready for use.

Marinated Lentil Salad Recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/10/marinated-lentil-salad/
Corn on the Cob: How you cook your corn depends on how much you are making. If you need 1-3 ears of corn then microwaving them is a fast way to get them done. Lay them in your microwave unshucked with a little space between each ear. Cook for 6-8 minutes. For 4 or more ears pre-shuck the corn and boil for 6-8 minutes in a pot of water.

WEDNESDAY

Vegan Fried Rice

A yummy, less greasy version of fried rice, and it is easy to make vegan! Because this meal is pretty much complete as a one dish meal there are no sides. If you must have something to go with it you can make a salad or a side of Sweet Apple and Cranberry Slaw from last week.

Notes: Instead of cutting up carrots and peas simply use 2 cups of frozen mixed veggies. To make it vegan leave out the egg, substituting a package of firm or extra firm tofu. Press your tofu to get the water out and let it drain/dry for a bit before using. After letting it drain crumble it into scrambled egg size crumbles and add when the recipe calls for eggs.

This made 6-7 cups, enough for a meal and a lunch for two people.

Vegan Fried Rice Recipe: www.budgetbytes.com/2010/06/vegetable-not-fried-rice/

THURSDAY

Sweet Potatoes, Special Green Beans, Pita (or other bread)

Special Green Beans are my fast, yummy way of making green beans to go with a meal. Served with microwaved sweet potatoes and a side of bread, they are a satisfying, easy dinner.

Special Green Beans Recipe: View Recipe
Sweet Potatoes: Wash and dry sweet potatoes then prick them with a fork several times to create a few holes in the skin. This keeps them from exploding. Cook them in the microwave for 6-10 minutes depending on size and how many you cook at once. Don’t put more than 3-4 potatoes in at once as this will slow down the cooking process. The potato is done when pressing on it with a fork easily causes it to mash.

FRIDAY

Vegan Potstickers, Basmati Rice, Stir Fried Veggies

I won’t lie… the potstickers took a bit of time to assemble, but they cooked up fast and they were worth every minute. Pre-made wonton wrappers make this recipe much easier. I found mine in the refrigerated case in the veggie section of Walmart. They were egg and dairy free. Pairing the potstickers with stirfried veggies and rice makes for a delightful dinner.