Mom's Vegetarian Takeout

Well, I'm actually having fun with this new road I'm on trying my hand at cooking meatless meals. I've learned a lot and have had to rethink centering the meals around the protein--sometimes quite challenging. I've also picked up some incredibly delicious recipes!

This panini was fun to make. Homemade tomato pesto was first spread on the bottom of a ciabatta bun, then I layered roasted, sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top of the pesto--yum, sounding good already. Next, I added fresh basil leaves and slices of fresh mozzarella cheese. I put the top ciabatta bun on and grilled it all in my panini press. This is really a good sandwich.

                                           Roasted russet potatoes go well with the panini.

These look like hamburgers, but they're not! They are actually black bean burgers, something we had never had before, and they are delicious! Mash black beans, add grated onion, egg, bread crumbs, hot sauce, salt and pepper, and form into patties. Saute them in a skillet with a little butter and olive oil until they're nice and browned. Then I topped them with jack cheese, but you can use any kind you like, and placed the lid on the skillet so the cheese would melt. I mixed up mayo with sirracha and Tabasco sauces and spread some on each buttered and grilled bun. I placed the patty on the bottom bun, then added arugula on one and romaine lettuce on the other (the kids have different tastes). These were some of the best burgers ever! Not kidding. Next time I think I will mix in salsa with the mayo and maybe add some chopped Hatch green chiles either to the beans or the mayo--or both! Anyway, this recipe is a keeper! Thank you Pioneer Woman!

This is a quick and simple salad that can accompany any sandwich or pizza or... whatever you like! Butter and purple lettuce is mixed with heirloom baby (or cherry, whatever you call them) tomatoes, and big hunks of blue cheese. Drizzle on olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fresh tasting, crunchy, good!

 Margherita Pizza made with fresh tomatoes, lots of fresh garlic, ricotta cheese, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, olive oil, and Parmesan. Oh I just love this crust--and if you've been following my blog, then you already know how I've been in search for the perfect pizza dough (and perfect pizza for that matter). Well, this comes close!