Check out this snazzy new design! Since it's almost 2010, this blog needed a whole new look. Thanks to Eve B. Designs for the change. Eve is a delight to work with, and is vegan to boot! If you're in need of design work, I highly recommend her. Thanks, Eve!
It's time for another book contest! The Book Publishing Company just sent me a copy of Bryanna Clark Grogan's 20 Minutes to Dinner: Quick, Low-Fat, Low-Calorie Vegetarian Meals. If you're a regular reader, you know that the Book Publishing Company generously sends me books to review. Rather than keep the books, I hold contests for them after writing a review. I figure this way it helps to spread the word about wonderful vegan cookbooks. Can you tell there is a "But" coming next? But..... I'm keeping this copy this time. I cooked a few dishes from it, and the book is already starting to look loved. Rather than send you this splattered copy, I will buy a new copy of the book for the contest winner and it will be shipped directly to you from the publisher. Here's what we tried.
Mapo Doufo
First up, one of Jim's favorites, Mapo Doufo. This is spicy and has a lot going on for such a simple preparation. We had it with rice and steamed vegetables for a better-than-take-out home-cooked dinner.
Chinese Spaghetti
Cutlets Dijon
The third dish we tried were the Cutlets Dijon. Not only is this great tasting and super easy, it's showy enough for a date night or a company dinner. Once the mushrooms are cut for this, you're only minutes away from a fantastic dinner. It's one of those recipes where the whole is so much greater than it's parts.
Now that you've seen a little about why you need this book, let me tell you more about what's in it. The book opens with a chapter on Nutrition, Cooking and Shopping Tips. Besides information on reducing fat and lower fat cooking, there are also suggestions on substitutions and for being more efficient in the kitchen. I love this kind of info in a book because you can apply it to your own cooking situation. Techniques like this go a long way. Chapter 2 is Homemade Basics and contains indispensable recipes such as mayo, milks and a variety of "cheeses". From there, the book breaks into:
- Quick Dips, Spreads and Drinks
- Speedy Soups, Sauces and Salads
- Pasta and Pizza Express
- Fast Food Tonight! (Burgers, Patties, Grills and Rapid Wraps)
- Flash-in-the-Pan Stir-Fries, Sautes and Oven Meals
- Swift and Easy Side Dishes
With a book like this, it's easy to get a great tasting dinner on the table in minutes. If you'd like a chance to win a copy of this book, just tell me what one of your favorite quick-fix meals is in the comments below this post. One lucky winner will win a pristine copy of 20 Minutes to Dinner. Good luck!
Here's hoping your holidays are as stress-free as possible.
35 comments:
My favourite fast meal is stir fried peppers and broccoli tossed with some fresh noodles and a bit of pesto
One of our favorite fast meals is pizza -- there's a really yummy, easy recipe in The Vegan Sourcebook that involves a tomato-tofu spread & roasted veggies on top. No fussing around w/fake cheese needed!
Beans and rice, or gallo pinto. This is really fast if the rice is already made.
fast meal: vegetable stir fry. just sautee garlic, ginger, onion, use any vegetables on hand, s&p, serve over brown rice.
My favorite fast meal is Green Beans & Seitan. It's a quick stir-fry dish with sliced seitan and green beans in a garlic and soy sauce.
Lentils & rice is my favorite quick and easy meal. Although it takes a little more time than 20 minutes, I love how most of it is unwatched. So, I throw it on the stove and can use that time to catch up on everything else in my life!
Quinoa, with steamed broccoli and / or kale and peanut sauce! In fact, thats just what I had for lunch today!
I gotta say...my go-to quick meal may sound boring...but it makes me so happy every time.
Basically I saute a huge amount of assorted wild mushrooms, chilis and garlic in a white wine-black pepper sauce, then pile them over top a mountain of steamed kale. Delicious, I tell you!
I <3 Bryanna's books!
It sounds like that book has a lot of great tips AND recipes!
Our go-to quick meal is pasta primavera. Get the past going and sautee whatever veggies we have lying around, along with some beans! It's always tasty!
I've wanted to buy this book for a looong time so I'm crossing my fingers extra-hard on this one!
My favorite "fast food" meal is scrambled tofu (bonus if it's in a wrap with mustard and greens), or sloppy joes (especially yours, in the upcoming cookbook....okay, done sucking up).
Love the new site design, and the food looks scrumptious, as usual.
My favorite quick meal is bbq tofu.
Bryanna is a great cook, thanks for the giveaway! As a quick meal, I like anything with chickpeas - especially quickly toasted.
Great giveaway. So nice of you to buy a new book, though I think a used one would be just as appreciated!
My favorite quick meal is the macaroni that looks like shells topped with salt, Earth Balance, and nutritional yeast. Yum yum.
My newest fav. is Pacific Foods Butternut Squash soup, with a vegan chx patty (diced and sauteed) added, as well as a cup of steamed broccoli. Add a dash of cinammon, salt, pepper, and boatload of nooch, and I'm good to go.
Tami~
I love sweet potato chips, baked tofu, and broccoli for a very fast and filling dinner. I love your book contests, thanks for sharing!
My favorite fast meal is spaghetti with garlic and olive oil.
I just bought the kindle version on your recommendation, so I don't need to win the book. I'm much more careful with the kindle in the kitchen. Most of my cookbooks have batter or soy sauce on them!
Would it be outrageously sucky to say American Vegan Kitchen seitan brew stew? OK it takes a while to cook but no time at all to prep and just one dish to wash. It would? OK then, spaghetti with chopped broccoli, chilli flakes, garlic and sage.
A curry made with curry paste, veggies, tofu, tempeh or chickpeas and a can of coconut milk.
So easy because you can throw in anything you like.
My favorite fast meal is linguine with wilted spinach or argula and tamari/maple syrup glaze and craisins. Not only is it fast and so tasty but makes the house smell great!
just some simple spaghetti always hits the spot and takes no time to whip together
I'm all about a baked potato (nuked of course)! That way it's fast and I can get rid of any leftover veggies and things in my fridge or freezer.
My favorite quick meal is definitely buckwheat noodles topped with frozen stir-fried asian vegetables (which of course i microwave in the microwave and the top with vegetarian oyseter sauce)! It's absolutely delicious and hits the spot!
Ok...that meal and PB&J sandwich rocks too. hahah
We love lentil tacos. Boil some lentils, saute some onion and garlic throw it all together with a can of green chiles, the seasoning and a little water. Dinner.
I love your contests and your blog. I want to start doing some contests on my blog, but I'm pretty sure I don't have enough of a following.
I love a quick miso soup with tofu, green onion, sliced mushrooms, and crumbled nori.
Those brussels sprouts look so yummy! Have to admit my favorite quick dinner is kind of boring...pasta with pesto (love pesto) and usually broccoli, because I always have it around.
Quick meal... Hmmm... I'd have to say burritos. Lame I know, but so simple: beans, avocado, red peppers, corn, rice, whatever floats my boat! What a wonderfully generous giveaway!!! Thanks!
my favorite quick meal is what i call a garbage disposal salad. i usually toss whatever i have left. add annies goddess dressing, some type of nut or seed, dried fruit, nanners and mix it all up. It always good when im on the run.
Favorite quick meal in the winter is curry split pea soup. Less than 5 minutes prep and then it just cooks. 1 pot, low mess. And super tasty. I love the recipe from Cozy Inside.
My favorite quick meal is whole-wheat pasta with sauce, garlicky steamed kale, and vegan meatballs or a chik patty.
Soba noodles and vegi's in peanut oil with crushed peanuts...easy and yummy!
I love Bryanna's recipes but strangely do not own a copy of any of her books! **library**lots of late fees..he he he!
My favorite quick fix is probably what I had for lunch today: brown rice with refried beans, tons of salsa, a little grated FYL cheeze, and tons of veggies (lettuce, scallions, cilantro, tomatoes..whatever works!). It's so satisfying!
I love the new look of your blog! One of my favorite quick meals is a big huge salad with lots of yummy veggies and beans...quick and simple and easy!
Courtney
Our current favorite is broiled portobellos with rice and asparagus. Simple but good!
My current fast fix is firm tofu, cubed, thrown in a cast iron skillet with a dolop of oil, a splash of white wine, a squirt of braggs, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. boil it down until you can saute it. a great easy protein to add to any veggies you have hanging around
Crockpot chili is quick and delicious!
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