I hope you had a wonderful Easter. I am late with my menu planning post because the family and I were enjoying a very relaxed Easter Sunday, playing games, watching movies, walking the dog and eating a healthy, vegetarian Easter meal. Of course, the kids ate all kinds of chocolate too, but I avoided that (for the most part).
Now for my review of last week's menu plan. Monday's Black Bean and Avocado Rice Salad was a tasty little number and it stayed fresh for a couple of days, making for nice leftovers.
On Tuesday, my menu plan called for potato salad, along with baked tofu and broccoli. I had just assumed we had enough potatoes. Why do I keep assuming these things? We only had two potatoes.
I decided to make a quinoa pilaf instead. Frankly a healthier choice anyway. If you haven't heard the wonders of quinoa yet, let me summarize quickly. Although it's a grain, quinoa is also a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids. It contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. It contains iron. It also contains lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. Quinoa is rich in magnesium, which helps to relax blood vessels, alleviate migraines, control blood sugars and form healthy bones and teeth. It's also high in Riboflavin (B2) and manganese (an antioxidant). All that in one ordinary looking little grain? Sign me up. Read on for my pilaf recipe.
On Wednesday, we had a Simple Sesame Noodle Salad, served with rapini cooked with olive oil and garlic. Pretty good all around.
On Thursday we had our favourite lentils and rice. Always delicious, thanks to lots of olive oil, some salt and tasty fried onions.
We had a sushi party on Friday night, ordering in sushi and vegetarian fried rice.
On Saturday, I was supposed to make a cassoulet but we were late home from basketball and my husband decided to barbecue veggie burgers and vegetables.
Now for this week's plan:
MY MENU PLAN
Monday
Tofu Lasagna
My mother-in-law sent us a lasagna, via my sister-in-law. I'm so excited! Awesome food, no cooking!
My mother-in-law sent us a lasagna, via my sister-in-law. I'm so excited! Awesome food, no cooking!
Tuesday
Chickpea Burgers & Fries
We have leftover chickpea burgers from Easter dinner.
We have leftover chickpea burgers from Easter dinner.
Wednesday
Tofurky Roast & Roasted Veggies
We bought a tofurky roast for Easter and didn't end up leaving enough time to cook it.
We bought a tofurky roast for Easter and didn't end up leaving enough time to cook it.
Thursday
Friday
Mother-in-Law Cooking
We will be visiting my MIL for dinner. Yay!
We will be visiting my MIL for dinner. Yay!
Saturday
TBD
Eating out at a basketball tournament.
Eating out at a basketball tournament.
Sunday
Husband Cooking (His Choice)
Quinoa Cashew Pilaf
by
Keywords: saute entree side vegan quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa
- vegetable broth
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 1/2 orange pepper, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- handful of cashews, chopped into small pieces
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 to 1 tsp basil, according to taste
- 1 Tbsp Bragg's, tamari or soy sauce
Instructions
Cook quinoa according to package directions, using vegetable broth rather than water.
While quinoa cooks, put oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots and orange peppers and saute for 5 minutes.
Add onions and cashews and saute another 3 minutes.
Stir in garlic and saute for 1 minute. Remove skillet from heat.
When quinoa is cooked, stir in the vegetable mixture, nutritional yeast, basil and Bragg's. Serve and enjoy.
Great Menu Plan! All look so delicious ,love your Pictures!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter! :)
Thanks! And Happy Easter to you! Jo
DeleteYou always have the best food pictures, yum! Quinoa is an amazing food, isn't it? Love the sound of your pilaf. Glad you had such a nice Easter!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laura! Yes, I love the quinoa. ;)
Deletemmm! It s delicious ! Happy Easter :)
ReplyDeletehttp://anna-and-klaudia.blogspot.com/
Thanks! And Happy Easter to you too! :)
DeleteSounds yummy! Thanks for quinoa recipe! I am going to try it! Looking forward to more tasty meals! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Karen, I hope you like the recipe! :) Jo
DeleteI probably say this every week but your menu looks amazingly good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, Jill. You can keep on saying it! ;) Jo
DeleteYour quinoa salad looks amazing - pinning this as I simply will have to try it.
ReplyDeleteKate x
Kate at Home
I hope you enjoy it Kate! :) Jo
DeleteOooh...I wanna chickpea burger....
ReplyDeleteThere were plenty of them! You definitely could have had some. :)
DeleteYum, i love anything with quinoa and have been even more into it lately (so awesome how fast it cooks!). This looks delicious, who need potatoes? :)
ReplyDeleteI have been liking it more lately too. I seem to recall you used to have to rinse it a lot and it was a pain. Now it's quick and convenient. :)
DeleteI love quinoa recipes! I am always looking for new ones so thanks for this! Adding in cashews for some crunch is a great idea :)
ReplyDeleteI really want to try more quinoa recipes too Natalie! I hope you enjoy this one. :) Jo
DeleteWay to improvise with that last minute quinoa pilaf! it sounds perfect for me to, since I almost always have those basic ingredients on hand.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hannah! I sometimes have to work with what I have...and often it isn't much. ;) Jo
DeleteWhat I was trying to type before my power went out (it just came back on) was - have you ever thought about planning and preparing healthy meals professionally? People pay big bucks for that kind of stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got your power back Wendy!
DeleteI have never thought about that kind of career, because I don't even want to make meals for my own family. ;) Never say never though. If it's a career, you make the time for it right?
I have thought about selling baked goods though. :)