I don't wanna cook!

There are evenings where I just don't feel like cooking.  Mostly, this means my darling sous chef isn't around to do the chopping, because he's at work.  In the past, I would order pizza or Chinese food & veg out in front of the television.  Now, after years of my own yummy food, I just can't bring myself to pay $30+ for lousy take-out for 2 people.

So, I've had to come up with a few strategies for the "I don't wanna cook!" nights.

• Pizza - with a few veggies & a pre-made crust, we can have yummy, vegan pizza in 30 minutes or less (LOL).  Here are a few of my pizza combos

• Vegan sausage, mushrooms, tomato sauce
• Mushrooms, onions, basil, some pre-made vegan cheese (either homemade if I have it or store-bought)
• Broccoli, vegan feta (homemade), kalamata olives & spinach
• "beef" flavored TVP, jalapenos, refried beans & vegan cheddar (store-bought)

• Risotto - we always have some veggies & arborio rice around, & that's all it really takes to make a risotto.  I pretty much just pick a broth, add wine, sauteed onions, some vegan margarine & vegan parmesan & a veggie or 2 & an herb
• Mushroom & Spinach
• Asparagus 
• Broccoli
• Winter squash
• Peas (add lemon juice)
• you get the point...experiment

• Quinoa  Bowl - I stole this from a local restaurant, Dandelion Communitea Cafe.  
• 2 servings Quinoa
• 1 can any beans, drained, rinsed & warmed
• 2 raw veggies, chopped or sliced
• Any salad dressing
• Cook the quiona (directions here).  While it's cooking, chop the veggies & cook the beans.  Spoon the quiona into a bowl, add the beans & veggies, top with dressing...mix &  eat!

• Freezer foods - just make a big batch instead of enough for your meal.  When dinner is over, take a few moments to portion out & freeze the leftovers.  Just be careful with gravies, they tend to separate when frozen & thawed.
• Soups
• Chili
• Enchiladas
• Lasagne
• Spaghetti & other pasta sauces

So, there it is...this vegan witch has more important things to do tonight than make an elaborate dinner.  I'm headed into the kitchen to tear mushrooms & spinach into a skillet of risotto that I shall stir deosil as my mind wanders.

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

    )O(