What to ask for on the grocery list?!
What to ask for on the grocery list?
My mom does all the grocery shopping, but she lets me write down a list of things I want because I am a vegetarian and do not eat the same stuff as my parents. The thing is, I can never SEE new fruits and veggies because I'm not there and therefore always have the same stuff. What are some new things I could ask for? And how can they be prepared?
Thank you very much :)
Answers:
Chick peas or hummus (great for dipping), black beans, artichokes, avocado, radishes, radicchio, sugar snap peas, macintosh apples, strawberries, rasins and cashews, asparagus, bean sprouts
A couple of quick recipes - trim the bottom of the artichoke and rinse. Place in a microwaveable bowl with an inch of water and cover it with a paper towel or wax paper, tucking it in around the sides. Microwave for 7 minutes. Serve with a dijon vinaigrette. My mouth is watering.
Grilled Radicchio - split the radicchio in half and sprinkle with a little salt and extra virgin olive oil. Use a grill pan or any skillet and make sure it is quite hot. Place the radicchio cut side down until caramelized (couple of minutes) and then turn over and cover for a couple minutes more. Take some balsamic vinegar and pour in a small sautee pan and reduce by half until it is kind of syrupy looking. Drizzle over grilled radicchio.
Amazing Guac - mash avocados, add a sprinkle of garlic powder, a couple of dashes of Worcestshire (sp?) sauce, dash of tabasco, squeeze of lime, chopped roma tomatoes, fresh cilantro and salt.
Ask for some Hoisin sauce - it's a chinese plum sauce and add it at the very end of a veggie stir fry.
Pasta dishes with a variety pasta and sauces.
Macaroni & Cheese
Lots of different types of beans, especially refried beans to make tostadas and burritos.
Eggplant - Fry it and put sauce and mushrooms on it.
Morningstar farms meatless burgers w/alphalfa sprouts and avocado and tomato.
Yum yum
2 nice veggies to eat raw. Jiccama (texture like raw potato, slightly sweet and crunchy) and Jerusalem artichokes (looks kinda like ginger root, tastes nutty and crunchy)
Peel 1st!
I don't know where you live, but in my local grocery they are selling some winter squash, and there were some fairly nice roma tomatoes and avocados, broccoli, and asparagus. They had some frozen veggies like zucchini, collard greens, green beans, also frozen fruits like peaches and berries. I always buy canned tomatoes every time I go to the store as well. Pasta and beans are a staple as well.
My first suggestion would be to go along with her sometimes. It would be fun for both of you, and there are plenty of vegetarian dishes that are good for the whole family. If you offer to cook them, it will lighten her load.
Second suggestion: keep staples on hand like olive oil, garbanzos, black beans (lotsa iron), lentils, rice, etc. and long-keeping veggies like onions, garlic, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, etc. If you go shopping with her, you can pick out the more perishable fruits and vegetables yourself.
Third: browse online for good-sounding recipes, and pick up the ingredients for those. You can consult with your mom so you choose something that sounds good to her too. Example:
Quick Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili (vegan)
With the addition of sweet potatoes, this easy chili is invigorating yet comforting. And it is festive enough for a last-minute company meal.
6 servings
2 medium-large sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons light or extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 to 3 garlic cloves
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
One 32-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 or 2 small fresh hot chilies, minced,
or one 4-ounce can chopped mild green chilies
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt to taste
1) Bake or microwave the sweet potatoes on high until just firm, about 3 to 4 minutes per potato. When cool enough to handle, peel and cut into 3/4-inch dice. Set aside.
2) Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and garlic and sauté over medium heat until golden. Add the bell pepper, beans, tomatoes, chilies, cumin, and oregano. Bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Add the sweet potatoes and continue to simmer until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
3) Season lightly with salt. If time allows, let stand off the heat for 1 or 2 hours, then heat through as needed.
Embellish it: Pass a bowl of chopped fresh cilantro for sprinkling over the top of individual portions.
Make it a Meal: For an easy meal, serve this with purchased cornbread or other hearty whole-grain bread and a bountiful tossed salad.
Calories: 202
Total Fat: 5 g
Protein: 8 g
Fiber: 8.5 g
Carbohydrates: 33 g
Cholesterol: 0 g
Sodium: 222 mg
Larabars - they are soooooo good - and are a good, healthy on the go snack. I recommend the Cashew Cookie, Pecan, Banana, Lemon, and Chocolate Coconut varieites . They are vegan and healthy. And, they are usually only about $1.50 each - try them. They have them at Wholefoods and most natural food stores.
As far as a different fruit to try: try mangoes if you haven't they are really sweet and sooo good. I've been addicted to them lately.
I also recommend getting almond butter or cashew butter
(mom can find these in the same aisle as the peanut butter) and slicing up a banana or apple and spreading the almond butter or cashew butter on the banana or apple - sooo good.
I'm sure your mom would take you along on a grocery shopping trip if you asked and you could discover some new items for yourself too.
For Larabars:
https://www.larabar.com/secure/index_.ph...
Why don't you accompany her one day?