Quick, Easy Vegetarian Tamarillo Salsa, Peanut Dipping Sauce,Potato Patties, and Yummy Endings
My recipe collection of quick and easy vegetarian recipes has evolved over time and after some embarrassing moments, some boring meals, and also, after some luscious and scrumptious food that was mouthwateringly memorable.
I once had a fantastic friend who would have done anything for me.
The sort of person who, if you admired her clothing would want to give it to you.
One night we attended a dinner party in her very tiny flat.
The room was so tiny that we were almost sitting against the walls with all rooms in close proximity. We had not met some of the people before and would have preferred to make a good impression.
I had the misfortune to be going through a phase of not wanting to drink anything other than fruit juice. Very silly. Being the very thoughtful person that she was she had prepared me a large glass of the most delicious pure plum juice ..... here read - "prune" - same family........
This was followed by a large dinner of beans, and vegetables.
It wasn't long before it took effect.
Have you ever felt so bloated and full of wind that you daren't move without embarrassing yourself and everyone in sight ? Even worse, the bathroom in full earshot of the rest of the dinner guests, half of which we had not met before. I tried in vain to contain this new threat to my demeanor and eventually excused myself so I could go out on the balcony "to get some air".
More like get rid of some air.
I once had a fantastic friend who would have done anything for me.
The sort of person who, if you admired her clothing would want to give it to you.
One night we attended a dinner party in her very tiny flat.
The room was so tiny that we were almost sitting against the walls with all rooms in close proximity. We had not met some of the people before and would have preferred to make a good impression.
I had the misfortune to be going through a phase of not wanting to drink anything other than fruit juice. Very silly. Being the very thoughtful person that she was she had prepared me a large glass of the most delicious pure plum juice ..... here read - "prune" - same family........
This was followed by a large dinner of beans, and vegetables.
It wasn't long before it took effect.
Have you ever felt so bloated and full of wind that you daren't move without embarrassing yourself and everyone in sight ? Even worse, the bathroom in full earshot of the rest of the dinner guests, half of which we had not met before. I tried in vain to contain this new threat to my demeanor and eventually excused myself so I could go out on the balcony "to get some air".
More like get rid of some air.
Unbelievably, everyone arose too and trudged with me out to the balcony.
I was almost desperate by this time and the cramps were extremely severe and I decided I was either going to explode or visit the bathroom. Safe now you would think with everyone on the balcony. Wrong ! They all followed me inside again. Deciding that embarrassment was the lesser evil than exploding, I gingerly went in and closed the door and leaning against the wall I tried to stifle the sound of the ever increasing wind shift before venturing in the direction of the plumbing.
Wind like you wouldn't even find in a severe gale or extremely efficient wind tunnel.
You guessed it.
The stifling didn't work and the thin walls seemed to act as an echo chamber.
Depth sounder had a whole new meaning and those people we hadn't met before suddenly knew more of me than I wanted right at that moment. I could hardly crawl out of that bathroom for embarrassment
That was the beginning of my quest for a different focus to my vegetarian food, for quick, easy vegetarian recipes that would allow me to entertain with ease and feel at ease too.
I am no longer totally vegetarian and love to cook all types of food and there are a lot of non-vegetarian recipes that can be adapted and taste better for the creativity of experimentation. Simple, quick and easy vegetarian recipes can often add years to your life and dollars to your purse.
Some of my recipes are from my mother who would often cook "meatless" meals way back as sometimes we could not afford meat and when asked the recipe she would look puzzled and say it was just "out of her head."
Ideas and favorite recipes
Tamarillo Salsa - (uncooked)
I was almost desperate by this time and the cramps were extremely severe and I decided I was either going to explode or visit the bathroom. Safe now you would think with everyone on the balcony. Wrong ! They all followed me inside again. Deciding that embarrassment was the lesser evil than exploding, I gingerly went in and closed the door and leaning against the wall I tried to stifle the sound of the ever increasing wind shift before venturing in the direction of the plumbing.
Wind like you wouldn't even find in a severe gale or extremely efficient wind tunnel.
You guessed it.
The stifling didn't work and the thin walls seemed to act as an echo chamber.
Depth sounder had a whole new meaning and those people we hadn't met before suddenly knew more of me than I wanted right at that moment. I could hardly crawl out of that bathroom for embarrassment
That was the beginning of my quest for a different focus to my vegetarian food, for quick, easy vegetarian recipes that would allow me to entertain with ease and feel at ease too.
I am no longer totally vegetarian and love to cook all types of food and there are a lot of non-vegetarian recipes that can be adapted and taste better for the creativity of experimentation. Simple, quick and easy vegetarian recipes can often add years to your life and dollars to your purse.
Some of my recipes are from my mother who would often cook "meatless" meals way back as sometimes we could not afford meat and when asked the recipe she would look puzzled and say it was just "out of her head."
Ideas and favorite recipes
Tamarillo Salsa - (uncooked)
- Makes everything taste delicious
- Very quick and very easy to do
- Excellent with most vegetarian dishes to take it up a notch
- Make a double lot and keep in the fridge covered
- Quantities depend on how many people to serve - add more or less according to your needs
Cut in half 4 tree tomatoes (tamarillo's) & scoop out the flesh, chop up
add either 1 spring onion, scallions or a small amount of chopped onions or shallots,
add brown sugar around a dessertspoon full & half a lime - squeezed.
Mix the whole lot up and leave aside to absorb the flavors while you prepare more yummy food. This is delicious on vegie patties, fritters, quiche, mashed potatoes and even on steak for your non-vegetarian friends :)
This can also be made with tomatoes or peppers.
add either 1 spring onion, scallions or a small amount of chopped onions or shallots,
add brown sugar around a dessertspoon full & half a lime - squeezed.
Mix the whole lot up and leave aside to absorb the flavors while you prepare more yummy food. This is delicious on vegie patties, fritters, quiche, mashed potatoes and even on steak for your non-vegetarian friends :)
This can also be made with tomatoes or peppers.
Peanut Dipping Sauce
A quick and easy to make delicious and yummy sauce to serve with raw vegetables, grilled vegetable patties, vegetarian satay sticks, mashed potato or make thinner as a salad dressing or thicker as a dip.
To make Half a cup crunchy peanut butter
1 Tbs sesame seed
2 cloves crushed garlic
2 Tbs soy sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup of water or coconut milk
Method Combine the ingredients in a pot and stir over moderate heat until dipping consistency.
Thin with extra water if you require or leave thicker as a dip. Delicious and real easy.
Potato Patties
This is so simple its almost a joke to put it in here with these easy vegetarian recipes !
Grate several large potatoes, squeeze out some of the liquid or it will go squelchy.
Cut up one onion & chop smaller ( grate if you wish or add spring onions or shallots, or chives)
Add parsley, and any other herbs you have around
Drop in 2 eggs ( organic naturally !) and mix whole lot up.
Add salt & pepper
Drop spoonfuls onto a hot pan and cook.
This is delicious with the salsa above and to make even more delicious add feta cheese,
either in the mix or sprinkle some on top.
My latest piece-de-resistence is a stunningly simple chocolate sauce that makes any food taste like the latest chef's invention.
After you have cooked your patties or fritters, add a little stock to the pan, melt a small amount of butter, or margarine (as I come from New Zealand, I much prefer dairy products - the more natural the better) add about two rows of dark chocolate over a low heat.
Stir this around slowly and add wine if you wish ( this is optional) and chilli gives it a bite and depth. This is optional as not everyone likes chillis. Serve and go into raptures.
Mint is a good addition.The sauce takes an ordinary meal into a gourmet delight. Just make sure you only make the amount you need at the time or it ultra easy to scoff the lot !
A quick and easy to make delicious and yummy sauce to serve with raw vegetables, grilled vegetable patties, vegetarian satay sticks, mashed potato or make thinner as a salad dressing or thicker as a dip.
To make Half a cup crunchy peanut butter
1 Tbs sesame seed
2 cloves crushed garlic
2 Tbs soy sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup of water or coconut milk
Method Combine the ingredients in a pot and stir over moderate heat until dipping consistency.
Thin with extra water if you require or leave thicker as a dip. Delicious and real easy.
Potato Patties
This is so simple its almost a joke to put it in here with these easy vegetarian recipes !
Grate several large potatoes, squeeze out some of the liquid or it will go squelchy.
Cut up one onion & chop smaller ( grate if you wish or add spring onions or shallots, or chives)
Add parsley, and any other herbs you have around
Drop in 2 eggs ( organic naturally !) and mix whole lot up.
Add salt & pepper
Drop spoonfuls onto a hot pan and cook.
This is delicious with the salsa above and to make even more delicious add feta cheese,
either in the mix or sprinkle some on top.
My latest piece-de-resistence is a stunningly simple chocolate sauce that makes any food taste like the latest chef's invention.
After you have cooked your patties or fritters, add a little stock to the pan, melt a small amount of butter, or margarine (as I come from New Zealand, I much prefer dairy products - the more natural the better) add about two rows of dark chocolate over a low heat.
Stir this around slowly and add wine if you wish ( this is optional) and chilli gives it a bite and depth. This is optional as not everyone likes chillis. Serve and go into raptures.
Mint is a good addition.The sauce takes an ordinary meal into a gourmet delight. Just make sure you only make the amount you need at the time or it ultra easy to scoff the lot !
Endings:
Quick Pineapple dessert
Take yoghurt, - one serving each person, and a can of crushed pineapple
Whip it all up and put in the freezer to set.
Serve with fresh yoghurt and if you feel decadent grate some chocolate on top or garnish
with frozen grapes.
Quick and easy Blackcurrant yoghurt dessert
Best in tall dessert cups or glasses as this looks appealing.
Layer yoghurt, sliced peaches and more yoghurt
Drizzle over blackcurrant syrup and top with a few peaches
Serve with a wafer biscuit or ginger nut biscuit.
Enjoy
Comments