I started Meatless Monday during summer 2012 after a friend, who studied Nutrition, told me about the benefits of having one meatless day a week. I love to cook so I thought this would be a great way to try cooking with new foods while reaping the benefits of vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. Since today is Monday I thought I would share four of my favourite Meatless Monday recipes!
Jenna Dewan-Tatums Quinoa & Spinach Enchiladas, The Ellen Degeneres Show / Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells
Jenna Dewan-Tatums Quinoa & Spinach Enchiladas
I was watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and Jenna Dewan-Tatum made an appearance promoting her new movie, 10 Years. She is a vegan and brought Ellen this recipe to try. I decided to make it for supper one Meatless Monday and I loved it. I used real cheese but to make it vegan just cut the cheese or use vegan cheese. You can find the recipe here.
Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells
1 box of jumbo pasta shells
1 tub of Ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 tbsp italian seasoning
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
Tomato Sauce
Begin by pre-heating oven to 350 degrees. Boil pasta shells. While shells are boiling mix together ricotta cheese, 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, egg and spices. When shells are ready, fill shell with cheese mixture and place in baking dish. Fill all shells and place baking dish in oven for 30 minutes. At 30 minutes take out baking dish and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top of shells. Bake for additional 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden!
I was watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and Jenna Dewan-Tatum made an appearance promoting her new movie, 10 Years. She is a vegan and brought Ellen this recipe to try. I decided to make it for supper one Meatless Monday and I loved it. I used real cheese but to make it vegan just cut the cheese or use vegan cheese. You can find the recipe here.
Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells
1 box of jumbo pasta shells
1 tub of Ricotta cheese
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 tbsp italian seasoning
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
Tomato Sauce
Begin by pre-heating oven to 350 degrees. Boil pasta shells. While shells are boiling mix together ricotta cheese, 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, egg and spices. When shells are ready, fill shell with cheese mixture and place in baking dish. Fill all shells and place baking dish in oven for 30 minutes. At 30 minutes take out baking dish and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top of shells. Bake for additional 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden!
Sweet Potato Lasagna / Pumpkin & Pecan Pasta
Sweet Potato & Spinach Lasagna
8-10 lasagna noodles
3-4 sweet potatoes
2-3 cups chopped spinach
1 onion
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups shredded cheese (I LOVE CHEESE)
Tomato sauce - I make my own but store bought works well!
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Boil lasagna noodles and sweet potatoes, in separate pots of course! In frying pan add oil and slowly caramelize onions. When sweet potatoes are finished, mash and add to frying pan. On low heat add spinach, brown sugar, cinnamon, 1/2 cup of cheese and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
In baking dish, layer pasta sauce, noodles, sweet potato mixture and cheese until last layer of lasagna noodles are on top. Finish off with remaining cheese and put in the oven for 30 min. This recipe tastes better the longer you let it sit, so I usually cook it the night before and heat it up when I get home from work.
Pumpkin & Pecan Pasta
Any type of noodle (I prefer penne or fusilli)
1/2 cup 100% Pumpkin (comes in a can)
2 cups alfredo sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup crushed pecans - for pecan mixture
1 tsp cinnamon - for pecan mixture
1/4 cup butter - for pecan mixture
2 tbsp brown sugar - for pecan mixture
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and begin to boil noodles. Make pecan mixture: melt butter then add cinnamon, brown sugar and pecans & let sit. In saucepan add pumpkin, alfredo sauce, brown sugar. When noodles are ready add to saucepan and mix. Put pasta mixture in baking dish and top with pecan mixture. Throw in the oven for 20-30 minutes!
These are in no way professional, an are not exactly "healthy" ... umm hello cheese & butter! But, they taste AH-MAH-ZING and are so easy to make! I usually prepare everything the night before because I'm so hungry when I get home from work that I just can't wait! If you wanted to research Meatless Monday further I've attached the link below (just click on the Meatless Monday icon). They have weekly recipes, celebrity information, news articles, etc!
Happy Meatless Monday,
Bhreagh
8-10 lasagna noodles
3-4 sweet potatoes
2-3 cups chopped spinach
1 onion
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups shredded cheese (I LOVE CHEESE)
Tomato sauce - I make my own but store bought works well!
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Boil lasagna noodles and sweet potatoes, in separate pots of course! In frying pan add oil and slowly caramelize onions. When sweet potatoes are finished, mash and add to frying pan. On low heat add spinach, brown sugar, cinnamon, 1/2 cup of cheese and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
In baking dish, layer pasta sauce, noodles, sweet potato mixture and cheese until last layer of lasagna noodles are on top. Finish off with remaining cheese and put in the oven for 30 min. This recipe tastes better the longer you let it sit, so I usually cook it the night before and heat it up when I get home from work.
Pumpkin & Pecan Pasta
Any type of noodle (I prefer penne or fusilli)
1/2 cup 100% Pumpkin (comes in a can)
2 cups alfredo sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 cup crushed pecans - for pecan mixture
1 tsp cinnamon - for pecan mixture
1/4 cup butter - for pecan mixture
2 tbsp brown sugar - for pecan mixture
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and begin to boil noodles. Make pecan mixture: melt butter then add cinnamon, brown sugar and pecans & let sit. In saucepan add pumpkin, alfredo sauce, brown sugar. When noodles are ready add to saucepan and mix. Put pasta mixture in baking dish and top with pecan mixture. Throw in the oven for 20-30 minutes!
These are in no way professional, an are not exactly "healthy" ... umm hello cheese & butter! But, they taste AH-MAH-ZING and are so easy to make! I usually prepare everything the night before because I'm so hungry when I get home from work that I just can't wait! If you wanted to research Meatless Monday further I've attached the link below (just click on the Meatless Monday icon). They have weekly recipes, celebrity information, news articles, etc!
Happy Meatless Monday,
Bhreagh