Fast (Vegetarian) Food?!

I just hear about Amy's Drive Thru and I am blown away!  From the same company that brought you Amy's organic, natural food that you find in the freezer section.

No GMOs.  Organic vegetables, beans, grains and dairy.  Burgers, fries, burritos, mac 'n cheese, pizza, salads and even chili cheese fries! Sodas, milkshakes and yes, vegan milkshakes.  Don't forget fresh, squeezed lemonade.

Their mission:  Amy's Drive Thru is returning to the roots of American fast food, serving lovingly handcrafted food to nourish hard-working citizens, busy families and road-weary travellers.  And everything has gluten-free and vegan options, as well!

I am seriously in Hippie Heaven!  If only I could go eat there!  It is in Rohnert Park, CA.  That's 1685 miles from my house.  So.... I hope it does well and starts franchising all across CA and out into the rest of the states.  I think it is needed.

Breakfast for Dinner

I know I am on a food kick, but we have been having some wonderful vegetarian meals and so I have to brag on my wife's cooking and share these wonderful recipe ideas!  I am so very glad we have been introduced to Green Chef, because by getting all the ingredients and the recipes, we have discovered new things that we wouldn't have, otherwise.

Tonight we had Corn Cakes with Herb-Ricotta with a Fried Egg on top and an Arugula Salad.

Preheat your oven to 350F and make your corn cake batter.  Thinly sliced scallion, lemon zest, corn meal, flour, corn and milk. Mix gently and let rest for 5 minutes.  Warm a tbs of olive oil in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Cook sliced onion for 2 minutes then add halved grape tomatoes, salt and pepper. Stir and cook 2 more minutes, then place the pan in the oven to roast for 12-14 minutes.

Melt some butter in a non-stick saute pan over medium heat and divide batter into small patties. Cook 2-3 minutes, until small bubbles form in the middle of the patty.  Carefully flip them with a spatula. Add more butter to promote browning.  Cook another 1-2 minutes. Place on cookie sheet and place in oven to keep warm.

Place arugula in a bowl.  Squeeze lemon over arugula and salt and pepper.  Toss.  Using non-stick pan, fry 2 eggs.

Spoon herbed ricotta onto plate.  Place 2 corn cakes on top. Place an egg on top, arugula on the side with the onion and tomato medley.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Amazing.

Black Pepper Tofu, Pineapple Rice and Bok Choy

Well..... she did it again.  Wow.  Amazing dinner!  Shallots, bok choy, red Fresno chilis and crispy tofu.  The chilis were mild and the black peppercorn had a little kick!  It was sweet and spicy and very good.

The sauce was made with scallion, garlic, ginger, soy, honey and crushed black peppercorns.

Caprese Pasta with Arugula & Balsamic Reduction

So my wife made the most amazing vegetarian pasta last night.  O.M.G. She even loved it, and she is hard to please with the vegetarian meals.  It was a simple salad of mozzarella, basil and tomatoes with some farfalle (bowtie), whole wheat pasta.  The arugula with the honey balsamic drizzle tastes fresh with a hint of sweet and sour.  She finished it with some black lava salt and it was amaze-balls.

I think this is something we will do again and again - especially in the summertime, when you want something lighter and fresh.  Plus, no oven!

You need 2 saucepans.  In the first, start your balsamic reduction and in the second, cook your pasta.  When the pasta finishes, drain and use that pan to blister the tomatoes with 1 tbs olive oil and some salt and pepper.  After 2 minutes, turn off the heat and add pasta, mozzarella and basil pesto.  Stir to coat.  Add the arugula and stir to coat, wilting slightly from residual heat.  Balsamic reduction is finished with slightly syrupy.  Divide pasta into separate dishes, drizzle with reduction and finish with salt.  Enjoy!