Meatless Monday: No Bake/Cook Recipes

Summertime is the perfect time to sit back and relax.  Why waste your time being stuck in the kitchen, cooking all day?  Today's meatless recipes are no bake/no cook,  just mix and go!  From easy veggie salads, to a delicious cheesecake dessert...did we mention they are no bake/no cook recipes?  So try one, and spend the rest of your down time doing the things you really want to...or do nothing at all-we won't judge!

Cucumber is one of those ingredients that can really refresh your palette.  There is nothing quite like a delicious cucumber salad on a hot summer day.  This Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream and Dill Dressing, compliments of Martha Stewart, is absolutely perfect for a picnic.  Just mix lemon juice, sour cream, dill, and a pinch of salt and pepper together and toss in your cucumbers...easy, breezy, just how we like it.

Or try a slightly different variation, this time using broccoli.  Eating Well adds a few more ingredients to their Broccoli Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing that mimics the above recipe, yet takes it in a completely different direction with the bright flavor of red bell pepper.

A Watermelon Gazpacho can really liven up your day, and give you plenty of extra time outside the kitchen, without disregarding your taste buds.  This recipe, also from Eating Well, only requires the press of a button on your blender or food processor to ensure yummy results.

With all these cool, refreshing flavors, let's bring it home with a cool, creamy dessert!  Oreo Cookies and Cream No Bake Cheesecake from Bakers Royale appears too good to be true, but we wouldn't lie to you...it only requires the use of a hand mixer to concoct this creamy, dreamy goodness.  Is your mouth watering yet?

With all the time these easy no cook/bake recipes saved you, why not get around to organizing that hall closet you've been putting off...or take that much needed nap (we said we wouldn't judge!)

Meatless Monday: Cheesy Dishes

Cheese.  It's good on pretty much everything, don't you think?  Unless you're lactose intolerant, we think you'll find these 5 recipes, featuring all sorts of cheesy goodness, to die for!

Starting with a  breakfast dish that can be served all day long, this mini quiche features feta and mushrooms with caramelized onions.  Featured on treehugger.com, you can find easy directions and delicious pictures that are sure to make your mouth water.

photo courtesy of  Jaymi Heimbuch

This Zucchini Parmesan dish can either be a snack or a side.  And all you need is zucchini and Parmesan cheese!  Can't make it any easier than that! For the nutritional information of this dish, check out Spark Recipes.

This next dish is quite the light fare.  Again featuring feta cheese, it's the perfect appetizer or poolside pick me up.  Cucumber-Feta Bites from Bitedelite.com are fun and fresh, not to mention delicious!

Love cheesy potatoes, but need something different?  Try adding cauliflower!  A Potato, Cauliflower, and Cheddar Bake from Martha Stewart gives you a little bit of help lowering your risk of stroke, according to Men's Health.  This lovely white vegetable is also a great source of potassium and folate.  And because it's white like the potatoes, you may be able to hide it in all that cheddar-y goodness, so you're kids will eat it all up without any complaints!  It's a win-win!

Check back next week for some easy no bake, Meatless Monday recipes!

Meatless Monday: A Little Side Action

Side dishes can take any meal from blah to a-ha!  Today we've got some great recipes that can go with many different dishes and are anything but boring.

For starters, you've a quickie night and need something fast...whatever it is you're making, why not pair it with some good old fashioned onion rings?  But these aren't the usual greasy, fried onion rings, these are Crispy Baked Onion Rings from Closet Cooking.  Check out his recipe and some of the other great veggie sides he's done with a twist!

Feeling something a little lighter, maybe a nice spring side dish?  Then this Marinated Zucchini Salad is the perfect compliment for your meal.  This would also be great for a side to a picnic at the the park as it can be served chilled or at room temperature.  Check it out at  Tarteletteblog.com

This next side requires a little more cooking time in the oven, but it's a prepare and forget kind of dish.  Rosemary Polenta Fries from EA Stewart.  Simply cut the polenta into fry size, place on a baking sheet and pop in the oven.  For extra crispy fries-try turning them as they bake. 

We'll end today with a vibrant dish that is surely going to liven up your palette.  If you want to be totally meatless-sub the chicken broth for veggie stock.  Otherwise, this Cauliflower and Couscous Pilaf from Eating Well is easy, fresh, and a great side to try any day of the week.

Meatless Monday: Pizza Edition

Happy Monday AND Happy Earth Day to those of you who are celebrating.  Today's post, as well as all of our Monday posts, are brought to you with eco-living in mind.  Our Meatless Monday posts not only highlight delicious vegetarian recipes for you and your family to try, but they are brought to you with health benefits and green living in mind.

By serving meatless (or seafood-less) dishes one day a week, you can reduce your risk for various cancers, as well as slim down your waistline AND reduce your carbon footprint by utilizing less water and reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted from the manufacturing processes used in the meat industry.

Now that you have a little background of why we post these yummy meatless recipes, let's dive in to today's recipe series featuring an easy family favorite-PIZZA!

This colorful pizza really adds a zing of flavor with pineapple mango chipotle salsa.  Brought to you from Parents Magazine, "Tropical Pizza" offers several servings of vegetables, plus it takes about 20 minutes from start to finish to make!  Great for a night when the family is rushing around due to extracurricular activities.

Want something with just as much flavor, but a little more mainstream, in terms of ingredients?  Try Martha Stewart's recipe for Ricotta Pizza with Fresh and Roasted Tomatoes.  This savory pizza would also be great as an appetizer for your next party or get together.

This next dish really piles on the veggies.  Simone Anne's Easy Homemade Veggie Pizza is just that-easy!  Bake the veggies 'til they are nice and tender and enjoy.  Don't be afraid to sub in/out veggies based on the season.

Last, but certainly not least, this recipe has a tried and true partnership that always works!  Spinach and Artichoke Pizza takes 30 minutes total based on this recipe from Real Simple.  If you want something a little lighter on calories, sub out the cream cheese in favor of a little olive oil and fresh garlic.

These recipes are a great way to introduce your family to Meatless Monday and to show them there are more pizza toppings out there than just pepperoni and cheese.  Want to add a little competitive edge to your Meatless Monday?  Host a pizza bake off-loser has to do dishes!

Meatless Monday: Pasta Edition

If you're a carb lover, then you'll love today's post.  We've got some pasta recipes with panache.  No plain jane spaghetti here, but instead some great, easy to make dishes that will liven up your weekly dinner menu.

Let's kick things off with a Creamy Squash Rigatoni by Big Girls Small Kitchen.  This recipe is for two so double or triple up if you need more!

Here's another recipe containing a member of the squash variety, but this time it's zucchini! Spinach Ravioli with Zucchini Ribbons sounds fancy, but by using premade fresh or frozen ravioli, you can cut your cook time down significantly to make this very simple dish.  The recipe, found on Eatingwell.com calls for frozen ravioli.

Our last recipe really adds a twist to spaghetti night.  It's fresh and light due to the lemon, and has a nice little kick thanks to some red pepper flakes.  Spaghetti with Kale and Lemon from Bev Cooks, contains kale, an ingredient that's been trending all over the place in the last few years thanks to its health benefits being acknowledged by nutritionists.

So these hearty dishes are great for Meatless Monday or any night of the week!

Meatless Monday: Hidden Veggies

As a parent we do our best to feed our children healthy, wholesome meals.  No one understands the struggle of having a picky eater more than a parent.  Today we have some great recipes that sneak in a serving or two (or seven) vegetables into these kid approved foods.  Try one out and see what your little one says (bonus points if you let them know they ate veggies after the plate is clean!)

Our first recipe today is a family favorite-mac & cheese.  What no one, other than the cook, knows is there are not one, but TWO hidden vegetables in this recipe.  Carrots and squash that have been grated are added to the mix and are undetectable both to the eye and your little one's taste buds.  For an faster/easier way to get small portions or for a confetti like look-just toss the veggies into your food processor.

Our second recipe again uses pasta as a base, but will satisfy everyone at the table.  And with 7, yes you read that right, 7 different vegetables, you can't go wrong.  The secret is the sauce.  Amongst the tomatoes lie spinach, bell peppers, and many other nutritious items. Try this Spaghetti with Hidden Vegetable Tomato Sauce from Chef Michael Smith and be comforted knowing your family is getting all the daily vegetables they need.

Now if everyone eats their whole meal, why not reward them with a yummy dessert.  Little do they know, the hidden goodness isn't going to stop.  Try this Chocolate Avocado Mousse for a final hidden veggie trick.

For more ideas on how to sneak in veggies visit B-Inspired Mama. Let us know how the hidden vegetable recipes go, as well as if you have any good tips to share on how you get your kids to eat their veggies.

5 Easy (and Green) Weekend Projects

We've got some great projects you can do around your house that can remove clutter, lower energy bills, and make your home a little greener. These 5 quick projects can be done as time permits and many only take a few minutes to complete, but can have a great impact for your household.

Project 1-Conserve some H2O and reduce your energy bill
What to do:  Fill a water bottle up with water and rocks, pebble, or marbles, tighten the cap and place in your toilet's water tank.  This will displace some of the water, which means you won't need as much water to flush, thus saving you money on your monthly water bill.

Project 2-Clean vents and replace air filters
What to do: Use a rag to clean all air vents in your house.  Use your vacuum to clean the refrigerator and dryer vents.  Finally, replace your HVAC air filters -we recommend every two to three months or sooner if you live in a place with a high pollen count during spring and summer months, you have pets, or you live in a place with a high level of air pollution or construction work nearby.

Project 3-Check your car's tire pressure
What to do: Look up what the tire pressure level should be for your car (found in the owner's manual).  Check the tire pressure using a pressure gauge when the tires are cool-hot tires can expand when warm giving you a false reading.  Add air if needed.  Tires that are filled with the correct level of air can improve your mileage by approximately 3%, saving you tons of gas.

Project 4-Used rolled up magazines to properly store winter boots
What to do: Roll up old magazines and insert them into the opening of your tall boots to help them keep their shape while in storage.  This is a great recycling project and clutter eliminator all wrapped into one!

Project 5-Recycle paint cans (full or almost empty)
What to do: If you have a relatively full paint can that is just taking up space in your garage, consider donating it to Habitat for Humanity in your area.  They accept lots of different home improvement products-paint, appliances, etc.  If you have little to no paint left in your can-remove the lid and either let dry in the natural sunlight, or add kitty litter, saw dust, or another drying agent.  Earth911 is a terrific site to help find paint and other recycling centers in your area.

(in order of appearance) photos courtesy of happysimpleliving.com, anyhousecleaning.webs.com,  auto.howstuffworks.com, fabulouslythrifty.blogspot.com, earth911.com