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rsl12 · 05-15-2006, 11:56 AM

As for quick ideas:

1. If you have a crock pot, veggie stews are an option. not particularly quick, but can be made in big batches and freezes well. throw in a combination of the following: plum tomatoes, onions, garlic, chayote, butternut squash, cayenne, potatoes, yucca, salt, pepper, beans (chickpeas, kidneys, or pintos), bay leaf, thyme. make sure there's some oil to give it the right mouthfeel (olive oil is best). Flavor at the end with cilantro and a bit of lemon juice if you like.

2. Masoor dal (red lentils) is pretty quick to make. Fry garlic, ginger, then add dal with water, turmeric. From there you have a few options--you can add green chiles, coconut milk, lime juice, cumin, salt, fenugreek. Alternatively, just buy some curry powder and add it to the dal and have done with it. Maybe put a pat of oil or ghee in. Should be done in 15-20 minutes.

3. I like raw vegetables personally. Just put a bunch in a bowl and serve with your favorite dressing. Grape tomatoes, watercress, avocado, baby carrots, yellow bell peppers, tofu, radishes, etc. Vegetables like brussels sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli can be nuked for a minute or so.

4. Most greens are good sauteed in olive oil and garlic, salted and peppered, and maybe with a little lime juice. Throw in pine nuts and raisins if you like.

5. Stir-frying is usually quick. My favorite: stir fried bok choy and tofu. (If you don't like tofu, peanut gluten can be used instead). Baby bok choy is best for this. Fry crushed peanuts in oil on medium heat for a minute or so. Add garlic, ginger, and fry for another 30 secs. Add bok choy, cook till almost done (5-10 mins?). In the meantime, put a tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup and mix with cold water. Once boy choy is almost done, add tofu (unless fried, tofu is almost always better if it's not cooked too long) and some soy sauce. Add some of the cornstarch water--be careful--you want to make a light sauce, not gum up the works. So if it's too thin, you can always add more cornstarch water. If it's too thick, hopefully you can just add plain water to thin it out. Once you add the cornstarch, you should be good to go within a minute or so.

6. Mapo tofu is one of my favorites. You need red chili bean paste--can be found in an chinese supermarket. Fry a little bit of fake ground meat. Add a tablespoon of chili bean paste, fry a minute longer, then add 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, soft tofu. Mix up, add cornstarch & water to thicken as necessary. Add a few chopped scallions to the top.

05-15-2006, 11:56 AM	#34 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	As for quick ideas: 1. If you have a crock pot, veggie stews are an option. not particularly quick, but can be made in big batches and freezes well. throw in a combination of the following: plum tomatoes, onions, garlic, chayote, butternut squash, cayenne, potatoes, yucca, salt, pepper, beans (chickpeas, kidneys, or pintos), bay leaf, thyme. make sure there's some oil to give it the right mouthfeel (olive oil is best). Flavor at the end with cilantro and a bit of lemon juice if you like. 2. Masoor dal (red lentils) is pretty quick to make. Fry garlic, ginger, then add dal with water, turmeric. From there you have a few options--you can add green chiles, coconut milk, lime juice, cumin, salt, fenugreek. Alternatively, just buy some curry powder and add it to the dal and have done with it. Maybe put a pat of oil or ghee in. Should be done in 15-20 minutes. 3. I like raw vegetables personally. Just put a bunch in a bowl and serve with your favorite dressing. Grape tomatoes, watercress, avocado, baby carrots, yellow bell peppers, tofu, radishes, etc. Vegetables like brussels sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli can be nuked for a minute or so. 4. Most greens are good sauteed in olive oil and garlic, salted and peppered, and maybe with a little lime juice. Throw in pine nuts and raisins if you like. 5. Stir-frying is usually quick. My favorite: stir fried bok choy and tofu. (If you don't like tofu, peanut gluten can be used instead). Baby bok choy is best for this. Fry crushed peanuts in oil on medium heat for a minute or so. Add garlic, ginger, and fry for another 30 secs. Add bok choy, cook till almost done (5-10 mins?). In the meantime, put a tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup and mix with cold water. Once boy choy is almost done, add tofu (unless fried, tofu is almost always better if it's not cooked too long) and some soy sauce. Add some of the cornstarch water--be careful--you want to make a light sauce, not gum up the works. So if it's too thin, you can always add more cornstarch water. If it's too thick, hopefully you can just add plain water to thin it out. Once you add the cornstarch, you should be good to go within a minute or so. 6. Mapo tofu is one of my favorites. You need red chili bean paste--can be found in an chinese supermarket. Fry a little bit of fake ground meat. Add a tablespoon of chili bean paste, fry a minute longer, then add 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, soft tofu. Mix up, add cornstarch & water to thicken as necessary. Add a few chopped scallions to the top. __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy. Last edited by rsl12; 05-15-2006 at 01:03 PM..