Sorry I've been away for so long.....but....well, life interferes---constantly.

For about three months I have been attempting to be vegetarian. I have been toying with this idea, off and on for a couple years now. It's been going pretty well, overall. Except for a long weekend trip to Kansas, where "beef" is apparently considered a vegetable. I'm not a uber-strict vegetarian (I eat fish, sometimes). I am not vegan (too much work). But I prefer to eat vegetarian meals, and have found some immediate health benefits - lower blood pressure....yeah! I don't think vegetarianism will save the earth, or that folks who eat meat are killers. I just think eating veggies is a healthier way to go. And for me, it works. End of philisophical discussion about vegetarianism.

Since I am the only vegetarian in a house full of "carnivores," I am often confronted with the problem of cooking two different meals so everybody can eat. But once in a while, I find I can convert one of the family favorites into vegetarian meal that the whole family enjoys. This is one of them.......

Veggie Sloppy Joes

2 - 12 ounce packages Quorn Grounds
1 good-sized onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup Catsup (or Ketchup)
2 TBSP prepared yellow mustard
2 tsp chili powder
1-1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 - 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
1 - 15 ounce can black bean, drained and rinsed
1 - 14 ounce can diced tomatoes (drained or undrained, your choice)
1 - 6 ounce can tomato paste
1 package hamburger buns of your choice

In a dutch oven, saute garlic, onion and green pepper until soft. Add the remaining ingredients (except hamburger buns), stir and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Serve on the hamburger buns.

Now this makes a ton, but it can easily be portioned out and frozen for future use. I use the Gladware 1-3/4 containers for this kind of thing for portions just for me.

This is an adaptation of an old Cooking Light Sloppy Joe recipe, but it adapts great. I love it, the kids love it, the hub loves it - and I only have to make one main dish.

I have tons of knitting content to slap on here, but not today. Eat a veggie today.