HELP NEEDED....

[Deleted]

...WITH VEGETARIAN RECIPES...

Since my Mum was ill last year, I have been 'rustling up' an assortment of veggie meals which she can freeze and cook at a later date, my Dad, sadly is useless in the kitchen and if catering was left to him they'd both starve!!

I'm stuck on pasta dishes which can be frozen and then baked - veg lasagne is abit boring!!

Thanks alot
GH

[skarloey]

This is one of mine and the little fellas favourite dinners, doesn't have a name as It's always different.

2 fillets of salmon
1 (biggish) fillet of cod
1 bay leaf
pepper
milk

1 leek
1 carrot
1 medium broccoli
1 cup peas
butter

2 big handfuls dried pasta

Big knob butter
flour
milk
cheddar
salt and pepper

Saute leeks for a couple of mins, add carrots and enough boiling water to cook them in, cook for 5 minutes, add the broccoli, cook for another 5 minutes, add the peas, cook for another 4. Drain.

Meanwhile, poach fish in the milk for however long you like to poach it for and boil the pasta in a separate pan.

Make a cheese roux. I use the milk I've poached the fish in and usually a bit more. (We like it saucy with loads of cheese.)

Mix it all up.

Of course we don't always have it this way, sometimes different fish/veg etc. But it does freeze well.

[skarloey]

Not pasta and I've never frozen it but cant see why it won't freeze. It's my all time favourite veggie dish.

Chickpea pie.

450g can of chickpeas.
150g chopped walnuts
1 tsp marmite
150g fresh white breadcrumbs
1 onion, chopped fine
100g mushrooms, sliced
50g canned sweetcorn
2 cloves garlic, crushed
4 tbsp veg stock
1 tbsp coriander (YUCK) ((optional ;D))
salt and pepper


225g puff pastry
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp milk

Blend the chickpeas, marmite, nuts and breadcrumbs for 30 seconds in a food processor.
Saute onions, garlic and mushrooms for 3-4 mins.
Add chickpea mixture to onion mixture, add the sweetcorn, stock, coriander and seasoning and bind it all together. Allow to cool.

Roll pastry out to form a rectangle 14" x 12", shape the mixture to a loaf shape and wrap the pastry round it sealing the edges. (Or tucking it under.) Score the top with criss-crosses, mix the egg and milk and brush it all over.

It's probably at this point where it would be good to freeze but if you cook straight away, stick it in a preheated oven 200^oC or Gas 6 for 25-30 minutes. I'm afraid I wouldn't know how long it would take to cook from frozen.

[Deleted]

Fish and Pasta combo sounds great - Mum is a big fan of fish!!

And even I'm tempted by the chickpea pie !! Without the coriander as it has to be the worst herb ever IMO (I can just about tolerate a few fresh leaves stirred into a curry just before serving)....I feel a new thread starting!!

Thanks alot and keep 'em coming!!!

[andy]

I've just done the most gorgeous mash potato using 50/50 potato/sweet potato.

Boil up then mash with loads of butter and milk or cream.

It was devine

I also add apple sauce and/or grainy mustard to mash spuds....luverly !!!

[Cheerypeabrain]

Does she like spicy food?...all measurements are approxiimate as I'm a believer in the 'Bung it in' method ;D

Spicy Lentil Soup

Slosh of vegetable oil for frying

pinch powdered ginger

Chopped onion & a clove of garlic (chopped...I don't use this as I HATE garlic)

about 1/2 teaspoon full of ground coriander, cumin & turmeric

chili powder to taste

3 tomatoes (or 1 beef tomato) skinned, deseeded & chopped (or a small tin of toms...but I don't like the taste)

Veg stock....at last 3/4 pint

4oz split red lentils, rinsed

seasoning


Heat oil in a pan, add garlic & onion, stir fry for a bit
mix all the spices & ginger together with a little water (make a paste) & stir fry this into the onion & garlic

Put in the toms, lentils & stock.
Stir well & bring to the boil

Boil rapidly for 10 minutes (until the lentils are soft)...may need to keep adding a bit of stock so that it doesn't dry out

Reduce heat and simmer until lentils fully cooked

Blitz into a smooth soup

If you're NOT a veggie...add chopped ham before liquidising...slurp.

This freezes really well, I tend to ladle it into old margarine cartons to freeze individual portions. ;D

[Cheerypeabrain]

I use Quorn mince a lot instead of beef mince, I use it to make bolognase or chili. The only thing you need to do differently really is to soak the quorn in the vegetable stock of your choice for an hour or so before using..I make huge batches and freeze portions for one or two people, then all you need to do is thaw it and serve with pasta, rice or jacket potato....and Robert...as they say...is your Mother's Brother ;D

[isabella]

I use quorn for cottage pies as well as bolognese,chilli etc.

Does your Mum like pies GH?

Cheese ,Onion and Potato Pies/Pasties

Fry a large chopped onion in a little oil until just soft - leave to cool

Cut a large potato into small dice and boil until just tender - leave to cool

Grate some good cheddar cheese 3 - 4 oz

Roll out a pkt of Puff pastry thinly and cut out circles with a tea plate

Divide the onion,potatoes and cheese out onto one half of each pastry circle ,season, then dampen the edge with water and fold the pastry over to make a pie/pasty,press edges to seal.
The pies could be frozen at this stage.

Cook for about 20-25 mins. Gas mark 6
Cook longer if from frozen

I like mine served with Broccoli and Tomatoes

[4pygmies]

Skarloey, I luv you! I made your chickpea pie last night for tea, and not only did OH eat it and have a second helping, he even commented on how nice it was!! Because of this startling event we have had a nice evening and there have been no raids on the biccie tin. Normally after I attempt to tickle his very fussy vegetarian palate with something different I get frozen silence and lots of leftovers for the dog.........this morning he's even taken the last bit for his lunch Of course we have had a fairly gusty night but never mind, at least we were parping in harmony

[Deleted]

Thank you all so much for the idea's and recipes. (Keep them coming if you have more, as I restock the freezer every couple of months!!)

I've never bought or used Quorn mince - I think Mum eats it though, so I think a shepherd's type pie may be in order with the mash recommended by Andy (cheers ).

I'm going to make the Cheese/Onion/Potato Pasties for the OH's packed lunch....that should 'earn' me a few points and maybe some help at the allotment !!!

[skarloey]

I forgot to say that the chickpea pie was just as yummy cold! ;D Glad you and your OH enjoyed it 4P. Aren't gusty evenings the norm in a veggie household? ;D

I've got another recipe which is delicious a variation on shepherds pie but with finely chopped up veg as the mince and a goats cheese mash. I'll find it later but know it's going to take a while to locate!!!

[Deleted]

My 'lentil thingy' is easy to make and very straightforward, and everyone here loves it - cook up some red lentils according to the instructions and add loads of garlic and black pepper during cooking and then add some tomato ketchup afterwards until you have the taste right for you. That can be frozen and then can be served with pasta, rice, jacket potato, pittas, whatever!
Another easy one is to mix a tin of Campbell's condensed soup, I usually use the mushroom one but the asparagus and celery ones are delicious too, with any fresh, frozen or tinned vegetables or beans, put the mixture in the bottom of an oven proof dish, season and cover with mashed potato and cook for about 20 mins. Delish! If you were going to freeze it I don't know whether you could use frozen veg, but if they didn't thaw out during preparation I can't see any problems. And if using fresh veg the cooking time would be about 10mins longer. There are all sorts of things you could put into an ovenproof dish with cheese sauce, parsley sauce, white sauce etc, gravy or condensed soup and then cover with mash and then freeze.
Another one is to make a mixture out of kidney beans, and cooked carrots and peas,(whatever you have to hand) and mashed potato, with whatever seasoning you want(or good old ketchup), shape them into burgers and put them in the freezer until you need them. You can use all sorts but keep the mixture quite stiff and dry as with too much liquid they won't hold their shape while cooking.And put some cheese on the top of them just before cooking, yum.
Another really delcious one is a tin of kidney beans, with chilli seasoning or not, heated up and put into French bread, very quick and delicious. I found that one whilst on holiday in Africa, very healthy fast food!