Giant pot of chili

This is a great base-recipe - it makes a ton and is much cheaper than buying individual cans of chili. It also freezes really well (except the rice - freeze before adding the rice and the rice and water and cook it when you actually eat it). This is a great recipe to play with, too - add corn, hot peppers, other beans . . . whatever you like in your chili.

2 Tablespoons of oil
1 onion, chopped
1 "pound" fake ground meat (2 boca packets) -or- 1 cup TVP and 1 cup water
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
16 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
16 ounce can tomato sauce
1 packet taco seasoning (*see below)
(optional) 1 cup uncooked rice and 2 cups water

1. Heat the oil in a big pot and cook the onion until it is translucent.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir well
3. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer. If you added the rice or are using TVP, simmer for at least 30 minutes. Without rice or TVP, you could just heat it and eat it, but it tends to taste better if you simmer it for at least an hour.

* if you think you'll use taco seasoning a lot (we certainly do), consider buying it in bulk. I personally get the seasoning from Penzey's - their spices are generally much better than what you can get in the grocery store *and* much cheaper. 3 Tablespoons is about 1 packet of taco seasoning.

The goals for this site

This site has existed in about 5 different formats that never went anywhere. Maybe since it isn't actually hosted on my site, I won't feel the pressure I normally feel about it and it will just slowly grow on its own over time. Or I will abandon it per usual.

I would like this site to have bunch of *very* simple, good vegetarian recipies. The key is the simple part - there are great veggie recipe sites like the post-punk kitchen which require just a few too many steps for me on an average day. I love complex cooking with lots of steps, but with two little kids and very little child care, I don't have the time for complex cooking anymore. For me, this is an archive of very simple, quick meals that are better than just heating up some fake meat for a sandwich.

Many of the meals will probably seem obvious in retrospect, but I need to write them down to remember that I can make them. I have a bad habit of forgetting the simple things and then being too overwhelmed by the idea of cooking and eating poorly.

I suspect there won't be a ton of side dish recipies, so most things should be supplemented with some fruits or vegetables. The simplest way to get fruits and veggies in your diet is to eat them raw - eat a peice of fruit with every meal. I also like to buy some veggies (peppers, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, cherry tomatoes) and cut them up as soon as I get home and keep them in a bowl in the fridge. It is like always having a veggie tray available. When I don't have time to make other veggies for dinner, I just take out the cut-up veggies.

This site is for my friend, B, who would always be amazed at things like being able to make hamburger helper with fake meat. I hope he could make all the things I will post here.

Tortilla Soup

Makes 4 servings.

1 box of no-chicken broth (or 4 cups of your favorite veggie broth)
1 cup of canned black beans
1 cup of frozen corn (or fresh, cut off the cob)

tortilla chips - I like the little round ones
shredded cheese (cheddar, jack, a mix, or one of those mexican blends)
salsa
chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

Heat the broth, beans, and corn. If using fresh corn, boil for 5 minutes. If using frozen corn, just heat to a boil.

In 4 bowls, place a handful of tortilla chips, some shredded cheese (maybe a half cup), a big spoonful of salsa, and sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

Add the soup. Stir. Eat.