April 2008 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Non-Meat Meal Ideas
So I am finally able to get to the store today, and I need some non-meat meal ideas for the start of Lent...I will definitely be pickng up the usual pasta, tomato soup, etc stuff...but what are some of your non-meat recipes out there? I need to be more creative and watch my calories!
Thanks for any suggestions!! 
Re: Non-Meat Meal Ideas
We eat meat-free at least twice a week! Some of our faves are falafels, veggie lasagna, garden burgers, grilled veggie paninis, veggie stir fry, veggie flatbread pizzas on the grill, and we do a lot of veggie curries over rice or couscous. The curry days are my favorites! Garbanzo, cauliflower, potato and carrot, in curry cocounut cream sauce over jasmine rice does it for me everytime.
I know there are more but I need another cup of coffee before I can think of more of our standards. If you want to tell me what kind of things you like maybe I can help. PM me or email. :-)
this! Also cheese pizza/veggie pizza works well!
there's always fish
I have a hard time coming up with meatless dishes for Lent - growing up we ALWAYS ate fish on Friday. No exception. Now since I know how expensive fish is we do not eat it every Friday but I do try to eat it as often as our wallet will allow haha.
Other than that, there's meatless lasagna and pasta (manicotti, cheese ravioli, spaghetti, stuffed shells), tuna casserole, cheese enchiladas, meatless calzones (cheese, spinach, etc.)
I found this website that I think I'll be trying out this year - http://www.catholicmom.com/lent_recipes.htm
We've been eating a lot more meat less meals lately. Not sure if this is for you (some people make a face without trying it first) Tofu. We now always have tofu stocked in the fridge. We made tofu tacos (crumbles nice like meat), tofu parmasean (like chicken or eggplant parmasean), or just pan "fried" tofu slices in an "alfredo" dish (just cream of whatever soup with laughing cow cheese melted in, over pasta)
Another thing we constantly have on hand now, that we absolutely LOVE is Textured Vegetable Protein. It's basically the bare essential of what they use in the boca burgers and things like that. I've made Shepherd's Pie with it, chili, "meat" sauce over pasta, basically anything you'd use ground meat for.
And like others said, beans are a good protein source to round out a meatless meal as well.
Let me know if you're interested further in what I mentioned, I don't want to do a whole long post here if you're not!
Stuffed peppers - you can stuff them with rice, beans and veggies
Also have breakfast for dinner sometimes (pancakes, eggs, grits, etc...)
Angel Hair with Spicy Shrimp Recipe - one of my favorites! (add broccoli)
Vegetable Calzones
Ratatouille
Vegetarian Gumbo
Eggplant Parmesan
~~~MARRIED BIO~~~
Gerrie do you have a recipe for the curry? I want to make that! Art has been on me to cook more without meat. I did make a yummy veggie stir fry the other night.
A good thing to go with tomato soup is GRILLED CHEESE!!! We had them twice last week. Oh they were soooo yummy!
I love this recipe (and so does Elisa) from PW - Spaghetti with artichoke hearts & tomatoes.
You can make vegetable chow mein, soups like black bean, minestrone, split pea soup, black bean burgers, savory egg bread casseroles, baked ziti, mac & cheese, tomato-basil pizza,
I love love love eggplant parmesan. So yummy
2 eggplant, peeled and thinly sliced 1-3/8 eggs, beaten 2-3/4 cups and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoned bread crumbs 4-1/4 cups spaghetti sauce, divided 2/3 (16 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided 1/3 cup and 1 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 teaspoon dried basil Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dip eggplant slices in egg, then in bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 5 minutes on each side. In a 9x13 inch baking dish spread spaghetti sauce to cover the bottom. Place a layer of eggplant slices in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the cheeses. Sprinkle basil on top. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until golden brown.This is one of Jordan and I's favorite meals. It's really simple. We through in some shrimp the other night too.
Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes
Ingredients
Preparation Instructions
Cook spaghetti till al dente. Drain and set aside.
Melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
Add artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream and chicken broth. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt!) Cook over low heat until heated through, then turn off heat.
Tostadas!
Fry some corn tortillas - get a can of refried beans, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce, avocado if you want.
Side dish of Rice.