Sweet Potato Tacos

You guys must think I'm a big liar. I start off by saying how much I hate Mexican food, yet I am constantly making it! I feel like I can't break out of the habit saying that I don't like it, because I still wont go out to a Mexican restaurant. I used to really dislike beans and corn, but I am slowly starting to like them. As long as I determine what goes into my Mexican meal, I guess I can say I like Mexican food.

I was looking for something a little different to cook. Lately I have been feeling like I'm in a cooking funk. I have been making a lot of the same foods around here, and I thought it was time for a change. I spotted a recipe for sweet potato tacos, and I went ahead and gave it a try!



What you need:



3 Medium sweet potatoes, pealed and diced
1 Can of corn
1 Can of black beans
1 Pack of taco seasoning
16 10-inch tortillas
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Cloves of garlic, diced
3 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp lime juice
Cilantro
Cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top
Salt and pepper

What do to:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange the sweet potatoes on the sheet.
Drizzle to coat the potatoes in olive oil.
Sprinkle the salt, pepper, and taco seasoning on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are soft, tossing a few times as they cook.
While the potatoes are baking, begin sauteing the garlic in an oil coated pan over medium heat.
Add in the corn, black beans, honey, and lime juice until heated.
Toss in the sweet potatoes and cilantro.
Pile on warmed tortillas and sprinkle with cheese.









The sweet potatoes, corn, and honey definitely added a lot of sweetness to the dish. The cheese was the perfect contrast so to cut the sweetness and I loved the sharpness of the cheddar. It had just a hint of heat, with some Mexican flavors. I wouldn't call this super authentic, but the beans had a nice bite, adding  protein to make it a complete meal.

I thought this was a great creation. Another Mexican meal to add to the list!

Will you try out these sweet potato tacos? What is your favorite take on a Mexican classic?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Taquitos

Normally, I'm not one for Mexican food. While I love tomatoes, cheese, avocados, and spice, I'm not a fan of beans and of course I don't eat meat. When going out to Mexican restaurants every meal is either centered around meat, or beans.  I brushed off Mexican food for a while thinking it just wasn't for me. Then I wised up. I may not be able to go out to enjoy Mexican food, but there is nothing stopping me from cooking my own Mexican food and adding in, or leaving out exactly what I want.  I sought out ground beef taquito recipes, swapped it for soy crumbles, and tailored them to my tastes. I think I ended up with a pretty awesome result.



What You Need:



1 box of Smart Ground Soy Crumbles
1 Can of corn
1/2 cup of salsa
12 6-inch tortillas (as you can see I only had 10, and I had some filling left over)
1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons of taco seasoning

What do to:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Heat up some oil over medium heat and cook the soy crumble according to the directions on the box.
Stir in the corn, salsa, and taco seasoning and continue to cook the filling mixture.
Place the tortillas on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel.
Microwave for 45 seconds to make them soft and pliable.
Scoop about a 1/4 cup of the filling onto the tortilla and sprinkle cheese on top.



Carefully roll up the tortillas and place on a greased baking sheet, seem side down.
Continue until all of the tortillas are filled, rolled, and placed on the baking sheet.
Optional: brush the taquitos lightly with olive oil and sprinkle on more cheese.
Bake for 10 minutes, until the edges are slightly browned, serve hot.







I ate mine with a side of Salsa Rice, inspired by The Garden Grazer.





Oh my goodness, I am obsessed with these! The soy crumbles were meaty and the tortillas were so soft and chewy. I loved how the tortillas were perfectly crispy and crunchy on the edges The salsa made these taquitos tomatoes and added that authentic Mexican flavor. The melted cheese added a nice, sharp flavor and the corn was sweet and mild. They were a little lacking in the spicy category, so I added a splash of hot sauce afterwards. Adding salsa to the rice took it to the next level. It went from plain, boring rice, to a great Mexican side dish!

Have you ever made your own vegetarian taquitos? What would you add to yours?

Bye From the Veggie Side!

Veggie Burger Chronicles: At Home Southwestern

Have you even been struck by a brilliant food idea, only to have to wait all day to execute it? Well that's what happened to me at work the other day. While I was eating lunch, I was planning out what I was going to make for dinner. Yes, my whole life really does center around food.  I had just gotten some avocados on sale, and was making paninis with them. But then it hit me: avocado veggie burgers! I spent the rest of my day at work thinking about how I would accessorize it, and I decided on a southwestern style.



What you need:



2 Slices of bread
Half of an avocado
Any veggie burger of your choice
Mexican cheese
Ketchup
Tapatio

What to do:



Toast the bread.
Scoop out half of the avocado and layer it on.
Layer on the veggie burger, cheese, ketchup, and tapatio sauce.
Top with the second piece of bread.







This was well work the all day wait, because it was so good! The burger had a nice meaty flavor, while the cheese and avocado gave this a Mexican flare. This was packed with heat from the tapatio sauce.  I love this sauce. It not only has the perfect amount of spicy, but its super flavorful too. The avocado was creamy and buttery, and acted almost like a sauce. Topping this burger with ketchup made it super classic, but with a Mexican twist.

How do you make your veggie burgers at home? Will this southwestern one be on your menu?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Mexican Zucchini Skillet

Hello veggies! How is everyone doing? I am spending the weekend in PA with Ben and his family to celebrate his birthday. I am so excited to be here because I get to enjoy all the foods Ben and I love near his house.  Now that we live far away, its rare I get to have these special foods, so I am enjoying it while I can!

As you can probably tell, I love me some zucchini. Its so easy to transform it. You can add Asian, Italian, or even Mexican flavors, and they all seem to go perfectly with zucchini. Today I decided on a Mexican flare.



Adapted from Skinny Taste.

What you need:



2 cloves of garlic, diced
2 medium zucchinis, chopped
Olive oil
1 large tomato, chopped
Oregano
Basil
Onion powder
1 tablespoon taco sauce
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese
Lime juice
Salt and pepper

What to do:

Cook the garlic in the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat for about a minute.
Stir in the zucchini and tomato and cook for about 5-6 minutes.



Add in the onion powder, oregano, basil, lime juice, and taco sauce. Mix it all together, and then remove the skillet from heat.



Season with salt and pepper.
Top with cheese and serve.







I ate my zucchini skillet with a side of rice.



When I took my first bite, the first thing I noticed was the authentic Mexican flavor. I'm not sure if it came from the Mexican cheese, or the taco sauce, but it was so good!  The zucchini and tomatoes were so fresh, and all the spices came together really well. The taco sauce didn't add too much heat, so if you are like me and love spicy foods, I would definitely add a little more spice. The hint of lime really tied everything together.  Overall I really loved this dish. I can't wait to make it again!

What is your favorite way to make zucchini? Will you try this Mexican skillet?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Southwestern Panini - My First Panini Press!

Hello everyone! This marks a special post for a few reasons. First, this is my first post that I am writing from my new apartment in Virginia! Moving away from home was one of the hardest things that I have ever done, but each day that I get settled in my new place, the easier it gets.

This is also the first post that I am going to show you food I made in my brand new kitchen, on my brand new plates, with my brand new panini press. My dad's girlfriend gave Ben and I a panini press for a housewarming gift, but since Ben was going to use it to cook his meaty foods, the panini press was basically just a gift for me. Ahh, the perks of living with your boyfriend!

I had never used a panini press before, but I was too excited to open it up and start using it that I decided to forgo the instructions and just wing it.  We had just had vegetarian tacos for dinner, so I decide to put the leftovers together and make my first Southwestern panini.



What you need:


2 Slices of bread
Salsa
Avocado
Mexican blend cheese

What to do:


Start by cutting your avocado in half and opening it to remove the pit. Scoop out half or the meat and press it to one slice of bread.



Layer on a few spoonfuls of salsa and top with lots of cheese. Add the other slice of bread on top and its time to press!



I was really proud of my first panini!  The bread was perfectly cooked with the perfect amount of crunch that matched with the creaminess of the avocado.  The salsa and the Mexican cheese gave it that Southwestern flavor.



I loved how beautifully melted the cheese was. This tasted just like it was made in a little sandwich shop!



I decided to take the other half of the avocado and add it to a little salad on the side.



I really loved making my first panini. It was so much fun finding ingredients to add and it looked so cute. I am so excited to try even more combinations!

Do you like making your own paninis? What kind should I try next?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Taco Day

Hello everyone!  Today I have the perfect meal for vegetarians and meat-eater alike! I personally am not a huge fan of Mexican food.  Most of it is meaty, and whats vegetarian is basically beans, and if they aren't done right, I don't like them. But I love making Mexican food at home! I can add what I like, and leave out what I don't. My favorite at home Mexican meal is Taco day.  I love the crunchy shell, and all the bowls filled with veggies to stuff into them. The best thing about tacos are that they are completely customizable  making it perfect when you have people over that don't all like the same foods. That's why I love having Taco day with my boyfriend, Ben.  He doesn't like most veggies, and the ones he does like, I don't. This way we can sit down for a meal together, and can both be happy with what we are eating.  Ben is a meat eater, but he will eat the soy meats in our tacos, however for bigger parties, you can make real and soy meats and keep everyone happy with any dietary restriction.

Amy's Mexican Tofu Scramble

Hey everyone!  I wanted to show you what I had for lunch today. Yes, it's another Amy's meal.



I have mentioned before that eggs totally freak me out, and I try to avoid them as bast as I can.  I always loved scrambled eggs, and its a food a miss, not because I am a vegetarian, but just because the idea of eggs creep me out.  I was so happy when I found Amy's Tofu Scramble! Finally I get to have scrambled eggs again!  Amy's makes a few different tofu scrambles, and today I have the Mexican variety to show you.



This scramble comes with tofu on a gluten free tortilla  covered with salsa, and re-fried beans and potatoes on the side. The tofu scramble doesn't taste exactly like its eggy counter part, but it is still really tasty!  I like how there is salsa on top, but unfortunately it not spicy, so I add some hot sauce to the mix.  The re-fried beans are really flavorful, and the potatoes complete this breakfast.



It is always a great feeling being able to eat a "normal" breakfast, but still maintaining my beliefs and commitment to avoiding eggs.  I love getting lots of protein in this meal too, and of course lots of flavor!



I love this Mexican Tofu Scramble! I hope you guys try it, because I know you'll like it too!

Have you tried Amy's Mexican Tofu Scramble?  Do you like Mexican food for breakfast?

Bye from  the Veggie Side!

The Veggie Burger Chronicles: The Brazen Fox

Hello everyone and welcome to another installment of the veggie burger chronicles! Today's post is aabout a local bar and restaurant, The Brazen Fox.  The Brazen Fox is located in White Plains, NY, and serves many kinds of bar munchies, meals, salads, and sandwiches. I discovered the Brazen Fox when I was out on new years eve.  My friends and I were looking for a bar to hang out in until the ball drop, so we stopped in here.  While I was more interested in what beers they had that night, I couldn't stop myself from just checking out the menu.  While I didn't order any food that night, I wanted to try so many things on the menu, so I  went back a few months later to make sure I finally got to try the food.

I was given the menu, and the specials menu (and of course the drink menu).  I usually just toss aside the specials, but that day there was a southwestern black bean veggie burger on the specials and I knew I found the winner!



The burger itself was really delicious! The outside was crunchy and the inside was soft and creamy.  I usually don't like black beans, but you could taste all the spices more than the actual flavor of the beans so I was really pleased. It also came with melted cheddar and avocado which pretty much made it a win in my book! Of course they had to include the classics: lettuce, tomato, and pickles. You can choose from a number of sides including fries, and sweet potato fries, but I opted for the healthier salad.  This salad came with a really tasty balsamic vinaigrette.

What I also love about the Brazen Fox is that you can make ANY normal burger on the menu, and change it to a veggie burger.  I love that since most places have one veggie burger but like 10 meaty ones, so eventually I get tired of getting the same thing.  But now I can try all the different kids of burgers they offer and still keep it meat free!

Have you been to the Brazen Fox? If you are in the area will you plan a visit? What are your favorite veggie burger toppings?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Amy's Nacho Snacks

What do you call snacks that aren't yours? Nacho Snacks.  Luckily these tasty little rolls can be yours, if you buy them from your local super market or health food store. I am talking about Amy's Nacho Snacks, little pockets filled with beans and nacho cheese.  I am not a huge Mexican food or bean fan, but I can't say no to all natural, vegetarian, easy food to make!

And I have to say, I am glad I tried them because they are delicious! There is so much flavor packed into each little bite. And you can tell they are all natural, without any of those "fake" flavors that you might get from Mexican fast food. Nasty.

One reason I stay away from Mexican food, is because most Mexican restaurants don't gear themselve to vegetarians,  They set them self up to be an AMAZING vegetarian meal. Tomatoes, fresh avocado  crunchy tortillas, and of course, lots of cheese.  But then they ruin all that by adding beef. And if you don't want beef, the only option is beans, which if not done right can be a disaster. 

These little pockets are great as a snack on their own, or as part of dinner.  Pick these up and add them to your next Mexican meal! Maybe dip them in some salsa, sour cream, or guacamole! Mmm now if you'll excuse me, I need to make these now.

Have you tried these Amy's Nacho Snacks?

Bye from the Veggie Side!

Super Easy Meat-Free Nachos

Hey everyone!  Today I have a simple recipe that my mom makes for me: vegetarian nachos. It doesn't take much cooking or skill, but it is so delicious and fun to eat!

What you will need:

White corn tortilla chips

1 tomato

1 Avocado

Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs

Salsa con queso

Sour cream

What to do:

1. Pour the tortilla chips in a large microwave safe bowl and spread out evenly

2. Pour salsa on queso on top of all the chips, more if you like it really cheesy, less if not

3. Microwave until warm.  Try 1 minute then add extra time to make it warmer

4. Cut up tomato and avocado in bite sided pieces and sprinkle on top

5. Cook Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs according to package.  Cut in pieces and sprinkle on top

6. Top with a dollop of sour cream

These nachos are super tasty and really fast and easy to make! Great for a quick meal or to bring to a party.

Will you be trying out these vegetarian nachos?

Bye from the Veggie Side!