MM: Sweet Potato, Chickpea, Spinach Curry

Today I have decided the best way through a pescatarian Lent will require a ton of spices. For real, I need to stock up and replace meat flavors with ~world spices~. Plenty of indian, ethiopian, and thai food coming up for me.

This dish was a perfect, slightly intermediate and nearly vegan pantry meal. Normally my pantry is ready to make some kind of simple weekday meal, but this time my resources are unusually abundant. I got my green grocer box (Note: if you're in the DMV, check it out-- it's so worth it!) for the first time this new year; and my $24 Trader Joe's haul supplied me with a ton of dried and canned goods. I wanted to get creative! That said, I still had to make a lot of substitutions and omissions. 

I didn't have harissa, or cardamom, or green chiles. Ground spices replaced some of their whole versions. Oh, and I also didn't have coconut milk. But this was my proudest moment! So I had a big carton of heavy cream, so I used that. BUT THEN I saw that you could add almond butter, and I had that! It was the perfect substitute-- it tastes different than coconut milk, but tasted delicious in it's own way. Coming in second place for best substitution is the Huy Fong Foods Chili Garlic Sauce for the harissa. My curry was super spicy and delicious! I was so proud I couldn't believe it, you guys. One day soon I will make another curry and hopefully I'll have all of the ingredients on hand. I will definitely attempt this recipe again! Try it here.

MM: Black Bean Soup

Happy Presidents' Day! I hope you all are spending your day catching up on everything you've been putting off. My weekend was busier than expected, so I haven't gotten a chance to grocery shop. This black bean soup is perfect because I happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. Note: I am learning that "quick soaking" dried beans is not the best option. Though the flavors were totally on point, my beans were crunchy. Alas! It was like a black bean chili. Next time I'll use canned. Find the recipe here.

The Inaugural (and Lazy) Meatless Monday

I am completely exhausted. This morning I woke up very early to fly back home from an amazing vacation in New Orleans. On top of that I decided to be Wonder Woman and go to work on time as well. I was surprisingly productive at work considering, so I'm a satisfied tired. 

After all vacations, I need to eat something simple because I go out to eat for every meal and sadly I don't order salads. It's all so delicious, but it's also just an unsustainable diet-- that's why it's vacation! Needless to say, I wanted a low-maintenance and (somewhat) healthy meal my first night at home.

New Orleans reminded me that Mardi Gras is right around the corner (March 4) and the Catholic in me remembers that Lent is also (March 5). I like the challenge of it, so this year I will be pescatarian for 40 days and 40 nights. When I first thought of vegetarian meals, my mind went to bread-based dinners, like pizza and pasta. Historically I have used Lent in a productive way-- almost always related to weight loss-- so eating a bunch of carb-based meals every night is not something I'm trying to do.

But I'm tired, you guys. So I made Kraft Mac & Cheese and classed it up with a simple arugula salad with my favorite dressing as of late. It has lemon, olive oil, dijon mustard, a clove of garlic, and salt & pepper. There's no exact recipe, but you MUST make it. It'll change your life. Next week I promise I'll make something super fab like Indian or something!