I simply adore veggie meatless balls.  I decided to try the same brand I have purchased before and serve it to my family.  I know I like them but trying to please my entire family was a little difficult especially with my brother as such a picky eater.

Today I wanted to eat simply and cook quickly since it was such a hot day.  I cooked a box of Rigatoni, which serves up to four people (perfect for this family).  I took the entire carton of meatless veggie balls and sautéed them in olive oil infused with garlic.  I let it brown and crisp up a little before add a jar of marinara sauce.  I always add my own spices to the sauce to create a new flair and uniqueness.  I added salt, pepper, basil and a little garlic powder to taste.  Tres magnifique if I do say so myself.  My parents were quite satisfied with my creation but my brother was not fond of the veggie balls.  Since he recently started eating meat he felt the veggie balls tasted like straight soy bean.  My parents had no complaints and I definitely loved the garlic flavor of the meatless veggie balls.

I was satisfied but maybe next time for meat eaters I can try something different.

Happy Eating Readers!

I am thinking of concocting a fruit salad tomorrow since it is going to be a high of 92 tomorrow.  It will be an adventure.

I leave you with happy tummies full of peace, love and no beef.

Guramrit

So as you all know today was Father’s Day so cheers to the Daddy’s out there.  Today was actually a success in comparison to other years and my dad actually discouraged me from cooking (which made me a little sad since I wanted to create something delicious for daddy day).

We went to Patang, an Indian restaurant on Central Avenue in Yonkers.  A few years ago we took an oath to never go there again because of their ridiculously priced buffet.  Today we took a chance and decided to give the restaurant a second try.  For big eaters like my brother and my dad we got a pretty good deal on a lot of food for a decent price.  It was basically $15 a person but we got a good amount of food for that price.

I ordered some lip smacking good paneer (an unaged home-made cheese which is made by curdling hot milk with lemon) floating in a delicious makhani sauce, a buttery tomato sauce infused with traditional Indian herbs.  I was in awe with what my mouth was tasting.  I almost cried because of how good it tasted.  Sappy much? I ordered a side of garlic naan (seasoned pita bread) and a mango lassi (a yogurt drink, almost milk shake like but not as thick and the ice is not blended).  The combination of the naan, paneer and lassi was perfect.  I ate at about 5 p.m. and I am still full.  My stomach was more than satisfied.  The best part?  I still had food left over and I can eat it again tomorrow!

Here is a picture of what our food looked like (sorry it looks half-eaten, I was too excited to eat to worry about taking an enticing picture)

Compliments of my Blackberry & Patang Restaurant

Here is what my prospective family ordered (all vegetarian minus my brother)

Mom: Vegetable Biryani- a traditional Indian fried rice full of spices and mixed Indian vegetables

Dad: Baingan Bartha- a traditional Punjabi dish made from grilled smokey eggplant cooked with spices and a few other veggies. It looks a little mushy but my dad loves it especially with a side of Naan or Tandoori Roti (bread made inside of a Tandoori Oven).

Brother (the skinny fat boy of the family): Paneer Makhani (just like me), Raita (yogurt seasoned with cilantro, cumin, cucumber, spices), Basmati Rice and Tandoori Chicken (he was unable to eat more than one piece because of the extreme spiciness of this dish)

Next time you want some good Indian eats order yourself a Mango Lassi, eat some Paneer and finish with a Gulab Jamin (a fried milk and rose-water dessert served with a delectable sweet syrup).

But for now readers I leave you with peace, love & no beef

Guramrit

After four days away my mother finally returned from a little retreat. My brother and father immediately asked what was for dinner. Tired yet fully relaxed my mom came up with an easy solution that never fails to result in satisfied tummies and smiling faces: Taco Bell.

Yea, I know it sounds a tad gross because it is fast food and fast food tends to not cater to the vegetarian audience. But if you’re craving cheap mexican food and you have a Taco Bell near by, don’t hesitate to sweep in and grab some grub.

The best part about Taco Bell for vegetarians like myself is the ability to replace the beefy grossness with some refried beans. Talk about a healthier alternative.

Next time you’re near a Taco Bell give these tasty meals a try:
Bean Burrito, 7 Layer Burrito, Mexican Pizza (with beans no beef) or a Crunchwrap Supreme (with beans no beef).

Just thinking about food makes me hungry.

But for now readers keep on eating veggie and stay cool in this summer heat.

Peace, love & no beef.

Guramrit

I felt a random surge of culinary creativity today while being on a 5 dollar budget.  Amazingly enough I was able to get enough materials to buy the perfect ingredients to feed my boyfriend, 18-year-old brother and cousin as well as myself.

I get random cravings for spanish cuisine and today I felt motivated to cook something but of course realized I was down on cash.  I went to the nearest Key Food and bought a can of Goya pink beans, Goya Sofrito and a box of Vitarroz Yellow Rice (pre seasoned, just cook according to the box and you are good to go), this cost me just $4.  I also bought 2 potatoes and a zucchini for a nice garlic roasted vegetable accompaniment to the rice which cost me $1.  Easy right?

The best part of this easy meal was how good it tasted at the end.  I love the taste of a meal that was budget friendly and appetizing.  YUM!

My best friend says I am Latina at heart.  I love my Indian and Irish background but I know I have the appreciation for a good Spanish meal.  My next conquest, Platanos!

But for now readers peace, love & no beef!

Guramrit

On a lazy summer day nothing is easier than popping a frozen entrée into the microwave, waiting 5 to 6 minutes and chowing down without any effort.

Today I tried a frozen meal from Amy’s Kitchen.  My mom likes to buy these organic frozen foods that I usually detest because they mostly taste weird and look appetizing on the box but are rather unappetizing once cooked.  Surprisingly this frozen entrée was pretty good.  I had Amy’s Kitchen’s Cheese Enchilada Whole Meal which comes with one cheese enchilada, a side of seasoned corn and beans.

After a few minutes heating it up in the microwave I was ready to eat.  It was the perfect combination of sweet and savory.  The only thing it really lacked was the spice.  I had to add my own hot sauce to it but I was still satisfied.  The best part about this easy frozen dinner was high protein, low calories and low-fat.

Next time you come across Amy’s Kitchen, be sure to pick up a couple of their Enchilada meals.  They are pretty yummy and make your tummy happy.

Compliments of Amy’s Kitchen Website

Peace, love & no beef.

Guramrit