Meat Free.

Last week, I experimented with our family meals - could we make it with minimal meat?  I received a couple of new cookbooks for Christmas, both containing many vegetarian / meatless options.  My child is practically a vegetarian and we have friends that are vegetarians (even some vegan friends!) so I knew we could manage.

Let me preface this by saying that I realize some of these recipes contain some meat...but 3 ounces of pancetta does not equal an entree focused on meat in my book.  Plus, pretty certain you could eliminate the meat in these recipes and still end up with a great meal. 

First up: Giada's Winter Minestrone. Swiss chard, cannellini beans, potatoes. Delicious. I loved that it had Swiss chard in it - always on a mission to try those interesting greens. We even ate all of the leftovers. I would definitely make this again.  

Tuesday brought Anne Burrell's Pasta Fagioli.  As you may remember, I received this cookbook for Christmas.  Think lots of beans, pasta and tomatoes.  It was so simple, yet so delicious.  This will go in to rotation at our house, with a few changes (like adding more tomatoes.)  Her cookbook is very fun and offers up very different, yet approachable, recipes.

On to the big disappointment for this week.  I hate to do this.  It pains me.  But Gwyneth's Vegetarian Chili was not good.  It was just kind of bland and boring.  I am currently devising a plan to repurpose the leftovers, but it's possible they will end up down the drain.  I still love ya Gwynnie!

 

Finally, Ina.  Good ole Ina.  She never disappoints me.  We ended the week with an old standard - Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil.  Yes, better in the summer when the produce is fresh, but sometimes the craving for this is too strong to resist. 

Do you eat a lot of meat?  Do you have any meat-free faves?