Recipes

[Biftu]

I am having guests next week that are all vegetarians, I think they do eat eggs though. To make my life easier in the morning, I am looking for a breakfast recipe that I can make ahead and serve in the morning. They all get up very early. Also, any easy lunch recipes would be appreciated.

[colliegirls]

Take them food shopping when they arrive. Good luck, that would be a hard one.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Hope you have a nice visit.

I would ask them ahead of time, what they like to eat and go from there, or even go on a shopping trip once they arrive so the "right" foods could be purchased.  Nice of you to consider their well-being as regards a lifestyle choice, or perhaps a necessity, especially since it sounds like you are not a vegetarian.

It's not hard to cook without meat.  Many of your dishes can probably be modified, and there are lots of other sources of protein, if that's the big issue.  Again, I would ask them what they prefer.  If they are discerning, they could reject things that have ANY sort of meat, even in trace amounts (such as oils refined from meat by-products).

I had a friend who was a "veggie", but ate eggs and dairy, so thinking I was doing a good thing, I served her a mushroom quiche, only to find that she hated 'shrooms and thought they looked like slugs on the pavement.

[Iwantcoffee]

For breakfast I would have fresh fruit and oatmeal. Not knowing if they eat eggs or dairy will make a typical breakfast dish difficult, even waffles are out.

[pinkmochi]

I would make fruit crepes. You can make the crepes ahead of time and cut up some fruit. In the morning, heat up the crepe in a pan, put some fruit in it, top with Greek yogurt, close it up, and serve. I always bring this on our trips to Big Sur, and everyone loves it!

[Biftu]

Good idea midori -- thanks.

[lolakimono]

For breakfast, I would keep things simple and have them pick from an assortment:

bagels/toast

cereal

fruit

granola

yogurt (if they eat dairy) or soy yogurt

smoothies with tofu

They are probably used to non-breakfast things for breakfast as well, like veggies and hummus.  

For lunch, you could do a big pot of vegetable soup, tomato soup, bean soup,  quinoa/cous cous salad, veggie wraps, quesadillas or layered Mexican lasagna (if they eat cheese), broccoli salad, pasta salad, spaghetti,  three bean salad, stuffed peppers, stuffed grape leaves, grilled veggies and pita bread, etc.

[LoLa]

I have made these blueberry waffles before for family and friends and they are simply delicious. Hope this helps. Enjoy your guests!
LoLa

1 cup white whole wheat flour + 2 Tbl.
1 Tbl baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/3 unsweetened applesauce
1 1/4 cups unsweetened almond milk or your favorite dairy-free milk
3 Tbl pure maple syrup
2 Tbl canola oil
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries

Combine all the dry ingredients into a bowl and make a well. Add all of the wet ingredients and mix well. Let the better rest for 5 minutes to thicken a little. Fold in the blueberries. Cook in your pre-heated waffle iron that has been sprayed well with cooking spray.

[appleseed]

Hi! I'm vegetarian (do eat dairy and eggs but no meat at all). My advice is not to try any exotic vegetarian dishes. Just make what you normally make, but substitute things like marinara sauce for your normal meat sauce, veggie broth for meat-based broths, Morningstar Farms veggie burgers and veggie sausage patties for your burgers and breakfast sausage, etc. You can easily make a veggie and cheese pizza, too. Mexican food is very easily made vegetarian, with refried beans and cheese without the meat. Just check the refried beans to make sure they aren't made with lard. Most are NOT made with lard now, but do check. As for quick snacking, have some pita bread and hummus (found ready-made in the produce section) and some fruit. Enjoy!

[Honeybit]

Here's a quick lunch dish my cousin made when her family was visiting my house.  (When I make it now for myself, I add Bob Evans sausage and use brown rice.)

Hobo Stew

1 can black beans

1 can red beans

1 can Niblets Zesty Corn (or Mexicorn)

1 can mild salsa (or jar)

1 cup Minute Rice, uncooked

Drain and rinse the beans; add corn with its juice; add salsa and simmer until hot through.  Either cook the rice in the hot stew or make the rice separately and serve the stew over it. Add: onions, grated cheese, or other toppings as desired.

Remarkably tasty.