BORED WITH THE SAME OLD FOOD EVERY WEEK....QUICK MEALS WITHOUT MEAT- ANY IDEAS?

[noonar]

i am stuck in a food rut. i try to buy quality organic stuff when i can, and dont like meat. i eat more convenience food than i'd like- (eg ready made quiche, jars of good quality pasta sauce). then i feel guilty and reach for the lentils and brown rice- which i love, actually. i'd so love to cook from scratch everyday, but cant seem to achieve this.

has anyone got any ideas for really simple, quick meals, to give me some variety? (if i eat another felafel i think i'll die of boredom!)

look here

There's a Jamie Oliver recipe I make at least once a fortnight: pasta with aubergine and mozzarella and tomato sauce.

Takes about 20 minutes, once you know what you're doing. If you're interested I'll find the book.

noonar you so could be me I'm fed up eating the same old things and end up having a Tesco veggie tart creation because I can't be bothered.

ooh good thread ,will watch this and leech off it!

What about eggs? You can do frittata's, spanish omelette (sp?) or normal omelettes. Also, flat mushrooms with cheese, onion and garlic on top...

yes, please purple.

lily, i noticed that there is a delicious felafel recipe on there- lol. think i might try the risotto. thats something i havent made in yonks.

sweetkitty, depressing isnt it?

i'm so bored with roasted pepper this, feta with that, cous cous , houmous, blah de blah de blah.

maybe i should eat meat.

omelette. another good idea... but... i generally eat too much cheese, would it be as nice without, i wonder?

purple i make this about once a fortnight too i love it!!

is it in his family dinners book?, i have that, but have never used it

spinach and chickpea curry is quick and easy to make if you use curry paste tinned tomato and tinned chickpeas

yes it is

Chop up a load of courgettes, peppers, mushrooms, garlic and fry together until the liquid reduces a bit. Beat a couple of eggs and pour over the top. Place under grill to finish. Cheese-free, yummy omelette...

what esle, erl? is taht it?

the ratatuie recipe is good too

It's easier in the summer I think (not that it's very summery right now...)

Grilled Halloumi with new potatoes and salad and some tzatziki dip on the side is a current favourite of mine. You could have quiche/savoury tarts instead of halloumi - and use a ready made pastry case if you want to speed things up....

mump, tahnks. maybe just a little feta on top, non?

(what is it with me and cheese??)

soup.
carrot and coriander; roasted veg; mushroom

yum.

smoked tofu - not like horrid watery stuff. In a thai stir fri with coconut milk, lime and coriander.

risotto

curry

couscous

halloumi cheese.

Actually eat meat myself but dh is veggie and I was for years, so I still eat lots of veggie food

parp

The other quick and easy thing to do is fry a load of vegetables (maybe with some beans to make it more filling and for protein) with some cajun spices or similar and put it in a wrap. I put cheese in with it, but you don't need to.

Pancakes with lots of veggie fillings. I have a good recipe for mushroom and wild rice pancakes, but if you're looking for something quick, you'd have to cook the wild rice in advance as it takes about 45 minutes.

mslucy, are you parping due to all that veggie food?

not parping my fab thread, i hope?

fry an onion and some garlic add curry paste then add chick peas and tinned toms then a little stock let it simmer for however long you want add a few hanfulls of spinach and serve with rice, i sometimes add diced potato and coconut milk and yogurt this is a favourite in our house

ooh, ERL, that might be a contender for tonight. thanks!

do you eat fish?

pancakes. hmmm. good idea.

OK - the full version is on p194 of Jamie's Dinners. Here's my synopsis:

Put on water for pasta
Dice an aubergine into 1cm cubes, heat 4-5 tbsp olive oil in large saucepan, add aubergine, cook for few minutes on medium heat.
Add 2 cloves sliced garlic and 1 finely chopped onion, cook a few minutes.
Add 2 tins tomatoes, 1tbsp balsamic vinegar. Season.
Add chopped stalks of a handful of basil; simmer about 15mins; add 4tbsp double cream.
Meanwhile, cook pasta (Jamie suggests rigatoni or penne). Drain pasta.
Mix pasta and sauce.
Tear up 200g mozzarella and basil leaves; fold into pasta.
Serve.

This makes heaps for 4; leftovers are nice sprinkled with grated cheese and baked next day in the oven.

yes, www, but not v exp cooking it.