For Health · For Animals · For the Earth · How To · Eats · Wears · Get Cooking

Get Cooking

No matter who you are or where you are from, going vegetarian can be a very exciting adventure. Oftentimes, one of the most amazing parts of the adventure is learning about a whole new way of eating and thinking about food. Whether you are creating vegetarian versions of your favorite foods or experimenting with completely unfamiliar ones, cooking with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains can be a lot of fun. Once you master some basic recipes, like the ones below, there's no telling what unique and wonderful dishes you will discover next. A whole world of possibility is waiting out there for you…all you need to do is explore it!

Scrumptious Snacks · Afternoon Munchies · Dynamite Dinners
Delightful Desserts

*** Before you get started on your cooking adventure, please be sure to ask permission and seek the help of an adult, especially if you will be using kitchen knives or an oven. Besides, having a parent or other family member help you prepare a snack or meal is also a great way to teach them about the joys of eating veg!

Scrumptious Snacks

Amazing Applesauce

2 small red apples
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons sugar
2 pinches of cinnamon

1. Peel the apples, remove their cores, and cut them into small chunks.
2. Put the apple chunks and lemon juice into a blender or food processor. Blend the mixture until it is very smooth.
3. Pour the mixture into two bowls, stir in the sugar and cinnamon, and serve.

Ants on a Log

2 celery sticks
6 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons raisins

1. Cut each celery stick in half.
2. Spread peanut butter in the grooved part of each piece of celery.
3. Gently place the raisins on top of the peanut butter and serve.

Afternoon Munchies

Petite Pizzas

1 bagel, sliced in half
tomato sauce
shredded soy mozzarella cheese
toppings (chopped green peppers, onions, and/or mushrooms)
seasonings (oregano, basil and pepper)

1. Turn on oven and set to low heat.
2. Spread tomato sauce on top of each bagel half.
3. Sprinkle soy cheese over the sauce on each half.
4. Add the toppings.
5. Lightly sprinkle each bagel half with seasonings.
6. Place the halves on a baking sheet.
7. Bake in the oven just until the cheese starts to melt.
8. Let cool and serve.

Yummy Chickpea Salad

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup vegetarian mayonnaise
1 stalk celery, chopped into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

1. Put chickpeas in a medium-sized bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.
2. Mix in all other ingredients until well combined.
3. To make a sandwich, spread some of the salad on a slice of bread, top with a slice of tomato and a lettuce leaf, and cover with another piece of bread.

Dynamite Dinners

Easy Bean Burritos

6 flour tortillas
1 can vegetarian refried beans
1 cup shredded soy cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 tomatoes, cut into small chunks
1 small onion, cut into small chunks
Vegetarian sour cream (optional)
Salsa (optional)

1. Put refried beans in a small saucepan and place on a stove-top burner.
2. Warm beans on low heat, stirring occasionally.
3. While beans are heating up, place each of the different toppings (soy cheese, lettuce, etc…) into individual bowls with their own spoons.
4. Set all toppings, including another bowl containing the heated beans, and tortillas on a table or counter for easy access.
5. Assemble burritos by spreading refried beans down the middle of the tortilla, sprinkling with soy cheese and vegetables, and then rolling them up.
6. Top burritos with veggie sour cream and salsa (if using) and serve.

Peanut Buttery Noodles

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 cloves garlic, chopped into tiny pieces
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 package of pasta noodles (your choice)

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, put into a large bowl, and set aside.
2. Combine all sauce ingredients (peanut butter through rice vinegar) in a saucepan and cook over low heat.
2. Continue stirring sauce over low heat until ingredients are combined and sauce is smooth and creamy.
3. Pour sauce over pasta, mix to combine and serve.

Delightful Desserts

Fabulous Fruit Kabobs

1 apple
1 banana
1/3 cup red grapes
1/3 cup green grapes
2/3 cup pineapple chunks
1 cup vanilla soy yogurt
1/4 cup shredded coconut

1. Cut fruit, except grapes, into medium-sized chunks.
2. Put fruit pieces onto a large plate.
3. Sprinkle coconut onto another large plate.
3. Slide as many pieces of fruit as will fit onto a wooden skewer.
4. Holding your kabob by each end, gently roll it in the soy yogurt, making sure all of the fruit gets covered.
5. Next, roll the yogurt-covered fruit in the shredded coconut.
5. Repeat the process until all the fruit is gone.

Dreamy Chocolate Pudding

3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups soymilk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Combine cornstarch and water to make a paste.
2. In large saucepan, stir together soymilk, vanilla, sugar, cocoa and cornstarch paste and cook over medium-heat.
3. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.
4. Continue to cook and stir until mixture thickens.
5. Remove from heat and let pudding cool for five minutes.
6. Put pudding in the refrigerator and allow to chill completely until cool.