A Week of Dinners

People are always curious about what we have for dinner as vegetarians. We used to say, "Whatever you have, minus the meat." But I'm learning that many other families' meals center around meat, so when you take that away, you're left with dinner rolls and potatoes. We definitely eat more than that.

While I have complete respect for the dedicated women I know who make amazing, gourmet meals for their families, I am of the opinion that dinner need not be complicated. There are plenty of nights when dinner for us consists of bread, cheese, fruit, and raw vegetables like sliced pepper or carrots. When I cook, I usually don't make more than a couple of things. Nutrition wise, I worry more about whether or not we are getting a good balance over the course of a day, and more importantly the week, than if I have managed to squeeze everything into one meal. I like recipes that are simple and don't have more than five or six ingredients. And most everything I cook for dinner takes half an hour, if that, and certainly not more than 45 minutes. Sure, I occasionally make special, labor-intensive meals, but you probably do as well. Like on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I cheat in one very big way: I have a bread machine. And let me tell you, that was money well spent. Most of the time I only use it on the dough setting. I make pizza dough and dough for baguettes or boules or whatever. The dough freezes well, so for pizza I make twice as much as I need and freeze half for the following week. But once or twice a week, I let the bread machine do all the work. Its basic white or wheat bread is great for sandwiches and last-minute dinner bread. You can make bread for your family for less than you can buy it at the store, and it won't have any of the preservatives and whatnot in it. I understand people who don't want to take the time to make bread completely by hand, with the rising and kneading and all that, but the bread machine makes it possible for lazy people to become bakers. Buy one. Your friends and family will love you for it.

Anyway, I present to you a week of dinners in photographic format. If you want a recipe, leave me a note in the comments section. I'll be happy to send you the details.

Artichoke risotto with sourdough rye bread


Falafel salad


Lemon spaghetti with wild asparagus and haricots jaune


Sauteed wild asparagus and carrots with garlic mashed potatoes


Steamed asparagus with bruschetta


Salad with homemade flatbread


Pizza with olives, onions, and peppers