Veestro: Organic, plant-based meals , a Review

Ready to cook meal services are nothing new to me. There are several vendors out there who send 1-2 meal recipes with the exact ingredients prepackaged, to your doorstep. I have tried meals  from Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. It is definitely convenient as you don't have to go grocery shopping, you know what you are going to cook on a given day as you place your order atleast a week ahead of time. The ingredients are purported to be fresh and from the best sources and they are literally delivered to your doorstep. The flip side is that this service does tend to be a bit pricey and you still have to make time to cook the meals. I also feel bad that there is so much packaging that is required. 

When Veestro reached out to bloggers via Meatless Monday, to try their plant-based vegetarian food service, I was intrigued to say the least. I cook and eat vegetarian meals most of the time. I do not eat meat. I truly believe  that eating vegetarian food is a healthier way to live. Those who are used to eating meat in all their meals often find it hard to go vegetarian. I usually recommend beginning by switching to one vegetarian meal a day and then going to one vegetarian day a week. Meatless Mondays is a great way to do this. I was very happy when I was one of the bloggers selected to try their meals. 

A week later a big box was delivered to my doorstep with contents packed in a nice freezer pack. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the meals were already cooked. All I had to do was heat them up as per package instruction and serve it. My expectation was to see ingredients, not prepared meals!! 

In the package that I was sent I had 4 meals and one drink. They were as follows: 

Tuscan Calzone
Veggie Lasagna 
Southwest BBQ chick'n
Golden Chickpea Stew

Hand Grenade

Tuscan Calzone

The Tuscan Calzone was a decent sized one. All I had to do was stick it in the oven for 18-20 mins and Voila!! It was nice and crusty with filling of vegan cheese, tofu and squash. 

Veggie Lasagna 

The veggie lasagna was made from Rice noodles, vegan cheese and  zucchini. It was truly delicious! I don't think that I could have made that at home!! My husband and I enjoyed it.

Southwest BBQ chick'n

The Southwest BBQ Chick'n meal came with a slice  of vegan chick'n breast , a side of fries and a side of sautéed vegetables ( squash and corn). It is a great vegan alternative to the regular BBQ chicken. 

Golden Chickpea Stew

The golden Chickpea Stew was made from chickpeas, quinoa and vegetables such as squash, potatoes and tomatoes. It was more like a curry which was right down my alley. I eat all these ingredients regularly but not cooked together. I make quinoa salad, quinoa dosa and quinoa pilaf but never tried it in a stew! 

Hand Grenade

I simply loved the hand grenade!!! The taste was refreshing with no added sugar. It was made up of apples, celery, kale, broccoli, kiwi and maqui Berry. 

All portions were decent sized and filling. The cooking instructions were simple and easy to follow. The ingredients were clearly listed at the back with the nutrition information. There was no ingredient that I did not know or couldn't pronounce. The meals tasted fresh and  were delicious. 

Veestro would be the place to go for Vegans. Each item listed above costs roughly around $10.00. You get everything that they promised and the convenience makes it worth it especially if you are only now going vegetarian/vegan and are at a loss as to how to substitute for meat! This might give you some ideas for vegetarian/vegan cooking too!!

Happy eating!!

I am sharing  this at Angie's Fiesta Friday #198. Her co-hosts this week are two accomplished bloggers and my favorite people, Judi @ cookingwithauntjuju.com and Liz @ Spades, Spatulas and Spoons.

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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Tomato Pickle

We Indians love our pickles!!! It is an ubiquitous part of all our meals!! Served and eaten in minuscule quantities, this condiment adds flavor to our meal like none other!!

Our pickles are nothing like the western pickles! Our pickles are fiery and usually bright red in color due to the presence of red chillies in them. Even our green colored pickles or pickles of any other color are still spicy. There are very few that are on the sweeter side and they too have chilli powder in them. While most of our pickles has vegetables that have been soaked in brine, it is not a requirement. We can make pickles without brine. Of course, the shelf life of pickles made without brine is much lower than those made with brine.

It is pickle season now in India. We pickle all kinds of vegetables, some fruits like mango and even fish!! It is truly delicious!!

Those who follow me know that I don't make anything that is tedious or time consuming!! Simply because I don't have that kind of time! Check my quick zucchini pickle!
My husband loves pickles and goes through a whole bottle in 3-4 days!! The reason being that I don't cook with too much spice any more and he finds the food too bland for his palate. He compensates by using pickles!

Today I am bringing you a very easy pickle that requires very few ingredients, is easy to make and does not require too much attention while making it. It has a wonderful shelf life! The recipe courtesy goes to an individual whom I look up to: Radha Natarajan. She blogs at Your Everyday Cook. You can check out her recipe here.  Her blog is full of simple recipes that bachelors and students living in hostel can make!!

I have made a few modifications, but mostly followed her recipe! Being that tomatoes are in season and are bountiful, I decided to bring this today to you.

Servings: makes one 8oz bottle.

Prep time: 10 minsCook time: 30-60  minsTotal time: 40-70 mins

Ingredients:

Sesame oil: 3-4 tbsp
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Roasted fenugreek powder: 1 tbsp
Tomatoes: 6 medium sized, chopped
Kashmiri red chili powder: 3-4 tbsp
Asofoetida powder ( Hing): 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp
Tamarind pulp: 1/2 tsp
Jaggery or brown sugar: 1/4 tsp
Salt: 1 tsp ( adjust as needed)

Method:

Heat sesame oil on medium heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepan or wok. 

Add mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add the chopped tomatoes. 

Add the turmeric powder, Asofoetida powder, red chilli powder, fenugreek powder, salt and jaggery. 

Reduce the flame. 

Cover and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring intermittently  or until they are almost homogenous and starts leaving oil at the top.

DO NOT ADD WATER. The tomatoes give out a lot of water and will start boiling vigorously. Just continue boiling under low flame until all the water content has evaporated and it stops boiling.

Turn off the flame.

Once the pickle has slightly cooled, transfer it to dry glass jar that is completely dry.

It stays fresh at room temperature for upto 7 days and fresh in the refrigerator for upto 30 days.

Enjoy!

I am so excited today to be co-hosting Fiesta Friday#172 with my dear friend and a very talented blogger  Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook!  Angie is just amazing and a great hostess!! If you have never been to the Fiesta, you definitely should! It is so much fun! You can check the guidelines here. I know I don't visit you guys often, even though I want to.. There is only so much time in one day and only so much energy in one person. Work is very busy.. You see.. I am moving up people you see..I guess that is all good. So, I will party with you guys when I can. I am definitely here for this Fiesta! Do stop by to say hello. It will be nice to catch up.

Cooking made easy:

Using a thick bottomed dish is good because it keeps the pickle from burning. Same is true for cooking on low flame. So, for these kind of recipes, you need patience. I usually do it when I am cooking my regular food and I am present in the kitchen so that I can periodically stir it. Another way to do it is to use a timer and stir every 5 mins until it is done.

Tip for healthy living:

There is nothing like home-made pickle as you can control the amount of salt that goes into it. Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure.

Food for thought:

The opinion which other people have of you is their problem, not yours. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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5 Healthy Snacks With Cauliflower Which Are Irresistible; Guest post by Olivia Rose

A few months ago, I had invited guest posts and many people took up my offer and were featured here on Su's Healthy Living. One of the bloggers who approached me with a guest post is Olivia Rose. We have been corresponding back and forth for sometime now. I have been busy or dragging my feet.. but finally after much perseverance she is here today. Here is a bit more about her: Olivia Rose is a food blogger  who likes trying new exciting food flavors and textures. Like me she is a mother of 2 wonderful kids. She shares her recipes on MyKingCook so that other mothers like us can get delicious food ideas for their kids. 

Today, she is bringing us 5 Healthy Snacks With Cauliflower Which Are Irresistible. Do check them out! I bet you will fall in love with cauliflower just the way I always have been! Do check her blog for other delicious recipes!

As per Olivia Rose: "All images were paid images from Stock, so that we have full permission for all and don't need credit source."

When it comes to healthy eating, going green is always a preferable option to choose. These super and versatile vegetable is a trending choice now a day. Cauliflower is one among the many. Economical with a bunch of necessary vitamins and antioxidants fiber and potassium, this can be your perfect meal choice. It can be used both as a fresh vegetable as well as freezing it after vacuum sealed. Let’s explore to find a yummy yet healthiest food of the planet. We have tried to collect the best recipes to give you an appetizing meal at an affordable cost.

1 - Hot Wings Cauliflower

We all are in love with hot wings. Have you ever tried cauliflower hot wings, if not we are here to share our recipe with you?

Prep time:  15 mins

Cook time:  15 mins

Total time:  30 mins

Serves: 36

 Ingredients

•    1 medium head cauliflower,

•    1/2 cup Chickpea flour

•    2 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs

•   ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

•    1/2 cup Low-fat buttermilk

•    3 tablespoons hot sauce

•    Salt and Pepper: Add to your taste buds

Directions

•    Pre-heat the oven to 450°.

•    Spray cooking spray to your baking dish

•    Cut the cauliflower head into small pieces

•    Mix 1 tablespoon hot sauce and buttermilk and whisk it well.

•    Add flour, bread crumbs, garlic, and salt and pepper in another shallow bowl.

•    Mix each cauliflower floret in buttermilk mixture and put it into baking dish

•    Bake for 30 minutes until crispy.

•    Add remaining sauce and bake it again for 3 minutes.

•    Serve sizzling hot with cheese dressing.

2 - Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed potatoes are a traditional side dish, we all love to dine. If you have not tried mashed cauliflower, you must give it a chance to enrich your traditional mashed potatoes taste. This perfect mash recipe can be eaten with Greek yogurt or low-fat cream cheese.

Prep Time: 10 mins     

Cook Time: 10 mins    

Total time: 20 mins

Serves:10

Ingredients

•    4 cauliflower florets

•    40-gram cream cheese

•    Salt and black pepper

•    Pinch of Grated nutmeg

•    1 tablespoon butter

•    1 bulb of garlic (finely chopped)

•    1 tablespoon green onion to enhance taste

Directions

•    Boil water in a medium sized pan for glass top stove with some added salt.

•    Put the florets in it and boil for 8-10 minutes

•    Drain cauliflower, and put them again in pot with lid on (without heat) for 2-3 minutes

•    Mix cheese, salt, garlic, butter and pepper to the cauliflower.

•    Use the potato masher to smash the cauliflowers.

•    Add nutmeg.

•    Mix well and serve with chopped green onions.

3 - Cauliflower Fritters

Fritters show how much we love our food. Let’s try our cauliflower fritters recipe instead of traditional potatoes fritters.

Prep Time: 10 mins    

Cook Time: 6-7 Mins    

Total time: 17 mins

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

•    3 cups cauliflower florets (minced through food processor)

•    3 cups broccoli

•    ½ cup all-purpose flour

•    3 Eggs

•    1 teaspoon baking powder

•    0.7-ounce salad Italian dressing

•    ½ cup oil for frying

Directions

•    Minced the cauliflower florets and broccoli in a food processor.

•    Add flour, Italian dressing, baking powder, and eggs to mixture.

•    Heat oil on medium heat

•    Put the cauliflower processed mixture to preheated oil through heaping tablespoons

•    Fry until golden brown on both sides and serve hot

4 - Cauliflowers Breadsticks with Cheese

Let me share with you another winner cauliflower recipe It is simple, it is gluten free, and it serves your taste buds well.

Prep Time: 10 min    

Cook time: 40 min     

Total Time: 50 min

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

•    1 large cupped cauliflower (approx 4 cups minced)

•    4 eggs

•    3 tablespoon oregano

•    4 cup mozzarella cheese

•    4 garlic cloves minced properly

•    Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

•    Preheat oven to 425 F degrees

•    Prepare pizza dishes

•    Cauliflower florets (minced through food processor until they resemble rice)

•    Microwave it for 10 minutes.

•    Add eggs, salt, pepper and 2 cup cheese and spices to it.

•    Put the mixture it into pizza dish and bake it for 25 minutes until golden

•    Sprinkle the remaining cheese and bake it again for 5 minutes

•     Sliced into rectangular sticks and serve hot

You can also add smoked paprika to add extra taste.

5 - Cauliflower Tots

The cauliflowers diapers are the yummiest and the healthiest.

Prep Time: 10 mins    

Cook time: 20 mins    

Total time: 30 mins

Serves:  30-40 tots

Ingredients

•    2 cups cauliflower florets

•    1 egg

•    ½ cup onion

•    ¼ cup minced bell pepper

•    ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.

•    1/4 cup parmesan cheese

•    ¼ cup breadcrumbs

•    ¼ minced parsley

•    Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

•    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

•    Spray the cooking pan with cooking spray

•    Roughly chop the cauliflower head

•    Steam it for 4-5 minutes until soft and then drain it well

•    Pulse in food processor until turns into fine pieces

•    Combine all other ingredients to the mixture

•    Take a tablespoon of mixture into your hands and shape it into small tots.

•    Put the tots in the pan and bake it for 20 minutes until golden brown.

•    Serve sizzling hot

Enjoy! 

I am sharing this post with all my dear friends at Throwback Thursday #56,  Fiesta Friday #139 and Saucy Saturday#64! Angie's co-hosts this week are Antonia @ Zoale and Sandhya @ Indfused.

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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Parmesan Herb Crusted Steamed Potatoes

Hello to all potato lovers!! Today is your day! I am bringing you POTATOES!!! So why potatoes?? Well, my dear blogger friend Sonal felt like potatoes and she announced that she wants to make a collective on POTATOES! I said, sure I will contribute too.. I personally no longer eat potatoes, but my hubby dear loves them to death!! Really, the man would be happy if I gave him potatoes for breakfast, lunch & dinner, everyday!! How can anyone love potatoes so much??? But, I guess they can. It is a good thing that I don't make them daily!

So what have I brought you guys today?? Something that you could put together in 8 mins or less, flat!! I mean it! This is a perfect dish for weeknight dinners or if you have nothing ready & have sudden hunger pangs, when you are on road trips and your hotel room has a microwave , for lunch boxes and even picnics, maybe.  I have used Klondlike baby red potatoes .

The package I used is meant to be prepared in the microwave. I however, not being a huge fan of microwave cooking, steamed it the old fashioned way. You may choose to use either method. You also can use any other baby potatoes or use big potatoes and chop it into bite sized pieces. Red potatoes work best for this recipe.

Servings: 2-3

Prep time: 2 mins

Cook time: 5-6 mins

Total time: 8-9 mins

Ingredients:

Baby potatoes: 6
Butter: 1 tsp, at room temperature.
Dry mixed Italian herbs: 1/2 tsp ( you can use fresh herbs too).
Parmesan cheese: 1 tbsp
Sea-salt: 1/2 tsp
Garlic powder: 1/4 tsp
Black pepper powder: 1/2 tsp, freshly ground

Method:

Steam the potatoes whole for 5-6 mins ( to your desired level of tenderness).

While the potatoes are being steamed, in a small bowl, mix together butter, garlic powder, sea salt, herbs and black pepper. Reserve a pinch of herbs to sprinkle on top ( garnish).

Once the potatoes are steamed, cut them into 2 or 3 pieces( if they are big). Take it in a bowl. 

Add the butter-herb mixture, 90%of the Parmesan cheese and toss so that it is coated well. 

Transfer to the serving bowl. Sprinkle the reserved  herbs and Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

I am bringing these potatoes to my friends at Throwback Thursday #53, Fiesta Friday #135 and Saucy Saturday#60! Angie's co-hosts this week are Jhuls @ thenotsocreativecook and Suzanne @ apuginthekitchen.

Cooking made easy:

Like said earlier, you can follow the instructions on the package and cook it in the microwave .

Instead of mixing the butter with the herbs, salt garlic powder, you can mix the butter with the steamed potatoes and sprinkle the rest of the ingredients and toss it until well coated.

Tip for healthy living:

Whenever possible use organic potatoes as potatoes have the highest level of pesticides in them. They are subjected to double whammy. They absorb the pesticides sprayed on them and also that which is present in the soil.

Food for thought:

The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today. Elbert Hubbard

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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