Veggie Teens

Celebrating Earth Day

Here are 9 easy ways you can celebrate Earth Day!

1. Garden or plant a tree.
2. Make nature crafts suchs as birdhouses and bird feeders.
3. Educate yourself about the Earth and ways you can help.
4. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!
5. Clean up litter and use Earth friendly cleaning products.
6. Look up Earth Day videos and songs.
7. Attend community Earth Day events.
8. Show your support by wearing brown and green and eat an Earth friendly meal (any of our vegetarian recipes are great for this!)
9. Save energy by turning off your lights and walking or biking.

Check out wikiHow's Earth Day post for more details!

Meatless Monday: Veggie Fajitas with Spanish Quinoa

Ingredients

For the Fajitas:

1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp crushed red pepper (more or less depending on how spicy you like it)
1/2 tbsp granulated garlic
1 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into slices
1 1/2 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into slices
1 red onion, cut in half then sliced
1 head of broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 can refried black beans
Flour and/or corn tortillas
Optional: Salsa, gaucamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, lettuce

For the Spanish Quinoa:
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
3 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 serrano pepper, seeded and finely minced
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
1 tsp soy sauce
2 cups quinoa, rinsed per package directions
1 (8 oz.) can of unsalted tomato sauce
1 (14 oz.) can vegetable broth
Optional: minced cilantro for garnish

Directions

1. 
   Combine the pineapple juice, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, and granulated garlic in a gallon zip lock bag.
2. Add the sliced fajita veggies, shake well, and place in refrigerator while making the quinoa.
3. In a large pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium heat, then sauté the chopped onions and peppers for the quinoa for 5 minutes.
4. Add garlic and serrano pepper and continue sautéing for 2 minutes.
5. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and soy sauce. Stir for 1 minute.
6. Add the quinoa and stir continuously for 4 minutes. 
7. Add the tomato sauce and broth. Stir until it reaches a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover for 15 minutes.
8. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes
9. While the quinoa is sitting, heat vegetable oil over medium high heat, add fajita veggies, a splash of marinade, and sauté until vegetables are tender.
10. Fluff the quinoa with a fork; add salt to taste.
11. Assemble the fajitas. Fill tortillas with the veggies, beans, and your choice of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, or lettuce.
12. Serve with the quinoa on the side or add it to your fajitas.

Baby Chick Deviled Eggs for Spring!

Although I love decorating cupcakes, for spring this year, I decorated deviled eggs instead!

First, hard boil eggs according to the Culinary Technique posted yesterday, found on page 25 of Veggie Teens: A Cookbook and Guide for Teenage Vegetarians. Once they are cool, cut off the top one-third using a small paring knife in a zig-zag pattern. Remove the yolk and make deviled eggs using the recipe on page 26 or follow your favorite recipe. Cover a platter with shredded lettuce to create a nest. Generously fill the bottom of each egg with the mixture and set the tops back on. Cut a thin slice of carrot into a triangle for the nose and use bits of black olives for the eyes.

Cute, right? These are perfect for Easter brunch and a great way to use up all of those colored Easter eggs!

Culinary Techniques: How to Hard Boil an Egg

Here are some tips on making the perfect hard boiled eggs. Check back tomorrow for a fun Spring recipe that uses this Culinary Technique! 

Ingredients

Eggs

Directions

1. Put eggs into a saucepan big enough to hold the eggs without them touching.
2. Add enough cold water to cover the eggs.
3. Put on stove and set to medium-high.
4. Bring water to a boil.
5. Cover pan and remove from heat. Allow to sit for fifteen minutes.  
6. Rinse eggs in running cold water to stop cooking.
7. Peel and eat or mark with an ‘H’ to remind you it's hard boiled and store in the fridge until ready