Wild Rice, Chik'n nuggets and roasted cauliflower

 

 

One staple anyone wanting to cook vegetarian food should have: Meat substitutes that are just as good (or even better!) than the real thing.
From a health point of view, things like BBQ Chik'n nuggets (as shown here) are easy to find and pack similar amounts of protein and other nutrients from a regular chicken breast without much fat.

This meal I made with some help from my mom (my mentor for the project), and it's a meal I remember her making all the time when I was younger and even now when she was pressed for time but still wanted to make a balanced meal. Now, for times sake you don't have to make the cauliflower, that's just an added bonus to this meal. If you want a quicker vegetable you can make steam-in-a-bag veggies and toss those with oil and some seasoning (another trick my mom taught me).
 Now for the ingredients and recipes (I've separated them based on each component of the meal)
--Chicken:
- Morningstar Meatless Grillers BBQ Chicken
-Basically all you do is put the frozen patties in a pan, cook them and then add the sauce that comes with them, simple right?
--Rice
-1/2 onion diced

2 to 3 stalks of celery diced

1 to 2 carrots peeled and diced.

(This mixture of onions, celery and carrots is called mirepoix)

olive oil

1/2 pkg Trader Joe's wild rice and  basmati mix

dried thyme

salt, pepper

olive oil

In a sauce pan, add olive oil and mirepoix and saute. Add 1/2 pkg of rice mix and follow package instructions for the  amount for water needed. Add thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, close the pot and let simmer till the rice absorbs the water. Just as most of the water is absorbed, test the rice to see if its done. You can add 1/4 cup water at a time if needed.

Turn off the stove when the rice is still a little moist. Leave the lid on the pot and keep it shut for about 10 minutes. Lift lid, gently fluff the rice with a fork and serve with BBQ chicken.

--Cauliflower

- Separate cauliflower into florets

-Place on cookie sheet

-Sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika and add garlic cloves to the pan

- Roast for 25 minutes or so in an oven at 350 degrees

-Check periodically to see if browned

-Serve!

Enjoy :)