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Tofu Burgers with Taste

If you think that tofu burgers are bland unsatisfying, think again. A tofu burger will be as flavorful or unflavorful as you make it. Looking for a good idea? Try making some delicious smoked tofu burgers that will leave no room for complaints. Before getting started, grill some firm tofu over mesquite chips for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, follow the recipe below:

  1. Saut¨¦ the bell pepper, chopped onion, garlic, and jalapeno chili in sesame oil until tender (about 5 minutes). Add mushrooms and soy sauce and saut¨¦ for 3 to 4 additional minutes. Remove from heat.
  2. Stir tofu, rice, and breadcrumbs into mixture and season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in egg white and form ¡°burger¡± shapes.
  3. Spray a large pan with cooking spray and meat on medium until hot. Spray the tops of the ¡°burgers¡± with cooking spray and turn until cooked and browned on both sides.
  4. Serve on buns with sliced onions.

Falafels are a Snap

Falafels are a delicious vegetarian favorite that are guaranteed crowd pleasers. Thankfully, you don¡¯t have to travel to the Middle East or spend all day making preparations to enjoy them. Instead, you can pick up a convenient falafel mix and make them in a snap.

Once you have prepared the mix, serve it in pita pockets with fresh sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. To really give it an authentic taste, try making a fantastic sauce to serve over the falafels. You can easily do an Internet search to find a tasty yogurt sauce or try the cucumber sauce below.

Drizzle the sauce over the pita or use it for dipping.

Storing Dried Goods

After purchasing, store dried pasta, rice (except brown rice), and whole grains in tightly covered containers in a cool dry place. Refrigerate brown rice. Refrigerate or freeze grains, if they will not be used within 5 months.

The Oh-So-Versatile Couscous

Couscous is healthy dish that is often times a staple in many vegetarian diets. The key to enjoying couscous on a regular basis is to play around with its versatility and create exciting new dishes. Here is a charming variation of the dish that¡¯s sure to be a hit:

In a saucepan, combine water, bay leaf, oregano, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Then, stir in couscous and return to a boil. Finally, cover the pot and remove it from the heat. Let it sit for 5 to 7 minutes. Finally, stir in the walnuts, artichoke hearts, parsley, and lemon juice.

*Serve the dish alone or on pitas.

Storing Fresh Herbs

If you buy bunches of fresh herbs at a market or plan to refrigerate your garden-grown herbs, keep each variety in a separate airtight container lined with paper towels. The herbs will keep for several days in the refrigerator, but the sooner they are used, the better they will taste.

Social Events for Vegetarians

It's essential for vegetarians and vegans to look into meal options for social situations in advance. For example, a lot of major airlines have vegetarian meals readily available but may not be able to provide them unless you specify your dietary needs when making your reservation. If you plan on attending a catered event such as a party, wedding, or banquet, talk to the host ahead of time about your diet. Caterers can and will usually provide a vegetarian meal but will need to know in advance.

If you are planning on eating at a new restaurant, call before going in to ask about the menu (or look for the menu online). If you will be having dinner at someone¡¯s house, tell them that you are a vegan or vegetarian before committing to go or bring a "just in case" vegetarian food dish for yourself. It is definitely in your best interest to look into vegetarian options in advance for social events. If it's not your style to make a fuss, however, you can always just take your chances. In most cases you can probably find a vegetarian option or, if you're not picky, you can often times make a meal out of vegetarian side dishes.

Storing Beans

Dried, packaged beans will keep indefinitely in a cool, dry place, as will cans or jars. Cooked, cooled beans can be stored covered for a day or so in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freezing works very well.

More Can Be Less

If you eat more foods, you may eat less food. When you have a lot of variety, you may want less volume. Many people find they fill up faster when they have small portions of a number of different foods. Bulk foods, such as vegetable soups and salads are especially more filling than having a large serving of a single dish.

Colleges are Vegetarian-Friendly

So, you made the decision to be a vegetarian and have stuck with it but now you¡¯re about to start college. How will you ever maintain a vegetarian diet while away at school? Relax, it¡¯s a lot simpler than you might imagine. Where there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way and, here are some great hints to help you:

Couscous Tabouleh

Place the couscous in a heatproof dish and pour the boiling water over it. Cover tightly; let stand for 5 to 10 minutes, until the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork, transfer to a mixing bowl, and allow to cool to room temperature or until just slightly warm. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Chill for 1 to 2 hours before serving, if desired.

Flavorful Veggie Chili

Do you have a hankering for some delicious, south of the border chili sans meat? Try making some mouthwatering vegetarian chili with a simple mix. If the thought of chili that essentially only contains beans isn¡¯t doing it for you fill that pot with some other tasty goodies. Add the following to really pack in the flavor:

This chili will be so jam-packed with scrumptious vegetables that you won¡¯t notice that anything is missing. And, if you do want to add some meat, toss in some soy-based meat crumbles.

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