My obsession with cooking and cooking shows has persisted for quite some time. I don’t care much about who the host of the show is or what the theme is, if there are ingredients being mixed together with the goal of pleasing the palette, I'm in. Even as a vegetarian, the most carnivorous programs can yield some joy, entertainment and insight that I apply to cooking vegetarian meals.
One theme I've noticed from many cooking programs is that of the busy home cook who doesn't have time to shop at the supermarket. Their challenge is to pull what they can from their cupboard and freezer to make an enjoyable meal. I do this all the time. As someone who works in a profession that has been likened to herding kittens, I am often physically and emotionally drained by the end of the day, so much so that the thought of grocery shopping is nauseating. Furthermore, as much as I love to use fresh ingredients, the necessity of winning the race against an ingredient spoiling (as opposed to cooking it because I actually desire it) is a completely unappetizing excuse for cooking a meal.
The following is a simple, quick, tasty and inexpensive recipe that is the perfect solution for the busy cook with no time to shop.
Spinmacurger!
(short for spinach + macaroni and cheese + burger)
Ingredients:
One box of macaroni and cheese
One box of frozen spinach
One Dr. Prager’s Veggie burger (or other brand)
One vegetarian chicken burger
3 heaping tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
Cook the box of macaroni and cheese as directed. Meanwhile, place the unwrapped box of frozen spinach in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 7 minutes. Salt the spinach to taste. Heat up the burgers. The chicken burgers usually do best in a toaster oven. I prefer to fry the Dr. Prager’s burgers in a little bit of vegetable oil so that they get crisp and hold together better. Lightly salt the Dr. Prager’s burger. Combine the cooked spinach with the macaroni and cheese. Stir in the parmesan cheese to balance out the blandness of the spinach and the macaroni and cheese. You can cube the burgers or cut them into spears, depending on the size and shape you desire. Fold the burgers into the spinach and macaroni and cheese mixture gently so that the burger pieces hold together. Garnish with a few left over pieces of burger and a small sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Dinner is done dude!
Serves 3 – 4
Please reply with any “quick eats” you’ve invented.
One theme I've noticed from many cooking programs is that of the busy home cook who doesn't have time to shop at the supermarket. Their challenge is to pull what they can from their cupboard and freezer to make an enjoyable meal. I do this all the time. As someone who works in a profession that has been likened to herding kittens, I am often physically and emotionally drained by the end of the day, so much so that the thought of grocery shopping is nauseating. Furthermore, as much as I love to use fresh ingredients, the necessity of winning the race against an ingredient spoiling (as opposed to cooking it because I actually desire it) is a completely unappetizing excuse for cooking a meal.
The following is a simple, quick, tasty and inexpensive recipe that is the perfect solution for the busy cook with no time to shop.
Spinmacurger!
(short for spinach + macaroni and cheese + burger)
Ingredients:
One box of macaroni and cheese
One box of frozen spinach
One Dr. Prager’s Veggie burger (or other brand)
One vegetarian chicken burger
3 heaping tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
Cook the box of macaroni and cheese as directed. Meanwhile, place the unwrapped box of frozen spinach in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 7 minutes. Salt the spinach to taste. Heat up the burgers. The chicken burgers usually do best in a toaster oven. I prefer to fry the Dr. Prager’s burgers in a little bit of vegetable oil so that they get crisp and hold together better. Lightly salt the Dr. Prager’s burger. Combine the cooked spinach with the macaroni and cheese. Stir in the parmesan cheese to balance out the blandness of the spinach and the macaroni and cheese. You can cube the burgers or cut them into spears, depending on the size and shape you desire. Fold the burgers into the spinach and macaroni and cheese mixture gently so that the burger pieces hold together. Garnish with a few left over pieces of burger and a small sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Dinner is done dude!
Serves 3 – 4
Please reply with any “quick eats” you’ve invented.
This looks delicious!
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