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Interior and Designer: Amanda Kirk
Art Producer: Samantha Ulban
Editor: Owen Holmes
Production Editor: Ashley Polikoff
Production Manager: David Zapanta
Photography 2022 Elysa Weitala, Cover; Andrew Purcell, pp.. All other images used under license Shutterstock. Food Styling by Victoria Woollard, Cover.
Cover image: Vegetable Lo Mein with Tofu, page
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-638-78210-0
eBook ISBN: 978-1-638-78705-1
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To Chris and Renee, my parents and biggest cheerleaders. Your support in all my endeavors is appreciated more than you know.
CONTENTS
L et me guessyou picked up this book after feeling lost with your redundant weeknight meals. Perhaps youre a lifelong vegetarian who wants to bring it back to basics or a newbie who doesnt know where to start. Maybe youre setting out on a temporary journey of eliminating meat for health reasons, or youre trying to support your newly vegetarian son or daughter. Whatever brings you here, welcome. Hats off to you for taking the initiative to expand your dinner horizons and seeking out inspiration when you needed it most.
Thanks to social media and a variety of cooking shows on television, more people are learning how enjoyable the cooking process can be, and switching up your diet seems more attainable than ever. Everyone wants delicious food, but unfortunately time is getting harder and harder to come by. And although there are now abundant recipes available for plant-based foods, that doesnt always mean its convenient. Thats where this book comes in. I want to show you that you can be creative and put together impressive vegetarian dinner spreads all within 30 minutes or fewer. (Yes, its possible!) Look, were all busy people just trying to fuel our bodies the best way we know how. Choosing to eat vegetarian may throw an extra obstacle in the plot, but this book will show you that it doesnt have to be a challenge.
My name is Paige, by the way. Im a cookbook author, food blogger, recipe developer, and lifelong carnivore turned veggie curious over the last couple of years. You read that rightIm not a full-fledged vegetarian. In my opinion, this gives me a well-rounded view of cooking and makes me extra picky as to what makes a great hearty vegetarian meal. After all, you want a meal that would please both meat eaters and vegetarians alike. As a mother who also runs her own business, its always important to me that food be accessible and quick without sacrificing flavor and nutrition. I take it very seriously that youre trusting me with the task of curating meals for you and your crew, and for that, Im so grateful.
Going meatless looks a lot different today than it did even five years ago. No matter the dish youre trying to make, theres very likely a meat-free substitute that will look almost identical to its original counterpart. Whether its bacon, chicken nuggets, or even tuna, you can waltz right into any grocery store and be greeted with a multitude of meat-free options. It can be overwhelming, to be honest. Even restaurants have so many more vegetarian dishes on their menus now. Gone are the days that you had to order something without the chicken.
Lets be real, were not all professional chefs who can conceptualize a meal in seconds. In the chapters that follow, youll find recipes for reimagined favorites like . Youll also discover the building blocks of creating your vegetarian masterpieces, along with the tools you need to get dinner on the table in a flash. There may even be a few secrets for recipe variations and saving even more time preparing a meal. I hope this book invigorates your love for cooking or, at the very least, makes it a pleasant process that you no longer dread. Deciding to go vegetarian is a huge step, one that you should be applauded for, should you choose to take it. Whether youre fully committed or just cutting back on meat, sit back, relax, and let me help you on your journey with tried-and-true vegetarian meals.
B efore introducing the delicious recipes, weve got some housekeeping to do. In the first chapter of this book, Ill share the fundamentals of getting a meatless meal on the table in 30 minutes or fewer, what you should include on your plate for well-rounded nutrition, pantry must-haves, and more. The information and tips youll read here will help you better understand the recipes and become a more intuitive vegetarian cook overall.
Quick & Easy Vegetarian Meals
Over the last decade, rising concerns over the environmental impact of livestock raising, transport, and processing have prompted more people to turn to vegetarian eating. Couple that with the often inhumane conditions and treatment of the animals, and suddenly health and wellness arent the only reasons that folks are opting to go meatless.
