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Vegetarian Research

Easy Vegetarian Meal Plan – Week 7

Having to cook dinner, every single night, can be really exhausting!  Not only does that require coming up with healthy meals to cook, but also writing a shopping list and spending the time to actually prepare the food.  I’ve created these Easy Vegetarian Meal Plans to hopefully help make your life a little easier!  Each week I share one new meal plan that includes an ingredient list to help you compose your shopping list.  I also try to keep the recipes to minimal ingredients and minimal time.  I hope you find them helpful!

 

Happy Friday!  I hope that this Easy Vegetarian Meal Plan helps to make your life much easier!

Budget Friendly Dinners

Grocery prices are insane right now, so I know I’m not the only one looking for ways to save money when I can.  There’s still a few things I try not to cut corners on, but for the most part these days I try to buy the cheapest versions of our grocery staples that I can find.  For these meals, I have tried to mostly include recipes that require minimal ingredients, in hopes of helping you cut down your grocery bill.  Always ask me if you have a question on how to make a recipe more affordable!

30 Minute Dinners

Both my boys are in school now, and as much as I love my alone time, I still want to spend lots of time with them.  Dinners that take 30 minutes or less to prepare make it so I’m not stuck in the kitchen all evening and I can spend more quality time with my family, or just have more time to relax.  I will try to keep all the recipes to 30 minutes, but may add some in that take a little longer, and then add some tips on ways to shorten them.

I hope you all can benefit from these meals and tips that I provide along with them!  Enjoy and have a great weekend!

 

MONDAY

Roasted Carrot Couscous Bowls

These Roasted Carrot Couscous Bowls with Lemon Parsley Tahini Sauce are flavorful, cozy and filling!  Prepare them on Sunday and you’ll have a delicious and nutritious, plant-based, lunch all week long.  They’re packed with protein and veggies and can also be enjoyed for dinner.  And, don’t skimp on the green tahini sauce!

 

 

TUESDAY

Vegetarian Pumpkin Sloppy Joes

These Vegetarian Pumpkin Sloppy Joes are cozy, hearty and great for a fall inspired weeknight dinner! They’re made with crumbled tofu and a flavorful homemade pumpkin sloppy joe sauce. These protein packed, plant based sandwiches come together in under 30 minutes and can easily be prepped ahead of time.

 

 

WEDNESDAY

Cheesy Zucchini Soup

This Cheesy Zucchini Soup is the perfect way to use up your extra zucchinis! It’s easy to make, super cozy and it is packed with vegetables and protein. Make a double batch and freeze the rest for later. This veggie packed soup is great for lunch or dinner and can be enjoyed with crackers or crusty bread.

 

 

THURSDAY

Easy Rice and Bean Stir-fry

This Easy Rice and Bean Stir Fry comes together in just about 20 minutes and fills you up with plant based protein!  It’s made using leftover rice, canned beans, a few veggies and spices.  It won’t break the bank but it packs tons of flavor and is great to enjoy with your favorite toppings.  I eat these rice and bean bowls for lunches and dinners because they’re so easy to prep ahead of time.

 

 

FRIDAY

Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Parmesan

This Easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Parmesan is bursting with both color and flavor! It comes together quickly and is a great way to use up older veggies in the back of your refrigerator. Roasting the vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and the parmesan cheese pull everything together in this healthy and cozy vegetarian dinner.

 

 

PRINTABLE INGREDIENT LIST

This can be printed off and used to figure out what you already have at home and what exactly you need to buy. 

 

 

The post Easy Vegetarian Meal Plan – Week 7 appeared first on She Likes Food.

Vegetarian Research

Caramelized Apple Smoothies

Add a taste of fall to your mornings with these sweet and flavorful Caramelized Apple Smoothies. You can make a batch of just the caramelized apples to have on hand for easy, fall-inspired breakfasts all season long. Make them extra fancy with a drizzle of caramel sauce!

mason jar full of a caramelized apple smoothie with caramel drizzled on top

The leaves are finally starting to turn beautiful colors and the morning air has been cool and crisp.  We haven’t been apple picking yet, but it definitely feels like the season for it.  Morning meals have shifted from cold cereal to warm oatmeal, but it’s never too cold for smoothies.  These Caramelized Apple Smoothies are the perfect festive way to start your morning.  They’re packed with sweet apple flavor and thickened with protein packed greek yogurt.  You’ll love these banana free smoothies!

Why You’ll Love These Caramelized Apple Smoothies!

  • Fun and festive – We drink smoothies all year round, but it’s nice to have a fall-flavored smoothie this time of year. Apples and cinnamon are perfect for evoking that warm feeling that comes along with autumn.
  • Easy to make – These smoothies come together pretty quickly. The caramelizing of the apples takes about 5 minutes, but once done, you simply toss all the ingredients into the blender. You can also make a larger batch of caramelized apples so they’re prepped and ready to go into your smoothie first thing in the morning.
  • Great for breakfast – A delicious caramelized apple smoothie on a crisp fall morning is the perfect way to start the day. You can also experiment with adding protein powder, or other smoothie boosters, if you like.  

showing how to make caramelized apples in a pan

Caramelized Apple Smoothie Recipe Ingredients

  • Apples – You can use any kind of apples you like for this smoothie recipe. We like Honeycrisp, and usually have them on hand.  Granny Smith is a great option, too.
  • Applesauce – Applesauce is a great addition to these caramelized apple smoothies, as it reinforces the apple flavor, while helping to bulk the smoothie up.
  • Greek Yogurt – Plain, non-fat Greek yogurt is great for adding protein and thickness to the smoothie. You can also use regular yogurt, dairy-free yogurt or a banana, if you prefer.
  • Milk – You can use any kind of milk you like for these smoothies. I used a protein-packed soymilk, because that is what I prefer, but dairy milk also works well.
  • Flax Seed – I like to add some ground flax seed for its healthy fats, including omega-3s. Flax also promotes heart health and protects against certain cancers. You are welcome to leave the flax out.
  • Maple Syrup – If you want to add some extra sweetener, pure maple syrup or honey are a great options.
  • Caramel Sauce – The caramel sauce is totally optional, but it makes these apple smoothies feel extra special! I like to drizzle it inside the glass before pouring the smoothie in, as well as on top of the smoothie.

yogurt based apple smoothie recipe being made in a blender

How To Make Fall Apple Smoothies

  1. Make the caramelized apples. Peel and dice apple into small, bite-size pieces. You can make them whatever size you like, but I prefer to dice them pretty small so they have time to cook a little bit while caramelizing.
  2. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add butter, apples, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Mix together and cook until butter is completely melted. Next, add the coconut sugar and a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon). Mix everything together until apples are completely coated with sugar mixture. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until sauce has thickened. Turn heat off and let apples cool for just a few minutes.
  3. Add the apples to a blender. Next, add in the milk, yogurt, applesauce, cinnamon and flax meal. If you prefer a colder smoothie, you can add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until smooth, or desired texture is reached. Pour smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

close up of a caramel apple smoothie in a mason jar with a metal straw

Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

  • This recipe is already gluten free.
  • Make these smoothies vegan by using dairy free yogurt and milk.
  • Can these apple smoothies be prepped ahead of time? I like to prepare a big batch of the caramelized apples ahead of time, so I can quickly throw them in the blender each morning with the other ingredients. I would not suggest prepping the entire smoothie ahead of time.
  • How long do leftovers last? Smoothies don’t make for great leftovers, but if stored in the refrigerator, they might last a couple of hours.
  • How many smoothies does this recipe make? This recipe makes one large smoothie or two smaller smoothies.
  • What kind of apples should be used? You can use any kind of apple you like. I used a Honeycrisp, but for a more tart flavor, consider using a Granny Smith.

Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP.

close up of a caramelized apple smoothie

Looking For More Refreshing Apple Recipes?

Refreshing Apple and Kale Salad

Caramelized Apple and Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cups

Zucchini Apple Carrot Muffins

Fennel and Apple Slaw

Easy Apple Crisp Breakfast Bowls

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Caramelized Apple Smoothie


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  • Author:
    She Likes Food


  • Total Time:
    20 minutes


  • Yield:
    1-2 Smoothies
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

Add a taste of fall to your mornings, with these sweet and flavorful Caramelized Apple Smoothies. You can make a batch of the caramelized apples to have on hand for easy, fall inspired, breakfasts all season long. Make them extra fancy with a drizzle of caramel sauce!


Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup milk, regular or dairy free
  • 1/2 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup applesauce
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or more if desired
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax meal or protein powder of choice, optional*

Caramelized Apples

  • 1 extra large apple, peeled and diced into small pieces (about 2 cups)
  • 1 tablespoon butter, regular or dairy free
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon coconut sugar, or brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons water



Instructions

  1. Make the caramelized apples. Peel and dice apple into small, bite-size pieces. You can make them whatever size you like, but I prefer to dice them pretty small so they have time to cook a little bit while caramelizing.
  2. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add butter, apples, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Mix together and cook until butter is completely melted. Next, add the coconut sugar and a splash of water (about 1 tablespoon). Mix everything together until apples are completely coated with sugar mixture. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until sauce has thickened. Turn heat off and let apples cool for just a few minutes.
  3. Add the apples to a blender. Next, add in the milk, yogurt, applesauce, cinnamon and flax meal. If you prefer a colder smoothie, you can add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until smooth, or desired texture is reached. Pour smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

Notes

Make these smoothies special by drizzling some caramel sauce into the cup before adding in the smoothie!

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Category: Breakfast, Drink
  • Method: Stovetop, Blender
  • Cuisine: American

 

The post Caramelized Apple Smoothies appeared first on She Likes Food.

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