Vegan Fried Rice, YUM.

It was so easy for me to come up with dinner ideas when I was the only one eating vegan food. It is a little more difficult to feed myself and Mic. Mainly, we both like a lot of the same things, or maybe I should say we dislike a lot of the same things. For example, mushrooms - we both know that they are gross!

Even before we were trying to eat a plant-based diet, Mic would always tell me he was still hungry after he ate what seemed to be a LOT of food to me. I've been trying to come up with recipes that have lots of fiber and protein so he feels full, but without adding tons of fat or unhealthy ingredients.

Fried Rice has always been one of my specialty recipes. My family has been making it forever, and I love to put my own spin on it. I think this recipe was the first reason that my in-laws liked me. Maybe it's still the main reason they like me, except when my mother-in-law asked me for the recipe, my response was "ummm, I don't have a recipe. I just throw a bunch of stuff in a pan and taste it, and add more stuff, and taste it, and add more stuff, and taste it...until it is perfect." That being said, it is hard to give you a definite recipe, but I'll do my best. It is not very precise. The beauty of that is, you can add whatever you want! Teriyaki sauce, broccoli, peanut butter, and red peppers all make delicious additions or substitutions.

This was very filling due to the edamame, tons of veggies, and brown rice! It was delicious due to the caramelized onions and the sauce. Yum!

Vegan Fried Rice

Cooking Spray or Oil of Choice
1 C Chopped Onion
2 T Liquid Aminos or Soy Sauce (to taste)
1 T Sesame Oil
1-2 T Peanut Sauce (I use Trader Joe's Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette. If you don't have a TJ's (we don't actually have on in GR :( so I stock up whenever I'm in Chicago or on the East side of the state visiting my sister) you can find good ones in the Asian foods section at any grocery store.)
2-3 C Frozen Veggies (I use peas & carrots and Trader Joe's succotash with corn and edamame and baby corn and water chestnuts)
2 C Cooked Rice (I used Trader Joe's pre-cooked frozen rice, but you can use any kind, just cook it according to the instructions on the package)

1. Spray a large pan or wok with cooking spray or add a little oil to the bottom of your pan. Add your chopped onion and saute until they are a little past translucent and slightly golden, about 10-15 minutes.

2. Add the Liquid Aminos, Sesame Oil, Peanut Sauce and the rest of your veggies. Stir to be sure the sauce is coating all the veggies. Cook until the veggies are cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5-10 minutes.

3. Stir in your cooked rice.

4. If you like your fried rice to have a more "fried", crispy, toasty texture, let it cook over med-high heat without stirring until it starts to brown a little, then flip it so the rice that was on the top is now on the bottom and repeat. You can do this as many times as you want. Watch it closely, so it does not burn. At this point, you can add a little more peanut sauce or a little more soy sauce depending on your taste.

This has nothing to do with the recipe, but it is my new favorite dessert! I use my little Pampered Chef glass prep bowls to keep the serving size under control, otherwise I'd eat the whole thing! It is delicious! Ben & Jerry's also makes a delish sorbet called Buried Treasure. You're sure to see that one in future posts!