My meatless meals roundup from years ago has continued getting lots of views every year, but we've added so much to our meal repertoire that I thought a second post was in order!

Whether you're trying to eat more meatless meals in order to observe Lent, or just as a personal choice, this list should help give you some tasty new recipe ideas. 

Most of these I've tried, or would try, with my family, and I'd consider my kids to be pretty middle-of-the-road in terms of how adventurous they are with their eating. If yours aren't very adventurous, there's no shame in sticking with macaroni and cheese or pizza! 

Meatless Meals: Instant Pot Black Bean Soup (a no-recipe recipe)

I have to admit, I'm generally a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants sort of cook. I love looking at recipes for inspiration, but when it comes down to it? I'll happily make all the substitutions I want, do my own thing, and I'm almost always happy with the result! So if you're a "must-have-exact-quantities-or-my-life-will-explode" sort of cook? This is probably not for you!!

BUT if you're comfortable (or want to get comfortable) improvising in the kitchen, this should be a good starting point for you!

It's not picturesque. Soup never is. But it's delicious!

This "recipe" was really borne of the conundrum, "I have too many random vegetables from my produce box, insatiable children who adore soup, and hey, dried beans are cheap!" And it has quickly become a staple in our house!

(No instant pot? Try these slow cooker black beans! Add extra broth and it'll be plenty for soup!)

38/52: Baking Pumpkin Muffins

 

33/52: Sous Chefs

Fermenting Made Easy: Fermentools Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

I've always been curious about fermenting, but overwhelmed by the wealth of information. I knew about the touted health benefits (did you know ONE scoop of fermented sauerkraut has more probiotics than an entire bottle of store-bought probiotics?), but didn't know if we would actually enjoy *eating* fermented foods. So I jumped at the chance to try out this starter kit from Fermentools! It came with instructions on making homemade sauerkraut, which was easy enough that my 10-year-old son can do it entirely on his own. And when it finally came time to taste the finished product? The kids LOVED it! So much so that I'm glad we've planted a lot of extra cabbages this year... They go through sauerkraut quickly!

Meatless Meal: Chickpea Burgers

Need a meatless meal idea that uses some of the beans you might have stocked up on? This is a Friday favorite at our house! Reminiscent of falafel, but with a texture that's a bit more kid-friendly, and no frying necessary. We love these chickpea burgers with feta cheese, bell peppers, homemade tzatziki sauce, and flatbread!

 I've got pictures to walk you through each step, and you can scroll down for the complete recipe.

Bread for Beginners: Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza is something that eluded me for years. My crust was always too tough, or too soggy, or awkwardly shaped... It just felt better to order pizza or grab something frozen from the store! But I've been using this recipe for years and it's perfect. Give it a try!

Bread for Beginners: Sandwich Bread Recipe

A few months ago I decided I'd like to try baking all our bread instead of buying some of it at the store. I was already baking about half of what we eat, but was tired of getting cheap grocery store bread that was full of junk (and the nice stuff is pricey!!). So I tried out a bunch of different recipes, tweaked my favorite, and baked my heart out.

Little did I know that a couple months later, there would be a serious bread shortage in stores! I'm so glad I was already in the habit of baking all our bread, and if you've found yourself in a new position of needing to bake all of your own, maybe this will be a good place to start?

Kitchen Simplicity: How We Handle Large Family Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

About a year and a half ago, I got serious about menu planning—it made a huge difference in streamlining grocery shopping and eliminating stress from a normal day, but people often asked why I didn't "plan" breakfasts and lunches.

The reason?

We eat the same thing every day.

Does it get boring? Honestly, no. The kids appreciate the stability, it eliminates decision fatigue, cleanup is a breeze, and it's all stuff the *kids* can make themselves if/when I'm otherwise occupied.

It seems so obvious to me that this would be a reasonable solution, but every time I mention it, multiple moms *cannot believe* what a huge difference this makes!

So what do we eat?

One-Pan Dessert: Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie

Much like a large portion of the world's population (right? probably?), I dislike washing dishes. So I don't love baking, because of how many dishes I end up needing to wash afterwards! But this? Mix it in the pan, bake it in the pan, no multiple bowls & other dishes needed! And it's highly likely these are pantry staples that you always have on hand, so this is the perfect last-minute dessert.

38/52: Snow, Birthday Cake, and Tea Parties

It's the Most Pie-ful Time of the Year! {7qt}

--1--

Good morning and happy pie-for-breakfast day! Because let's be real, that's what the day after Thanksgiving is all about. My breakfast pie of choice? Dutch Apple Pie, the most superior of all pies.

--2--

I'm officially in my 3rd trimester, which means I get to eat two pieces of pie for breakfast, right? Right.

Baby News, Meal Plans, and Shopping Small {7QT}

--1--

Our procrastination wasn't the *absolute* worst this year, so it only took us until week 22 of the pregnancy to get the 20-week ultrasound, and praise God, everything looks good! I was pretty sure it wasn't twins, but it's always a relief to have that confirmed... And after Edith's medical issues, it was also a big relief that everything looks healthy for this babe!

--2--

So what are we having? It's a...

Instant Pot for Beginners: Mashed Potatoes

I didn't realize what a complete life saver instant pot mashed potatoes could be until some friends were discussing their Thanksgiving plans. One of them said she makes her mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot, then puts them in to stay warm until she's ready to serve them hours later.

41/52: Potatoes For All!

Instant Pot for Beginners: How to Cook White Rice

Did you buy an Instant Pot on impulse when you saw a great Black Friday or Prime Day deal? Is it just... Sitting in the box gathering dust? I guarantee you're not the only one! It's a daunting prospect, figuring out how to use a new appliance that shoots hot steam out the top if you use it wrong. The first time I used ours, I sprayed liquefied oatmeal onto the kitchen ceiling! 

So. Let's start with the basics, shall we? Rice is a good place to start! And I guarantee it won't end up on your ceiling, unless you throw it up in the air like confetti.

(More) Meal Planning, Recipes, and Music {7qt}

--1--

We've had to turn the air conditioning on every day this week, so I maintain that we're still firmly in the grip of summer. I won't begrudge you your pumpkin decorations (I mean really, pumpkins are so pretty!) but we've reached my least-favorite part of the year:

When you can't trust any baked good *not* to have nasty pumpkin hiding in it. WHY would you ruin a perfectly good chocolate chip cookie by putting pumpkin in it???

Easy Peasy Roasted Tomato Sauce Recipe

Meal Planning, Tomatoes, and One More Thing {7QT}

--1--

I took to Instagram on Monday, enlisting crowd help for meal planning for the week and it did NOT DISAPPOINT. I actually think I might do this every week because Monday is generally our Aldi day and it's good for me to have meals planned for the week so I don't need any mid-week grocery trips. Anyway, here's what we've eaten/are eating:

4/52/2018: King Cakes and Wagon Rides