Tofu Tacos!

TOFU TACOS!

So I finally got around to making this Tofu Taco recipe I found a while back.  I've never cooked with Tofu before, and to be honest, the last time I even ate tofu was about 9 years ago when I was over in Japan on a college internship.  I didn't like it then, so I was assuming I wouldn't like it now.  But being the loving spouse I am, I looked past my own desires for meat and cooked something both Shelton and I could eat.  I picked up the ingredients last week when I originally planned on making this, so thankfully the "fresh" items were still fresh.  This is a super easy meal to make.  Probably took me less then 30 minutes total!




Here's the list:
1/2 tsp Chile Powder
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Dried Coriander
2 tsp Fresh Lime Juice ( I used more like 3)
1 package Firm Tofu (the store was out of Firm, so I used Extra Firm.  I'm sure either is fine)
1 package Small Tortillas (I ended up using 10 small flour tortillas)
1 tsp Olive Oil
1/2 Onion, chopped
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 15oz can of Black Beans, drained
1/2 cup Fresh Corn Kernels (I bought a can and used about half)

Optional Garnishes:
Chopped Cilantro
Sour Cream
Sliced Avocado
Sliced Tomatoes
Shredded Cheese
Mild Salsa

Directions:
1. Put the Chile powder, cumin, coriander, and lime juice in a bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Add the tofu and mash with a fork until the tofu is crumbled and fully coated.  Allow to marinate while you prepare the tacos.

3. Wrap the tortillas in tin foil and put in a 200F oven to get heat while preparing the rest.

4. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
5. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes or until the onion has softened. (Careful not to burn the garlic)

6. Add the black beans and corn and mix together.  (Funny story.  Our can opener broke so I tasked Shelton with opening the cans.  He ended up using a flat head screwdriver and a hammer.  LOL)

7. Add the tofu and cook until heated through and thickened.  5-10 minutes then remove from the heat.

8. Remove tortillas from the oven
9. Assemble tacos using any optional garnishes.

10. EAT!!!

My first meal is a SUCCESS!!!!

I made my first vegetarian meal the other night.  I'm not much of a mushroom guy, but to be honest I really couldn't even taste the mushroom.  I think all the ingredients complemented each other so well that it just made the meal taste well... AWESOME!!!  Let's get started.  

Cheese Tortellini with Portabella Mushrooms

Here is the recipe:

1 lb Cheese Tortellini

2 Large Portabella Mushrooms

1/4 cup White Wine (my mom always taught me to us Chablis for cooking)

1 Tbsp chopped Fresh Parsley

2 Cloves Garlic (I used two BIG cloves and chopped them up real fine)

8 oz Alfredo pasta sauce (or about 8 oz... give or take a couple :)  I used regular Regu sauce)

A pinch of Salt and Pepper

1/3 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil (I just give the salt grinder a few twists).  Once water is boiling, add Tortellini and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente.  Then drain (but don't rinse off the noodles)  You can do the other steps while you waiting for you noodles to cook.

2. Rinse off mushrooms and slice thinly.  Discard the stems

3. In a medium skillet over low heat, combine wine, parsley, garlic and mushrooms.  Stir frequently.  Saute for approximately 5 minutes or until mushrooms are cooked through.  (I ended up probably doubling the amount of wine I put in, and sauteed it a lot longer in order for the wine to absorb, or evaporate, or whatever it does)

4. Remove skillet from heat and add Alfredo sauce.  Stir and add salt and pepper to taste.  Like I said, if you like saucy noodles, add more Alfredo.  If not, stick to the 8 oz.

5. Dish up the tortellini and spoon over sauce.  Garnish with freshly grated (or if you're lazy like me, use the already grated stuff in the plastic tub you buy at the grocery store) Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

The recipe I used said it serves 4, but I'm a big eater, and I like a lot of sauce, so we used all the sauce for two people.

This meal was so good.  I served it with fresh green beens, and a garden salad.  I would definitely make this again.  Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Happy Cooking :)

Richard

Let me Introduce myself

My name is Richard and I'm NOT a vegetarian.  In fact, I'm not married either.  LOL  But before you leave and dismiss my blog I urge you to keep reading.  I'll start off by explaining my Blog Title "AHHH!!!! I Married A VEGETARIAN!!!"  Like I said earlier, I'm not married.  But it's not by my own choosing.  The government apparently doesn't feel as though I should be allowed the same rights as other individuals.  But that's a whole separate topic that I'll spare you from.  I'm also not a vegetarian.  In fact, I love meat and I can't imagine ever not eating the mouth watering goodness sent from above.

I grew up in a small community in southeastern South Dakota, where every night my mom had prepared the most amazing meals.  We were a meat and potatoes kind of family.  My dad even owned several restaurants with one in particular known for its excellent steaks.  I do remember that one night we tried SPAM, but after we all took the first bite and tried to give my mother the all to familiar look of approval, we couldn't help but spit it out.  Needless to say, that entire meal ended up in the trash and we never ate SPAM again.

I met Shelton this past spring in Camp Pendleton, CA while I was waiting to class up for Field Medical Training Battalion, which was a part of my Navy Reserve Hospital Corpsman training.  He was also in waiting, but ended up getting his orders changed which sent him to another clinic on base.  At the time he ate meat, and I remember going out to Hamburger joints and scarfing down big, delicious, greasy cheeseburgers.  But between then and now he has decided to take the road less traveled and become a vegetarian.  I completed my training in June and moved back to South Dakota to fulfill my orders.  In August I flew back out to California to visit Shelton for his birthday and that is when he proposed to me.  It's a great story, but maybe for another day.  It's now October and I just moved out here to beautiful, sunny California to be with my Fiance.  I've been here a week and already found the meals situation to be quite a challenge.

I'm writing this blog because I know I'm not alone in my journey.  I'm sure there are at least a few of you out there that have no clue where to start when it comes to cooking for a vegetarian.  So we can make this journey together.  I'll post what I cook, and whether it was a success, so-so, or a disaster.  Please feel free to try my meals/recipes and give me your feedback.  Also, if you have recipe ideas that you've had success with, send me a message and I'll do my best to make it and blog about it.

This past week I made my first vegetarian meal: Cheese Tortellini with Portabella Mushrooms.  It was amazing.  It gave me hope that cooking vegetarian isn't all that bad.  I'll post the recipe and pictures in my next blog entry.

I'm looking forward to this journey and hope you can benefit from my successes and learn from my failures. Tonight's menu: Tofu tacos.  Yikes :)

Richard

This is Me (on the left) and Shelton.