Rachael/Robyn Ray?

I've come to accept something about myself that I have felt quilty about lately...

I just don't like to cook.

I feel like it has become very trendy and/or necessary for people my age to get into cooking. They look up recipes on pinterest, experiment with food, cook with a loved one and enjoy the deliciousness of their own creation. Well, I pin recipes but never make them, never experiment with food b/c I don't like buying exesive amounts of food that could go bad (single people problems), don't have anyone to cook with (again...single people problems), and rarely taste the different between a microwaved versus homemade meal (palate problems). Therefore, I have come to grips with the fact that cooking is not my forte. I don't enjoy it. It stresses me out. That blender I got to make smoothies? Ya, that's been used ONCE along with the once-a-month used waffle maker and toaster (I never have butter to make toast). I don't like thinking about what to make, having to go to the store every day for specific things, feeling pressured to use the food that I bought before it goes bad, or worrying about having enough time to make something. I can't cook when I am hungry (I eat everything while I am making it), and I get hungry so suddenly that I need something quick and easy. I like to make and eat dinner in about 15-20 minutes. Cleanup included. And now that my saute pans seem to burn easily due to some left over residue, cooking is even faster! Thank you freezers and frozen veggies!

So I am going to let myself off the hook. I am not meant to be a cooker at this point in my life. And that's ok. I am good at other things:) So this "cooking" trend is one I will just have to pass up!

Healthy (Cheap!) Pizza

I have been awful about posting some of my new recipes on here, so I am trying to get back on the bandwagon. One of my favorite vegetarian meals is pizza and, thanks to my friend Nicole who introduced me to Trader Joe's, I have a cheap, easy, healthy recipe that I love to make! 

You need:

Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Pizza Dough ($1.29)

Trader Joe's Pizza Sauce (ah-maz-ing) ($2.29)

Assorted veggies of your liking- I like the washed and pre-cut selection at Kroger ($2.50-3.00)

Your favorite cheese ($2.00)

Simply spread out the dough and top the pizza with sauce, veggies, and cheese and bake at 425 degree for 25 minutes and you are good to go!  And all for a total of $8-$9! It is a delicious, healthy meal that will last 3 dinners if you are eating solo (I pair my pizza with a side salad) and it freezes well if you want to save leftovers. Luckily, I am always in the mood for pizza so I don't mind eating it multiple nights in a row:).

Food Bloggin'

Sometimes I pretend that I would be an awesome food blogger.

Then I make an amazing dinner and eat it and wanna talk about it but realize I didn't take a picture of it. Probably not the best way to amp up my food blogging reputation.

However, I do need to talk about one of my favorite vegan dinners that I actually created (!). True, there is no picture, but it is so easy to make this delicious, healthy meal!

All you need is Trader Joe's Veggie Fried Rice (or any brand of fried rice with no egg), Temphe chopped up (an Indonesian all-natural soybean product), and diced mushrooms, onions and red and green peppers. Cook the rice separately, and saute the temphe and veggies in balsamic vinegar. Mix everything together and you're set! I came across this recipe because I was eating all the fried rice in one sitting and wanted to add something to it so I wouldn't eat it all at once. By putting all the veggies and temphe in the rice, it makes enough for 2 dinners and adds more flavor/nutrients. I also usually have a side spinach salad with strawberries and berry vinaigrette dressing. It is very healthy, all-natural, and vegan. I will try to remember to post pictures at some point.