Tag: cooking

What I Ate Last Week as a Vegan | Easy Meals to Last the Week

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

The past few weeks have been tough for me, as I’ve been dealing with an upper respiratory virus that really knocked me off my feet. Thankfully, I was on the mend last week, and I was able to do some meal prep. I wanted to keep it easy, so I made two recipes that I knew would last me for the majority of my meals. If you are looking to cut down on your cooking time, choosing simple recipes that yield a lot of food is always a great idea!

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What’s better when you’re sick than soup?! I made a batch of my favorite lentil soup, which I enjoyed for three dinners. This recipe is from The Spruce, and I love it because it is super easy to make and also quite healthy. I ended up leaving the bay leaves in the soup while it sat in the fridge, and that added so much flavor! I think I will leave them in more often. I also had avocado toast on the side.

The other meal I cooked this week was Thanksgiving Bowls. I absolutely love the traditional side dishes served at Thanksgiving, namely stuffing, mashes potatoes, and vegetables. One of my favorite things to do is make a few sides and throw them together in one bowl for a complete meal. This time around I made cornbread stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, and sautéed spinach with cannellini beans. These bowls are so delicious, easy to whip together, and easily customizable. I also highly recommend the Country Crock Plant Butter for the stuffing and mashed potatoes! Because I’m making a full batch of each side, I got four meals from this recipe!

To fill in the gaps last week, I enjoyed the Progresso Lentil Soup, which is actually quite delicious and an easy-to-find vegan option. Plus, it was on sale for $1.00 at the grocery store. I also had some Nature’s Path Dark Chocolate Chip Waffles for breakfast. I think you can tell I just didn’t have my normal energy last week! I definitely relied on convenience foods a bit more than usual.

Overall, I hope this post helped you find some easy recipes that you can make if you need to cut down on your time in the kitchen. Maybe you’re dealing with getting over a sickness, or you are just having a bad week and need some simple options. Whatever the case, not every week will be filled with a lot of homemade recipes, and that’s okay.

What was your favorite meal last week?

5 Kitchen Gadgets that Actually Work | Affordable Stocking Stuffer Ideas

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m excited to share with you five kitchen gadgets that actually work. With holiday shopping season now in full swing, I wanted to give you some stocking stuffer ideas. I have used and loved all of the kitchen gadgets featured in this post today, and think anyone who enjoys cooking, or who is looking to learn cooking, will enjoy them as well. What’s better is that all of these products are super affordable and under $15.00 each!

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1. Silicone Garlic Peeler – Set of Two for $5.99 [BUY]

This silicone tube is so amazing at peeling garlic! Simply chop off the end of a garlic clove, stick it in the tube, and roll it on the counter. The clove is peeled in seconds, and it works every time! I got mine at Daiso, but you can easily score one on Amazon. I use a ton of garlic in my cooking, and this has cut down on a lot of peeling time for me. Plus, this is small enough to tuck into any kitchen drawer.

 

 

2. Jarkey – $4.99 [BUY]

My mom got me a JarKey for Christmas a few years ago, and I absolutely love using it! This handy little tool opens any jar for you with ease. Simply place it on the edge of a jar and gently push down until you hear a pop. Your jar will then open without any struggle on your part. You no longer need a grip, nor will you stick a jar under warm water to loosen the cover. I honestly get so excited to use my JarKey, and highly recommend it!

 

 

3. Veggetti Vegetable Spiralizer – $8.59 [BUY]

The next product is another one I was gifted by my mom a few years ago, and that is the Veggett! Yes, this is an As Seen on TV product, but it truly works. This mini vegetable spiralizer easily creates noodles out of your favorite vegetables. Whether you’re looking for a pasta alternative, or simply want to spiralize veggies for your salad, this Veggetti is awesome to have on hand. I love the small, compact size of this spiralizer, as it is easy to store as opposed to the larger models from competitor brands.

 

 

4. OXO Good Grips Pro Y-Peeler – $12.99 [BUY]

This is by far the best vegetable peeler I’ve ever used! Not only does the wide grip fit well in my hand, but the blade works flawlessly. The blade is stainless steel, and it can be replaced in the future should it wear out completely. Plus, this peeler is dishwasher safe! While there are more affordable peelers on the market, I think it’s worth the few extra dollars for this one!

 

 

 

 

5. OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set – $9.95 [BUY]

I love using reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, but they can be really difficult to hand wash. When my nephew was born, I noticed that my brother and sister-in-law had special brushes to clean his baby bottles. Sure enough, there are brushes for all size bottles! This particular set comes with three different attachments, so you can easy clean any shape and size bottle. Pair this fun brush set with a reusable water bottle, and it makes a nice gift!

 

 

That wraps up my top five kitchen gadgets that actually work! I hope this post introduced you to some new products, whether you are grabbing them for a stocking stuffer gift or for yourself. As always, I would love to hear from you in the comments! What are your favorite kitchen gadgets?! I love trying out new tools that help save me time and energy whilst cooking!