It can be difficult to eat out being a vegetarian or vegan. I can ask about the ingredients of a dish, but I'm never certain if my food will be prepared in the same dishes as meat. Many recipes on the Internet attempt to mimic restaurant items, and some are very close, if not exact to the original. Tonight, I prepared one of my favorite meals from Chili's: the Fajita Pita (vegetarian style).
Vegetable Fajita Pita
(For 1 person)
Small handful of fresh, steamed broccoli
1/4 each of 1 green and 1 red pepper
1/3 of an onion (purple or white)
5 baby Portabella mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp. of butter
Handful of iceberg lettuce
1 piece of pita bread
1. Slice onion, peppers, and mushroom to similar sizes.
2. Melt butter in sauté pan over medium heat and add onion. Cook until soft.
3. Add peppers to pan, followed by mushrooms.
4. While the vegetables cook, place broccoli in microwave safe bowl with water until the broccoli is submerged. Steam on high for 1 - 2 minutes.
5. Add salt and pepper to vegetable mixture and remove from heat when all of the vegetables are tender.
6. In the same pan, place one piece of pita and cook until warm and crispy on one side.
7. Fill warm pita with cooked vegetables, broccoli, and iceberg lettuce.
Note: For extra flavor, try making the sauce served with the pita. The sauce has changed over the years, but the original version was similar to Thousand Island dressing or Bloomin' Onion sauce. The basic idea is mixing ketchup with mayonnaise and adding some horseradish, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
Also, I'm ecstatic to note that I have finally found TWO provolone cheeses that do not contain animal-derived enzymes. Shullsburg and Crystal Farms Natural Cheeses both produce delicious sliced provolone that make me very happy. A perfect mimic recipe with the cheese slices will be coming soon!
Products of the Day
Yes, plural. The Body Shop sells amazing items free of meat industry by-products and made without the use of animal testing. The company aims to help the planet in many ways: petitioning sex trafficking, supporting free-trade, and promoting green lifestyles. Even now, The Body Shop is coming out with bottles and containers that are completely recyclable.
I've tried many of their lotions, soaps, body washes, and skin butters. My favorites are the Vitamin E Cream Cleanser and Raspberry Body Butter. While some of the products are a little expensive, the online shop constantly has deals and sales going on. I'm a member of their Love Your Body Club, which gives 10% off of each purchase, plus more benefits.
Back to the warm den of my bed. Spread the animal love!
- The Vegetarian Cat
