Meatless Meal Ideas for Lent and Life!

Lent provides a great opportunity for cutting some meat out of your diet.  Observing religious traditions are important, but they don’t have to be the only reason you cut down on meat.  So take a cue from the Lenten Season and do something good for you (and your family)!

There are plenty of sites to help get you started with wonderful recipes.  The  Mayo Clinic,  MeatlessMonday.com and McCormick.com are three fabulous sites that are full of meatless recipes for appetizers, soups, salads and main dishes.  Visit to discover the ones that will work best in your home.   I really like the following recipe from the Mayo Clinic, because I can get the whole family to eat it.  When I mix pasta with veggies, my boys enjoy and eat more of them  – with the exception of my youngest son, who still picks out the peas!

Pasta Primavera
By Mayo Clinic staff
Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup broccoli florets (small tips)
• 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup sliced zucchini or yellow squash
• 1/2 cup sliced red or green peppers
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon butter
• 1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 16 ounces thin pasta (angel-hair or spaghetti)
• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions

• In a large pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring about 1 inch of water to boil. Add the broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, peppers and peas. Cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the pot.
• In large saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic over medium-high heat. Add the steamed vegetables and stir or shake to coat the vegetables with the garlic and oil. Remove from heat but keep warm.
• In another large saucepan, heat the butter, evaporated milk and Parmesan cheese. Stir over moderate heat until somewhat thickened and heated through. Stir continuously and don’t scald. Remove from heat but keep warm.
• Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (tender), about 10 to 12 minutes, or according to package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly.
• Divide the pasta evenly among individual plates. Top with vegetables and pour the sauce over the vegetables and pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.