Veggie Kabobs

Choose all your favourite veggies. I use mushrooms, green zuchini, yellow zuchini squash, red, yellow, orange & green sweet peppers, grape or cherry tomatoes, sweet onion etc etc. Cut them, with the exception of the mushrooms which you want to leave whole, into bite size pieces. (but not too small-you want them the be big enough that they won't break off the skewer. Also, if you like tofu, cut a block up into large cubes and mix in with the veggies.

I marinate the veggies in a peanut satay sauce (I use a store bought marinade) a few tablespoons of vegetable oil and salt & pepper to taste. Toss with the veggies and tofu let them sit in a covered bowl in the fridge for about an hour. I soak the bamboo skewers in water prior to arranging the veggies on them in whichever order is most appealing to the eye. Lay them on a cookie sheet and brush with the marinade before putting on the BBQ. They don't take long on the grill. Watch for the edges getting charred.... there is nothing worse then blackened veggies! Serve with rice.

Mixed Bean salad

Use a can of mixed canned beans, add chopped green onion and feta cheese.

Mix with my vinaigrette dressing and call it a side dish! It's delicious!

Fruit Kabobs

Get creative with your choices here. For Valentine's Day or Canada Day you could use all red coloured fruits.... strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, watermelon.

There is no need for a lot of instruction for this one... Basically, decide what fruits you want to use, interchange them on the skewers to look colourful and pretty and put them on a long platter to serve. You can serve them with a fruit dip or fruit yogurt as well.

Veggie Wraps

The most delicious cold wrap....

Start with a flavoured wrap.... basil & garlic are my faves.

Put a mound of grated monterey jack cheese on the wrap, add shredded lettuce or salad mix greens, top with a few tbsp of bruschetta, add some mixed red, green & yellow peppers and drizzle my favourite creamy basil dressing over it. Wrap it up and you've got lunch!

Soy (chicken breast style)

Cook soy (chicken-style) "chickenless breasts" in a frying pan with 1 tbsp of vegetable oil and 1/2 cup of chicken-style vegetable stock per breast until most of stock is absorbed.

Serve with grilled peppers, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and salad for a summery meal or serve with mashed potatoes, green beans and broccoli & cauliflower with homemade cheese sauce for more of a wintery meal.

Pizza Bites Bar

This idea came from watching Regis & Kelly when they had someone on from Real Simple Magazine. I'm just posting a veggie version of it here....

Order a large cheese pizza from your local pizza parlor and ask them not to slice it. Then, using a cookie cutter (a cirlce shape is easiest to use, but you can use a maple leaf for Canada Day etc etc) cut out pieces of the pizza. Place on a platter that can go from oven to table when you're ready serve. Next, make a "Toppings Platter" with olives, grated cheeses, herbs, colourful peppers chopped very small... whatever you think your guests will enjoy. When it's time to serve, just heat the pizza in a 400 degrees oven for about 5 minutes or until they are warm to the touch and serve!