A friend has asked me where I find my vegetarian recipes, and as I thought about it, I realized that I have found them from many different sources. I don't have one go-to cookbook for the meatless meals that I make. But after a solid three years of eating very little meat, we have amassed a very good collection of main dishes that our family really enjoys. Here are some ideas for finding vegetarian recipes that your family will like:
Family and friends - Some of our favorite recipes have come from other people who are also trying to find vegetarian meals for their families. My mom and sister are good about passing along recipes they've tried and like, and I have a few friends who have also shared their favorite vegetarian recipes with our family. Whatever your reason for wanting to cut back on meat, it's much easier to do when you have some support from other people, whether that's in real life, or even through blogs or forums.
Online - I find plenty of ideas and recipes online. One of my favorites is FatFree Vegan Kitchen. She has a wide variety of vegan meals, including ones that are kid-friendly, and the food photos are just gorgeous. Some of the recipes can be a bit involved, but I've found several keepers there.
Another source for ideas can be CSA websites, like this one. Though the recipes aren't exclusively vegetarian, the focus is usually on vegetables. I love that the recipes are categorized according to what vegetable you want to use. And for those who garden, this will give you some ideas for what to do with your bumper crop of beets or swiss chard.
Finally, don't shun the mainstream recipe sites like allrecipes. These sites usually have a vegetarian category, and there are some great recipes to be found in those places. The Addictive Sweet Potato Burritos on allrecipes have gained a place on our roster of regular meals.
Cookbooks - I don't have a specific cookbook that I would recommend you need to own. Instead, just check a couple out from the library from time to time. It's great to start with either a vegetarian cookbook, or at least one that focuses on whole foods.
Finding meatless meals your family will enjoy is often an ongoing process of trial and error. It has required a fair amount of persistence on my part, but the reward has been having a collection of recipes that are frugal and healthy. For more ideas on meatless meals, check out this post I wrote a few months ago.
Do you have a favorite cookbook or some other source for meatless recipes?
For more frugal tips, go check out the other links at Biblical Womanhood. Have a great weekend!
