As I mentioned in a previous post, my roommate Emily gave up meat for Lent and we’ve been taking turns cooking for each other once or twice a week.
I get a lot of requests to show examples of actual meals I eat (as opposed to just the desserts); therefore I thought I’d post about our dinner last night.
For more examples of how I eat, see: My Non-Dessert Recipes.
Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie?
I initially wanted to make a real shepherd’s pie, topping my Bread-Free Vegan Stuffing recipe with mashed sweet potato and then baking. But life got busy, and there was no time for the extra baking step. So I settled on a “deconstructed” shepherd’s pie. It was so absolutely delicious that now I don’t think I’ll ever bother trying the longer version!
(Unpictured, I also had Ezekiel toast and a larger serving of the lentil filling.)
Sleepy Sweet Potatoes
(deconstructed Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie)
- 1 medium onion, sliced (175g)
- 1-2 cups spinach (I used 60g)
- 2-4 carrots, cut into coins (I used 140g, but feel free to use more)
- 1/2 can diced tomatoes
- Optional: 1 zucchini, cut in coins (I used 280g, but I steamed 1/2 separately and mixed them in later.)
- 1 stalk celery, cut into coins (I used 65g)
- 1/2 cup to 1 cup cooked lentils, drained and mashed (I used 110g Westbrae)
- 1 1/2 tsp dry basil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup water
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil (You can omit this, but you’ll lose the yummy, buttery taste!)
Heat oil, then add carrots, zucchini, onion, and celery. Cook a few minutes (like 10), then add spinach, lentils, spices, and tomato. Cook 2 more minutes. Add the water, bring to a boil, then cover and lower to simmer for 45-50 minutes, or until the carrots are soft and stuffing is flavorful. Without the optional ingredients, this makes around 3 cups, or around 2 servings. Serve with rice, polenta, or roasted potatoes or yams.
Those do look mighty yummy! ….I used to sleep through everything but now I’m not sleeping through as much, small things wake me up. Bummer!
I like sleeping with other sounds going on – TV, radio, or even rain on the skylights. 🙂
same here!!
Wow! This looks awesome. The app I use on my phone plays a song for my alarm sound (that I choose from iTunes) … but I’ve learned the hard way that once the song plays through once, it doesn’t play again. Who woulda thought that Joan Jett would be so easy to sleep through? I’ve woken up an hour late more than once!
You need my sister’s old alarm clock! It was a rock-and-roll chicken… complete with an electric guitar. Seriously, I don’t think anyone could sleep through that ;).
YUM! these look great! i love sweet potatoes and shepherd’s pie, so i love this little combo of the two you have going on here! a few nights ago there was a crazy rain storm here that woke me up and left me with only 4-5 hours of sleep too. no fun!
looks so good!
I am the lightest sleeper EVER. I get up at least 3 times, even if I take sleeping meds. I have to have complete silence and darkness!
I’m a light sleeper only when my brain can’t determine a ‘usual’ or ‘safe’ sound – if that makes sense. If I know it’s raining, I can sleep through rain. If I’m not expecting it though, then it wakes me up and I fixate and can’t get back to sleep.
It’s been super warm here lately and the wind blows right across my bed at night (but it’s COLD air) so I end up shutting the window. Plus the varied sounds from the parking lot and people talking keep me awake. I know some people that can sleep through alarms but I’ve never been like that either!
Gosh I love sweet potatoes…all the time.
Anyway, very light sleeper here. Some nights I just give up for awhile. It is terrible. I have always been a rotten sleeper. My body will no longer sleep in either regardless of how late I was up the night before.
That is one beau-ti-ful looking sweet potato!
I sleep through absolutely anything — thunderstorms, passing trains, people yelling in my ear. I can also sleep practically any*where*, too. I’ve always considered it a great talent 😀
Me too! The best is being able to fall asleep on airplanes :).
Yum! I just absolutely love yams– I mean I think they are truly my favorite food! I would eat one everyday if I could… I will have to try the savory stuffed version as I always opt for the sweet route (warm marshmallows over some oats, its like Thanksgiving every week!) Thanks for the recipe, plus I have been meaning to try that stuffing, looks delicious.
My little sister sounds like yours – she can really sleep through anything. Including when our house alarm used to go off because a sliding door would shift a little during the night! My mom used to have to ask her questions in the morning before school to see if she was actually awake – one time she asked her what she was wearing, and my sister said a bathing suit (my mom was wearing a nightgown, not a bathing suit, haha) – not awake yet!
Haha I used to sometimes *think* I was awake. I would imagine myself getting dressed. And then by the time I realized I was still dreaming, I’d be late for school!