Baked Ravioli Salad

Last time I told you I handed my master's thesis in. I made it sound all simple and joyful.

Real talk; things got ugly. The paper got stuck in the printer, I had to cut off the front page with a knife and I cried at the copy-shop. On the upside of all this: the nice lady at the counter gave me a pity-discount.
{Is that a real upside? I'm not sure...}

On days like this; the only thing that keeps me going is a pasta-heavy meal, shared with the people I love the most. So that's exactly what I did.

This is a recipe that you'll see me bringing along on the next pick-nick/barbecue/potluck for sure. It's so easy, great to make ahead and a creative turn on the casual everyday (mayonnaise loaded) pasta salad. It's also a great excuse for eating pasta everyday of the week: "but I'm eating a salad?!"

Spicy white bean - couscous burger

One of the nicest things about cooking in these modern times {do I sound like an old fart now?} is how it’s no longer a necessity to survive. Cooking is no longer simply the fulfillment of bodily need and in this line: it's no longer a chore or hassle you need to do to. 

You can now easily order in, take away or go out without wasting too much money or ruining your taste buds.

While only touching two buttons on your oven and a small time waiting, you can have a lasagna, mousaka or [fill in the blank]. 

beetroot- feta salad

This makes the way we cook feel less like a chore or routine and more like an art of personal (and social) pleasure.

The moment I start to chop vegetables, it feels like buying a new dress or holding hands with someone you love.
It isn’t necessary, but it surely does feel all kinds of awesome.

So yes; you can easily buy hundreds of premade vegetarian burgers in the supermarket. 

Yes, most of them taste pretty good. 

Yes, you can spend your time on watching stupid cat video’s instead of kneading white bean mash with garlic and lots of herbs. 

The question is now; do you want to buy ‘em premade? 

Or do you want to get your hands all dirty and spend some quality time with the veg’s/ yourself/ your sous-chef?

For me, the answer depends on my mood, the weather and the sous-chef.
How about you?

Aubergine parmigiana

For recipe: scroll down

Dear 2013,

how you smell like fresh linnen & unpooped babies.

You're just so young and new and all different kinds of innocent...

Boy, how I have the highest expectations of you!

You and I, we're going to be besties.

Not sure? To much pressure?
Let me give you 5 reasons why you'll be the awesomest of years: 

strawberry coconut smoothie

I just realized we are about halfway through with summer. 

Bummer, right?! I know! 

But hold back your tears, friend. 

There's still some time to drink corona at the water, to play soccer in the park, to eat as many strawberries as your eyes can grasp and to dance until the sun comes up.

Talking about strawberries...

I'm putting a whole bunch of them in the easiest, most basic yet incredible delicious smoothie.

It's done in under five minutes and contains only good things.

Things that are not chocolate, nor french fries.

This, my dear friends; is health..

zucchini fries with tomato-mint salsa

'... so the poor guy almost started crying while he told me. I remember it lively, cause I was eating a hotdog.'

a silence fell upon the conversation.

'It was a reeaally good hotdog, dudes.'

 That's the guy I'm going to marry one day.

The guy that connects deep emotional memories with a hotdog.

Soulmates, much?

 I made these zucchini fries the

 weekend we decided to take a little road trip.

We didn't have a lot of money.

We had even less plans.

We only had adventure on our mind.

Yellow pumps for the win!

Stuffed zucchini

It's that time again!

Exams are starting within a week. 

The sneaky little bastards are already peeking behind the corner...

It's time to say goodbye to our social life and live among the socially isolated.

The mathematics course is already seriously overshadowing the bbq's, picknicks and sunny afternoons.

It sucks really hard, but it's for the good cause. Don't you give me that look.

Update on days without meat | Vegetarian love

About 2 months ago I set a challenge for myself. 

I wanted to cook and eat for 46 days without any meat or fish. Some of you have done the same. Some of you were already vegetarians. 

You and I, we made the world just a tiny bit better. 

Black pepper tofu

Cornflour and tofu

Before you say anything

You should know that I doubted a long time...

I simply wasn't sure if I wanted to share this dish with you guys.

Not because it isn't good.

En contraire.

It's absolutely delicious.

Your tastebuds will scream for more.

Truth!

Lovable N. | Insanely delicious vegetarian sausage rolls

You know how there are those people that everyone loves...?

They're cute and charismatic.

They're always{!} friendly.

They speak 5 different languages fluently and say it's no biggie.

They help old ladies cross the street while buying cookies for the local scouts and saving an Ethiopian child from a terrible death.

And at the very same time they drink you under table, bake bonkers pancake-pies and dance like a mother-effing-ninja. 

I love ninja's.

Incredibly baked red onions stuffed with toasted and seriously spiced couscous

Some recipes are meant to bring along on a picnic among friends.

Other recipes are meant to be shared with your close ones; to show them how much you care. By letting them taste your love.

Than you have those recipes which comfort you; they never fail, don't take too long, are no fuss and taste just like home.

This recipe is the perfect balance between all of warm memories and true love. This dish suits every occasion; an elegant gathering among friends, a simple family-meal, a fancy dinner party, a night on your one... You get it; the possibilities here are endless.

Warning: this recipe will get you hooked in no time! It already became a weekly thing around here.

18th day without meat | Mushroom lasagna

Dear cupcakes,
Today is my 18th day as a (temporary) vegetarian.
Not that I'm counting...
I just wanted to start off with a straight fact.

During this short amount of time I already learned a flippin' lot!

24 before turning 24 | semplice insalata di pasta italiana

Today is my fifth day as a temporary vegetarian {for more info click here or here}and I already ate some incredibly good stuff. Stuffed red onion, mushroom lasagna, pasta italiana, ... I'll try my best to put the adapted recipes on here asap.

vegetarian antipasto salad as a lunch on the train.

I could have called this salad: simple vegetarian antipastopasta salad. But seriously; why should you call it like that if you could easily use translate.google.com to spice this shit up?


Now on a completely different note! As I told you before I wrote a letter to myself to read one year from now, when I'll be turning 24. Old and shit. Life moves fast. One day you're crawling around with a diaper and the next second you're living alone doing grown-up stuff. Together with that letter I made a list with 24 things to do before I turn 24.

My favorite's favorite: guest post | Mashed chickpeas with dill and garlic

{Goodmorning, y'all!
From NOW on every few weeks I will ask some of my favorite friends/ bloggers/ artists/... to post their very favorite recipe. 
So it's a favorite's favorite sorta thing. 
Incredible idea right?! 
Can someone buy me new socks, please? 
...
Cause mine just blew off!
I'm happy to start this series of guest posts off with the delicious food from the vegetarian table of The Bitchetarian. 
If you didn't fall in love with her just yet... 
Beware!
You will! 
Fo sure!}

::drum roll please::

It's a guest post!  My first one, to be specific. I'm wayyyy excited to be posting here on Not Your Mama's Dinner, as Eva is a kindred spirit - snarky, hungry, and easily distracted. Plus her audience is mostly Dutch-speaking, which means I won't be able to understand disapproving comments. Instead I will assume they are all glowing and continually congratulate myself on a job well-done.

  

How to cope with the cold | Greek tomato soup with rice

In my opinion, there are 2 ways to cope with the cold weather that is currently torturing europe.

The first option includes eating salad {this greek salad; for example}, putting your heating way up high while putting on a bathing suit. I also recommend at this point to pretend your boyfriend {mother, sister, whatev'} is a lama and you're doing a trip trough the mountains. Just because.

Music to pair this mood with: Bob marley- Sun is shining

Warning: if you're currently trying to ignore the cold and singing along with Mr. Marley;

stop reading.

I'm serious.

It's going to be snowy down here.

Fainting | 1grilled feta greek salad - 2 styles

I fainted two times in my life.
For some reason I can relate both stories to food.
But then again, I could probably relate almost every story to food.

styling A - In a jar!

Totally addictive beetroot salad with feta

8 reasons to make this mind-blowing side salad!

1. Yesterday, you had the most amazing party where you totally danced your ass off. Let's say, for example, two of your best friends got married and now your whole body is sour. This salad will kick you up in no time.
2. You want to pretend you're effing healthy. Did those newyear-resolutions really get to you, girl? Keep it up; here's a salad.
3. Tomorrow, you're having your last exam this semester. You don't have lots of time, sidesalads should be a quick thing to do in this point of your life.
4. You like colours. Maybe even pink? If you do like pink, it's hard to resist  this salad. It totally is.
5. You want beet-stained hands. Say WHAT? Why would you ever want that? I don't know. I'm just saying that IF you would want them; this is the easiest way to get them.
6. You want to please your friend. Your hardworking and loyal side-kick, for example, who stood next to you during this whole exam-period. He will be very thankfull after eating this salad. He just won't admit it. His 'hmmmm' will make you totally understand it.
7. You want to show off your pretty flower-plate. Here is mine. Isn't it pretty?
8. Did I mention it's really pinkish?

Simplicity | ciabatta with goat cheese and roasted vegetables

Sometimes there are no words.

There is just love.

And food.
Lovely, lovely food.

Today I present to you:

Ciabatta with grilled vegetables and goatcheese

It's healthy,

it's delicious,

it's easy,

it's cheap,

it's love sweet love, baby!

Because I like you!

Triple C: CarrotCurryCoconutsoup!

You can choose whichever name you’d fancy. As long as you try this shit out!

This is the kind of soup that makes you want to curl up under a blanket on your sofa. It’s the kind of soup that makes you want to close the curtains and watch 'The office' all night long. Most of all; THIS is the kind of soup you'll want to eat for the rest of your life.

It’s a pimped out version of your moms carrot soup. Try it out!