Dear MMN Participant, Happy New Year! We wish you and your family a healthy and joyous 2022! Please join us on Thursday, February 10, at 6pm, for a live, virtual cooking class with Jessica Weiss. Jessica has already made two cooking videos for us; you can find them on our Recipes page. For the cooking class, Jessica is planning a plant-forward main course. We'll keep you posted as we finalize the details! Meatless Monday Needham was recently recognized by the Meatless Monday global organization! Read the article, How a Small Town Became a Center of Plant-Based Eating, here. |
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For Plant-based meals, consider High Protein Pastas
Most of us likely grew up thinking that animal products - meat, fish, eggs, and dairy - are the main source of protein in our diet. Thankfully, in the past several years, nutritionists and others have made progress educating the public about alternative sources of protein. One such source is high-protein, inexpensive pasta made from vegetables and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and edamame.
Today, there are many high-protein pastas available; you can explore some options here (note that the high prices listed are for multiple boxes of the pastas). If you don’t like the first high-protein pasta you try, pick another! Or, if you’d like to experiment with an intermediate product first, look for a wheat-based pasta with added legume protein. |
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Many of these products are available in our local grocery stores. Wheat pastas with added legume protein are typically shelved with the “regular” pastas. Most non-wheat pastas are gluten-free, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for in the “regular” pasta aisle, check out the gluten-free section of the store. You might also find high-protein pastas in the gourmet food sections of TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores. You can make an inexpensive, hearty meal quickly by adding your favorite marinara sauce and some vegetables to the pasta. It will make a perfect plant-based meal on Meatless Monday, or any other day of the week! |
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Needham Community Education Needham Community Education has four vegetarian or vegan cooking classes in its current catalog. All four sound great! For more information on each class, and to register, visit the class listings below or browse the catalog.
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Sierra Club Events
The Sierra Club of Massachusetts offers several plant-based cooking events.
Plant-Based Cooking Demonstration
Watch a free demonstration of how to cook various plant-based dishes on Sunday, January 23, 6 - 7 pm. Questions about plant-based cooking are welcome. Sign up here.
Our Sustainable Kitchen
Enjoy a free plant-based cooking class with professional vegan chef Diana Goldman on January 25, 6:30 - 7 pm. For more information, and to register, click here. You’ll receive an ingredient list so you can cook along with Diana, if you’d like.
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Here are a couple of recipes from the Home page of our website. Remember to check out the options on our Recipes page, too. One Pot Golden Curry Lentil Soup
This recipe from Minimalist Baker is the perfect quick and easy meal for a chilly day. Add a simple salad and a loaf of bread, and dinner is ready! |
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Kale, Black Bean & Avocado Burrito Bowl
This yummy burrito bowl from Cookie & Kate has lots of tastes and textures. Feel free to improvise with what you like and what you have one hand. |
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WEB RECOMMENDATION
The Washington Post recently ran a fascinating article on “perennial” grains. The opening paragraphs explain the benefits of moving to grains that regrow each year. |
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“Most commercial crops are annual. They provide only one harvest and must be replanted every year. Growing these foods on an industrial scale usually takes huge amounts of water, fertilizer and energy, making agriculture a major source of carbon and other pollutants. Scientists say this style of farming has imperiled Earth’s soils, destroyed vital habitats and contributed to the dangerous warming of our world.
But Kernza — a domesticated form of wheatgrass developed by scientists at the nonprofit Land Institute — is perennial. A single seed will grow into a plant that provides grain year after year after year. It forms deep roots that store carbon in the soil and prevent erosion. It can be planted alongside other crops to reduce the need for fertilizer and provide habitat for wildlife.
In short, proponents say, it can mimic the way a natural ecosystem works — potentially transforming farming from a cause of environmental degradation into a solution to the planet’s biggest crises.” |
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The full article, which includes lots of interesting photographs, describes baking bread with Kernza and explains how scientists are working to make the grain hardy and fertile. It’s an engaging read. |
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Want to be more involved in the Meatless Monday Needham community? Contact us for opportunities! |
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CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE... to see dishes prepared by your Needham neighbors and to share yours! |
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