Bloganuary 18, 2023: What’s your favorite meal to cook and/or eat?

Today’s Bloganuary prompt:

What’s your favorite meal to cook and/or eat?

Like many people reading this prompt, I first thought of the comfort foods from childhood. Mac & cheese, chicken soup with those tiny noodles, my mom’s sweet potato casserole, or the meatloaf with the sweet glaze on top.

But since going vegan over a decade ago, many of those dishes are out of bounds, or at the very least, don’t taste the same. Meat alternatives have come a long way in the past 10 years, but some meals still don’t compare.

Instead of focusing on the dishes I enjoy eating, I’m going to flip this coin, and think about what I like to prepare.

An answer immediately comes to mind! Sandwiches. And more specifically, burgers. Beyond is my favorite brand to give me that hearty, beefy texture and taste, and here’s what I would do with them:

A banquet burger, with vegan cheddar, caramelized onions, grilled mushrooms, bac’n, pickles, and BBQ-ranch sauce, on a pretzel bun.

Or a Mediterranean burger, with vegan feta, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, red onion, spinach, tapenade, and a tzatziki sauce, on a kaiser roll.

Oooh, or an Italian one, with vegan mozzarella, grilled zucchini, and marinara sauce, on a ciabatta bun.

And maybe a tropical burger, with grilled pineapple, caramelized onions, avocado, and a mango aioli, on a brioche bun.

Yup. This post makes me, yet again, think about opening up a restaurant. Maybe one day…