New England Dinner

Ingredients:

Potatoes (depends on how much you're making, for a very large pan that feeds us all, we use about 2-3)

Carrots  (depends on how much you're making, for a very large pan that feeds us all, we use about 2-3)

Celery  (depends on how much you're making, for a very large pan that feeds us all, we use about 1 whole bunch)

Onions  (depends on how much you're making, for a very large pan that feeds us all, we use about 1/2 bag of chopped frozen onions)

Veggie patties  (depends on how much you're making, for a very large pan that feeds us all, we use about 7-8)

Tomato Sauce Onions  (depends on how much you're making, for a very large pan that feeds us all, we use about 2 medium size cans)

Salt and Italian seasoning to taste

Time:  approximately 75 minutes prep and cook time combined

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This is a nice, hearty meal.   The men in the family, big and small, like it especially.  

 Step 1:  Wash and slice potatoes.  If you want higher standards, you could actually peel the potatoes.  Jonah was being lazy.  And it's totally fine, because the skin is good for you right?  If you want to have this cook quicker, remember to slice everything thin.  As far as amounts of each of these ingredients, it is totally up to you!  Some like lots of potatoes, and other veggies, some don't.

 1b:  Spread the potatoes to cover the bottom of a large pan. 

 Step 2:  Slice carrots.   If you want to use higher standards, you could buy large fresh carrots, peel them, and slice them up in a more uniform or pretty way.  I love my zig-zag veggie cutter.

 2b:  Spread them on top of the potatoes.

 Step 3:  Slice up celery.

 3b:  Spread it on top of the carrots.

 Step 4:  Pour some chopped frozen onions on top.  My eyes undoubtedly will burn for a few hours every time fresh onions are sliced around me, so I opt for the much easier, tear free, frozen bags.  If you want to use a higher standard, you can use fresh onions.  They are a bit tastier.  

 Step 5:  Place vegetarian patties on top.  Before we were vegetarian, we would use meat patties.  But there are a lot of varieties of vegetarian patties that are yummy.  You could get black bean chipotle, which are my favorite.  But we all like different kinds and so we often will use different kinds with this meal to please everyone.  If you want a higher standard, don't use freezer burned ones like we have here :)

 5b:  Just place as many as you can or wish to fit on top of the veggies.

 Step 6:  Poor a can of tomato sauce on top.  Higher standards would maybe call for organic or homemade tomato sauce.

 Step 7:  Time to season!  We like some ground sea salt.

 7b:  As well as some Italian Seasoning.  Or just whatever the kids and I are in the mood for.  Options are:  Oregano, Basil, Thyme, and Parsley.

When you're all done seasoning, you can throw it in the oven!  Cover it with tin foil if you want more moist cooking, and uncover if you like it a bit crispier, which is our preference.  There are several options here.  

1:  Put in the fridge or freezer to save for later.  

2:  Quicker baking-  400 degrees for 40 minutes 'ish.

3:  Slower baking-  350 degrees for an hour.  This is the one I usually use and prefer.

4:  Slowest baking-  300 degrees for an hour and a half.