Mixed Veggie + Rice Quick Meal

I'm still getting the hang of preparing Vegan meals, especially since I also need to make something that JP will like and find satisfying (he's not Vegan), and by the time dinner rolls around I'm exhausted from taking care of babies all day so I want some yummy and fast!

A couple of times I've turned to boxed solutions, like Rice-A-Roni or Pasta-Roni for a quick meal, then just throw in some veggies. I swap out the 2 tbsp of butter the mix calls for and replace it with 1 tbsp (or less) of Olive Oil. This makes the meal vegan and much healthier for you anyway! (Note: I don't know what is in the "seasoning mix" that comes in the box so it may not be vegan...? but I'm doing my best here.)

Recipe
1 box Rice-A-Roni or Pasta-Roni
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 to 1 Cup of mixed veggies (In the photo, I used a frozen mixed veggie blend + 1 cup of soybeans for my protein. Sometimes I'll add fresh broccoli or bell peppers instead of frozen veggies.)

Prepare the Rice-A-Roni or Pasta-Roni according to the box instructions, but swap out butter for the Olive Oil. Add the veggies towards the end. If they are frozen veggies, mix them in about 5 minutes before the rice or pasta will be done. If fresh veggies, mix in during the last 2 or 3 minutes or just at the very end, then cover the pan with a lid and let them warm up with the rice or pasta for a few minutes. It really depends on how al-dente you like your veggies. (I like them crisp!) Enjoy!