Friday, May 24, 2013

What Vegetarian Meat substitutes actually taste like meat?

Q. My girlfriend is trying to eat less meat and I found a recipie for vegetarian lasagna, but it calls for meat substitute. Does this actually taste like meat?

A. Umm no, she does mean girlfriend. I don't know if you've heard, but some girls like girls. =P

I've never found a meat substitute that tasted exactly like meat, but I have had some that are so good that you don't miss the meat. I crumble tempeh into my vegan chili and it provides the meaty texture and comes out delicious. I fill lasagna with mushrooms and eggplant. I maake meatloaf with a blend of blak beans, lentils, and rye. I've heard that seitan also works very well in meat-centered recipes, such as vegan cheese steaks. I've never tried it because I am sensitive to gluten, but I've heard it's very good and meaty.


What is the best vegetarian recipe for a main course? What is the best dessert?
Q.

A. Veggie Meatloaf

You won't miss the meat in this flavorful dish! Serve with mashed potatoes for a great meal! You can also substitute diced eggplant for the mushrooms.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup uncooked white rice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 cup cooked lentils
1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 cup ketchup

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a saucepan bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until tender. Set aside.
In a large bowl combine cooked rice, lentils, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, parsley and cooked onions; mix well. Press mixture into prepared pan; spread ketchup on top of loaf.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.


Hariton's 'Famous' Vegetarian Casserole

This is a very tasty dish consisting of all kinds of fresh vegetables and herbs baked in the oven. This will tantalize your taste buds. It has been a sell-out at our Greek Church at every function for five years now. We serve this on toasted, warm pita bread.

Original recipe yield: 36 servings.

INGREDIENTS:
8 large eggplants
8 large potatoes
8 green bell peppers
8 large onions
8 summer squash
6 tomatoes
1 pound fresh green beans
1 pound whole fresh mushrooms
2 bulbs garlic, cloves separated and peeled
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill weed
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
3/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Prepare the eggplant before assembling ingredients, by cutting them into 2 inch chunks and putting them into an extra large bowl with salted water to cover. This will draw out the bitterness from the eggplant. Let this sit for about 3 hours.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Cut the potatoes, green bell peppers, onion, squash and tomatoes into 2-inch chunks. Cut the green beans and mushrooms in half and peel the garlic cloves.
Drain and rinse the eggplant, then combine it with all the other chopped vegetables, the dill, oregano and basil and place all into a 3x13x18 inch roasting pan. Pour the tomato sauce and olive oil over all.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 2 1/2 hours, adding a little water about halfway through cooking time to keep moist.


Easy Peach Cobbler
This is a great peach cobbler--so easy a child can make it! It is great right out of the oven served with vanilla ice cream.

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 (15 ounce) can peaches

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a one-quart baking dish or 9 inch square pan, cream together sugar and butter. Mix in flour and milk until smooth. Pour peaches and their juice over the top.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown.

Note: I didn't have self rising flour, so I used (according to a "substitutions" website I found) 1 cup of flour (minus 2 tsp), 1/2 tsp salt and 1 1/2 tsp baking powder for every cup of self rising flour.


How do I tell my mom, I want to become a...?
Q. Vegetarian.
I love animals, and I don't want to see them get hurt, and know that I'm eating it.
I have eaten meat all of my life, and I just don't want to anymore.
Please help me because, all we eat in my house is meat.
And I know this will be a healthier lifestyle.
Thanks!

A. First, you must do some research.

Your mother's primary concern will likely be your health, so be sure you can answer her questions. Have sources that demonstrate that it is perfectly possible for you to grow up strong and healthy without eating meat (or having a gallon of milk and 6 eggs a day to "make up for it").

Know the nutritional requirements for a fe/male your age and size (taking into account level of physical activity) and come up with examples of good vegetarian sources of the various nutrients. She will probably be mostly concerned about protein and iron. She might ask about B vitamins. Look it up, know how much you need and where you'll get it from.

Do some additional research so you can point out the health benefits of vegetarianism. (Not only do you want to demonstrate that it isn't dangerous to be a vegetarian, you want to show that it's actually beneficial.)

Get some recipes and cookbooks and learn how to make some stuff. You will be cooking for yourself a lot more these days. It is unfair and immature to expect your mom to start making a separate meal for you every night, so get ready for some Emeril action. (Note: yelling BAM! randomly might make your parents think you've gone off the deep end, so keep it down to a dull roar.)

If you are old enough to work, get a part-time job so you can purchase cookbooks and any special ingredients you may want (tofu, seitan, nut milk, etc). If you get an allowance or have money from birthday or holiday gifts, use some of it to invest in literature and/or exotic food. Heck, see if Mom and Dad will pay you to wash the car or mow the lawn. Use that money to buy stuff. (Being willing to invest your own time and money in a venture shows people that you're serious.)

Offer to help cook dinner once in awhile. Say everyone is having meatloaf for dinner. Say that you'll do the mashed potatoes and veggie. Make the salad as well. Make a rich mushroom gravy for everyone to use (if you make your own stock for it, it'll be extra-good). Heat yourself up a Boca burger (or whatever "central protein piece" you want) and help Mom serve. If everyone is having spaghetti with meatballs, ask Mom to buy the chunky extra-veggie sauce and set some aside for you before she adds the meatballs. Make the garlic bread and chop the onions, garlic, mushrooms, etc for her. In other words, you need to demonstrate that this is not going to create a lot of extra work for her.

Best of luck to you.





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