Little Bit Of Lenten Cheating

Lent means certain sacrifices.Most people give up a favorite snack or dessert.Some give up meat on Wednesdays and Frodays.This is probably the hardest.While it's easier to sub in rice crackers for chips and frozen yogurt for ice cream, there's really no subbing in for steak or even hamburger.Luckily we can turn to vegans for solutions. Thanks to a strong worldwide vegetarian movement, it's now easy to still have much loved burgers and steaks.There are so many different kinds of veggie burgers out there.from Italian style to grillers that no one will actually miss the real things.There are also soy versions of Salisbury steak packaged with a rich mushroom gravy.You can also buy meatballs that are made in two ways.one with soy and the other with ground mushrooms.Both are great ,gracing a bowl of Friday night spaghetti.If you're longing for a vegan pizza,look no further than the Tofutti brand.The cheese is soy,and you can also scatter soy pepperoni. To be honest , this is also a heart healthy meal free from nitrates and processed pork.Speaking of which there is also tofu based ham and hot dogs.You can make some nice sandwiches as well as enjoying a grilled dog to finish out the week. Nowadays almost any meat, even fish can be duplicated thanks to tremendous inroads made in the soy industry.There are thick cut grilled soy steaks .These can easily be put out on the grill or pan fried.Have then with a baked potato and salad for satisfying dinner. Most supermarket and animal friendly sites will sell beef alternatives.Many serve beef tips which can be turned into a tasty crockpot stew or goulash. Soy beef crumbles are easy to get and they can be turned into a meatless chili or Bologneses sause.For poultry lovers there is both tofu chicken and turkey .You can get the chicken in nugget form but also in cutlets.Both are great for kids who are also observing Lent.The nuggets can be served with the same sauces as the real thing.For a big family meal, especially on Wednesdays .Serve with stuffing and cranberry sauce for the real thing. You could also make a soy turkey chili as well to vary the dish.Soy turkey and chicken cold cuts make excellent sandwiches and they easily be the main ingredient for Dagwoods or heroes for either lunch or dinner. If you find yourself craving meat on Lenten Wednesdays and Fridays, don't give in.There are soy substitutes that can satisfy .Try the many different kinds ,from beef to pork to chicken and turkey for either a filling lunch or dinner.