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.

Ah, Those Holiday Leftovers

They're lurking in our fridges,hiding between our fresh produce and mayo.They being our holiday leftovers.It could be a chunk of New Year's ham,grilled veggies or even those extra cookies and fruitcake.Throwing them out would be a shame.Luckily they can repurposed into tasty new dishes. If you still have any ham left over from New Years, then rejoice.It's one of the most versatile meats out there.It can be diced into bits for Western omelets or minced into a new kind of deviled spread.The bone itself can be used to flavor homemade pea soup.Turkey can also be refashioned into a salad or as stuffing for a crepe.What about those left over veggies?Mashed potatoes can be gummed into fried puffs.Make balls with the cold potatoes,dip in eggs and them bread crumbs,Fry in olive oil or butter and then serve with a side of ketchup.Root vegetables can also be refashioned as a healthier base for Eggs Benedict or into a veggie lasagna.You can also add them to a plain tomato sauce for a new spin on primavera sauce. Sweets needn't be thrown out either.You can refashion that panettone a number of ways.The Italian fruit cake can be soaked with rum and then lit for an exciting spin on baba au rhum. It can also be turned into a French toast that just requires the lightest dusting of powdered sugar.Leftover cookies can be turned into sandwiches either with butter ream or vanilla ice cream.Shortbread can be turned into a buttery crumb pie crust with the addition of butter.Holiday cakes cam be made into trifles with the addition of pudding and any liquer.You can also used plain cake for chocolate fondue as well Don't despair if you have a fridge full of leftovers.They can be turned into delicious new dishes.You'll empty your fridge and create new classics too!