Hi ladies... I need a little help from my 3fc sisters... It was recommended to me that I starte eating tofu during lent to help me get the protein I need (because I don't eat meat during this time) and I don't know what to do with it. I tried a stirfry, w/ soy and terriaki sauce, and that was okay, but I'm going to get really bored with stirfry in a hurry... Does anyone have any good suggestions or recipes they have used?

Thanks a bunch!

Silken tofu is really good in a smoothie. You can use the tofu with skim milk and strawberries, bananas, orange juice, etc. Sometimes, I add a package of Splenda and a tiny dash of vanilla flavoring. Just be sure to use silken tofu as the semi-hard and hard types don't blend up as well.

One of my favorite vegan websites is post punk kitchen.

Here are some Tofu recipes:
http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbreci...e.php?MainID=1

Tempeh is also pretty good, you can grill it and use it in sandwiches.
Here are some recipes from the same site:
http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbreci...e.php?MainID=5

You might also want to look at making sure you are getting vegetable forms of protein:
http://www.vegparadise.com/protein.html

Also, don't forget about getting protein in dairy products. Cottage cheese is one of the best forms of protein available.

Take extra firm tofu and cut it into long rectangles. Place it in a baking dish and add water and enough soy sauce that it the liquid looks like dark beer.

You can season the water with other liquids such as ginger juice or lemon juice. Marinate for 10 minutes.

Drain the liguid. Again you can season the tops of the cut tofu with herbs and spices.

Bake 25 minutes at 400 degrees.

Cut the tofu in pieces like you would cut a chicken breast.

Use in green salads, wraps, or any other way you would use pieces of chicken breast. Try it in 'tofu salad' with Noyanaise which if like Mayonaise only made with tofu.

Tofu is a good source of calcuim and protein with no cholestrol.

Enjoy!

Carolyn Lee Vehslage - www.clvquilts.com

I've made a couple of recipes where you take tofu, put it in a food processor with breadcrumbs and use it as a topping on a vegetable bake.

I love tofu but I think it's because I really enjoy the taste of it - as opposed to trying to make it taste like meat.

That said I do like TVP (textured vegetable protein) as a replacement for meat.

Soy crumbles, like Morningstar Crumbles, work just like ground beef. I use them for a vegetarian (and healthier) version of Cincinnati Chili.

Afraid Tofu and Linda do not see eye to eye . . .

But I do love the TVP products, especially the various brands of psuedo-ground beef and beef patties. Cottage cheese is another good meat substitute. My all time favourite is any kind of legume . . . particularly lentils and black beans.

Have fun and stay well fed . . .

I'm not sure I've ever tried tofu. I think I've just been very scared of it. Same with TVP.... Maybe that's something I'll give a shot this week at the market. What do you guys recommend for tofu "virgins"?

One of the ground beef sustitutes . . . make your favourite healthier recipe and use it in place of the ground beef . . .

Here's something really easy . . . I call it Chili Stoup because it's kind of a cross between Stew and Soup . . .

28 oz can diced tomatoes
2 x 28 oz can of water
14 oz can of tomato sauce
1 package of chili seasoning
3 to 4 cups of assorted diced veggies (onions, celery, green/red peppers) (I use a 750 gram package of frozen Arctic Gardens Spaghetti vegetables- but they might be available only in Canada)
2 x 14 oz cans black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 x 12 oz package pseudo (TVP) ground round

Throw it all together and let it simmer for a couple of hours.

I have a bag of TVP that I've never used. If you want to try Tofu, my recommendation is go to a chinese restaurant and try it. They know tofu I hardly ever use tofu myself but I order dishes with it when I go out to eat.

these have all been wonderful suggestions and i'm really excited to give them a try... does anyone know where in the grocery store i might find the meat substitute products? i kind of accidentilly found the tofu...

Sounds great! Thanks!!

Most stores will have tofu and even processed meat like products. Personally, I can't stand any food item that tries to taste like meat. I don't like soyburgers or soy crumbles or what not but I do like tofu.

Other things like Tempeh and TVP can be found in regular stores but most often in health food stores like Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, etc.

If you want to try tofu in a way that's expensive (but probably not as expensive as going out), try one of the Amy's frozen meals with tofu in them. They run about $4.50 at my grocery store. Sometimes Walmart has a few for less.

I love love love the Teriyaki bowl, with tofu and veggies. Love! I've been utterly unsuccessful at cooking tofu myself, though.

Grcoery store in the frozen food aisle, usually with the veggie burgers.