Recipe Thread #1

[Alias Reader]

:) That's ok. But it is a nice alternative for vegetarians or people like me who try to stay away from beef and fat. As for the salt, I wish I could, but I can't eat the stuff.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Alias Reader wrote: ":) That's ok. But it is a nice alternative for vegetarians or people like me who try to stay away from beef and fat. As for the salt, I wish I could, but I can't eat the stuff. "

How about using ground turkey or chicken in lieu of beef?

[Alias Reader]

I don't like the taste of ground turkey /chicken.

I also try to not to eat a lot of meat. The only meat I do eat on occasion is a chicken breast and that is maybe twice a month. The rest of the time my meals are vegetarian.

Also the crumbles has zero saturated fat, and that is the bad fat I want to stay away from. And one fact that many people don't realize is that chicken has exactly the same amount of cholesterol as beef.

I also like the taste of the crumbles. To me they taste the same as ground beef. I also use them to make "sloppy Joes". They also make a sausage crumble that tastes terrific with sautéed onions and peppers.

[Bobbie]

I have started to treat chicken as just another meat. So I am definitely into the vegetarian with an occasional fish. I have made a simple lentil loaf (that's what the recipe is called) and it tastes so very much like meatloaf it is incredible. And I have made "sloppy joes" out of it too.

Barbara

[Donna in Southern Maryland]

I am happy for you, Barbara & Alias, for being successful with your move away from meat. If you are happy with the taste of what you are eating, then so much the better.

We do eat far less Beef now than we used to, much more chicken and fish. I try to eat more fruits and vegetables every day. I'm sure that now that Charlie & Sunny are here, it will be easier since they both are health nuts. I am happy with Brown Rice, but hubby still likes his white rice. And Pasta. He's half Italian, and to try to get him to eat one of those newer, healthier pastas has been like pulling hens teeth. But again, I'm sure C & S will make it easier.....

BTW, I have discovered the BEST tasting apples! They are called "HoneyCrisp." Now only are they sweet and yummy tasting, I know it's the crispest apple I have ever had! It's easy to eat of of those every day!

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Alias Reader wrote: "I don't like the taste of ground turkey /chicken. "

Nor do I, unless it is mixed with beef! Someone brought my daughter a turkey meatloaf when she had Charlie and it tasted like sawdust.

I love lentils, in almost any way. I especially like the red ones.

What kind of flavorings are put in those crumbles to make them taste like sausage?

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

My husband recently had extensive dietetic counseling recently after his carotid artery surgery. When he asked about cutting out most meats, he was told that such a drastic step was unnecessary as long as his diet was balanced. They said many people go to extremes which are not necessary.

So many people with cholesterol problems have a genetic predisposition and there is not much that can be done other than eating a balanced diet. His nutritionist told him she has seen patients who have practically no foods with cholesterol, yet still have high cholesterol counts. Genes play a huge part.

And yes, meat is meat, but chicken and pork are still better for us than beef because so much beef is fat-laden. Also, people tend to eat larger portions of beef than that of other meats. No one really needs a 6 oz. filet, for example, which is what many places offer.

[Bobbie]

My doctor was thrilled to have me eat no meat. And she particularly asked me if I ate pork which question actually surprised me. I had cut down on beef long ago and I realized that I was already eating more vegetarian style than I had thought. My doctor is the one who said that chicken and pork are also meat.

I also had other digestive issues which eating no meat has addressed. Actually it is not so much eating no meat as eating more fruit and vegetables. I never ate so many beans in my life. But if you find some good tasty recipes it works. I would definitely not eat food that doesn't taste good.

I have lost almost 10lbs in the last 3 months and my objective was to eat healthy. I wasn't even thinking about weight. And I feel incredibly good. So we all need to do whatever makes us happy while being healthy.

My cholesterol is not extremely high -- only a little. And I refuse to take medication. So this seemed like a good plan.

[Alias Reader]

Barbara said: I also had other digestive issues which eating no meat has addressed.

------------------------------
That is one of the issue I had. I used to get wicked heartburn. It felt like a heart attack. Now I never get it since I changed my diet.

I'm like you, Barbara. I am trying to be super strict with my diet to avoid taking meds.

JoAnn, here is the link for the Morningstar Crumbles.
There doesn't seem to be any particular spice besides garlic. But I thought it did taste good. I haven't purchased it in about a year though, because of the sodium.

http://www.morningstarfarms.com/produ...

It's not easy. Salt, Fat and Sugar. If they lower one they up the others. :( It's forced me to cut my consumption of processed foods. I guess that is a good thing, but it sure is a pain when you just want to grab something quick. And eating out for me is also a pain. I hate having to stick to salad and a baked potato. But these are small problems in the scope of life, so I shouldn't complain.

[Alias Reader]

Bobbie57 wrote: "I have started to treat chicken as just another meat. So I am definitely into the vegetarian with an occasional fish. I have made a simple lentil loaf (that's what the recipe is called) and it tast..."

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Oh, Barbara, I hate to impose but I've been looking for a good lentil loaf recipe. The ones I've seen seem to have a ton of ingredients and are complicated. If you have the time, could you share your recipe? Thanks so much.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Alias Reader wrote: "Salt, Fat and Sugar. If they lower one they up the others. :( .."
."

Isn't this the truth?.....

I think this is why nutritionists recommend a balanced diet rather than cutting some foods out entirely. Now if I had heartburn all the time, I might do something diet wise, but only after making sure that nothing else was wrong. My sister-in-law fooled around with her diet for a couple of years thinking it was the cause of her digestive issues. She cut out meat, cheese, and every other food that was "fun". When she finally went to a gastroenterologist instead of her primary care doctor, it turned out she had a large hiatal hernia.

[madrano]

I dislike the taste of both ground chicken & turkey. We gave them good tries but basically even when mixing them with beef, the flavor turned me off. I'd rather skip both. We've tried the boca crumbles and other products. They were alright, better to my tongue than ground poultry. We became interested in them when our DD was a vegetarian in high school. She ate many of their products but making my spaghetti sauce with the Boca worked nicely for all of us. I suppose it helps that i never put much meat in my sauce.

JoAnn, that SanteFe Soup recipe was given to me by my MIL, who loves it. She makes gallons of it & freezes it in packages of varying sizes--for the 2 of them or enough for 4-6 people. It must be her favorite meal now, as we've had it almost every time we've visited. Now that she rarely cooks that sort of arrangement pleases her no end. Good Soup!

deborah

[Marcy]

Donna in Southern Maryland wrote: "BTW, I have discovered the BEST tasting apples! They are called "HoneyCrisp." Now only are they sweet and yummy tasting, I know it's the crispest apple I have ever had! It's easy to eat of of those every day

Donna - I recently discovered these also and I LOVE them!! Besides being wonderfully crisp, they have so much taste!

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

madrano wrote: "She ate many of their products but making my spaghetti sauce with the Boca worked nicely for all of us. I suppose it helps that i never put much meat in my sauce. .."

I rarely put meat in my sauce, but I do try to put a piece of pork into it.....even if we do not eat the pork, it gives it a great flavor. I got this idea from my sister's 104 year old grandmother-in-law. She lives on her own in the house she came to as a bride. She grows her own vegetables in the summer, takes a bus to the grocery store, sweeps the sidewalk in front of her house. And eats meat six days a week! The other day she eats fish. LOL What a woman!

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Donna in Southern Maryland wrote: "BTW, I have discovered the BEST tasting apples! They are called "HoneyCrisp." Now only are they sweet and yummy tasting, I know it's the crispest apple I have eve..."

I love these too. Are they expensive in your area? Where I am (SE PA) they are about 50% more than any other apple.

[Marcy]

Yes, they are more expensive, but when I'm in California they are only about $1.09-$1.49/lb at my favorite market. I pay $1.89-$2.49/lb in Florida. I do buy them though becase I'm happy to eat them and not let them sit in my fruit bowl as I do other kinds of apples.

[madrano]

DH likes Gaia apples, which are hard to find here. I'm a big fan of Granny Smiths to eat, as well as for cooking. However, HoneyCrisp is second for both of us. Apples are almost always $1.50 or more here, even in autumn. Once or twice a year they'll be less for a week or two but usually not.

deborah

[Bobbie]

Here's the recipe for Simple Lentil Loaf. To give credit I got it from a site called nubella - Healthy Recipes. www.nubella.com

2 cups cooked lentils
l cup quick oatmeal
1/2 cup onion/ chopped, cooked (I sauteed it lightly)
1 clove garlic minced
2 cups of tomato sauce
1-1 1/2 tsp Italian Herb seasoning

I don't usually measure carefully but I thought I should and it turned out perfectly.

Mix as for a meatloaf. Bake for 50 minutes in a 350degree oven in a lightly oiled loaf pan.

Mine took closer to 45 minutes and then let it stand for maybe 10 minutes to let it set up.

Alias, note -- no added salt.

Barbara

[Bobbie]

I am amazed at your prices for apples. Of course NY is an apple state but I can get a variety of local apples for 69cents a lb. and the "fancier" ones for 99cents.

Barbara

[Alias Reader]

Marcy wrote: "Donna in Southern Maryland wrote: "BTW, I have discovered the BEST tasting apples! They are called "HoneyCrisp." Now only are they sweet and yummy tasting, I know it's the crispest apple I have eve..."
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Are they tart? If not, I'll keep an eye out for them. I can't tell you how many articles I've read recently about the health benefits of apples. I keep telling myself, I'll eat an apple instead of some other not so healthy snack at night.

I saw in the supermarket a package of apple slices. That seems like a good idea for a snack. Though I want to see what they put on it to keep the apple from browning. My guess is some lemon or or similar thing.

[Alias Reader]

Bobbie57 wrote post #68: "Here's the recipe for Simple Lentil Loaf. To give credit I got it from a site called nubella - Healthy Recipes. www.nubella.com

2 cups cooked lentils
l cup quick oatmeal
1/2 cup onion/ chopped..."

---------------

Thanks so much, Barbara ! That does look easy to do and it doesn't have a zillion ingredients. And I love the no salt added. Though even if a recipe calls for some salt, I just leave it out.

Also thanks for the web site. I'll check it out.

[madrano]

I knew we have been paying more for apples here than any other place we've lived but i didn't realize the markup from NY. Amazing.

deborah

[Marcy]

Bobbie57 wrote: "I am amazed at your prices for apples. Of course NY is an apple state but I can get a variety of local apples for 69cents a lb. and the "fancier" ones for 99cents.

I love some of the NY apple varieties and I think "local" might be a big price help. I can get good local California apples cheaper, but I'm addicted to the honeycrisp.

[Donna in Southern Maryland]

Price of apples? I'll have to ask DH as he does the grocery shopping; he did mention they were moe expensive. But since they are so good we both want to eat one a day instead of letting some others go to waste,I guess they are worth it.

Thanks for posting the Lentil Meatloaf recipe.Looks good AND simple, so while I'm making all these other changes, why not try that?

Boy, are my fingers stiff on my right hand today, Don't know how Deb types all the time with one hand ! Ugh!

Donna

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

When we lived in Connecticut we always bought Macoun apples from NY state. They were wonderful.

Now we go to an orchard a few minutes away and get the FUJI that they grow themselves. They grow about 10 different varieties but this is our favorite this year. Sometimes, but not always, I see HoneyCrisp in the grocery store.

[Marcy]

I recently tried some Macoun apples and loved them - very tart, crisp and delicious. My markets in Ca. have them, but not in Fl. My Florida stores would rather import fruit from New Zealand - go figure.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Marcy wrote: "I recently tried some Macoun apples and loved them - very tart, crisp and delicious. My markets in Ca. have them, but not in Fl. My Florida stores would rather import fruit from New Zealand - go figure ..."

Go figure, indeed!

I saw something at the grocery store the other day...grape tomatoes grown in Mexico and packaged in Canada. Then shipped to the east coast. Real fresh, right?!?!?!?

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

WARNING....Bobbie and Alias should not even read this recipe!

I adapted this from a recipe in Real Simple - it has been a HUGE hit both times I made it. I made it again for tonight's dinner at my daughter's.

CHICKEN QUESADILLA PIE

1 10-ounce can green or red enchilada sauce (I forgot to buy this the first time, so I used a jar of Goya Sofrito Cooking Sauce -- which I love)

1/4 cup heavy cream (I use skim milk)

4 8-inch flour tortillas

2 cups (8 ounces) grated Monterey Jack, plus 1/4 cup for the top (I mixed in some grated cheddar) - I used low-fat cheese

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (may not need all of the meat from this)

1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (I used one small Vidallia)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained well

1 cup salsa

1 cup sour cream (optional)

1.
Heat oven to 400° F.

2.
In a small bowl, combine the enchilada or sofrito sauce with the milk or cream. Spoon 1/4 cup of the sauce mixture into the bottom of a shallow 2-quart casserole or 9-inch springform pan.

3.Top with 1 tortilla and a third each of the cheese, chicken, onion, and black beans. Repeat twice, starting with sauce, to form a total of 3 layers. Top with the remaining tortilla, sauce mixture, and cheese.

4.
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 20 + minutes more until heated through. I found that it needed almost an hour total.

Slice into wedges and serve with the salsa and sour cream. [Chopped avocado and 1 cup chopped cilantro are also called for in the original recipe - as toppings:].

Serves 4

[madrano]

Sounds good, JoAnn. I used to make something akin to this but with ground beef & kidney beans. Unfortunately it never cut into wedges or looked nice, so i didn't serve it to guests. I will be trying this very soon. Thanks.

deborah

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

madrano wrote: "Sounds good, JoAnn. I used to make something akin to this but with ground beef & kidney beans. Unfortunately it never cut into wedges or looked nice, so i didn't serve it to guests. I will be trying this very soon..."

Well, this does not cut into wedges the way a pie does, but I was surprised when it cut as well as it did.

Last night, my son-in-law suggested a white bean instead of black beans. You do not even want to know why.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

I have a friend who is recovering from a stroke that she had 18 months ago. She works with a team (occupational therapist, physical therapist, nutritionist). One of the most difficult things for her has been not being able to cook, but her husband and daughter have become her "sous chefs". She loved/loves to cook and being able to do it again has been a huge boost to her happiness and sense of self. She made this recipe for Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Shells the other night and said it was delicious. She cut back on the cheese and added more mushrooms.

http://ellysaysopa.files.wordpress.co...

[madrano]

Sounds good. I like stuffed shells but rarely (once every 3 or 4 years) make them. I've never used anything but cheeses, so the vegetable additions would be great.

And isn't it wonderful that your friend's family has pitched in this way? Nice story, JoAnn. Thank you for sharing. Families make such a difference in our outlook.

deborah

[Alias Reader]

Joann wrote: WARNING....Bobbie and Alias should not even read this recipe!
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Yikes ! I had to go lay down after reading that recipe ! LOL

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

madrano wrote: " And isn't it wonderful that your friend's family has pitched in this way? Nice story, JoAnn. Thank you for sharing. Families make such a difference in our outlook.."

My friend always cooked such wonderful meals for her family. Nothing was too much trouble. She would take all day to make stock, made everything from scratch, etc. I doubt if her husband or daughter had ever done anything other than use the microwave. So this is not only wonderful, but a total turnaround. She calls her husband "Emeril". LOL

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Alias Reader wrote: "Yikes ! I had to go lay down after reading that recipe ! LOL "

Some chocolate would probably have made you feel better! LOL

[Bobbie]

Hey, I have read that Dark Chocolate is good for you and I choose to believe it. LOL

By the way with all the other ingredients why bother switching skim milk for cream? LOL

Barbara

[Alias Reader]

Hey, I have read that Dark Chocolate is good for you and I choose to believe it.
----------------

I'm in your camp, Barbara. I buy the Dove Dark chocolate squares. One really is quite satisfying with a cup of tea.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Bobbie57 wrote: "Hey, I have read that Dark Chocolate is good for you and I choose to believe it. LOL

By the way with all the other ingredients why bother switching skim milk for cream? LOL

Barbara "

I believe in dark chocolate too.

Well, when you use low-fat cheese and no-fat milk, it does cut some of the calories. Better some than none, right?

[Alias Reader]

I noted sour cream in the recipe. I just want to say that I think the low fat is just as good taste wise as regular fat. Though I personally use no fat, and am fine with it. I just mention this because if one hasn't tried the lower fat version, you should give it a try.

As for cheese, even though I use no fat or low fat myself a lot. This is one product where I really think the lower fat version don't measure up taste wise.

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Alias Reader wrote: "I noted sour cream in the recipe. I just want to say that I think the low fat is just as good taste wise as regular fat. Though I personally use no fat, and am fine with it. I just mention this because if one hasn't tried the lower fat version, you should give it a try.

As for cheese, even though I use no fat or low fat myself a lot. This is one product where I really think the lower fat version don't measure up taste wise. ..."

I actually use NO-fat sour cream and cannot tell the difference. I do not mind the no-fat/low-fat cheese as long as it is cooked/melted. I bought some REALLY low-fat cheddar last summer (75% reduced fat) and it was like eating rubber. UGH

Oh, and I only use regular cheddar in my cheese drops because when baking something like that, I think the change in fat could also affect how they turn out.

[Bobbie]

JoAnn,
I was just teasing you. Anywhere that you can cut down on a few calories I'm for it. I also agree with you about the cheese. I bought some vegan cheese and found that it wasn't terrible if melted but otherwise also RUBBER.

I have used low fat sour cream, but I so rarely use it that it isn't worth my buying. It would just spoil.

Barbara

[madrano]

I use the low & no-fat sour creams, too. The only time it makes a difference to me is when i'm preparing a no-cook dish, such as a dip. And nowadays i often make those with plain yogurt. I haven't noticed a difference.

However, i have yet to find a low- or no-fat cheese i really liked. I'll cook with it but even then there are differences in taste & texture. Like Barbara, sour cream often gets mold before i finish it, we so rarely use it.

deborah

[Alias Reader]

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/lentil-l...

I was looking around the Internet to compare lentil loaf recipes .

I just wanted to say that the site WWW.allrecipies.com is terrific.

1- It allows you to adjust the number of servings and then it recalculates all the ingredients and nutritional info for you.

2- It gives you the full nutritional data including:
Fat, Calories, Cholesterol, Sodium, Carbs, Protein.
You can see this all by clicking the cross next to nutrition info. It appears like it would on a food label.

3- there are various printing options.
Size- page or 3x5 or 4x6
print size s-m-l-xl
what items you want included: photo of dish, nutritional info etc.

4- it has ratings and reviews

[madrano]

Alias, i've been using allrecipes.com for years now but never knew about the features you described. It illustrates the way i use the internet, i think. Get what i want & run! Thanks for all that info.

One thing you didn't mention, another feature i didn't know about until last month, is you can create your own recipe file box. My sister introduced this to me. She keeps the recipes she likes (& has used) from their files in a collection. This way she doesn't need to wade through all their spaghetti recipes when she wants to make the dish. Handy.

deborah

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

I made the crunchy roasted chickpeas today. They could be addictive.

[madrano]

I'm glad to hear that, JoAnn.

deborah

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

Speaking of chick peas....I am making this for sure

from Smitten Kitchen

Chickpea Salad with Capers and Roasted Red Peppers
Adapted from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/chi...

[Alias Reader]

Barbara, I tried the lentil loaf last night. It came out good, but I will need to tweak it some. The problem I had was that I tried to combine 3 different recipes for lentil loaf. I think I ended up with a incorrect ratio of lentil to filler. Too much filler, not enough lentil. It was supposed to be for 3 servings, but came out for at least 6. Still, it was surprisingly good and looked good, too.

For the topping I used Delmonte diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano- no added salt. I put it in my mini blender to make it smooth. I than added some brown sugar to it. I was supposed to add some dry mustard but I didn't have any.

Thanks, for putting this healthy recipe on my radar. It's a keeper. :)

[Bobbie]

I decided (unlike my usual way of doing things) to follow the recipe to the letter and it comes out fine. The tomato sauce in the recipe is mixed in -- no actual topping. Your topping sounds good. I just make the whole loaf. For better or worse I have no problem eating the same thing for a few days. And I have used it as a sloppy joe and mixed in with pasta which gives it a pasta with meat sauce kind of taste.

I now have about a dozen vegetarian recipes that I like well enough to rotate -- or use the basic idea of them to tweak.

Barbara

[JoAnn/QuAppelle]

I was comparing two cans of tomatoes at the store one day (I forget the brand)....one was "no added salt" and the other was the regular tomatoes. Guess what? The salt content was exactly the same!