Meatless meals

[SusiesQs]

OK, I thought I would go ahead and post one of my favorite meatless meals that I like to make!

Meatless Empanadas

*GOYA dough for turnover pastries. They come in packs of 10.
*about 1 cup Morningstar Farms Meal Starters (soy crumbles)
*about 1 cup Paul Newman Pineapple Salsa
* 1/2 Onion Chopped

Chop up the onion in a little olive oil and cook it until soft. add the soy crumbles and cook with the onions so it can absorb the flavor a little. Sometimes I'll add a little chopped garlic as well.

Add the salsa and mix it well. Everything is cooked so you're just heating it up and mixing the flavors.

Take the defrosted empanadas and put some of the salsa/soy mix in the middle of the dough. Fold it over and crimp the edges.

Sometimes I'll bake it at 375 for about 25-30 min, but I also like to put each empanada in some oil until it's golden brown on each side. It tastes better IMO and cooks quicker. Put the empanadas on a towel to get the excess oil off.

[ChapterTwo]

That sounds really delicious, SusiesQs! I'll have to try that soon.

Here's another brand recommendation -
Fantastic Foods is a terrific company - Here is their link, and they also have a STORE LOCATOR at the top of the page. Fantastic Foods On-line Store (http://www.fantasticfoods.com/catalog/) You can sign up for coupons, and there are recipes too!

My absolute favorite product of theirs is the vegetarian chili - you won't miss the meat! And I can actually have it on the table as quickly as it takes to boil water!

And the only things needed, besides the package...one can of beans (I use dark red kidney, but it's your choice) and a can of tomatoes (I use Del Monte petite cut with garlic and oil...14.5 oz.) You boil the water, throw in the pkg., and stir - then rinse the beans, drain, add to the pot. Then throw in the can of tomatoes. I just cook it for a few minutes on low, 'til some of the liquid evaporates and voila! Dinner. I sprinkle a tiny bit of shredded cheddar on the top; my daughter likes sour cream and likes baked tortilla chips on the side. I like a little crusty roll or breadstick and a small salad. Oh, and we find it tastes even better heated up the second day.

Oh, those tomatoes are on the salty side, so if you're watching your salt intake, read the labels and find a brand with less salt.

[gigiG]

Oh yum...except for I am allergic to the pineapple, but I can adjust the recipe so I can finish the meal :D .... I am really liking this "meatless" thing....
OK, I thought I would go ahead and post one of my favorite meatless meals that I like to make!

Meatless Empanadas

*GOYA dough for turnover pastries. They come in packs of 10.
*about 1 cup Morningstar Farms Meal Starters (soy crumbles)
*about 1 cup Paul Newman Pineapple Salsa
* 1/2 Onion Chopped

Chop up the onion in a little olive oil and cook it until soft. add the soy crumbles and cook with the onions so it can absorb the flavor a little. Sometimes I'll add a little chopped garlic as well.

Add the salsa and mix it well. Everything is cooked so you're just heating it up and mixing the flavors.

Take the defrosted empanadas and put some of the salsa/soy mix in the middle of the dough. Fold it over and crimp the edges.

Sometimes I'll bake it at 375 for about 25-30 min, but I also like to put each empanada in some oil until it's golden brown on each side. It tastes better IMO and cooks quicker. Put the empanadas on a towel to get the excess oil off.

[gigiG]

ChapterTwo- This sounds great, and I will be looking into this link too! Vegetarian chili-yum!

That sounds really delicious, SusiesQs! I'll have to try that soon.

Here's another brand recommendation -
Fantastic Foods is a terrific company - Here is their link, and they also have a STORE LOCATOR at the top of the page. Fantastic Foods On-line Store (http://www.fantasticfoods.com/catalog/) You can sign up for coupons, and there are recipes too!

intake, read the labels and find a brand with less salt.

[Memmey]

Susie and Two will either of you start us a thread about this. I am so excited to read this info. I would be curious about what you eat in the course of the day. Maybe if it's not to nosey, would you list a day's fare for us to get an idea. I know you must eat things we haven't thought of.:) :)

[Lisa S]

One of my favorite meatless dinners is to take Del Monte' stewed tomatoes with herbs, throw some fresh garlic and basil in the mix and serve it over wheat noodles. Mmmmm.... With some fresh homemade bread, you'd think you went to heaven.

[Memmey]

Now that is what I mean...YUMMMMMMMM:lol:

[RoseMary]

I'm not quite ready to go completely vegetarian, but I'd love it if you would all post your favorite meatless meals.

[cheapdiva]

Lisa and all -

I adore the Hunt's tomatoes with the flavorings . . . garlic, basil, italian spices, etc. I use tons of them. If I were a guy I would not have to worry about prostate cancer because of the amount of tomatoes I eat!!!!!

[dedavis]

Here's an easy one. I had this last night.

Cook some rice. Brown basmati is my favorite. Get a bottle of House of Tsang "Saigon Sizzle" stir fry sauce. Follow the recipe on the back for Spicy Tofu. You use a package of firm tofu--I cut it into cubes and coat it with flour before stir-frying. When the tofu cubes are golden, toss in some scallions cut into 1" pieces, then some cut up fresh tomatoes. When they have softened a little bit, add as much sauce as you like, simmer for a minute or two and Bingo! supper is ready.

[SusiesQs]

Deb that sounds really good. I'm going to try that recipe this weekend.

[ChapterTwo]

VERY easy, VERY fast, VERY inexpensive...VERY yummy!

I made this for dinner this evening and we were happy with how it came out. I put in less tomato sauce - maybe about 1/2 can, instead of a whole one, and I would suggest heating for 20 minutes. Otherwise, it was really good!

And for those who don't want a vegetarian meal, you could add some chicken, like Perdue's Shortcuts.

Oh, and I used a cookie sheet, instead of a jelly roll pan. I lined it with aluminum foil, which I sprayed with Pam. When it was done, I lifted the foil and the pie onto a serving plate.

Vegetarian Tortilla Pie
This dish can be assembled in a jiffy, thanks to its no-cook filling of canned black beans and corn, prepared salsa, and pre-shredded Monterey Jack cheese.


http://www.healthexpressions.com/images/spacer.gifMakes: 4 main-dish servings
Preparation time: 8 minutes
Cooking time: 12 minutes

Ingredients
1 jar (12 ounces) medium salsa
1 can (8 ounces) no-salt-added tomato sauce
1 can (15 to 16 ounces) no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) no-salt-added whole-kernel corn, drained
4 (10-inch) low-fat flour tortillas
6 ounces reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (1-1/2 cups)
Reduced-fat sour cream (optional)






Directions
1. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F. Spray 15-1/2" by 10-1/2" jelly-roll pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2. In small bowl, mix salsa, and tomato sauce. In medium bowl, mix black beans, corn, and cilantro.

3. Place 1 tortilla in prepared jelly-roll pan. Spread one-third of salsa mixture over tortilla. Top with one-third of bean mixture and one-third of cheese. Repeat layering 2 more times, ending with last tortilla.

4. Bake pie until cheese melts and filling is heated through, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with reduced-fat sour cream if you like.

Each serving without sour cream: About 440 calories (23 percent calories from fat), 25g protein, 65g carbohydrate, 11g total fat (5g saturated), 30mg cholesterol, 820mg sodium.

[ChapterTwo]

Did I kill this thread with my tortilla pie recipe? ;) It really is quick and yummy...

I wanted to mention that I used to believe that we had to have a ton of protein, in the form of meat, to stay healthy and full of energy. But over the years I've learned that about 2 oz. (equal to what you get in two eggs) is all we need each day!