Carla-need recipes for soy/veg chunks!!

Just wanted to say thanks for your faithfulness in posting every day so people like me can benefit from your ups and downs!!   I found a health food store that sells the textured soy/vegetable chunks that you use.  I am going to buy some Friday.   Really interested in how you have used them.  I know you use the soy with cheese and pasta sauce and use the vegetable as a topping for your ice cream. Any other uses--suggestions--what has worked--what has not worked-any web sites with recipes?  I'm excited about finding another food high in protein.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Again, thanks for being open and "real", Robin

You use it just like it is meat.  First you hydrate it using the flavor, beef, pork, chicken you like.  than I brown it in a pan with no oil.  Just brown it.. than I add it to my chili, spagetti etc.  I use the chili package you get at the store by shillings. I dont use beans just tomato sauce and dice tomatoes.  I put some frozen bell peppers in there and onion.  Yum yum.. I do add a little extra chili. For spagetti you can use the chunks or small size like ground beef.  same thing. Hydrate it, brown it and stick it in.  It makes great zitti as well.. anything you do with me you do with this.  There are a couple website that have tons of recipes but I usually do the things I like.  I could eat the chili all day I tell you. Hope that helps http://vegweb.com/index.php?board=331.0 http://soyfoods.com/recipes/index.html http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=8052.0 You will note many of these recipes work way to hard for me.  I am a semi homemade kind of girl.  work and four kids dont give me time to do all that.. so I will use things from the market and doctor them up to taste better. Enjoy.  I swear I am gonna become a non meat eater soon if I keep finding new ways to make this stuff... and check out the cost.. way less than a pound of burger.. Carla

Thanks Carla, I did a google search after my initial post and found the web sites you listed and a few more.  Really excited to try this out.  Seems like 1/2 cup is an average serving once it is rehydrated.  Do you find the directions on the package for hyrating are what works best?  Maybe you have found a way that works somewhat better. Looking forward to trying your chili recipe-I do love chili and find it very filling. Thanks for sharing.  Robin 

yes it works although I just dump water, flavor and the tsp in the pot.. If i over do the water I just drain it out..lol.. its a pretty simple thing to do.  Yes.. it usually expands to about a cup..  wow never thought about that.. i always measure it as the hydrated stuff.. maybe I am eating less than I thought I was..lol.. yep I am.. thanks for bringing that to my attention.  I would rather guess over than under. Carla

I used it to make an impromptu chili with TVP and salsa. I mixed 1/4 cup TVP and 1/4 cup salsa (it tends to be watery anyway) and nuked it for a minute. Then I put it on top of a baked potato with Jack cheese...it was a yummy alternative to meatless salsa on a baked potato.  I also use it in malto meal or oatmeal to boost the protein in an otherwise protein free breakfast. 1/4 cup TVP to a package of regular oatmeal and a cup of soy milk (or water but soy milk works for me) and nuke it for 3 minutes stirring each minute...Great stuff. Even with soy milk a breakfast of hot cereal is 15 grams of protein at best. With the TVP you get over 25 grams of protein in that meal.

Ok--excitement level growing for TVP!!  Breakfast huh????  I love high protein oatmeal and Protein Special K--maybe use 1/2 TVP and 1/2 other breakfast food!! Keep the ideas coming--I'm printing all of these off!!  What about TVP sprinkled on top of yogurt?  I love yogurt but generally don't eat it because it slides right down and has very little protein.  Seems like it would be a great way to make a healthy food even healthier!! Robin

It is awesome on yogurt.  Its just like putting something crunchy on it..  I also like it on salad instead of sunflower seeds and things like that.  It works on anything as a crunchy alternative.  iw ill be trying the breakfast meal real soon.. great idea there. Carla

I have the high protein kaski hot cereal.  that would bring up the protein content a lot. I might try it with my cold cereal tomorrow.. would make it even more crunchy which is the one thing I love the most and miss the most with the all protein diet I usually do.

I guess it's time to try that high protein kashi again. Last time it didn't agree with me.