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Appetites and Adventures

“Beefy” TVP Chili

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McDonald’s is cleaning up their meat.

Jamie Oliver influenced McD’s to stop using beef treated with ammonia hydroxide – the stuff Oliver referred to as “pink slime” on his show Food Revolution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wshlnRWnf30

Mmmmm… makes you want a bowl of beefy chili, right?

Or maybe a meaty VEGAN bowl of chili?

One of my favorite things to do when I’m bored is wander around Whole Paycheck Foods.  This can be a dangerous activity for my wallet, but it’s my guilty pleasure. 🙂  This week I happened upon TVP that was discounted by $1.  Sold.

I’ve seen it used on a few blogs, but never tried it for myself.  It was really easy – you just boil (read: microwave) 1 cup of water, stir the TVP in, and let it sit for 5 mins.  Instant protein crumbles.

TVP is the perfect addition for vegan chili.  It replaced the usual ground beef without losing the hearty feel and added protein.  The addition of liquid smoke in this also lends to the traditional chili taste.  Discovery of the year, no doubt.

With a little cilantro, lime, and nutritional yeast.  Meaty vegan chili perfection.

If only I’d had a grilled cheese to go along with it…

Beefy TVP Chili

  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1 medium red onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2-3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 C San Marzano tomatoes (or any tomato-substance)
  • 1-2 dried habanero
  • 1 can beans
  • 1 C TVP
  • 6-7 drops liquid smoke
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground oregano
  • 1 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • pinch of ground cloves
  • 2 T apple cider vinegar
  • 4 T cilantro, rough chopped
  • 2 C spinach

Re-hydrate TVP by soaking in 1 C of boiling water.  Set aside.

Heat oil in large pot.  Sauté onion until turning translucent (5-6 mins).  Add garlic and sauté another 1-2 mins, until fragrant.  Add next 7 ingredients, stirring to combine.  Mix in spices and vinegar, adjusting to taste.

Simmer for 30-45 mins, stirring occasionally.  This allows the flavors to combine and vegetables to soften.

Mix in the spinach and cilantro.  Cover pot and simmer ~10 mins, until spinach is wilted.  Garnish with lime, cilantro, and nutritional yeast.

Makes 8 cups.

Note: Depending on the tomato substance you use, you may need to add liquid as the chili cooks.  I added 1/2 C before I mixed in my spinach.

***

Discovering new (to me) products is so exciting.  #dork

Does anyone else wander the grocery store as entertainment?

Have you cooked with TVP before?  Please share other ideas for using it!

Obesity Outbreak

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HALF of U.S. adults will be obese by 2030.*

Half.

We aren’t talking about a few extra pounds here.  Obesity is a serious problem.

That’s a mug… made of bacon… filled with cheese.

My co-worker and I were running through an airport the other day and he commented that he judges people that are clearly at an unhealthy weight who are eating Big Macs and riding on the moving walkways in airports.

His point is that they are adding to healthcare costs and, in turn, costing everyone.  It may be controversial, but I can’t say that I disagree.

Relax – you’ll never be more than a 145 mile drive from the nearest B’Mac.

 Source: Data Pointed

The other thing that bothers me?

Denny’s new sandwich offering is a 1650 calorie gut-buster: The Mac ‘n Cheese Patty Melt.

The contents?  “A hand-pressed beef patty topped with new creamy Mac ‘n Cheese, melted cheddar cheese, and zesty Frisco sauce on grilled potato bread.”

I get it’s their prerogative and people have the right to choose.  But really Denny’s… is this necessary? 

*As reported in the Washington Post, and according to a report released Thursday on the international obesity crisis in the British medical journal the Lancet.

***

This week of living at the mercy of hotel and airports have driven home the point that it’s not always easy to find healthy options.

Are restaurants being irresponsible serving items like this when half of our population will be at dangerous weights in less than 20 years?

Cherry-O’s

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CNN posted an article yesterday on the healthiest fast-food breakfasts.  Naturally, I was curious after the nasty bowl of oatmeal I had at McDonald’s a few weeks ago.

This over-sweetened soupy bowl of oats was #6 on the list.  The apple/raisins/brown sugar all come on the side, but the girl at the counter added them without asking when she added the hot water.  Fail. It has 290 calories and 5g of protein, which is not terrible (some nuts would be a welcome addition to bulk it up) but it would have been better if it tasted good.

Some of these options sound good – like the Dunkin’ Donuts Wake-Up Wrap – but why do the eggs always have to look so fake???

What surprises me is that the article doesn’t mention sugar content.  I don’t like beginning my day on a sugar high, and McD’s oatmeal had 32g of sugar!

*Steps off platform*

Kudos to fast food restaurants for offering some healthier options.  There’s definitely room for improvement, but it’s good to know there are choices if you are pressed for time and in need of breakfast.

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Lately, I’m craving cherries.  It could have something to do with this deliciousness.  (I just made this lemon-cherry vegan “cheese”… it is no joke, y’all.)

Technically these are cherry oats… but Cherry O’s sound sound much more fun!  Let’s be honest, I need fun in my liquid-y diet.


I LOVED these.  This is possibly my favorite fruit-oat combo to date.

Cherry-O’s

  • 1/2 C oatmeal
  • 1/2 C unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1/2 C frozen cherries
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • Shake of salt

Combine all ingredients in a pot and heat over medium-high heat, stirring combine and mashing mash bananas and cherries as the mixture heats.  Cook until done, stirring occasionally.  The slower you cook them, the fluffier they are!

Don’t forget the cherry on top. 🙂

***

It is February.  It is also 70 degrees and sunny.  Mother Nature, you are redeeming yourself today.

What is your favorite spring-like weather activity?

I don’t plan to be inside at all today. This calls for a hike!


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