Seitan recipes

Seitan is derived from the protein portion of wheat. It stands in for meat in many recipes and works so well that a number of vegetarians avoid it because the texture is too "meaty." - http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vjseitan.htm

Quick Homemade Gluten(Makes 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds or 2 to 2-1/2 cups)

This is the basic recipe for gluten.

2 cups gluten flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1-1/4 cups water or vegetable stock
3 Tablespoons lite tamari, Braggs liquid amino acids, or soy sauce
1-3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (optional)

Add garlic powder and ginger to flour and stir. Mix liquids together and add to flour mixture all at once. Mix vigorously with a fork. When it forms a stiff dough knead it 10 to 15 times.

Let the dough rest 2 to 5 minutes, then knead it a few more times. Let it rest another 15 minutes before proceeding.

Cut gluten into 6 to 8 pieces and stretch into thin cutlets. Simmer in broth for 30 to 60 minutes.

Broth:
4 cups water
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
3-inch piece of kombu (a type of seaweed)
3-4 slices ginger (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring broth to a boil. Add cutlets one at a time. Reduce heat to barely simmer when saucepan is covered. Seitan may be used, refrigerated, or frozen at this point.

Total Calories per 4 oz. Serving: 77
Fat: 0 grams


Seitan and Shiitake Mushroom Stroganoff (Serves 4)

Savor this hearty dish.

Vegetable cooking spray
1 Tablespoon oil
1 onion, chopped
8-12 ounces seitan cutlets, cut into chunks
1 carrot, finely cut or shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
6 to 10 dried or fresh shiitake mushrooms (If dried they need to be soaked for at least 30 minutes and then drained.), sliced
1 Tablespoon Bragg liquid amino acids, lite tamari, or soy sauce
5 ounces silken lite firm or extra firm tofu
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon arrowroot
1 teaspoon sweetener
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup chopped parsley, for garnish

Spray a wok or large sauté pan with cooking spray. Add the oil and heat. When the oil is hot, add the onion and seitan and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the carrot, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms release their water. Add liquid aminos and cook until almost all absorbed.

While the mushroom mixture is cooking blend the tofu, lemon juice, arrowroot, and sweetener in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Turn off heat and add the tofu mixture. Stir to combine. If heat is too high the tofu mixture will break apart and curdle. Add freshly ground pepper. Top with parsley and serve over hot noodles.

Total Calories per Serving: 135
Fat: 4 grams

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

100 Years - Five for Fighting

"100 Years"

I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind
I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy, Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I'm all right with you
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...
I'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you’re on your way
Every day's a new day...
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live

I still dread seeing that name
broiled into my brain
flamed by hope and blind trust
setup to be ground into dust
so there's never a way to save face
there's no way to be friends
No place I can stand to see you again

I wanted to rage, but my soul is tired
of the games and lies that conspired
against me, so now I just recall
you only gave me words after all
Words that don't walk and talk on their own
Or hold you anywhere except frozen

what started out as rope got tangled up in you and me
so I hope you know you're forgiven, feel free
Carrying regret just slows me down
and Lord knows, there's shitloads of that in our hometown

The B in a "B"LT

From Mark Reynolds - his recreation of the "B" in the "B"LT at Aux Vivres in Montreal :

Vege 'bacon': 'sliced' coconut, Braggs, maple syrup, liquid hickory smoke, smoked paprika, olive oil.
I usually add in beet powder for colour, but didn't have any so used red food colouring this time.
There are no measured amounts. I just 'freehand' this one.

The tricky part is the roasting. 300-325, constantly watched & stirred (edge of cookie sheet browns before the middle).

Will be trying this as soon as I find sliced coconut....

Vegetarian Hoppin John
Time 130 minutes
Serves 6

Ingredients
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(NOTE: Overnight soaking time is NOT included in the prep time.)

1 pound dry black-eyed peas
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon basil
Cayenne pepper
Sea salt
Black pepper, freshly ground
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 red onions, chopped, and some extra for garnish
1 yellow pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 or 5 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (28 ounces) tomatoes
2 1/2 cups COOKED brown rice

How to make it
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Rinse and clean the peas, then soak in fresh cold water overnight. In the morning, drain and rinse the beans. Put them into a heavy soup pot and cover with more fresh cold water.

Bring this to a boil and add the seasonings. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, checking often, to add more water if needed.

In a medium skillet, heat the oil and saute the 2 chopped red onions for 3 minutes. Add the yellow pepper, celery and garlic, and saute until tender.

When the peas are done, add the sauteed vegetables, tomatoes and cooked rice. Stir together well and heat through for another 5 to 10 minutes.

Adjust the seasonings.

Serve garnished with more chopped red onion, and hot sauce if you like. This is great with cornbread.