TVP Sausage Crumbles(vegan)

Y'know, I get really frustrated with this computer sometimes...especially when it's my own fault and I click the wrong button at the wrong time, and post a post before it's ready, lol. I bet you've done that once or twice, also, right? Sure ya have...and if you haven't, I'm sure you will!!!

I don't remember if I posted this last week or not, but Saturday afternoon I went back to my doctor, for refill prescriptions and the results of the CT scan. First of all, whoever has been praying for me, thank you, thank you, thank you! The mass in my kidney was just a cyst, praise God. But. Check this out: I have kidney stones! Huh? Me? Ummm, no, thank you, I do NOT want them, lol. So far they haven't bothered me at all, and I was totally astounded to see that I had them. I also have some hardening of the arteries, which I don't like.

And I don't remember if I posted this or not, but because my old washing machine was dying, slowly and painfully, I put it out of its misery last Friday, and had a "new" one delivered and hooked up. And it works, and it looks good. So I'm pleased.

For whatever reason, I got up at 3:30 this morning. Mainly because I was tired of waking up, going back to sleep, waking up, going back to sleep, ad nauseum, sigh. Now it's about 7:45am, Eastern time, and so far this morning, I have washed two loads of laundry. The white load is folded and put away, and the dark load is hanging up to dry. Changed the linens on the bed. Swished the toilet and swiped the sink, and mopped the bathroom floor. Took the trash out. Washed the dishes. Swept and mopped the kitchen floor. And of course I'm dressed, complete with shoes and...ugh...bra. Even put on a little makeup this morning, but have no idea why. I'm not going anywhere today...at least, I HOPE I'm not going anywhere today, lol. Now I'm hungry, and just about ready to fall asleep right here at the computer, lol. But first, a recipe for you, using TVP, which I've recently discovered, and really and truly enjoy using. I found this recipe on www.vegweb.com
and it was donated by "peppermint stix." The honey and the liquid smoke that I added weren't in the original recipe, but they were suggested by a couple people that had critiqued the recipe. I read about ten, I think, and every one of them really loved this stuff.

TVP is textured vegetable protein, or soy protein, if you prefer, and I have no idea how it's made. It is used as a vegetarian/vegan meat substitute, but don't expect to actually taste any meat when you use it, even tho it does have a pleasant flavor, and I love the texture. I found mine at Kroger, in the natural foods/health foods department, so if you grocery shop at Kroger, or, a big supermarket, chances are good that you'll find it there, rather than having to make a special trip to a health foods store. Which I would LOVE to do...mainly to Sevenanda, in Little Five Points, Atlanta. Anyway.................................

TVP Sausage Crumbles

2 Tbs. soy sauce or Tamari
1 tsp. EACH onion powder and sage
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp EACH fennel seeds and thyme
1/8 tsp EACH cayenne pepper and black pepper
salt to taste
1C boiling water[I also added 1 tsp. liquid smoke and 2 tsp. honey, right in the water, to mix it evenly with the other ingredients.]
1C TVP
2-3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients except Tvp, water, and evoo. Pour the boiling water, with the liquid smoke and honey[IF you choose to use them], over everything, and mix it together. Add the cup of TVP, stir well, and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Taste to see if seasonings need adjusting.

Put the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add mixture, and fry until well browned. You may need more oil if the pan becomes too dry.

These are great on pizza, in spaghetti sauce, and with scrambled tofu.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Variation: form into 2 inch balls and flatten slightly into patties, then fry.

Now, I hate to tell you this, but, unlike the glowing reviews this got on vegweb.com, I didn't like it very much at all. There was too much fennel flavor, for one thing, and the two peppers made it too "hot" for me. I made a gravy out of it, with half water and half soy milk, using cornstarch as a thickener, and spooned it over hot, buttered biscuits. Making the gravy helped to lighten the spice taste somewhat, but still not enough. But, even so, I ate it again the next night, and rather than throw it away, I froze what I didn't eat right then. It's a meal, and I really do hate to waste food. Will I make it again? Probably, but I don't think I'll use any cayenne at all, just the black pepper, and either much less fennel seed, or, none at all.

Last Friday I gave you a recipe for Chickpea Cutlets, and when I made them myself, I had two left over. I put those in a baggie, and then in the refrigerator. Last night I hauled them out, diced them fairly small, and made an onion gravy with them. Now, THAT was good. That was VERY good. All I did was to fry a thinly sliced medium onion, then add the small cubes of the cutlets, and let them both brown up some. Then I covered the cutlets with a healthy dollop of Kroger brand "1883" steak sauce, their version of 57 Sauce, and is very good. Once that was all stirred thru the onions and cubes, I dumped about two cups of water into the whole shebang, and then a mixture of cornstarch and water, to thicken it all, which it certainly did. In fact, I had to use more water, as it was pretty thick. I spooned a good bit of it over a hamburger bun, heated some canned corn, and dined like royalty, lol. It was very good, and to my delight, there is some leftover, so guess what supper is tonight?!?!?

Since I'm starving, and I can't think of anything to say, I'm leaving you! Until next time, Happy Eating!!