Lent - Moral support may be needed ;)

NewShadow · 24 February 2017 at 5:04PM

Okay.

Not sure why - given I'm not religious - but I've decided to give up meat for lent this year. :eek::eek::eek:

March 1st - April 13th = 44 days.

Planning bacon pancakes breakfast noon and night on Tuesday

I know vegetarians might be sniggering up their sleeves at my attempt - but this is a big thing for me - I often eat meat twice a day and very rarely have a no meat at all day.

Breakfast is generally eggs or porridge, Lunch is sometimes a vegi rice/couscous thing, but dinner is most often lump'o'meat, mashed or baked potato and steam pack of veg.

I'm wanting to change my meat = meal way of thinking longer term so drastic measures are required to kick this off.

I'm giving up meat - not becoming vegi - so not worried about things like rennet in cheese or gelatine.

I tend to get swamped at work and shop monthly rather than daily or weekly so frozen, dry or tinned for most ingredients.

I don't want to do what comes to mind and just eat 'pasta with cheese' - cheese is great but I can see myself getting through a block a week. And I like 'food' - so I'm not keen on the idea of 'meat alternatives' or ready meals.

Oh, and I can't eat nuts.

What I've got so far:

Tarka daal - butter, garlic, onions, ginger, turmeric, cumin seed, cup of lentils, chopped toms, spinach, 2 cups water

Pilaf - onion, garlic, 1/2 cup rice, cumin, paprika, tomatoes, kidney beans, stock cube, spinach, cup of water

Savoury rice - onion, garlic, stock, turmeric, tomatoes, rice, frozen veg, fried egg on top

Mushroom Risotto - butter, mushrooms, garlic, onion, rice, stock, apple juice, quark

Veggie lentil chilli with wedges

On toast - cheese/ beans/egg/jam

On potato - cheese/coleslaw/beans

Omelette - cheese and/or mushroom

Roast dinner - everything but the 'roast' (any alternatives to 'nut loaf' given I can't eat nuts?)

Cooked breakfast - toast, beans, egg, mushrooms, hash brown

It would be great if people could suggest any other recipes that take a max 30 mins (or slow cooker), suitable for reducing volume to serve a singleton, and aren't nut/meat substitute based?

Also interested in if anyone else is giving up anything for lent - Any coping strategies in place, or just gonna wing it?

Thanks all

Islandmaid · 24 February 2017 at 5:12PM

New shadow - I'm not a veggie either, but we have a meatbfree day each week.

We enjoy Veg curries, chilli's etc

Will you use Quorn substitutes, if so you have mince, chicken and sausages to add.

Make sure you keep your protein up.

There are some amazing veggie recipes and I'm sure those with much more 'hands on' knowledge than me will be along soon.

Will watch this thread with interest

tensandunits_2 · 24 February 2017 at 5:29PM

For Lent I shall be giving up chocolates and shop-bought sweets/desserts. We eat far too many of those things in our house, they cost a lot and they're not all that good nutritionally.

oldtractor · 24 February 2017 at 5:30PM

try adding more veg to things and maybe make a few veggie curries, nice with boiled eggs

nonnie44 · 24 February 2017 at 5:36PM

No chocolate for me

NewShadow · 24 February 2017 at 5:43PM

Islandmaid wrote: »

New shadow - I'm not a veggie either, but we have a meatbfree day each week.

We enjoy Veg curries, chilli's etc

Will you use Quorn substitutes, if so you have mince, chicken and sausages to add.

I've always tried to have the odd meat free days - but those are the days I end up snacking on junk or a back of cheese because I don't 'feel' like I've had a real meal.

No - I really don't like quorn or the other 'artificial meats' - too synthetic for my taste.

oldtractor wrote: »

try adding more veg to things and maybe make a few veggie curries, nice with boiled eggs

A recipe (that isn't mostly fresh veg given how infrequently I get to the shops) would be amazing.

I've tried shakshuka - which was different, but nice - for breakfast. Not sure my head would count it as 'dinner'.

usernameisvalid · 24 February 2017 at 5:46PM

There's a lot of recipes for bean burgers , or even just a flat mushroom burger

Same as meatballs, can be made with beans or chick peas

I think there's some recipes in the index in the grocery challenge , if not look online

thriftylass · 24 February 2017 at 5:49PM

Could you eat fish instead a few meals?

NewShadow · 24 February 2017 at 5:51PM

usernameisvalid wrote: »

There's a lot of recipes for bean burgers , or even just a flat mushroom burger

Same as meatballs, can be made with beans or chick peas

I think there's some recipes in the index in the grocery challenge , if not look online

Thanks - I've been having a poke around (that's how I've pulled together the one's in the OP), but I always appreciate tried and tested recipes from fellow forumites.

Is there a particular bean burger recipe you've tried that's worked well for you?

Do the meatballs hold together if you cook them in a sauce (assuming you bake them first) or do you need to add them when serving? (silly question - I know).

NewShadow · 24 February 2017 at 5:53PM

thriftylass wrote: »

Could you eat fish instead a few meals?

I was counting fish as meat - sorry if not clear.

In the (not) words of Henry Tudor - 'Did it breathe?'

ETA - just bought some of the books I used to like when I lived at home. All 80's classics

:

Simply Delicious: A Vegetarian Cookbook (Rose Elliot)
Not Just a Load of Old Lentils (Rose Elliot)
The Pauper's Cookbook (Jocasta Innes)

Also looking for a copy of 'thrifty fifty' that's less than £5ish

edwink · 24 February 2017 at 5:55PM

Egg and tomato curry with some peas and carrots with a few spoons of lentils

Mushroom tagliatelle is another nice one with sliced mixed peppers in a light cheese sauce nice with oven roasted tomatoes in basil

Tortilla wraps filled with cooked mixed veg like mushrooms, peppers, spring onions, olives, sun dried tomatoes, rocket all mixed with cream cheese (can add quorn if you like)

Vegetable pizza with added mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and olives

HTH

Edwink

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Lent - Moral support may be needed ;)

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