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Remember To Include TVP
When Cooking Your Frugal Recipes
Let's talk about TVP.
In case you don't know what these three little letters mean, they stands for "Texturized Vegetable Protein." It's a soy product designed to resemble - and taste like - meat.
It's a great substitute for those of us (me included) who love meat and hate to give it up. It comes in either flakes or crumbles, and is available either dry or fresh, usually frozen state.
The fresh texturized vegetable protein is typically in beef flavor and resembles frozen, cooked ground beef. This food comes in several flavors, including beef, bacon, chicken and ham. I have used both the bacon and the beef flavored. I prefer the bacon flavored protein dry. It's good sprinkled on potatoes and salads.
The beef protein, on the other hand, is better reconstituted and added to a typical "meat" dish. This food can be used in any recipe that calls for meat. Use it in casseroles, on pizzas and in soups.
By the way, if you think you've never had this before you may be surprised. Schools and sometimes even fast food restaurants use this protein in their recipes. Typically they'll mix it in with the real meat, and you won't know the difference.
Although some think of it as a meat stretcher, it's good enough to stand on its own. Add it to chili or make a taco "meat" out of it.
So What Are the Benefits?
The savings in cost is one of the big pluses of using this protein. That's the main reason I have been using it for years. You can buy it in bulk and save a lot of money. I recently bought 50 pounds of it and spent about half of what the fresh stuff would have cost in the store.
Compared with the price of cooked ground beef, chicken or ham, the cost is much, much cheaper. Also, the dehydrated protein is an excellent "emergency" food, in that you can buy it in bulk and keep it on your shelf to use during the lean times.
Keep it in an airtight container and it will last for a long time.
Where Can You Get It?
I have ordered food in bulk from both Walton Feed and USA Emergency Supply. Walton Feed is probably the leader in bulk food orders, but I preferred USA Emergency Supply.
They have an online link so you can see where your shipping order is and when it will arrive.
When ordering in bulk from either of these places, you have to take into consideration the shipping costs. But generally, even with these added in, the substantial savings you'll find with TVP is worth it.
Frugal Cooking Links:
These Homemade Cheese Crackers are a healthy indulgence
Spaghetti pie - a frugal favorite!
Make fresh bread from whole grains with your grain mill.
Make healthy Corndogs for your kids.
This Lentil Rice Casserole is a family favorite.
How to turn a pumpkin into pie.
A cheesy vegetable quiche your family will love.
A Rose Petal Jam recipe.
This beefy bulgur vegetable soup recipe combines wheat berries and beef-flavored TVP.
Tips on baking with honey
Try this honey crockpot cake recipe!
Frugal Enchiladas - a family favorite.
How to make your own sweetened condensed milk.
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