Fasting in the Wild

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Lent is upon us -- 40 days and 40 nights. Though we will not be fasting in the desert, most of us try to make sacrifices, and often they are food. I think we can all agree that chocolate, sweet treats, and soda are unnecessary to any diet, and so they are good sacrifices. As Catholics, we offer up meat on Friday and I think many families try to eat meatless more than once a week.

Today, I am listing many of our favorite meatless meals. All are tried and true, or they wouldn't be on the list. I've said before that I don't think eating shrimp or other expensive seafood is much of a sacrifice (just look at the price you pay), but that's because I live in Ohio where fresh seafood is extravagant. Therefore, the seafood recipes that are on the list would be only for you if you live where seafood is abundant and not such a treat (that is, if you're following my rules!). ;-)

Balance out any meal with some bread or a green salad -- see my sidebar and click on "Bread/rolls" or "Salads."

Cheese and/or Beans
Bean and Cheese Nachos -- with guacamole and salsa and meal of their own -- low fat
Tortilla and Black Bean pie -- a frugal recipe
Cuban Black Beans and rice -- just leave out the meat and add a few teaspoons of vegetable bouillon when the beans are cooked; these are also very low in fat without the meat
Welsh Rarebit -- good with the bread recipe found at the same link
Chilaquiles -- good with a fresh corn salad like this one

Veggies
Carrot and Squash Bake -- hearty enough for a main course

Pasta
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
Tomato, Basil and Artichoke Baked Pasta
Gnocchi and Fontina Cheese Sauce -- or served with another past like Bucatini
Potato Gnocchi and Tomato Sauce
Bowtie Lasagna -- after years of eating this dish my kids still don't know it has squash in it
Stuffed Shells
Cheese Ravioli and Balsamic Browned Butter

Soup
Cream of Potato Soup
Creamy Clam Chowder -- we like ours with Corn Bread
Black Bean Soup with Fresh Salsa -- just add a loaf of any good crusty bread; a low fat recipe
Broccoli Cheese Soup -- use vegetable broth instead of chicken and serve in bread bowls for a special treat

Seafood
Shrimp Scampi
Cornmeal Crusted Catfish Nuggets
Spicy Citrus Tuna Salad -- low fat
Fiery Cajun Shrimp
Linguine and Clam Sauce -- all you need is some bread
Deviled Crab -- serve with toast points, rice and a green salad or vegetable
Incredible Tuna Green Pea Salad
Salmon Nicoise Salad -- Budget Version -- low fat with a reduced fat salad dressing
Shrimp Scampi Pizza -- in case you have just a few pesky shrimp hanging around
Hot Pepper Shrimp
Light and Spicy Fish -- great with some garlic mashed potatoes and a green vegetable; great low fat recipe
Salmon Patties -- always served with baked macaroni and cheese and peas at our house

Breakfast for Dinner
Overnight French Toast -- good with a yogurt and fruit parfait or some sauteed apples
Blueberry French Toast --serve with fresh fruit
Cheesy Grits and Tomato Gravy -- serve with scrambled eggs and fresh fruit
Asiago Cheese Bagel Bake -- just add a green or fruit salad


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