Please also check Catholic Cuisine for a variety of Lenten specials.
A few notes on the spirit of abstaining:
I have said before that I don't think eating cedar-plank grilled salmon or shrimp scampi is a sacrifice, especially if you live somewhere like me and fresh (frozen) fish is expensive. The point behind abstaining from meat is to sacrifice something. If you sacrifice ground beef in favor of $12.99 fresh fish, that's not much of a sacrifice, is it?
Some people avoid meat broth on days of abstinence. I don't really think it's a big deal to use canned chicken broth in soup, but if you feel like you are doing something wrong, use vegetable. This article says abstinence does not include meat liquid, but this one is less clear (I always say if you ask ten priests, you'll get ten different answers). Use your own conscience and stay within the spirit of the law. I guess I think it would be more in the spirit of the law to eat broccoli soup made with chicken broth than cedar plank grilled salmon (I might just serve that on Easter this year!).
Fish:
Deviled Crab (serve with toast points or rice, and a salad or green vegetable)
Paula's Cajun Fiery Shrimp (if shrimp is not expensive for you)
Linguine and Clam Sauce (we just have a loaf of crusty bread for this dish)
Incredible Tuna Pea Salad (great lunch food)
Salmon Tetrazzini (very budget friendly, serve with a green salad)
Shrimp Fried Rice and Egg Rolls (or just buy frozen egg rolls!)
Asian Salmon (maybe you'll find a good deal; When I serve this, I serve it with white rice and some stir-fried veggies)
Cornmeal Crusted Catfish Nuggets (serve with macaroni and cheese or scalloped potatoes and a vegetable)
Salmon Nicoise Salad (the use of canned salmon in the recipe makes it not an indulgence in my book)
Chopped Nicoise Salad ( a lighter version than the one above)
Shrimp Scampi Pizza (there are very few shrimp on this pizza, so it's not really very indulgent)
Hot Pepper Shrimp (again, if shrimp are abundant where you live, this is not a splurge)
Light and Spicy Fish (very good, serve with some garlic mashed potatoes and a green vegetable)
Salmon Patties (always served with baked macaroni and cheese and peas in our house)
Spicy Citrus Tuna Salad
Pasta:
Bow Tie Lasagna (just a salad and some good bread balance this meal out)
Gnocchi and Fontina Cheese Sauce (plan a green salad to go with this dish)
Linguine and Clam Sauce (we just have a loaf of crusty bread and salad to go with this dish)
Noodles with Garlic and Breadcrumbs
Potato Gnocchi and Tomato Sauce
Bucatini and Fontina Cheese Sauce
Stuffed Shells
Cheese Ravioli with Balsamic Browned Butter
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese (great to go along with salmon patties, or just with a veggie on the side)
Baked Macaroni and Cheese (great as a side or a main dish)
Spaghetti with Artichokes and Tomatoes
Tuna Noodle Casserole
Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese with veggies ( a lighter version -- omit the ham)
Greek Pasta -- serve with a loaf of crusty bread or rolls and maybe a fresh Greek salad
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna
Tomato, Basil and Artichoke Baked Pasta
Beans:
Cuban Beans and Rice (leave out the ham -- you won't miss it)
Pinto Bean Nachos
Tortilla and Black Bean Pie
Grains:
Grits and Tomato Gravy (just serve these with some scrambled eggs and a fruit salad)
Vegetables
Carrot and Squash Bake
Sandwiches:
Roasted Red Pepper and Avocado Sandwich
Roasted Veggie Sandwich
Mediterranean Veggie Pita
Cheese:
Welsh Rarebit
Chilaquiles (this would be good with a Mexican cabbage salad or a Bean and Corn Salad)
Soup:
Split Pea Soup (just leave out the ham)
Cream of Cheese and Broccoli Soup (use vegetable broth instead of chicken)
Crock Pot Potato Soup (use vegetable bouillon)
Clam Chowder (serve with some good cornbread)
Creamy Cauliflower Soup (substitute veggie broth for chicken)
Cream of Potato Soup (use water instead of chicken broth if you like)
Black Bean Soup with Fresh salsa
Breakfast for dinner:
Overnight French Toast (serve with a fruit salad)
Blueberry French Toast
Polish pancakes (serve with a fruit salad)
Asiago Cheese Bagel Bake
2 comments:
Wow, Barbara, thanks for doing so much work for us! Your spiritual guidance is always appreciated. I have WWJE on my reading list, too, plus the cookbook that goes with it.
Also, we fast on Wednesdays AND Fridays during Lent - always have - but especially now that we are over 65 and have health issues that make other forms of penitence more difficult. For what it's worth, I totally agree with you about eating expensive fish which is certainly NOT abstinence because it's no sacrifice at all. But, you know, abstaining from meat in all its forms, including canned broth, is not so hard. While none of us should be overly scrupulous (I don't think the Lord wants that from us.), we should not make such a big deal of going without meat in all forms on the Fridays during Lent. It's the least we can do.
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