Lenten meals

Admittedly, I have not been the best food blogger this past year. I don't think I would even call myself a food blogger these days, but I am reposting my list of suggested Meatless Meals, along with just a few that I posted in the past year. Hopefully it will help you get through Lent without too much suffering (although I guess that is the point, right?). Just try not to enjoy your meals too much.

 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
Fish Tacos with Lime Sauce  

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
Lidia's Polenta

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
Chicago Style Pizza
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
German Pancake

Meatless

For your quick reference, I am posting a list of all of my favorite meatless recipes. I am currently reading What Would Jesus Eat? and hoping for some Lenten menu inspiration. I'll be sure to let you know if I come across anything earth-shattering. In the meantime, I'll be eating off this list for Lent this year.

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

ihop Pancakes

Because pancakes are a traditional Shrove Tuesday dish, I thought I'd get this recipe up for you.I saw it at Starry Sky Ranch, and though I have a favorite Buttermilk Pancake recipe, I couldn't resist the ihop recipe. They are really yummy, and actually very similar to Alton's recipe (my other favorite). Maybe you'll make some for lunch today -- delicious and comforting and very Shrove-like. And if you need a little sumpin sumpin later, be sure to whip up some Fastnachts. Yum.

iHop Pancakes

1 1/4 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
2 1/2 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
2 T. vegetable oil
1 egg ( slightly beaten )
1 1/2 c. buttermilk 

Mix (do no overmix!) and bake on a hot griddle.

Source: copykat via Starry Sky Ranch

President Reagan's Macaroni and Cheese

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A few weeks ago, just before the mid-term elections, a girlfriend gave me a cookbook that was published by Mike DeWine's campaign office. DeWine is a former U.S. senator and was running recently (and won the election) for  attorney general for the state of Ohio. The cookbook is just a small one, but is filled with family favorites, and I found more than a few I'd like to try. They are just, for the most part, good homey recipes.

This one caught my eye because it was my favorite president's recipe. I tried it a few weeks ago for a Friday night supper and my family looooved it. I have tried about a million and one recipes for macaroni and cheese and have never found one that was just perfect. I think I can stop trying now. And the best part -- it could hardly be easier. No white sauce necessary, just mix the ingredients and pour over cooked macaroni. I used the sharp cheddar called for in the recipe for a really tangy flavor, but I imagine this recipe could be made with almost any combination of cheeses (but I think you need to stick to sharp cheddar in order to call it President Reagan's Macaroni and Cheese!).

This is good, old-fashioned comfort food at its best. It was great as a main dish, and super for meatless Fridays.

President Reagan's Macaroni and Cheese

8 oz. macaroni, boiled to al dente and drained

1 t. butter

1 egg, beaten

3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 t. dry mustard

1 t. salt

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a buttered casserole dish, pour macaroni.

Toss with butter, egg and 2 1/2 cups cheddar.

In a small bowl, whisk milk with salt and powdered mustard.

Pour milk over macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle with remaining half cup cheese.

Bake for 45 minutes until custard is set.

Printer version

Source: Fran DeWine's Family Favorites

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Meatless

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I am republishing my post from Lent last year, and have added to it the meatless meals I have posted since then.

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Cooking during Lent is a challenge for most people (well, Lent is suppose to do that to us, isn't it?). We all grew up with a handful of meatless meals to choose from, some of which we'd rather forget. And, if you're like me, you don't go for those pricey, but delicious, pieces of fish, when your Friday meal is supposed to be sacrifice. I know I'd love to dive into a steamed lobster with clarified butter on meatless Fridays, but I don't indulge in that normally, so I won't indulge during Lent either.

I've listed here some of the meatless meals that I go to all year long. Some of them are "mine" (i.e., I've posted them before) and some are links I've saved. I've tried them all, though, so I know that they are good.

Seafood:
Deviled Crab (serve with toast points or rice, and a salad or green vegetable)
Paula's Cajun Fiery Shrimp (if shrimp is not so expensive for you)
Linguine and Clam Sauce (we just have a loaf of crusty bread for this dish)
Incredible Tuna Pea Salad
Salmon Tetrazzini (very budget friendly, serve with a green salad)
Penne and Vodka Sauce (try Deborah's Farmhouse Cheddar Muffins with this)
Shrimp Fried Rice and Egg Rolls
Asian Salmon (maybe you'll find a good deal; I serve this 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)
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)

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 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

Beans:
Cuban Beans and Rice (leave out the ham -- you won't miss it)

Grains:
Grits and Tomato Gravy (just serve these with some scrambled eggs and a fruit salad)

Vegetables
Carrot and Squash Bake


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)

Breakfast for dinner:
Overnight French Toast (serve with a fruit salad)
Blueberry French Toast

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