Soy Milk...the sneaking continues...

[Ramen]

Over the weekend, I used the soy milk instead of milk in our cream of wheat AND in our muffins! Still using it in the coffee, and the boyfriend still hasn't caught on. <grin>

I can't wait to try the tofu as ricotta in the lasagna!

Anyway, thought I'd use this update as an excuse to troll for more ideas about healthy substitutions. Has anyone tried those "I can't believe its not beef" or tofu hotdogs? Think I could get away with that? It's not that I think he'd refuse to eat it if I DID tell him what it was; its just that sneaking is more fun.

[Cbyerman]

I have been successful in sneaking only very limited "non-meat meat" items in my VERY picky husband's diet. The most successful are Boca Burgers - Chef Max's Favorite. He says that he can hardly tell the difference between those and regular burgers - the texture is perfect (just microwave them - I have found the grilling dries them out). Also, Boca Nuggets are good, and the Morningstar Farms Buffalo Wings are my personal favorites - a little spicy, but great!

Good luck! Let us know how the tofu for ricotta substitution goes....

Caroline

[LGBurns]

I find that Gimme Lean makes a sausage that is a great substitute in recipes. I think it would be hard to sneak as just plain sausage (although my husband and I do like to have it with eggs). It definitely would pass for sausage in lasagna, on pizza or in a sausage based soup. The key is to be sure to brown it really well (follow the directions EXACTLY) and don't serve it cold. BTW Gimme Lean's ground meat substitute is yucky! I tried it in a casserole that called for ground beef and it was inedible.

[JHolcomb]

Morningstar Farms corn dogs are the best. I don't like to eat regular corn dogs that much because they make me feel funny-headachy and really dehydrated-even though I love the way they taste. The MSF ones are so good- not greasy and they taste better than the real thing-and when it comes to soy protien I am really picky. I don't like the taste of soy much at all. My dh (pickier than I am,even) admits that they are better than the real thing. They have to be baked in the oven, though, not the microwave.

There was this one soy milk that I really liked, but I can only find it in Ireland. It's called Soy Nice or something like that and the chocolate flavor is out of this world. It's the only soy milk that I like (I've tried every brand that my grocery store sells-I'm not kidding), and I'm allergic to cows milk, so I sneak goats milk into stuff. It's good, but so high in fat that I just never drink milk anymore. I've decided to start using calcium supps, though, 'cause something like 50 percent of women eventually get osteoporosis, which is a scary statistic.



[This message has been edited by JHolcomb (edited 01-15-2001).]

[Susann]

Completely out of character for dh and for me, he *loves* tofu pups, but I cannot eat them. It may be a tough sneak because, to me at least, they do not taste like the real thing.

Just wanted to let you know. I would hate for the gig to be up for you! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[56grapeape]

I was thinking about buying soy milk (vanilla flavored) for dh's coffee creamer, but, wanted some opinions first.

At my store we carry 4 different kinds, i guess the top 4 brands, and in reg. chocolate, and vanilla flavors. (Vitasoy, rice dream, and 2 others)
But what i wondered was WHY was it kept on the shelf and not in the fridge cooler???

Also it's like $2-3 a carton, much more than dh's reg creamers.

What are your favorite brands/flavors for soy milk?

Rachelle

[Angelina]

Soy milk sold in those cartons does not need refrigeration until it's opened. I never tried it in coffee! I just love the vanilla flavoured one straight. It's also great in hot chocolate and over cereal! I like it for its own taste, and not as a substitute for milk. And my sweet hubby loves it too.

[laughsandlaughs]

As for veggie hotdogs there are a few tips to make the transition painless...first, get a good brand...I personally can't eat "TofuPups" but really like the Yves brand and "Smartdogs". Morningstar Farms will get by in a pinch, but they're not my favorite. Second, follow the directions EXACTLY!! You can overcook these things and they become absolutely inedible. Otherwise they're great and I totally tricked my dad, who would have FREAKED had he known. HE didn't. Also do try the Morningstar Farms Corndogs and Mini-corn dogs. They're terrific, as are their Buffalo Wings, which someone else mentioned. My only tip here is to cook them in the oven instead of the microwave. The texture is majorly compromised by the steaming in the microwave. Some favorite ways to serve the Buffalo Wings...Chopped up in a salad with ranch dressing...in a wrap or a hoagie sandwich with lettuce, tomato, cheese, ranch and bbq sauce. (They're kind of spicy, but a sauce, be it ranch, bbq, whatever, definitely helps to cut that.

Finally, I've been using the Morningstar Farms Veggie Crumbles in some of the Cooking Light casserole type entrees that call for ground meat and can't tell the difference. This week I put about 2 cups in both the Chipotle Tamale Pie (Jan 2001) and in a jazzed up version of the Spaghetti Pie (May '00?) and as a still-meat-eater I couldn't tell the difference, especially because it's mixed with different textures, spices, etc.

Good luck!!

[AndreaU]

My husband & I are big fans of Morningstar Farms meatless products. Their Garden Veggie patties are great on an onion roll (or even on hearty whole wheat bread in a pinch). Chik Nuggets (with BBQ sauce or sweet & sour) and "Buffalo" Wings (with Bleu cheese dressing, of course) are a quick & easy meal. I agree with laughsandlaughs on the dogs- SmartDogs or Yves Veggie Weiners are better. And, one more plug for MSF... we haven't eaten a real breakfast sausage in probably 5 years (and don't really have the desire to switch back) because of their Breakfast Links. We've been known to sneak these past even the most anti-soy/tofu/healthy-food people! The patties, however, left something to be desired.

[kwormann]

We LOVE Its Soy Delicious ice cream and TVP is a great CHEEP substitute for ground beef in taco salad and chili!