Wheat Gluten Meat Substitute | The Practical Vegetarian

Wheat Gluten Meat Substitute | The Practical Vegetarian

Homemade Whole Wheat Quick Bread | The Practical Vegetarian

Quick whole wheat banana nut bread.

Make your own whole wheat bread from scratch! The nice part is that you don't have to spend all day; this recipe takes only about an hour!
Whole grains - including whole wheat - help trim your waist because they satisfy your tummy and give you a feeling of fullness.  Nutrition experts tell us that we should eat at least half of grains as whole rather than refined.
For best results, use 100% whole wheat flour from hard wheat like Bobs Red Mill 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour - 5 LB or King Arthur Flour - Premium 100% Whole Wheat Flour - 5 Lbs. (Pack of 3).

Whole wheat bread is waist-trimming.

Ingredients:
(Measurements are approximate; the batter consistency should be like thick cake batter but still quite moist.)

• 4 - 5 cups whole wheat flour, lightly sifted
• 2 1/2 cups 2% milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 - 2 teaspoons sea salt or Kosher salt
• 4 - 5 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 - 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)
• 1 large banana, peeled, mashed (optional)

Fruit and nuts are optional.  Serve hot or room temperature.

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350°; place baking shelf in center of oven. Oil and flour 2 loaf pans.
Lightly sift flour into large mixing bowl (use a wire sieve or sifter). Add all dry ingredients (not nuts) to sifted flour. Stir lightly with wooden spoon to mix ingredients.
To prepare wet ingredients, begin by whisking eggs in small mixing bowl just until frothy. Slowly add oil and stir with whisk. Add milk, honey, fruit, and nuts. Stir with whisk to mix well.
Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir vigorously with wooden spoon. Continue stirring to mix ingredients thoroughly. Batter should become like a thick cake batter; if it is too thick, add more milk a little at a time, stirring after each addition. Batter should be thick but pourable.
Pour batter into loaf pans to fill a little more than half way up to top. Place pans on shelf in middle of oven so that they don't touch each other.
Baking:
Bake 30 minutes; check by lightly tapping top with finger or by inserting toothpick. If top feels firm, bake another 5 minutes. After 35 minutes, if top still feels soft, bake in 2 minute intervals until done.
Remove from oven and cool for 2 -3 minutes on stovetop or table.
Remove from pan by lightly running butter knife around edges and tapping bottom of pan; then invert pan on cutting board or plate. It's best to wrap bread in foil while still warm. Bread can be immediately frozen while still warm.


Homemade Whole Wheat Quick Bread | The Practical Vegetarian

Pleasant Changes On The Way

My author page on Amazon.com will see some pleasant additions in the next few weeks.  I will be adding some new titles - including for Kindle.  I will also be including some new instructional cooking videos, plus new surprises!  Right now, you can view my textured vegetable video and my current titles including The Practical Vegetarian and all other titles by vegetarian Mary Curtis.

Activity is Key to Winning Battle of the Holiday Bulge

Most of us look forward to celebrating with family and friends during this season but we don't look forward to the dreaded weight gain that comes from too many festivities.  I remember years ago when a friend of mine told me to expect to gain "at least 5 pounds" between Thanksgiving and the new year.  Five pounds?  That's enough to make the waist band on your favorite slacks not fit!
Instead of caving into such a compromise of ceding a few pounds every year, I instead did a little research and, by using creativity to come up with some ideas, have devised a way to keep those dreaded pounds away and still have fun during the Holidays!
What I have discovered is that activity is the key to countering any potential weight gain.  You don't have to deny yourself the parties, cookies, candies, and festive dinner gatherings with long-missed friends and family.  Instead, realize that with these festivities will be increased calories from all the food and drink no matter how moderate your portions.  So, add more physical activity to your daily schedule to burn those extra calories.  Simple, right?
Except that in the real world we don't have time for long workouts.  No problem though...that's where your innovative spirit and creativity come into play.  Below are a few tips I've come up with to get you started.  You can adapt them, let me know of more you've come up with:

• Park toward the back of the parking lot when you're shopping.  You will always find a parking space at the end of the row and the round-trip walk will burn calories!
• Use the shopping mall as a place to walk off extra calories.  Wear your walking shoes when you go shopping and enter the mall at the opposite end of where you plan to shop.  Many malls stay open later too so you can even stop in after work and walk to get some exercise in a safe environment.
• Don't heap mounds of food on your plate at dinners or parties.  Instead sample everything and take only a bite or two.  In that way, you are complementing the chef and satisfying your own cravings without a bunch a calories.
• When watching TV in the evening, lift hand weights or do leg lifts instead of just sitting there.  During commercials, stand up and walk around the room or do some stretches.
• At work, schedule walking meetings rather than sitting.
• Eat low-cal low-fat and vegetarian foods between Holiday parties and dinners.
• For some vegetarian recipes, go here.

Have a wonderful and healthy Holiday and New Year.  Let me know of any more ideas you have to shed calories or add activity to your daily schedule.

Amazon.com: Compete With Meat: Vegetarian Cooking Guide to Please Everyone at the Table (Including Meat Eaters)! (9781430324669): Mary Curtis: Books

Amazon.com: Compete With Meat: Vegetarian Cooking Guide to Please Everyone at the Table (Including Meat Eaters)! (9781430324669): Mary Curtis: Books

Amazon.com: The Practical Vegetarian (9781434341693): Mary Curtis: Books

Amazon.com: The Practical Vegetarian (9781434341693): Mary Curtis: Books

Textured Vegetable Protein Video

My short (less than 3 minutes)video shows you how easy it is to prepare t.v.p. to use as a low-fat alternative to hamburger:

This video is also available on my Amazon Author Page.