What's on your Wednesday Menu?

Opposite you is basically my worst nightmare!

Mernin' errybody!

QOTD - I am a carnivore, religious control freak who despises animals and nature and prefers TV to music, and would never engage in crazy new-aged stuff like crystals, tarot, divination, yoga, or any of that crazy stuff!

Breakfast - oat milk latte with Abuelita

Lunch - Going Mexican! There's a local place that has delicious vegan tacos, I'm all about it

Dinner - Tofu scramble, with veggies and vegan cheese on corn

I hope you all have a great day!

Tips on Tofu ( Brands to buy) and preparation Please!!!!

Absolutely!

1st, brand typically isn't an issue. The hard or super firm is what you want. What I do is open it up, and save the liquid and put it into a new container (including the liquid. You can add filtered water to keep it covered in the fridge for a couple of days. I cut it into slices about 3/4 of an inch thick.

I usually work with a couple of slices at a time (serving size for me).

For tofu egg patties, I would slice them about 1/4 inch thick.

Press your tofu!

Paper towels, place two (folded) on the bottom, two on top of tofu. Place something heavy on them, like a book, and leave them alone for a few minutes. That's it. Hard or super firm tofu, to begin with, will have the least amount of water in them.

Tofu scramble - (keep in mind, I use as many vegan products as I can, so you can substitute butter where I have plant butter)

In a small pan, melt 1-2 teaspoons of plant butter (I like avocado) and sometimes I use more depending on my mood and need for fat intake

You can literally include anything. I typically throw in chopped onions, and chopped and massaged fresh kale, or chopped frozen kale, tomatoes, etc. Whatever you like. Once it's all cooked together, I salt and pepper to taste, and then kinda "squeeze" my tofu until it's a scrambled egg consistency and scramble it all together. This is when I would add in some garlic, and nutritional yeast (I like Braggs, it's on the same aisle as the baking goods like flour, sugar, etc.). Nutritional yeast adds B12 and gives it a cheesy, eggy flavor. Once it's all heated through, serve it on tortillas with refried beans on the side, or with potatoes, however, you like it. You can put it on toast, corn or flour tortillas, or if watching carbs just eat to your heart content with cheese or vegan cheese, or not. It's delicious. It will taste like eggs without cholesterol.

Crispy Fried Tofu -

Cut tofu into 3/4 slices, and press as before

Cut into cubes

In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of oil (I use canola), 1 tablespoon of water, 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce (I use liquid aminos, Braggs, as well because it's vegan)

Once it's all combined, toss in the tofu cubes, mix completely until all cubes are covered. You can add garlic, or other flavors if you like.

I use an air fryer and do 400 degrees about 6-7 minutes a side (I check frequently, sometimes more depending on the air fryer). You can also bake in the oven on parchment paper for about 30-35 mins, flip after 15 mins. Parchment paper is key so it doesn't stick.

You can also pan fry. If you do this, get the pan hot, (I like nonstick, I know not everyone does) and then spray a light coat of your choice of spray oil, then toss the tofu in and fry to your heart's desired crispy texture). This is my least favorite way, it takes more effort.

These are the ways I cook tofu most often. The scramble, it's so easy and you can switch it up with the flavors, and add ANYTHING to it. Sometimes I add beans, sometimes frozen veggies, and its so filling, with no guilt. Makes me happy!

Hope this helps!

Thank you - great help. Prior to the Pandemic I would travel to China for Business and I ate Tofu at almost every meal, found I could not duplicate it. I see that my pre-cook lack of prep is why I could not achieve the consistency I was looking for...too much water.....I will be trying these and will be sure to let you know how I do!

It was definitely a lot of trial and error on my part!

Thanks again!

Oh, I am going to have to try the air fryer recipe

Game changer, it's so easy! I hate how much I use the air fryer, but we eat a lot more broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc.

I make baked tofu in my air fryer, too. So easy!