Almost every dinner I cook contains MEAT!  More often than not, red meat!  All those steaks will take their toll on me one day which is why I really want to cut down.  Problem is I cant think of many dishes which dont contain lovely meat :D  I love veggies, but always feel the need to add...Yep, meat....Can anyone help me come up with some more healthy solutions to meal times that do not necessarily involve adding the meat part......
Sarah (Carnivore) :)

Beans are a good alternative, I 'made' acurry tonight with balck eyed beans and quorn pieces. When I say made I mean I put the beans, quorn and a jar of Bund sauce in a dish!! Then I couldn't be bothered with rice so did cous cous instead, sooo much easier.
You could also try cutting up veggie sausages(morrisons own in the freezer section are yummy)and putting them in caseroles.
If your brave you could try tofu but personally I think it's gross and I'm a veggie!!
These all contain the protein of meat and also lots of essential vits, and of course make a welcome change if you eat alot of meat. There are loads of types of beans, all different, my faves are th BE ones, flageolets, kidney and sometimes borlotti, it depens how theyare cooked too. Usually I ahte chick peas coz of that nasty shell/skin thing they have but each to his own. Trying buying a time of each and cook afew different stews with you fave herbs and spices(I love sage and it guarantees to keep my dad away as he hates the stuff!), go Indian, Thai, Mexican, my fave esp. with tacos and nachos with salad, yummy!!
Hope this had given you some ideas, I haven't eaten meat for over 10 years now so I like to think I know abotu alternatives to meat :D!!!
Emily xx

Delia Smith has done a recent book on vegetarian cookery and there's some nice stuff in there. I cook mostly vegetarian although i do have some fish now, mainly wild salmon. Just think, beans on toast is vegetarian ;)
I love tofu - fry it in olive oil so it has crispy bits on it, but it is an acquired taste i feel.
Check out the different Quorn things, some are good some not so good; experiment with say, pasta, tomato sauce and add mushrooms, maybe tuna; one of my fav. meals is home made fresh tomato sauce from Delia's book - it is sooo simple and so good, food of the gods (nearlysaid "dogs" there...!!)

Lindsay
X

Falafel is meat free and is gorgeous, just follow the recipe on a box of Orgran Falafel :)   - or you could make your own from scratch

Sarah,

I have a recipe for a fab bean chilli and you wouldn't miss meat at all, it has 3 different types of beans, mushrooms, peppers etc. in it to bulk it.   Let me know if you want the recipe.  It's been on here before & got the thumbs up from a couple of CD's.  :D

Christine

Lentils :- Cook as according to instructions but add a few carrots sliced, a diced potato or 2 & a clove or 2 of garlic, also use vegetable stock instead of water to cook them in :) I myself use chicken stock made from a couple of ch/legs then take the meat off them when their cooked & add it to finished product along with spanish chorizo but my daughter does it plain & it works well both ways :)

Chick peas:- do the same as above but add chopped toms, peppers & green beans. By the way don`t add salt when you cook the ch/peas, needs to be added after they`re cooked as it makes them hard. Also need to saok them overnight :)

Egg & potatoe omelete:-  Fry pots as for chips only make them bit smaller. Beatm 3-4 eggs add slivers of garlic(optional) & any cooked mixed veg like peas/corn/peppers etc. Mix all this in a bowl with beaten eggs then cook as for omelete. To turn it place a plate larger than frying pan over the top & turn it upside down so omelete is on the plate then slide it back into pan to finish cooking underside. Serve with salad & bread or slice it 7 make butties with it :D

Christine, Spain.

Christine could you email me that recipe ?  I make a veggie chilli with corgettes, mushrooms etc but havent tried the bean one yet :)

Rozzer, Quorn is a great meat alternative, I cook for myself and my OH and when he has meat I have some kind of quorn, even in chicken casseroles, I do two a chicken and leek one for him and a quorn fillet and mushroom one for me :)  OR I cook I massive veggie curry or chilli (eat some and freeze some) and let him cook his own :D :D

Give me time to rummage through all the c*** (Sorry, useful items of paper I keep stashed on top of the microwave) and I'll post it on here.   :D

Sounds lovely Christine, thanks very much for all the reply's - That lot will keep me busy for a bit :D
Sarah

As blondebird said, quorn is a great alternative. Both my husband and i are veggie and although just veggi dishes are lovley they can sometimes be expensive and take a while to prepair. I use quorn in the same way you would use meat so its great if your not used to making interesting vegetarian dishes.

Usually found in the freezer and fridge section the mince and chicken is easy and tasty and then there are things like burgers which are yummy, Cauldron (i think thats right) make some lovley sausages, very similar to 'real' ones they are so yummy but lower in fat etc.

Ooo you got me hungry now :D

I love the Linda McCartney mince and her sausages are wonderful too-and no, I'm not a vegetarian! :)

If using quorn add extra liquid as it is very absorbent.