Budget friendly, simple recipes

If you've never used TVP, this recipe rocks. TVP( textured vegetable protein) is soybeans with the starch taken out. It's also super cheap. It can be used in chili and spaghetti sauce easily. If you do cut it with actual meat, never use a fatty meat as the TVP will soak all the fat up.

Vegan Sloppy Joes

"This filling sandwich has a surprise ingredient, cashews!"
Ingredients

1 cup rough granulated textured vegetable protein
1/3 cup diced bell pepper ( I use small can of green chiles instead)
1/3 cup diced onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup barbecue sauce, of choice
1/3 cup roasted and salted cashew pieces
yellow mustard ( about 1 tablespoon)
hot sauce (several drops)
salt and pepper, as desired
6 split hamburger buns

Directions

Put oil and vegetables into 2 quart saucepan.
Saute until veggies begin to wilt and add the TVP, and enough water to prevent sticking.
Stir and add water until TVP begins to swell, and add the BBQ sauce.
Stir often and add more water as needed.
Taste and add mustard, hot sauce, and pepper as you choose.
When satisfied with basic flavor, add the cashews.
Do not salt until you taste again.
Serve on buns.

Page 2 of 2TVP and Cashew BBQ, Vegan Delight (cont.)
Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 (115 g)

Servings Per Recipe: 6

Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Calories 273.1

Calories from Fat 90
33%

Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value
Total Fat 10.0g
15%
Saturated Fat 1.8g
9%
Cholesterol 0.0mg
0%
Sugars 14.5 g
Sodium 561.0mg
23%
Total Carbohydrate 40.5g
13%
Dietary Fiber 1.7g
6%
Sugars 14.5 g
58%
Protein 5.5g
11%

Totally understand if you aren't into tofu - it's not for everyone. Have you tried tempeh? It's a fermented soy product. I had a tempeh burger once which was out of this world. Sadly, I never got the recipe from my friend before she dropped off the face of the planet.