You Sacrificed Eating Meat? (OUTSPOKEN_DIVA'S Favorite Recipes)

That's how some sound when you tell them you observe Lent. Lent is a religious observance in the Christian calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends around six weeks later, before Easter Sunday. The purpose is the preparation of the believer through prayer, repentance of sins, and self-denial. Many Christians commit to fasting, by relinquishing certain luxuries in order to replicate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ's time in the desert for 40 days. Many also add a Lenten based reading a daily devotional or praying through a Lenten calendar, to draw themselves near to God. All Christians do not participate in Lent. I was introduced to Lent in college, but didn't fully incorporated into my life until my late 20s.

One of the luxuries given up is eating meat. Most go meat free on Ash Wednesday & every Friday leading up to Easter. Some eat meatless meals all 40 days of Lent. Eating meatless can be difficult, if you let it. Dinner for me can be the hardest, but I pray throu it. Breakfast is easiest, because most of morning meals ideas are meatless. My favorite Lenten recipes are my go to meatless meals, even outside of the season of Lent.

My mother watches food & dining television with & without me. And it is not an unusual sight to see her take mental notes on a recipe. Pecan-Cranberry Salad is the result of her tv watching. It is a bright in flavor & simple to make. 

Pecan-Cranberry Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 cups packed torn fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 medium white onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup pecan pieces, toasted
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 to 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cranberries, onion, and pecans. 
2. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, & garlic, until blended. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. 
3. Serve immediately.

In classical cooking, this is considered a peasant meal. Pasta Puttanesca means spaghetti for whores in Italian. Traditional puttanesca has anchovies not zucchini in it. I'm not a fan of the little fishes, but zucchini is a good & less salty substitute. Peasants like their blood pressure low.
Zucchini Pasta Puttanesca

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1 lb linguini
• 3 cloves garlic chopped
• 3/4 cup pitted black olives, chopped
• 1/4 cup green olives, sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 zucchini, chopped
• 1 ounce can crushed tomatoes 
• 1/3 cup chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over a medium flame. Add the onions and saute until soft.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, salt abundantly, and add the pasta. Drain when al dente.
3. Add garlic, olives, zucchini, red pepper flakes and oregano to the skillet, and saute for 2 minutes more.
4. Add the tomatoes and parsley and simmer until sauce is thicken slightly.
5. Transfer the spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce and toss well.
6. Serve immediately.

Imitation Crab a*k*a Krab is actually made with Surimi, a whitefish that is ground then  joined with wheat starch & egg whites to resemble a crab leg. Imitation crap tastes good to me. It is also rather affordable than the seafood it intimidates. And even though the protein is not the highest quality product, it goes great with fresher ingredients like yogurt & celery to make simple dish.

"Crab" Salad with Herb Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 cup of chopped imitation crab
• ¾ cup of plain non-fat yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon of Mrs Dash Onion & Herb
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• ¼ cup carrot, shredded
• 1 celery stock chopped

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl add the crab, yogurt, seasonings, garlic, carrot, & celery.
2. Mix together and chill for at least 1 hour
3. Serve with crackers of your choice

I also like making veggie patties that do not contain beans, peas, or tofu. And thanks to IHop for inspiring my favorite meat-less breakfast, a spinach-mushrooom hashbrown stacker.

No matter how one chooses to commemorate Lent, remember the ultimate sacrifice it symbolizes. An innocent man who laid his life for his friends. That's why I observe Lent, I am his friend.

As AlwaysTalking to You In Adult Terms.