Monthly Archives: March 2006

Tofu – the other, other, other white meat.

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We have eaten tofu for dinner three times this week (yes, really). These three recipes take almost no time to prep, are easy, flavorful & healthful, and are each so completely different it makes you forget you are actually eating tofu. (If you just can’t wrap your brain around the idea of eating fermented bean curd, you could very easily substitute chicken, mild-flavored fish, or whatever suits you.)

The recipes are technically, supposed to feed four, but we make it a one-dish meal and split it between two adults.

All adapted from Eating Well

Tofu with Thai Curry Sauce

Each of these three recipes follows the exact same process, you simply use a different sauce and veggie combo.

For the tofu:

  1. Buy extra firm tofu (the standard 14 oz block)
  2. Put tofu in shallow dish and place a couple of plates on top of it. Let it sit this way for at least 15 or 20 minutes (you could go for as long as you want, depending on how much liquid you want to expell). Drain excess liquid.
  3. Slice crosswise into 1/2 inch slabs, then lengthwise into thirds.
  4. Pat dry to remove excess liquid (this helps reduce the splatter and helps it cook faster)
  5. Coat a large NON-STICK skillet with olive oil (approx 2 teaspoons) and heat on high.
  6. Add tofu and cook until golden brown on both sides.

Once the tofu is cooked, add the vegetables and sauce and cook until desired doneness (usually just a couple of minutes longer).

Here are your three options:

Tofu with Thai Curry Sauce

Sauce:
1 cup “lite” coconut milk
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon red curry paste
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Veggies:
4 cups baby spinach (6 oz)
1 medium bell pepper, sliced

Good over brown rice.

Tofu with Peanut-Ginger Sauce

Sauce:
5 Tablespoons water
4 Tablespoons smooth natural peanut butter
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons fresh minced (or grated) ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced

Veggies:
4 cups baby spinach (6 oz)
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (4 oz)
4 scallions, sliced (1 cup)

Good over brown rice or whole wheat pasta.

Tofu with Tomatos and Pesto

Sauce:
2 Tablespoons prepared pesto

Veggies:
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms (4 oz)
2 Tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

Good over polenta (either soft or fried).

Three truths I have heard today

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  1. It is a physiological imperative that pregnant women get larger butts in order to realign their center of gravity and keep them from tipping over forward.
  2. Dubya and Yosemite Sam are one in the same person.
  3. Brown sugar is good for you. It keeps you from getting boo-boos.

Amen!

Reassuring words from your mother.

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Well kid, we are at (t – 4 weeks). I will be very interested to see if a.) you decide to arrive when the medical professionals and various sonogram machines say you will, b.) if you are able to exit my body in under 10 hours, and c.) whether or not you will go home from the hospital in gender-appropriate clothing.

I’m not sure why, but lately it seems that you have been testing the logistics of busting out of my uterus through the top of my stomach. I regularly feel you wedge your shoulder firmly against my hip-bone and push up with your feet with enough force to make me feel like I am going to re-enact that scene from the movie Alien. I don’t know who gave you this brilliant idea, but I want you to stop haning out with them this instant. And as for all these new stretch marks you are giving me – you will be grounded for this later.

We have been busily preparing for your arrival by, well, um, by – Okay! I admit it! We haven’t done anything other than spend our time trying to make sure that your big sister is aware of the implications of your arrival. (The importance of this will become obvious to you soon enough.) And speaking of your big sister…

I think now is also the time we need to have a talk about that incessant jabbering you hear all the time. That would be your big sister, Stella. I’m not really sure where to begin on this one. There are some things you’ll want to know about her right off the bat: She picks her nose. A lot. Don’t be too grossed out when she tries to pick yours. She’d just as soon smother you in kisses as she would just plain smother you. Don’t take this personally. She regularly has to be reprimanded for sitting on the other little kids at day dare. Also, she’s a biter. We are showing good progress in this area and hope to have it under control by the time you arrive – but we can’t promise anything. Mostly, what you need to know is that she has done you a great service by breaking us in. We have expended much of our freakish and obsessive parenting behavior on her and are hopefully going to be a little better at it this time around. Again, no promises, but we are optimistic.

So, my sweet little lump of baby, I guess what I am trying to say is: I hope you are born with one wicked sense of humor. You’re gonna need it.