MEAT-FREE FRIDAY

How surprising to discover that tofu is just as delicious as any meat I've prepared. It doesn't feel like much of a sacrifice to eat tofu instead of meat.

First find tofu. You may have to ask your grocer because it was well hidden at our local store. But we found it in the produce section.  I cubed it, soaked it in a brine of hot water and salt, then drained and pressed it gently between paper towels.

Toss the dried cubes in a mixture of:

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2  teaspoon onion powder

1/2  teaspoon garlic powder

1/4  teaspoon ginger

1/4  teaspoon powdered mustard

Heat oven to 400 degrees and preheat a 9x13 oven safe pan with approximately 2 tablespoons of oil distributed over the bottom of the pan. Carefully place tofu cubes in the preheated pan.  Bake for 15 minutes, turn the tofu cubes over and bake 15 more minutes or until golden brown. 

The cubes were tasty and crunchy. I served them with a pan of fresh stir fried vegetables over rice with a dressing of Kikoman sweet and sour sauce. 

Thanks to the tutelage of my son Joel jr., I feel confident to prepare tofu. If I can do it, so can you!

It was a very tasty, meat free dinner!

SPICED TEA

Oh, these chilly winter days make me wish for something to warm me up from the inside out. Today felt like the perfect day to mix up some Spiced Tea. It’s a simple recipe with just a few ingredients and it makes enough that I have plenty to share. And, I can mix it standing on one foot!

I remember a dreary winter day at BPS when so many of us there had the sniffles. I brought in some spiced tea mix and as we sipped this tea, it seemed to soothe those scratchy throats and bolster us just enough so we could get through another day with a smile for those little kiddos!

I use Tang in my Spice Tea mix because it has Vitamin C included. That might be why a cup of this tea makes me feel so much better!

SPICED TEA
3/4 cup instant powdered tea
1 1/2 cup Tang
1 2-quart package of lemonade mix
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon powdered cloves
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger

I gather all the ingredients, measure them into a big bowl and stir. I increased the cinnamon to two teaspoons because I like that flavor. You can adjust the spices to suit your tastes too.  Be sure to store the mixture sealed tightly in a couple of glass canning jars.

Gather ingredients, measure, mix and enjoy!

To serve, stir two teaspoons of the mixture into a cup of steaming hot water and then sip and relax! Voila! Warmed from the inside out!

I can be persuaded to make this and ship it to you...for a small shipping and handling fee of course.  Or if you are in the neighborhood, drop by and we'll visit over a couple of cups of tea!

Stay warm!