| Three years ago I decided to go "meatless." It wasn't a | | | | 1/2 cup quorn grounds thawed |
| difficult decision as I wasn't a voracious carnivore to | | | | 2 tbsp. dried mint (or 1/4 cup fresh mint chopped fine) |
| begin with, however there were a few dishes that I | | | | 1 tbsp. dried parsely (or 1/4 cup fresh parsely chopped |
| missed that contained meat and wondered how I was | | | | fine) |
| going to live without these favorites.Rather than resign | | | | 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1/8 cup fresh oregano |
| myself to the notion that these dishes could never be | | | | chopped fine) |
| converted over to a meatless status, I decided to pull | | | | 1 tsp. sea salt |
| myself up by my vegetarian bootstrings (cotton, of | | | | 2 tsp pepper |
| course), and see if I could find a way to convert these | | | | 1 small can tomato pasteJuice of 2 lemonsRemove |
| meat-ies to meatless.The first was my Grammy's | | | | the grape leaves from the jar, rinse and unfold |
| recipe for American Chop Suey, actually, almost | | | | carefully and rinse again. Lay paper towels and pat |
| everyone's Grammy made this or some variation of it. | | | | dry. Gently remove any stems that are still on the |
| I tried different ways but this one comes the | | | | leaves.In a large bowl mix the filling ingredients together |
| closest:Meatless American Chop Suey1 vidalia onion | | | | till they are well incorporated.Carefully separate a few |
| chopped | | | | of the leaves and line the bottom of a 1-2 gallon stock |
| 1-2 tbsp. butter | | | | pot.To roll take a leaf, place 1 heaping tsp of filling in the |
| 1/2 pkg Quorn (brandname) veggie grounds frozen | | | | center of the leaf about 1/2 inch up from the bottom |
| 2 cans Campbells Tomato Soup | | | | edge. Fold 1/2 inch up over the filling, fold each side |
| 1 tblsp. catsup (yes catsup, you can't really taste it, it | | | | toward the middle, then beginning at the bottom again |
| just adds a rich color to the sauce) | | | | roll the whole package up till you have a 1-2" |
| sea salt and pepper to taste1 lb of your favorite | | | | "log.Continue with the rolling process till you use up all |
| fancy pasta in its rigati form, that means with lines, or | | | | the filling.Line the rolled leaves up in a circular pattern in |
| something like like gemelli or rotiniMelt butter in a | | | | the stock pot till all are in. Pour the juice of both lemons |
| medium sized skillet over low heat. Add vidalia onion | | | | gently over the rolled leaves. Place a dinner plate on |
| and gently saute until translucent. Add frozen Quorn | | | | top with a stone in the middle to keep in place. |
| grounds and heat till thawed. Add 2 cans soup and | | | | Gradually add cold water till it just covers the |
| cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Add catsup salt | | | | leaves.Bring contents to a boil then reduce and simmer |
| and pepper and cook an additional 102 minutes.Bring 4 | | | | for abount 1/2 hour till tender. Drain water by holding on |
| quarts of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al | | | | to stone to keep plate in place and gently pour out |
| dente. Drain thoroughly and add sauce to pasta. Stir to | | | | cooking water. Leave plate on till almost cool.Remove |
| incorporate completely. Serve. Serves 4-6 people as a | | | | plate and serve with plain yogurt, yummy.These can |
| side.This next one is an adaptation of a | | | | be frozen in 1-2 serving sizes for later. I like to do it this |
| Greek-Middle-Eastern recipe for Dolma. I loved this dish | | | | way then microwave them for a minute and a half for |
| as a youngster summering on Cape Cod. A wonderful | | | | a quickie meal.Cathy O is a successful author who |
| Lebanese family "turned me on" to this dish and I have | | | | provides information on gourmet gift baskets, gourmet |
| finally found a way to make it meatless and | | | | food, and gourmet recipes. "In addition to being a |
| spectacular!Veggie Dolmas1 jar of Grapeleaves in | | | | freelance writer, I also dabble in Aromatherapy, |
| brineFilling: | | | | Herbalism and painting when I am so inspired. Living in |
| 2 cup basmati rice cooked | | | | the Lake region of Western Maine has been of |
| 1/2 cup currants | | | | tremendous inspiration to me and I am proud and |
| 1/2 cup of pine nuts ground | | | | happy to call it home. |