Saturday, November 13, 2010

Best Lunch Ever

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I actually had my heart set on sloppy joes and tater tots for lunch today and went to pick up some Fantastic World Foods sloppy joe mix. I walked from my house to the library and then to the grocery store. Today was a wonderfully warm day for a long walk, but my hunger was making me a little grumpy and I can’t say I didn’t overreact in the aisle when I saw no sloppy joe mix.

Thankfully, I calmed down and decided that I could handle this. I came home, snacked a little to tide me over, and made my own joes in the time it took to cook the tots.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup TVP, rehydrated in 1 cup broth
  • 15 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chiles
  • 3 oz. can tomato paste
  • Vegan Worcestershire sauce (I used Bourbon Barrel)
  • Brown sugar
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Cumin
  • Red pepper flakes

I didn’t measure the seasonings, but I used lots of garlic powder, a little onion powder, a little cumin, a tiny shake of red pepper, and probably a tablespoon of brown sugar. You may also need salt, depending on you broth. I cooked all this for about 15 minutes and tasted for seasoning.

This was slightly sweeter than the mix I normally use, but this was really good. I’m happy with what I threw together.

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This was a perfect lunch with some tots and onions. I had some extra sloppy on the side and I was so ready to dig in I almost didn’t stop to get a photo. Yum! Plus, I’m proud of myself for not throwing a fit in the store.

I have two giveaways to tell you about – first, check out Vegan and So Forth where Jenny is giving away a $40 gift certificate to Vegan Essentials. Also, Noelle at Opera Singer in the Kitchen has several giveaways going on right now, including a TofuXPress. Good luck!

8 comments:

  1. Nice job on rollin' with the punches re: no sloppy joe mix!

    That really does look like the best lunch ever!

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  2. Sloppy Joe Mix like heroin. You have to stock up in case your dealer is unreliable. Glad the methadone-like replacement worked out well for you.

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  3. I was intrigued by the title of your post. Good job!

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  4. oh my gosh. all this talk about tots has me drooling all over the keyboard. I want a tot right now. Actually, I want a huge bowl of tots!!

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  5. Hey, looks awesome! Simply awesome. I love the extra sloppy on the side part!

    I get grumpy when I'm hungry too...good job not freakin' when no Joe mix was to be found.

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  6. i saw your sloppy joes and immediately said (outloud), "well hello there!". that's one crazy awesome look'n sloppy joe - and then you go and add tots?!?! fantastical! i'm grumpy when i'm hungry and i would have pitched a fit in the store and probably just gone home and made a pb&j. kick booty for making what you craved - and with such delicious and tasty look'n results. w00t!

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  7. Great job on re-creating the sloppy joes! I want to pitch a fit every time I go to the grocery store because, they never have the fantastic mix. :o) You and Shen have me wanting to try it but I can't find now.

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