meat as a side dish, not a primary?

**tammy88** · 09-10-2007, 07:29 PM

how do use meat as a side dish and not as the main course? examples?

**Darlene** · 09-10-2007, 07:49 PM

We do it often especially in the summer. Veggies rain sepreme in our house then filled in with meat and starch kinda thing on the side.
In winter it's soup also with veggies and homemade bread or lots of casseroles where other things are the main ingredients. You really don't have to have the "it's not filling without a hunk of meat" thing in your everyday life. Meat can be a big part of flavor without having the star roll.

Ham is one of my big flavor meats, soup, casseroles, breakfast,lunch... it's all that & more, a little can add so much! Buy that big bone in ham & use that bone for soup and know that there are any ways to use all that meat. Win win!
Just a tip, if you give those meat lovers some homemade biscuts, bread, muffins... with their non meat star dinner, they will be happy campers.

**PrairieRose** · 09-10-2007, 09:41 PM

With some meat lovers you have to 'wean' them off of meat and taters type meals a little at a time. Just start with a meatless meal per week and then cut down on the amount of meat at each meal.......

**tbs727** · 09-11-2007, 11:42 AM

We never eat just a chunk of meat. You know, not just a chicken breast or steak. Everything I make has shredded or cooked ground beef in it. We get the taste of meat, but we don't eat more than we should. My hubby doesn't even notice that we hardly eat meat.

Of course, I'm lucky, he will eat whatever is put in front of him.

**Odilia** · 09-11-2007, 12:03 PM

We raise our own beef and poultry, so we do sometimes feature a "chunk of meat" as the main dish.

Usually, though, I use meat as an ingredient vs. the main event.

Rather than making burgers, which requires 2lbs ground beef for one meal for our family, I'll use 1/2lb of ground beef to make cabbage rolls, grape leaf rolls, stuffed green peppers or onions, cheeseburger casserole (which features brown rice as the main ingredient), and items like that. I usually make meatballs with 1lb of ground beef per meal, but that's still getting twice as many meals from a 2lb package (which is how we get our meat processed), than if I used it all at one go for burgers.

Rather than 2-4lbs of steak, I'll use 1lb of steak, sliced thin, in stir-fries or to top a main dish salad. I'll cube it for stews, soups, goulash, stroganoff, etc...

Tacos, burritos, and dishes like those are great for using shredded or ground meat. Seasoned rice or other grains (millet, bulgar, etc.) are great for stretching meats in these types of dishes.

To "pump up" the beef or chicken flavor, I use HM stock in place of water. For example, if I'm making stuffed peppers with beef, I'll cook the rice with beef stock. It really adds flavor! Save all bones and veggie scraps (ends of onions, carrot peels if you scrub them before peeling, celery ends, etc...). We grow a lot of our veggies, or in bad garden years like this one, I buy pesticide-free veggies. You'll have to determine your comfort level using veggie scraps depending on your growing/buying habits.

Our favorite chicken dishes are chicken and biscuits, chicken pot pie, chicken tacos, chicken pizza, and various chicken soups.

Some veggies can be used in place of meat. Diced zucchini and eggplant in a marinara sauce can provide a meaty texture, and the rich eggplant is very satisfying. When I was running out of beef, I stuffed tortillas with brown rice seasoned like taco meat and topped with avocado slices and shredded cheese -- very delicious and satisfying.

**Geoff** · 09-11-2007, 08:36 PM

I make teriyaki beef as a side, sometimes. Sometimes battered chicken fingers. Not much else I can think of, though.

**sunshine** · 09-11-2007, 10:15 PM

Ham or taco meat as toppings for baked potatoes

2 oz serving of grilled chicken, served diced/sliced over a large lettuce salad.

Tiny bits of meat on pizza

Huge bowl of soup, with a 1/2 sandwich

**Siebrie** · 09-12-2007, 06:51 AM

The Dutch governmental health organization has given guidelines for the food items you need per day. For a healthy adult only 100 grams of meat is necessary, that includes any meat eaten on sandwiches.

**annymoll** · 09-12-2007, 07:09 AM

All our meat is farm raised. If not, we do not eat it.(other than seafood.)The meat is lean and very rich, so it does not take much to feel satisfied.I serve several veggie based meals, then offer meat based a few times during the week, keeping portions in check.