Meatless Fridays for Lent...

[Rhayne]

Anyone else here observe Lent? Is anyone else meatless on Friday's during Lent? My BF is catholic (i'm in the process of converting) and we've decided to start observing more practices. Anyone have any favorite meals or suggestions for meatless fridays? I've looked up meatless meals but I'd like to see your favorite meatless ones.

[akolb]

we live in south louisiana. tons of catholics and also tons who observe lent without being practicing catholics ...might have something to do with repenting for Mardi Gras...

anyway, meatless Friday is super easy down here since we practically survive off of seafood anyway. Lots of churches do Friday fish fry's and most restaurants offer some type of shrimp dish or seafood gumbo.

so my suggestion would be to look into some cajun/creole/louisiana cookbooks for inspiration.

[mama2James]

I've been seeing a lot of seafood sales in the grocery stores to get ready for lent. I recently made baked scallops, in butter with a bread crumb topping. Google "baked scallops" and see how it compares with what you have on hand, it's a great dish.

[Contrary Housewife]

Pasta, lentils, vegetable soup. This time of year a hearty minestrone soup with beans and pasta and good bread would be really good. Tomato soup with tuna sandwiches on the side. Or a grilled cheese.

[DixieJ]

Salmon patties are one of my favorite. I also like the Kopycat version of Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce--great with shrimp or without. One of my friends makes a seafood lasagna that is wonderful!

[Rhayne]

Salmon patties are one of my favorite. I also like the Kopycat version of Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce--great with shrimp or without. One of my friends makes a seafood lasagna that is wonderful!

I think we're going to have pasta with alfredo sauce for dinner with shrimp.

seafood lasagna sounds amazing!

[MomToTwoBoys]

My inlaws do a meatless Friday for Lent. They eat lots of white fish, fries and beans. We do not observe Lent in our own home, but it's nice when we get to do it at their place (I loooooove fresh white fish that's free).

[cab54]

We observe.

Besides fish, sometimes I do:

mac and cheese

grilled cheese sandwiches with a non-meat soup (mushroom or tomato)

Tuna casserole

bean tacos or burritos

Cheese pizza (or with mushrooms, olives, non-meat stuff)

See there? Lent is only about 5-1/2 weeks, so if you mix it up like this, it will be done before you run out of dishes to make! Yay!

[ForMiri]

My family observes Lent...I love meatless Fridays, do it year-round. One of my favorite meals is a pecan crusted salmon with squash raviolis with a white sauce. Yummy

[Mrs K]

When friday evening rolls around, I'm usually too tired to cook. Plus, I try to have at least two meatless meals per week.
My favorite (easy and such a great comfort food) is minestrone soupe (well my version at least: vegetable broth, different veggies, a bit of tomato paste, pasta and white or red kidney beans I make the soup and advance and freeze it. I just need to put it in the microwave for a few minutes at dinner time) with a nice grill cheese sandwich or garlic toast. Light and super easy.

Or, you could make pasta with creamy or tomato base sauce
Or breakfast for dinner, just skip the bacon/ham or sausage
Also, lots of your favorite recipes can be converted to meatless with little effort and trial and error!

As for Lent, we observe (sort of) by giving up something we like for 40 days. For me this year it's chocolate and for dh it's potato chips.... tough.. but we will enjoyy these foods so much more at Easter!

[lisaflex]

we do

tonight we had tilapia loins (much bigger and better than regular pieces) rubbed w/ a bit of light mayo and pepper, then crusted in sundried tomato pank bread crumbs and then baked. we had it w/ the trader joes harvest grains (fabulous side and good for you!) and this really really really good italian brocolli recipe i have! yum

shrimp cakes (instead of crabcakes) are a good choice! dice shrimp, sautee onion and celery and garlic, in a bowl mix a mixture of brd crmbs and panko crumbs, 1 egg and dijon mustard and add shrimp. yum

pasta fagioli

[Holly]

I'm not catholic , but do observe lent.
I have given up all meat for lent.
( I will still eat fish )
Homemade mac and cheese and fish sandwiches
Macaroni or pasta salads
meatless soups
Tomato soup and grilled cheese
cheese pizza with veggies
Hope that helps

[TigerGirl1226]

We also observe lent. A few ideas: tuna salad, egg salad, crabcakes and pasta with alfredo sauce, baked fish, corn and shrimp soup....oh goodness! It all sounds so good!

[Saule]

We observe Lent, and try to do two meatless days a week, with cost of protein going to rice bowl donation through the church. Today I made a mushroom sauce with pasta. On Ash Wednesday I made avocado sandwiches with a veggie soup (sliced avocado with a good rye bread), since it was also a fast day. We like fish and I'll do baked fillets on bed of veggies, steamed fish Asian-style, scallops in any number of ways, salmon or tuna patties. Cheese tarts or macaroni and cheese or grilled cheese sandwiches. Gnocchi with a meatless sauce. Seafood chowder with bread and cheese.

We try particularly to eat light, even if we are not truly fasting, but just to keep the focused on the purpose of the Lenten observence.

[Grainlady]

We have vegetarian Friday's EVERY Friday to save on the high price of meat, and that also means no fish.

I keep a stack of homemade bean burgers and homemade multigrain burger buns in the freezer as a Q&E meatless meal.

Bean Burgers
(source: Eat More, Weigh Less - by Dr. Dean Ornish)

Makes 6 5-inch burgers

1/2 c. minced green onions (I also use chives)
1-1/2 T. minced garlic
2 T. white wine or vegetable stock (I use water)
1 29-oz. can cooked drained pinto beans
3/4 c. cracker meal
2 egg whites (I use 1 whole egg)
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
2 T. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 t. SPIKE seasoning powder (found in health food stores)

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a small nonstick saute pan, braise the onions and garlic in the white wine until soft.

In a medium bowl, combine the sauteed onions and garlic, beans, cracker meal, egg whites, parsley, vinegar, and seasoning powder. Mash well with a fork or potato masher until blended but not entirely smooth.

On a parchment-lined nonstick baking sheet, drop the mixture by 1/2-cup amounts (I use 1/3-cup) and flatten gently with a spoon to form 6 5-inch "burgers." Bake for 25 minutes, or until set and beginning to brown lightly. Serve hot.

179 calories, 2 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 738.2 mg sodium
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can find vegetarian dishes in nearly every cookbook. If you don't normally have time for large breakfasts, Lent is a good time for egg dishes like omelets, as well as waffles or pancakes for supper.

These links may be helpful:

Campbell's Kitchen - http://www.campbellkitchen.com/Searc...eatless&pd=yes

Crisco / Easy Vegetarian Meals - http://www.crisco.com/Recipes/Browse...type=29&loc=15

KRAFT Foods / 10 vegetarian recipes - http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/...etarian_recipe