I am stewing

Yup. I am in the mood for stew. I love stews. Especially when the cold weather hits, stews and chilis tend to hit my lists. So this week the menu is filled with various 'stews'. All of these are without any red meat (no beef, no pork, no lamb, etc.). There is fish, there is chicken, (white meat only) and there is chicken-apple-sausage, too.

Certain recipes might ask for a copy-cat bullion, so I will provide the beef-style recipe here for your ease and convenience. Spice mixes are easy to do and really add to the flavors of soups and stews and casseroles even. Anything that asks for a spice packet, like tacos or brown gravy you can create yourself at home without ingredients you do not want.

First the recipe for a vegetarian version of beef-flavoring:

1 2/3 cups Noochy (That's Nutritional Yeast Flakes)

2 Tablespoons Onion Powder

1/3 teaspoon celery seed

1/3 teaspoon mustard powder

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning

1/4 cup Dried Parsley (to 1/2 cup)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Now, why would I bother to make my own copy of beef bullion?

Beef bouillon cubes typically contain ingredients like loads of salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG), hydrolyzed soy protein, and beef fat.. They may also include dehydrated beef stock and flavor enhancers to intensify the taste.

Not stuff I want in my food and many people really do not want MSG.

Does this really taste like beefy stuff? It does. Especially when making anything that you make with a roux and I do when making stew. heh...that's rhymes.

Anyways, here is the menu list for this week.

Cabbage, Sausage, Potato Stew

Mock-Beef Stew (using mushrooms for the umami)

Fish, Yellow Rice, and Broccoli

Mock-Hamburger Stew (using Lentils for the burger bits)

Homemade whole wheat bread to go with the stews

Why did the cookie go to the doctor? He was feeling crummy!