Re:Question about crumbles *( reply to rosetalleo)

[Guest guest]

     Thank you for this information.  I have not tried " seitan " , mainly because

it's not available where I live and I am just a bit nervous about something

unless I try it first to see if I like it. 

I know some folks from this group make their own (seitan), but tI'm not sure I

want to try doing that to just yet.  (I'd only buy the " crumbles " for the sake

of convenience, mainly, and mostly to give a more familiar " meat " flavor/texture

to foods my DH likes once in a while.)

 

     No, I know it sounds too weird, but I am NOT " allergic " to soy..   My

" sensitivity " seems to be to foods that have more of the pesticide residues in

them--unless they are organic, which means they have little to no " residues " . 

Corn has a LOT, and soy (non-organic, I mean), has quite a lot.  All

insecticides bother me, andI live in the midst of miles and miles of GMO-ed

soybean fields and corn fields.  Belive me,the farmers spray and dust and squirt

stuff on those crops from the end of winter thru the harvest season and beyond! 

I feel icky most of the time!  The extreme DEAD of winter, when the farmers

aren't " doing " anything but shoveling snow from their driveway-lanes, THEN I

feel okay and usually don't have many of my usual skin problems.

 

      When I was out in Arizona last year in October, I felt better than I had

in ages--and there wasn't a " grass lawn " in sight, nor a cornfield, other than a

tiny little one several miles away, tucked into a small valley!  I was in

HEAVEN!

    

      Foods high in pesticide residues seem to give me more problems, although

it's gotten better over time.  Corn is high, soy is high, and dairy is also

high--unless it's produced " organically " , which reduces, though doesn't always

eliminate entirely, the pesticide effect in the food.  I seldom have any

problems with " organic " foods unless they have a lot of added synthetic

ingredients--which kind of negates the " organic " designation on the label.  I

stay away from most highly-processed foods, anyway.

 

     As to the TVP, We don't live near the stores I used to shop in when I was

buying only organic foods.  The one health food store that sold TVP crumbles in

their bulk frozen section had a non-organic product.  I never bought it because

I just knew that much non-organic soy would do a number on me.  Maybe now there

are more choices  with those kinds of products.  I live far enough away from

that part of my state now that it wouldn't be practical or economical to buy

things from that one store--it's 2 hours from my home, and the nearest OTHER

place to shop is an hour and a half away.

 

     Your suggestion to use quorn sounds the most practical right now.  I might

try that, though I know Quorn is also not organic.  Since it's not soy or corn,

it might be all right anyway.  (I check out the labels and look for other things

like " high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, corn oil, corn gluten....etc. those

are also red flags, as far as I am concerned.)

 

     Does Quorn come in something other than " chicken " flavor?  I have only ever

seen it as the " cutlets " that look like chicken breast pieces.  Out little

health food store in our town has those, but I have never seen any that flavor

like " beef " --I guess I could try the Boca crumbles anyway.

 

     Thanks for the tips.  I will keep looking and experimenting!

--Laura B., in Illinois  (very rural and " heartland " downstate Illinois!)

 

5b. Re: Question about " crumbles "

    Posted by: " rosetalleo " rosetalleo rosetalleo

    Tue Sep 2, 2008 12:01 pm ((PDT))

 

Laura, you could ground up seitan and use it instead, since it is made

of wheat, you would not experience any of your problems associated with

soy. Seitan (made with wheat gluten) can be made organic and it has a

meat like texture. If you have a soy allergy, do you think that

organic vs non organic will make a difference?  In any case, I think

my tvp is organic (can't check since I bought it in bulk) but it

definitely contains soy.  You could make a dry tested seasoning pack,

leave it with the tvp granules and then just add hot water when you

need it for tacos or chili, spaghetti sauce.... 

 

As far as non soy containing meat analogs I believe quorn is also not

made with any soy derivatives.  You could always use a food processor

or grinder to make the crumbles if they are not available in your area.

 

, " L.B. " <elbee577 wrote:

>

> Hi!

> 

>     I have a question.  Is there available on the (U.S.) market any

kind of ORGANIC  " crumbles " substitute?  I have seen recipes here and

elsewhere that use regular TVP, " Boca crumbles " , Morningstar Farms

" crumbles " , and so on.  They are not, to my knowledge, made with

organic ingredients, and I am particularly concerned about any " soy "

or " corn " related ingredients that they be (if possible) " organically "

produced.

> 

>      I'm still pretty new at all this, and while I've had success

with a few different kinds of home-made " bean-burgers " , I'd LIKE to

find a " replacement " product that I could sub in when I want to make,

say, tacos, spaghetti sauce, chili, and so on.  Maybe even " meat "

balls...I am, however, still experimenting and maybe I'll hit on a

test batch of something sometime that will be worth adding to those

kinds of foods.

> 

>      Probably the reason I'm wanting to find a good kind of

" crumbles " is not so much for the flavor but the texture.  Mashed

beans are good tasting (when seasoned up!), but they sure have their

" own " kind of texture--not what I'm looking for!  TVP and similar

foods do have the texture.  I'm just enough chemically sensitive that

too much non-organic foods of the soy and corn variety get me to

feeling weird and my skin starts getting itchy.  (YUCK!)  Maybe I

could go with something like " Boca crumbles " if I only used a small

amount in any given recipe.

> 

>     If anyone has any product(s) to recommend, thank you in advance!

> 

>     --Laura B., in Illinois

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

You mentioned the store where you used to shop carrying some frozen

crumbles....Any  chance they might do some type of mail order? I've heard of

bakeries and online food companies actually mailing products--somehow--that

require refrigeration or a freezer. It was just a thought. Also, have you heard

of Worthington Vegetarian Burger? It is processed, so you might have the type of

reaction you're trying to avoid, but it comes in a can, it tastes good, it has a

long shelf life, and it has the texture of ground beef. I can get it past family

member carnivores (LOL) and they never know the difference! The can doesn't say

organic, but it " s just another thought. Have a good evening....and good luck.

Best wishes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Laura, I make my seitan using gluten flour, it is easy enough and we

like it. Yes, better try it first of course, or you might end up with

a lot of it and no one to eat it....I like it and the omnivores in the

household like it too.

 

Sometimes I order products from amazon.com, if you order more than a

certain amount shipping is free so not a bad deal. I have used tvp

from Bobs red mill. Some products are organic and some are not, I do

not remember seeing tvp sold as organic.

 

Some people really like quorn and it is a great alternative if you

have soy allergies or even gluten allergies. It is not vegan (contains

egg whites). I personally do not much care for it, so I will eat it

if it is offered but do not purchase it, so I have no information on

how to purchase it.

 

Good luck in your search and in avoiding pesticide residues.

Roseta

 

, " L.B. " <elbee577 wrote:

>

> Thank you for this information. I have not tried " seitan " ,

mainly because it's not available where I live and I am just a bit

nervous about something unless I try it first to see if I like it.

> I know some folks from this group make their own (seitan), but tI'm

not sure I want to try doing that to just yet. (I'd only buy the

" crumbles " for the sake of convenience, mainly, and mostly to give a

more familiar " meat " flavor/texture to foods my DH likes once in a while.)

>

> No, I know it sounds too weird, but I am NOT " allergic " to

soy.. My " sensitivity " seems to be to foods that have more of the

pesticide residues in them--unless they are organic, which means they

have little to no " residues " . Corn has a LOT, and soy (non-organic, I

mean), has quite a lot. All insecticides bother me, andI live in the

midst of miles and miles of GMO-ed soybean fields and corn fields.

Belive me,the farmers spray and dust and squirt stuff on those crops

from the end of winter thru the harvest season and beyond! I feel

icky most of the time! The extreme DEAD of winter, when the farmers

aren't " doing " anything but shoveling snow from their driveway-lanes,

THEN I feel okay and usually don't have many of my usual skin problems.

>

> When I was out in Arizona last year in October, I felt better

than I had in ages--and there wasn't a " grass lawn " in sight, nor a

cornfield, other than a tiny little one several miles away, tucked

into a small valley! I was in HEAVEN!

>

> Foods high in pesticide residues seem to give me more

problems, although it's gotten better over time. Corn is high, soy is

high, and dairy is also high--unless it's produced " organically " ,

which reduces, though doesn't always eliminate entirely, the pesticide

effect in the food. I seldom have any problems with " organic " foods

unless they have a lot of added synthetic ingredients--which kind of

negates the " organic " designation on the label. I stay away from most

highly-processed foods, anyway.

>

> As to the TVP, We don't live near the stores I used to shop in

when I was buying only organic foods. The one health food store that

sold TVP crumbles in their bulk frozen section had a non-organic

product. I never bought it because I just knew that much non-organic

soy would do a number on me. Maybe now there are more choices with

those kinds of products. I live far enough away from that part of my

state now that it wouldn't be practical or economical to buy things

from that one store--it's 2 hours from my home, and the nearest OTHER

place to shop is an hour and a half away.

>

> Your suggestion to use quorn sounds the most practical right

now. I might try that, though I know Quorn is also not organic.

Since it's not soy or corn, it might be all right anyway. (I check

out the labels and look for other things like " high fructose corn

syrup, soybean oil, corn oil, corn gluten....etc. those are also red

flags, as far as I am concerned.)

>

> Does Quorn come in something other than " chicken " flavor? I

have only ever seen it as the " cutlets " that look like chicken breast

pieces. Out little health food store in our town has those, but I

have never seen any that flavor like " beef " --I guess I could try the

Boca crumbles anyway.

>

> Thanks for the tips. I will keep looking and experimenting!

> --Laura B., in Illinois (very rural and " heartland " downstate

Illinois!)

>

> 5b. Re: Question about " crumbles "

> Posted by: " rosetalleo " rosetalleo rosetalleo

> Tue Sep 2, 2008 12:01 pm ((PDT))

>

> Laura, you could ground up seitan and use it instead, since it is made

> of wheat, you would not experience any of your problems associated with

> soy. Seitan (made with wheat gluten) can be made organic and it has a

> meat like texture. If you have a soy allergy, do you think that

> organic vs non organic will make a difference? In any case, I think

> my tvp is organic (can't check since I bought it in bulk) but it

> definitely contains soy. You could make a dry tested seasoning pack,

> leave it with the tvp granules and then just add hot water when you

> need it for tacos or chili, spaghetti sauce....

>

> As far as non soy containing meat analogs I believe quorn is also not

> made with any soy derivatives. You could always use a food processor

> or grinder to make the crumbles if they are not available in your area.

>

> , " L.B. " <elbee577@> wrote:

> >

> > Hi!

> >

> > I have a question. Is there available on the (U.S.) market any

> kind of ORGANIC " crumbles " substitute? I have seen recipes here and

> elsewhere that use regular TVP, " Boca crumbles " , Morningstar Farms

> " crumbles " , and so on. They are not, to my knowledge, made with

> organic ingredients, and I am particularly concerned about any " soy "

> or " corn " related ingredients that they be (if possible) " organically "

> produced.

> >

> > I'm still pretty new at all this, and while I've had success

> with a few different kinds of home-made " bean-burgers " , I'd LIKE to

> find a " replacement " product that I could sub in when I want to make,

> say, tacos, spaghetti sauce, chili, and so on. Maybe even " meat "

> balls...I am, however, still experimenting and maybe I'll hit on a

> test batch of something sometime that will be worth adding to those

> kinds of foods.

> >

> > Probably the reason I'm wanting to find a good kind of

> " crumbles " is not so much for the flavor but the texture. Mashed

> beans are good tasting (when seasoned up!), but they sure have their

> " own " kind of texture--not what I'm looking for! TVP and similar

> foods do have the texture. I'm just enough chemically sensitive that

> too much non-organic foods of the soy and corn variety get me to

> feeling weird and my skin starts getting itchy. (YUCK!) Maybe I

> could go with something like " Boca crumbles " if I only used a small

> amount in any given recipe.

> >

> > If anyone has any product(s) to recommend, thank you in advance!

> >

> > --Laura B., in Illinois

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I actually freeze Firm tofu, thaw then crumble - you can cook it with what

flavors you like then it is more like " ground beef " . I have this great cookbook

from 1973 called " Tofu Goes West " I must have loaned it out because I can't

readily locate it but it was a wealth of westernized ways to prepare the

different varieties of Tofu.