A Carnivore Prepares for Lent

[jenny_islander]

I used to keep Lent according to one variant or another of the Christian tradition, but it fell by the wayside as I plunged into new motherhood. I would like to start it up again next year according to the medieval Catholic model, which is essentially eating vegan with the addition of fish. So I've been trying to test one affordable fish dish and one affordable vegan dish every week. (Tofu, for one, is right out of our price range.) I'll add vegetarian recipes here as I test and approve them in case somebody else can use them.

I am a lifelong meat eater, but my family treated meat more as a garnish than a main menu item. My husband, however, was raised by a father who told his mother when they married that there would be meat on the table three times a day every day as long as he was making money. The first time I served him a meatless meal, he looked at me like a dog forced to take a cold bath, but he has softened a bit since then. I'll include his opinions here as well.

SANTA FE STYLE VEGGIES WITH TORTILLAS

1 tablespoon olive oil or corn oil
1 bag "Santa Fe Style" frozen vegetables (or use 1 pound TOTAL whole-kernel corn, cooked black beans, chopped red sweet pepper, chopped onion, and broccoli florets)
1 dollop salsa, favorite kind
Chili powder, to taste
Warmed flour tortillas

Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Add the vegetables and stir-fry until thawed and separated. Season with salsa and chili powder and stir-fry a few minutes more until the vegetables are cooked. Serve immediately with tortillas on the side. Rip off a piece of tortilla as big as you want, spoon in some veggies, roll, and eat!

My Review: This recipe took 10 minutes, start to finish! It was delicious and filled me up. I was ravenous and the kids didn't want any, so I ate the whole thing, but it could serve at least two people as part of a meal.
His Review: N/A; he wasn't home.
Complete the Meal: Glass of milk (any kind--cow, goat, rice, soy, almond), piece of fruit. For a non-vegan option, try stirring an ounce or two of grated cheese, such as garlic jack, into the hot vegetables.
Costs: Less than $3.00, unless you eat a lot of tortillas.