Meat Substitute

Saving money and preparing quality gourmet food can go hand and hand. You may prepare quality food without spending too much. Gourmet food recipes are not necessarily expensive. You can use substitutes for the expensive ingredients. Stylish cooking does not only involve following the recipe handbook, you may also use your creativity to modify the process of food preparation. Presentation and taste are both important in the preparation of food. The best chefs of gourmet restaurants have their own unique styles in cooking food. Sticking strictly to the recipe book may result in food presentations that are not distinctively creative. Nonetheless, if you are an amateur cook, you may first try out strictly following the instructions in a recipe book. You may develop your own style as you improve your skills.

One way of saving money in your gourmet food preparation is to substitute vegetarian and fish alternatives for meat recipes. Tofu and gluten are good substitutes for meat. These substitutes also contain more protein per pound and lesser calories and almost zero fat as compared to meat. One recipe that you can prepare using a meat substitute is Tofu-Nut Loaf. You will need 1 large chopped onion, 3 tablespoon margarine, 1-pound mashed tofu, 2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs, half cup chopped nuts, 1 teaspoon sage and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer the chopped union in margarine until it turns golden brown. Mix the rest of the ingredients with the onion. Pour into a baking dish. Bake for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees oven temperature.