by El Richard, President of NOW® Foods
With beef prices at an all-time high, and likely to continue to rise in the future, it is a good time to look at the alternatives. The item_revisions listed below have no animal fat, no cholesterol and give you much more protein per pound than beef supplies.
USDA choice beef cuts now average $3.21 per pound at retail, and have only 18.6% protein. Most people are surprised that this number is as low as it is. Additionally, as purchased, beef is almost 2/3 water!
The NOW products listed below can be obtained in the greater Chicago area at the prices listed. These prices may be increased in other areas due to freight costs.
| Cost/lb.(Feb 2003) | % Protein | $ Retail/lb. | Protein Cost/lb. |
| NOW Soy Grits 28 oz. | 50 | 1.14 | 2.28 |
| NOW Gluten Flour 1 lb | 76 | 2.69 | 3.54 |
| NOW Soy Powedr Fine 22 oz | 40 | 1.81 | 4.52 |
| NOW Textured Vegetable Protein, chunks 12 oz | 52 | 2.39 | 4.59 |
| NOW Whole Wheat Flour 2 lbs | 13 | .60 | 4.61 |
| NOW Wheat Germ 12 oz | 25.2 | 1.59 | 6.33 |
| NOW Soybeans, dry roasted 24 oz. | 47 | 3.00 | 6.38 |
| NOW Oatmeal Steel Cut 2 lbs. | 15.5 | 1.00 | 6.45 |
| Oat Bran 14 oz. | 20 | 1.48 | 7.38 |
| NOW Flax Seeds 1 lb. | 25 | 1.99 | 7.95 |
| NOW Bran, course 12 oz | 16 | 1.32 | 8.23 |
| NOW Sesame Seeds, hulled 1 lb. | 26.4 | 2.29 | 8.67 |
| NOW Soy Protein Powder, 2 lbs. | 92 | 8.50 | 9.23 |
| NOW Sunflower Seeds, raw 1 lb | 24 | 2.29 | 9.54 |
| Beef Chuck (as purchased) | 18.6 | 3.21 | 17.24 |
For those concerned about protein quality, soy products and wheat germ are equally well used by the body, and non-fat milk is better. Your local health store should be able to advise you about mixing these products with other foods to make them equal to beef in protein quality.
MEAT DISHES
One way to cut down on beef is to mix NOW Soy Grits with ground meats and other meat dishes.
By adding one half pound NOW Soy Grits to each pound of meat, the protein content will be increased 67%, and most other nutrients will be increased substantially. NOW Soy Grits are 10 times richer than hamburger in calcium, magnesium, iodine, the tocopherols, and many B-Complex vitamins (thiamin, folic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, and inositol). In almost any other well know nutrient, NOW Soy Grits are superior to meat. NOW Soy Powder may also be used in conjunction with liver pate and smooth textured meat products.
Start with one cup of NOW Soy Grits (4 ½ oz.) per pound of ground meat. You can increase the soy grits up to about two cups per pound of hamburger (to taste). Soak each cup of NOW Soy Grits in about two cups of water for four minutes and then mix thoroughly into the meat. Proceed as usual. NOW Soy Grits will absorb much of the meat juices that would otherwise be lost. The flavor of Soy meat-like dishes is improved by the use of meat-like flavorings, vegetable broth, tomatoes, onions, garlic, parsley, and celery.
Soy Meat Loaf
1 lb. ground beef
1 tbs. chopped green pepper
¼ cup cracker crumbs
¾ cup NOW Soy Grits
1 cup canned tomatoes
4 tbs. chopped onion
2 tsp. NOW Earth salt
1 beaten egg
½ cup milk
½ tsp. NOW Cayenne pepper
½ tsp. celery salt
Mix ingredients well. Shape into a loaf and bake in oiled pan at degrees for 1-1/4 hours or until brown and well done.
Soy Meat Loaf - Egg Free
¾ cup NOW Soy Grits
½ cup chopped celery
1½ cups vegetable stock, tomato juice or milk
¾ cup ground meat
2 tbs. chopped onion
2 tbs. chopped parsley
2 tsp. NOW Earth salt
¾ cup bread crumbs
1/8 tsp. NOW Cayenne pepper
You can use either one kind of meat or a mixture of two or more kinds. Knead the vegetable stock, tomato juice or milk with meat, NOW Soy Grits, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook the celery and onion in the oiled skillet for a few minutes, add the remaining ingredients to the mixture and mix well. Mold into a loaf with hands on a piece of thick paper, and place the loaf with paper on a rack in an uncovered pan and bake at 350 degrees until well done and brown, about 1¼ hours.
Soy Liver Loaf
1/3 cup NOW Soy Grits
¼ cup chopped parsley
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cups soft bread crumbs
1 lb. beef liver
1 ½ cups milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. NOW Earth salt
Use any other seasonings desired. Wash liver under running water, place in boiling water and let stand 10 minutes, then drain. Grind all ingredients together and mix well by kneading with hands. Shape into a loaf, place in an oiled pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 1¼ hours.
MEAT SUBSTITUTES
For the vegetarian, NOW Soy Grits provide a wealth of variations. Not only are NOW Soy Grits more economical than processed meat substitutes, but you may add whatever seasonings your desire.
Soy Vegetable Stew
Put a small bunch of chopped celery in 6 cups boiling, salted water and cook for about 10 minutes. Then add four diced carrots, one diced rutabaga, one diced turnip, one large celery core (diced), several parsley sprigs, 1 medium size diced onion and ½ cup NOW Soy Grits. Cook until vegetables are done, then add ½ can peas with 1tbs. soy sauce or meat seasoning.
Vegetable Chile
1 cup canned kidney beans
1 cup NOW Soy Grits
¼ tsp. garlic salt
1 tbs. NOW Cayenne powder (optional)
1 tbs. vegetable broth
1 tbs. chopped onion
1 can tomato paste
Soak NOW Soy Grits in 2 cups water or kidney bean juice. Add other ingredients and simmer for ½ hour or until onions have desired texture. Serves three.
Soy Casserole
2 cups NOW Soy Grits
2 tsp. vegetable broth
2 tbs. minced parsley
1 cup cooked carrots
1 cup cooked celery
1 cup stewed tomatoes
Soak NOW Soy Grits in 3 cups of water for four minutes. Mix in other ingredients and pour into an oiled casserole dish. Top with toasted crumbs and bake until brown. Dot with butter and serve. Serves five.
Meat-Like Loaf
1 cup NOW Soy Grits
½ cup cracker or bread crumbs
1 tbs. meat-like seasoning
1 tbs. vegetable broth (optional)
1 tsp. NOW Earth salt
½ cup milk
1 small onion
2 eggs
Cook NOW Soy Grits in 2 cups of water with salt until dry. Add onions and crushed crackers or bread crumbs to NOW Soy Grits. Add seasoning, beaten eggs, and milk and mix. Put into loaf pan and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. This recipe will also make patties when browned in an oiled skillet. Serves two.
Meat-Like Fritters
1 cup NOW Soy Grits
1 tbs. meat-like seasonings
½ tsp. NOW Earth salt
2 eggs
Mix 1 cup water with NOW Soy Grits. Add beaten eggs, salt, and seasoning. Mix all ingredients and allow to stand for 2 minutes. Drop with tablespoon onto hot oiled skillet into thick cakes. Brown on both sides and serve. Serves two.
3/1/03 |
Beef - Time to Replace It!
