Looking for some low budget meal ideas for Lent

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Aunt Bea

Master Chef
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near Mount Pilot
I went to the market this morning and picked up a one pound "brick" of frozen haddock, I haven't seen them in years! It gave me a flashback to the 70's so I went looking for a can of cream of shrimp soup to pour over it and bake topped with a few buttered bread crumbs or crispy onion rings! Imagine my surprise when the can of soup cost almost as much as the fish! :ohmy: I nixed that idea. I will probably bake the thawed haddock topped with a sauce made using diced tomatoes, olive oil, capers, celery, garlic, onion and green olives.

I got to thinking about other inexpensive seafood or vegetarian dishes to serve during Lent. I need to stick to low carb options for myself so the old standby mac and cheese or tuna noodle casserole won't cut it anymore. I can probably go with cauliflower and cheese or broccoli parmigiana.

I could use a couple more ideas, what's on the menu at your house during Lent ?
 
I have my doubts I practice Lent in the traditional sense. I Look Forward to Lent because just about every Catholic Church and Neighborhood Bar has Friday Fish Fries, and I (and we, to some extent) take full advantage. Not giving up much. Some churches even have dessert included.

How about making some of these dishes--

Vegetable soup, minestrone soup, potato soup or clam chowder, Substitute Veg broth instead of meat broth if its in a recipe Google up a butternut squash soup with curry or apple juice in the ingredients. I've eaten (not made) both, and each was equally good.

Quiche, broccoli or other favorite vegetable mix

Falafels. Love my mid east take out place. I'm not a big eater, the plus side is I can usually get two meals for about $6, if i include a salad and pita bread.

Salmon cakes or salmon loaf. I like to spoon creamed peas as the sauce.
 
Some more thoughts. I like a baked potato with broccoli / cheese / topping.

I'm happy with a sweet potato and some chili spices as a main dish.

Lettuce wraps. You could make tuna sandwich lettuce wrap.

Greek salad.
 
I went to the market this morning and picked up a one pound "brick" of frozen haddock, I haven't seen them in years! It gave me a flashback to the 70's so I went looking for a can of cream of shrimp soup to pour over it and bake topped with a few buttered bread crumbs or crispy onion rings! Imagine my surprise when the can of soup cost almost as much as the fish! :ohmy: I nixed that idea. I will probably bake the thawed haddock topped with a sauce made using diced tomatoes, olive oil, capers, celery, garlic, onion and green olives.

I got to thinking about other inexpensive seafood or vegetarian dishes to serve during Lent. I need to stick to low carb options for myself so the old standby mac and cheese or tuna noodle casserole won't cut it anymore. I can probably go with cauliflower and cheese or broccoli parmigiana.

I could use a couple more ideas, what's on the menu at your house during Lent ?

Serve that over some steamed spaghetti squash (can be done in the microwave) and you have a nice "pasta" meal.:yum: The squash has about 7g carbs in a one cup serving.
 
I went to the market this morning and picked up a one pound "brick" of frozen haddock, I haven't seen them in years! It gave me a flashback to the 70's so I went looking for a can of cream of shrimp soup to pour over it and bake topped with a few buttered bread crumbs or crispy onion rings! Imagine my surprise when the can of soup cost almost as much as the fish! :ohmy: I nixed that idea. I will probably bake the thawed haddock topped with a sauce made using diced tomatoes, olive oil, capers, celery, garlic, onion and green olives.

I got to thinking about other inexpensive seafood or vegetarian dishes to serve during Lent. I need to stick to low carb options for myself so the old standby mac and cheese or tuna noodle casserole won't cut it anymore. I can probably go with cauliflower and cheese or broccoli parmigiana.

I could use a couple more ideas, what's on the menu at your house during Lent ?
Chick pea or red lentil veg curries. I like to use any mixture of potato, carrot, sweet potato, parsnip, cauliflower, etc, with onion and garlic. Sometimes I cheat and just use "curry powder" but if I want to push the boat out I use the separate spices.
 
Soups

There are many soups that you could make, such as cream of leek and cauliflower soup, clam chowder (both of these soups using non-fat milk or unsweetened Almond milk), bean with bacon soup, coleslaw with stove top grilled whitefish, seafood gumbo. Spaghetti squash with tomato and red bell pepper marinara.
 
Aunt Bea, you live in the part of this country where Cod is readily available. How about Cod Fish Cakes with baked beans? I used not only mashed potatoes but put in peas the cakes also. The kids got their veggies and their protein in one bite. And they didn't even know they were eating healthy. :angel:
 
As a kid I remember well when we couldn't eat meat on any Friday, let alone during lent. To top it off, my parents owned a meat market and he never sold fish at all, so canned tuna or cheese was the norm. My Dad and I were Catholic, but not my Mom. She honored the no meat on Friday, but would quip we were restricted from meat on Friday because St. Peter was a fisherman. ;) What a character she was and I miss them still.

Anyway, I still don't like meatless meals so I'm of little help.
 
I use lots of beans in salads, soups, and meatless chili. The chili is great over a baked potato. Try lots of sautéed veggies served with different grains such as quinoa.
 
A little stir fry with celery, green onions or regular onions, maybe carrots, peppers, whatever veggies you have on hand, garnished with some toasted sesame seeds. A sauce to stir in with grated ginger, soy sauce, fish sauce, some rice wine vinegar, maybe some orange or other citrus juice, with a bit of corn starch to thicken it, or not, you could use oyster sauce. You could throw in some shrimp or fish chunks. We had this last night after a couple days of carb overload, and it was quite good.

Mexican fish tacos without the tortilla, with salsa and avocado.

Grilled shrimp and veggie kabobs.
 
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As a kid I remember well when we couldn't eat meat on any Friday, let alone during lent. To top it off, my parents owned a meat market and he never sold fish at all, so canned tuna or cheese was the norm. My Dad and I were Catholic, but not my Mom. She honored the no meat on Friday, but would quip we were restricted from meat on Friday because St. Peter was a fisherman. ;) What a character she was and I miss them still.

Anyway, I still don't like meatless meals so I'm of little help.

You are more help than you know!

This is on the list! :ermm::ohmy::LOL:
img_1410027_0_e9f471fdc71d08779218ad47414b4e54.jpg
 
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Thanks for the ideas, keep 'em coming!

I will definitely use some of the soup ideas for lunch or as part of dinner. Since I gave up bread I'm just not satisfied with soup as a complete meal, maybe the bread was the main attraction,lol!

I could try curry over some cauliflower rice and it may be time to revisit spaghetti squash.

Eggs, cheese and vegetable combinations will definitely be on the menu. Steve's eggs poached in spicy tomato sauce or a nice frittata.

It takes me some time to rewire my brain with lo carb ideas. I still crave Friday fish on a dish with sweetened coleslaw and extra crispy fries or tuna melts with a bowl of tomato soup! It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, that don't include a nice meaty bone to gnaw on! :ermm::ohmy::LOL:
 
I remember giving up Hershey's chocolate for Lent when I was little. Such a sacrifice, lol. And fish on Fridays, although my favorite was breakfast-for-dinner-pancakes.

I used to work with low income families, teaching money management and nutrition. Low budget meals equaled high (filling) carbs, so it's natural to think of pasta and beans first.

Maybe a chili relleno casserole? Pretty much eggs, cheese and green chilis.

How's quinoa for carbs? I use it for 'risotto'...would be good with shrimp.

We went sort of low carb for a short time and I made these crepes quite often. You can fill them with anything you want. My daughter liked manicotti made with these more than with pasta.

* Exported from MasterCook *

Low Carb Crepes

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
5 eggs
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cream
1/2 cup low carb baking mix -- or flour (flour will add 3-4 grams carbs per pancake)

Whirl in blender and cook over medium heat in a crepe pan or 7" cast iron skillet. The pan will need to be oiled for the first few crepes. Lay on waxed paper.

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Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 52 Calories; 4g Fat (75.8% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 1g Carbohydrate (MasterCook does not recognize Atkin's Baking Mix, so this count will be a little higher); 0g Dietary Fiber; 87mg Cholesterol; 27mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat.

NOTES : I use these for manicotti and enchiladas. They can be sweetened and a little vanilla added for dessert crepes.

And these are a pretty darn good sub for potato pancakes:

* Exported from MasterCook *

Potato Pancakes Low Carb

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
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5 ounces jicama -- 2 c. grated
2 tablespoons onion -- grated
1 whole egg
2 tablespoons low carb baking mix
3 tablespoons cooking oil -- for frying
1/2 teaspoon salt -- or to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper -- or to taste

Makes 8 'potato pancakes' @ 1.3 grams each. Total carb grams .7 with fiber deducted.

5 ounces jicama after peeling and grated,equals 2 c.

In a microwave safe dish, place grated jicama and water to almost cover. Place a lid on and nuke on high for 6 minutes (I have 900 watts - you may have to adjust).
Remove and drain in a colander.
Place back in dish and let come to room temp.
Grate onion and throw in with jicama, add seasonings, the egg and baking mix (or use Hodgson's soy flour with a little baking powder).
Mix well. In large skillet heat your oil and add the batter in blobs until you have 7-8 pancakes. Fry on each side until nice and brown. Keep turning.

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Are oyster mushrooms available and inexpensive where you live? We just had a couple of dishes that were really good, oyster mushroom Rockefeller and oyster mushrooms with Dynamite sauce (spicy but can be adjusted to your taste). The most expensive thing about them was the mushrooms since everything else was in our pantry. Both were vegetarian and the Dynamite sauce can be vegan if you use Vegenaise.
 
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