I was also a vegetarian for 16 years. We just added grass fed beef and free range chickens back into our diet. I can not stand anything made from soybeans. Never have been able to. I have used almonds for a good protein source over the years with good results.

There's also the school of thought that soybeans cause too much estrogen.

Like everything else moderation is a good thing. And if you don't have any problems and you LIKE them go for it. I may have to try making some of my own, could be why I don't like it.

Vicky

Your post is very interesting and soybean is a specialty crop where I live. I have made dishes with it and it tastes awful, but processed and cooked as you do sounds very tasty.

We are not into this healthfood stuff....just try to eat a balanced diet. I do miss our own grain fed beef and pork. We can buy chickens raised by local farmers. We still grow our own vegetables and have enough to carry us through the winter. We also like wild game and this year received a good supply of deer meat.

It is interesting how lifestyles and eating habits have changed over time.
Jean

I have to agree about the taste of soybeans in general, though we like tempeh (fried, only) and tofu. It's great that you can buy local chickens. We once kept hens and loved the delicious eggs we got, feeding them on grains and table scraps and grasshoppers. Ever since the advent of mad cow disease, when we realized that some places feed meat products to cows (which is how mad cow disease got a foothold, right?), we got turned right off on beef. Guaranteed grain-and-nothing-else-fed beef and pork sure sound nice! So does growing your own vegetables. We do have some fruit trees, but our space is very limited.

Biwako, I panic if a bird flutters around me...you would never get me in a chicken house! My husband was a farmer and when he asked me to marry him and have a home on his farm, I told him I would not marry him if I had to have any kind of bird in the yard or a pen where our house would be...haha. He remained true to his word and we never raised a chicken!

We don't worry about the BSE in cattle, it is so rare and now highly regulated in Canada and since we are in the heart of where beef & pork are raised our store meats are pretty local. I kinda remember seeing on TV that someone was feeding animal parts I thought to pigs but, yes, that would really turn off one's appetite for meat. I do understand the public concern though and I would probably feel the same way if I lived in a large urban community.
Jean

That's funny, Jean. I shouldn't laugh at someone else's phobia (having one for spiders, myself), but how good of your husband to keep that promise! In our case, DH had to promise to always let me keep a cat, and he kept his promise, too. He hated cats then, but he has changed over the years, and both the cats we have now love him.

I buy tempeh from the store once in a while. So fresh tastes better? Well, it's that way with most other things, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised if you say home made tempeh tastes better. Can you send me the instructions?

Sure, MaryLiz. You have mail.

Hi biwako -

I have been a vegetarian for 16+ years. Back then it was very hard to find good veggie food. Now days the possibilities are endless.

IÂm not very familiar with tempeh. I do like tofu when itÂs fried. I like standard recipes like tacos, chili, chicken dishes, meatloaf, etc. I just donÂt like the idea of eating meat. We are now able to buy soy based "chicken, steak strips, ground beef, turkey, shrimp, BBQ ribs, hot dogs, bacon, sausage" and more. Were we live in CA all of these meat substitutes are available at all regular grocery stores in the freezer section. Morning Star Farms makes most of what I mentioned. Gardenburger now makes more than just patties. I donÂt want to sound like a walking billboard, but if anyone is trying to eat less meat, but still wants to eat their favorite recipes, I suggest giving these substitutes a try. The taste and texture is practically identical to the real thing. DH is not a vegetarian, and likes them all.

Will you please send me the tempeh directions? IÂd like to try it. Thanks.

Nina

I've never tried tempeh, but I love edamame in my salads. I don't mind tofu in sitr frys. I do have a package in the fridge right now because I am going to try some recipes incorporating it into dishes where you supposedly can't tell it's in there.

Here's a tofu dish I love: Ma-Bo Do-Fu. Very filling, whether it has meat or not. I have never made it, but I might find a recipe online. There are also spice packets available in the Asian grocery store, but I don't digest those premixed spices very well. Better to make it from scratch.

My favorite place to find recipes is allrecipes.com, because people can review the recipes. For example: if they say it was too hot for them and they are going reduce the hot spices next time, then it will be a good indicator for you if you don't like it too spicy.

Biwako,
I love tofu!!!! To me it takes on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with.
We are not vegans, but we do try to eat healthy.
Can you please send me the recipe?
Thank you,
Rosa

I received it!!!!! Thanks.
Rosa

Did a search for something else and this thread came up.
Glad it did! ;)
Biwako, I'd love the recipe if it's still available.
Thanks!
Cathy

Biwako,
If you are still offering the tempeh recipe, I'd love to have it.
Thanks, Carolyn