TVP

Have you ever eaten TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein)? Well... if you have eaten at Taco Time or eaten frozen pizza you have.

What is TVP?
Textured vegetable protein – sometimes referred to as textured soy protein – is a meat substitute made from soy flour. It is sold in both flavored and unflavored varieties, and comes in a variety of flavors, such as beef, chicken, taco, pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and others, making it easy to work with and incredibly versatile.

Since TVP is sold in dehydrated form, it must be rehydrated before use. This can be acheived by soaking it in water for 5-10 minutes or through the cooking process (when used in soups, sauces and other liquids).

TVP is considerably cheaper than meat, and goes a lot further too. Expect to get the equivalent of three pounds of meat out of one pound of TVP.

Taco can be used in place of meat in may recipes. You'd be surprised what you can do with it, including making meatballs. Many people use it half and half with their hamburger to stretch their budget. It is a great food storage item because it stores well and keeps for a long time. I have used the taco with good success and like the beef and chicken in casseroles and chili.

TVP is quite inexpensive and will greatly increase the number of meals you can make from your food storage. Here is a recipe I got from a friend.

Sloppy Joes
(Vegetarian)
2-3 T. olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 1/2 c. vegetable broth
2 1/2 c. tomato sauce
1 T. chili powder
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 c. beef T.V.P
salt and pepper to taste
5-6 hamburger buns
In a large skillet, saute the onion and peppers in olive oil for 3 to 5 minutes, or until onions are soft. Reduce heat to medium low and add the remaining ingredients (except buns) and stir well to combine. Allow to simmer for at least 15 more minutes. Spoon onto hamburger buns and serve hot.