TVPLT Sandwich

“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”

- Doug Larson

Note:  This quote is universally attributed to “Doug Larson, middle-distance runner who won gold medals at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, 1902-1981”.  However, I must confess that I am unable to find record of anyone of a similar name having won a medal in the 1924 Summer Olympic Games.

“Don’t always trust what you read on the Internet.  On the Internet either you or I can be physicists or physicians if we so desire.”

 - Chucky – The Fat Vegetarian

Hello my friend!  Thank you for visiting my blog, if only by accident.  Since you’re already here why not stay and browse a bit?  Whether you stay or move on, it is my wish that you experience a very pleasant day.  A wish bestowed to a stranger is no less than a wish bestowed upon a friend.

Bacon TVPLT Sandwiches are served

Ever have one of those moments where a flash goes off inside that little plastic bubble-head of yours?  “No?”  “Well… I did!”  To be perfectly honest, as I type these words I haven’t yet made the culinary concoction.

I was Googling “health benefits of vegetarian bacon” simply to learn more and do a little research on my idle time.  Not that I always particularly learn much but it does help pass the time and gets my little tiny brain cells to move around a wee bit.  Trust me, there’s nothing worse than lethargic brain activity (my job).

Toast, Vegenaise, salt, pepper and bacon-flavored TVP crumbles.

Anyway… Tiffany and I had a BLT (vegan bacon, of course) last night.  It was soooo delicious and healthy.  It’s perhaps Chucky’s favorite all-time sandwich?  “Hmm… Can I make it even healthier?”  “Eliminate the Vegenaise?”  “Absolutely not!”  Vegenaise is a crucial ingredient whose taste and texture brings the entire sandwich together.  Besides, I already use the Reduced Fat Vegenaise variety.  Nor would eliminating lettuce, tomato, salt and pepper be an option.  “The bread?”  Nope… Gotta stay with good quality bread and can’t really lighten it up except for slicing it a wee bit thinner.

Lettuce & tomato top the TVP crumbles.

Then I bumped into a Google image of bacon-flavored TVP (textured vegetable protein).  I thought to myself, “Why not spread the Vegenaise and spread bacon TVP crumbles on top as the “B” (bacon) element of my sandwich???”  Thus is born “The TVPLT Sandwich”.

INGREDIENTS:

• Good quality bread - 2 slices per sandwich
• Lettuce (I prefer hydroponic Butterhead lettuce leaves) – 2 leaves
• Tomato (go ripe, go organic) – 2 slices
• Vegenaise, Reduced Fat - 1 to 2 Tbsp
• TVP crumbles, bacon flavored – 2 Tbsp
• Salt & Pepper, freshly ground

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray skillet with non-stick vegetable spray (Pam or equivalent) and toast bread slices, one side only.  3 to 4-minutes over medium heat until golden browned.
2. Remove slices from skillet and slather ½ of Vegenaise on each slice, non-toasted side.
3. Grind fresh pepper and salt on bread slices, to taste.
4. Sprinkle bacon-flavored TVP crumbles on each bread sliced,
5. Arrange one lettuce leaf on each bread slice.
6. Arrange sliced tomato on top of one of the bread slices.
7. Combine your culinary artwork together, slice sandwich diagonally, and enjoy!

What more can you ask for of a sandwich?  The TVPLT Sandwich is simple, delicious, and healthy.  Although the caloric difference between two strips of Morningstar Veggie Bacon and two tablespoons of bacon-flavored TVP is only 10-calories, it’s the simplicity that makes the difference.  Almost every vegan and vegetarian has a stash of TVP crumbles laying around?

Morningstar nutrition

Oh yes… I almost forgot… Remember that item from the 1970’s called “Bac-Os”?  Well my friend, that’s nothing more than expensively packaged bacon-flavored TVP.  What’s the cost for a little jar of Bac-Os?  How does approximately $2.00 for a tiny 4.4 oz bottle sound to you?  I don’t know about you but $4.00 a pound (16 oz) for bulk bacon-flavored TVP sounds better to Chucky.

TVP crumbles nutrition.

Hi-dee hi-dee sometimes-quick-and-easy-can-mean-easy-and-delicious-ho my friend.