Food Storage Sausage TVP & Eggs

First of all, thank you to those who came and saw me at my book signing at Deseret Book. It as great to meet you!

Yep, you knew we had to go there some day….and today is the day!  The day we start talking about food storage TVP.   TVP is one of those dreaded foods in food storage.  WHY?  Because it has a bad rap 1) that it tastes bad and 2) that it has…shall we say…bad side effects.  Even my mother the food storage queen, could never quite love it.  Well like most food storage items this has come a long way and after experimenting with it I have some great ways you can use it.

WHAT IS FOOD STORAGE TVP?

TVP is texturized vegetable protein.  It is a meat analogue or nutritious meat extender made from defatted soy flour, a by-product of extracting soybean oil.  It is quick to cook, with a protein content equal to that of the meat, and contains no fat.

UH…I DON’T KNOW IF I COULD EVER EAT THAT STUFF…

If you think you’ve never eaten it-think again!  You may have eaten it with out even knowing it.  A popular burrito place (Starts with a “T” ends with an “aco Bell”) serves TVP in their “beef”.

FOOD STORAGE TVP NUMBER ONE TRICK

First and foremost, it’s important to never follow the directions on the packaging-which tell you to soak the food storage tvp in warm water for something like 5-7 minutes. Please-if you soak the tvp until it’s soggy and flavorless and then add it to your food (which will most likely be liquid-like) you can see how this is a recipe for disaster.  So, here is how you get around it-soak the food storage TVP in the food itself.  i.e. if you’re going to make spaghetti sauce with it simply drop the dry food storage TVP into the sauce and let it hydrate that way.

WHAT TYPE OF RECIPES IS FOOD STORAGE TVP USED BEST?

The best time to use food storage tvp is in something moist and as a meat extender.  Think spaghetti sauce, sloppy joes, tacos etc.  But you can also use it in regular recipes, as long as there is a way to hydrate it in the recipe.  See eggs below.

IS TVP CHEAPER?

MOST DEFINITELY!  It is much cheaper than purchasing meat and healthier!

MY NEW FAVORITE (AND UNEXPECTED WAY) TO EAT FOOD STORAGE TVP

So we all know that sausage and eggs are a great combination but sausage is expensive and, let’s be honest, not the healthiest thing in the world to eat.  So, sausage TVP can be a great solution to this problem-plus it’s FAST!  To try this out on your family (and trust me, I have-any visitor who has eaten breakfast at my house recently has had this served to them…and they’ve all asked for seconds) simply follow these easy directions:

1. Break fresh eggs into a bowl (yes, fresh eggs-after you try this and see that it works you can branch out into the food storage powdered eggs) and whisk with a fork.
2. Add food storage tvp (however much you’d like) and let sit for 5 minutes
3. Pour egg mixture into pre-heated pan and scramble.
4. Cook until firm.
5. Add cheese, if desired

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE TVP?

If you’re in Utah, you can purchase it any where food storage is sold (Wal-Mart, Maceys, etc.) if you’d like to purchase it online Shelf Reliance has it on sale right now in a lot of varieties, click HERE to learn more.