1 cup BEEF TVP, reconstituted in 1 cup boiling water for 10 minutes then drain off any liquid left
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
4 ounce can drained Sliced Black Olives
1 cup Diced Tomatoes
1 cup cooked and drained Penne Pasta
1 can Bega Cheese, cut into bite-sized cubes
salt and black pepper to suit taste
Mix all ingredients in a skillet on the stovetop until cheese has melted completely.
Makes two large servings.
Serve with a green salad for an Australian dinner since the Bega Cheese is made in Australia. The shelf-stable use-by-date is indefinite as long as the can is not allowed to corrode from moisture.
You can vary this recipe by doubling the ingredients for four servings, or by using a different flavored TVP, like Chicken, Taco, or Imitation Bacon Bits. Or add 1 teaspoon of Pizza Seasoning to make a Pizza Casserole to the above recipe, or add 1 teaspoon Taco Seasoning to make Taco Casserole, or add 1 teaspoon Enchilada Seasoning to the above recipe for Enchilada Casserole, or add 1 teaspoon BBQ Seasoning to make BBQ Beef Casserole. This one recipe can make a large variety of recipes that you can come up with creativity. You could use TVP Imitation Bacon Bits and scramble 4 eggs added to the above recipe to make a Breakfast Casserole, or add freeze-dried Spinach Flakes, freeze-dried shredded Mozzarella Cheese, 2 oz. drained diced pimentos or freeze-dried red bell peppers to create a Stovetop Fritatta. It is not necessary to reconstitute the Bacon Bits in liquid, as most people think they taste better straight from the can added to recipes. They are good sprinkled over the top of a tossed salad, too. The TVP Taco only takes 2 minutes to reconstitute in boiling water instead of ten minutes for the Beef or Chicken TVP. You can also purchase plain TVP and create your own customized flavored TVP by using bouillon cubes or broths to create your own flavors.
To the reconstituted Chicken TVP you can add BBQ Seasoning or Cha Sriracha Sauce and use it to put between a whole dill pickle or sweet whole pickle that you slice down the center. Serve two stuffed pickles per person eating this appetizer.
You could also use a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese prepared according to the directions on the box instead of the Penne Pasta and Bega Cheese in the above recipe. 1 cup Cooked Corn Niblets could also be added to the above recipe, or 1 cup diced pimentoes or freeze-dried diced red bell peppers could be substituted for the diced tomatoes in the above recipe. You could also add 1 cup each frozen green peas and diced carrots to the above recipe, 1 can drained mixed vegetables, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, or add all of the above suggestions to make a Southwestern Skillet Casserole.
