Holiday prices got you down? Wondering how you'll finance big family meals? Well, Beat Today's Rising Food Costs with Soybean Cookery (Virg and Jo Lemley, 1975, second edition) offers some soybean-based solutions.
Consider starting out with a little appetizer, like cheese balls.
Of course, your guests will probably expect those cream-cheese based cheese balls that are often seasoned with wine and/or rolled in nuts or herbs before being served with crackers. Cream cheese can be pricey, though, and this book requires soy in every recipe. That means the cheese balls are made of soybeans, flour, egg, and seasonings mashed into a dough that is then rolled around a cube of Cheddar cheese before being deep fried. Deep frying makes a lot of things better, and maybe the green chilis and chili powder will help hide the soy flavor that even the cookbook authors admit is less-than-appealing. Or maybe not. These appetizers might be okay (if disappointing to those who want an excuse to eat a bunch of cream cheese), or they might bring the party to an early end.
If guests stick around past the appetizers, you'll need a main course, like turkey with stuffing. Sure, stuffing made out of bread is cheap, but have you considered making the holiday stuffing out of soybeans instead?
And have you considered replacing the turkey with a beef heart? The recipe suggests that's a good option too. I can only imagine a host grandly slicing open a heart before all the guests, who get to see soybeans running out like so much chunky pus. That could certainly clear out the dining room.
For the guests hardy (or foolhardy) enough to make it through the meal, offer a dessert full of warm fall spices and, yes, soybeans. Instead of the cliché pumpkin pie, maybe try an applesauce cake.
Loaded up with whole wheat and raisins in addition to the soybeans, this is peak 1970s health food! The honey glaze only makes it more so.
Will all this soy make your family reluctant to let you cook anything for the next holiday dinner? You can always hope so, and that will be the biggest money-saver of all.
Big holiday meals are overrated. I've always known that they would include some dishes I didn't want anywhere near my mouth. Thankfully I take a medication that advises to avoid soy, so I would have a good reason to say no to the food and go check out the drinks. I really hope that the book doesn't have soynog in it.
ReplyDeleteYou're in luck! No soynog!
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