Good Morning Darlings!

Did you know that October is Vegetarian Awareness Month?

My new friends at Harmony Valley give this carnivore some important info:

“Vegetarian Awareness Month is an opportunity for us to showcase the ingenuity that Harmony Valley brings to the vegetarianism and veganism,” says Joe Basta, Partner at Harmony Valley. “It’s also a good time to support flexitarians and those seeking healthier options for the whole family.” he adds. By eating less meat, consumers can avoid a number of diseases like Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes. In addition, a healthier balanced way of eating slows the progress and reduces the risk of many cancers including: Prostate Cancer, Colon Cancer and Breast Cancer. With Harmony Valley’s great commitment to health, the company has joined the Meatless Monday movement: a global campaign for cutting back on meat consumption. “A great way to give vegetarianism a try might be to go meatless on Mondays this October,” Basta suggests.

I decided to give it a go by making chili with their Vegetarian Hamburger Mix. Now, mind you, I was feeling a little weird since this was totally out of my comfort zone, but you need to mix it up once in a while. Here’s how it went down.

You add water to the mix and let it sit in the fridge for about 15 minutes. The fridge takes some of the moisture out and makes it look a lot like ground beef.

Not sure about eating it straight (although I did nibble a bit before adding it to the crock pot and it was pretty good), I opted to use the mix to make a nice pot of chili with tons of jalapenos, tomatoes and onions.

Eric was reluctant to try it, but being the good sport that he is, humored me by eating a bowl. We both agreed it was a darn good substitute for the real thing. And it’s easy to make. Double score. Here’s a shot of the chili.

We are always looking to replace meat in our diet and I can honestly recommend Harmony Valley’s Vegetarian Hamburger Mix. In fact, I might even try and make hamburgers on the grill next time! Try it and let me know what you think.

Find Harmony Valley Vegetarian Mixes in the dry foods aisle, not the freezer. Harmony Valley is available at Whole Foods Markets, Sunflower markets, Fresh Markets, Garden of Eden, Fresh and Easy Neighborhood Markets, Henry’s, Lowe’s Foods, Food Emporium, Fairway Market and Jewel-Osco It is also sold online at www.harmonyvalleyfoods.com.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Bangles – Manic Monday