Archive for the ‘For Kids’ category

Tofu + Grill = Easy, Yummy, Healthy

December 24th, 2009

Nothing says summer like the smell of the grill. In some ways, it seems a little counter-intuitive to want to be anywhere near hot flames on a 90 degree, 90% humidity day, but we’re Americans and we love to grill.

Believe it or not, tofu is GREAT on the grill! It’s fast, easy, healthy and tasty, so next time you decide to fire up the grill, try tofu!

Basically, you just need extra firm tofu, cut into 1/2? thick rectangular “steaks” (I slice my tofu the short way, but it really doesn’t matter!) Drain your tofu by placing the slices on some paper towels, placing more paper towels on top of the tofu, setting a baking sheet on top of that, and topping it off with some heavy jars or cans or cookbooks.

After at least 15 minutes of draining, place the tofu in a glass pan or Ziploc bag and marinate it in, well, whatever you want! Tofu loves any marinade, so you really can’t go wrong. Here’s my staple recipe:

* 1 part soy sauce/tamari/Liquid Aminos (I use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos to cut out all that sodium)
* 1 part lemon or lime juice
* A couple dashes Worcestershire sauce
* A couple dashes Tabasco
* Pepper
* Optional Add-Ins: a few shakes of sesame oil gives it an Asian flavor; a splash of balsamic vinegar makes the flavor richer– perfect for pairing with potatoes & veggies; a little cumin and chili powder create a distinctively Mexican taste

Let the tofu marinate for at least 20 minutes, up to an hour or so. Now you’re ready to grill!!

Simply grill the tofu over medium to med-high heat, just a couple minutes per side. I like to oil my grill or spray it with a little Pam For Grilling so it doesn’t stick, but I have thrown it on the grill without doing either and had no problems– just don’t try to move around the tofu too soon… wait until it’s nice and crispy before you turn it to prevent sticking.

Happy grilling!

Tofu Smoothies

December 24th, 2009

Like my family, your family probably loves smoothies. But did you know that the smoothies at the mall or some smoothie shops are typically made with sherbet and other super-sweet concoctions, and can contain more sugar than that scoop of Haagen-Dasz you were really craving? You think you’re getting a healthy, immune-boosting, protein-powered meal-in-a-cup, but you’re really just having dessert.

Unless, of course, you unleash the mystical powers of silken tofu and unsweetened frozen fruit.

It’s really simple: just get some Mori-Nu soft silken tofu (the kind that comes in the shelf-stable box) and some frozen fruit (make sure it’s unsweetened; I buy huge bags at Costco for about $10 that last forever). You can also add fresh fruit if you have it, and a couple scoops of protein powder and/or greens powder will just add to this smoothie’s glory.

Just place 1/2 the brick of tofu, a couple cups of frozen fruit and any other add-ons in the blender, and some water (about halfway up the ingredients) and press go. Keep pulsing, and add more water to achieve your desired consistency.

This smoothie can be altered to fit your tastes – try frozen strawberries and chocolate protein powder for the “chocolate dipped strawberry”, or just frozen raspberries and tofu for a “raspberry silk”.

The beauty of this smoothie is that it’s completely healthy, high in protein and rich in antioxidants. If you add in some good greens powder, you’ve added even more nutrition. These smoothies are perfect for kids – you can’t even see or taste the tofu, so they’re getting high quality protein & vitamins while they think they’re just getting a sweet treat.

Oh, the beauty of tofu!