www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Food - Recipes The Great Fast: What to Eat? (aka: Don't Live on Potato Chips)

Here's a dish that I heard about a couple of years ago that is not bad. Sorry, I don't have exact amounts for the ingredients (when I cook, it's sort of by the seat of the pants), but this is so simple, even I can do a good job on it! This is for those who still use oil (not olive) during Lent.

Ingredients required:
Rice (brown or white)
Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil
Any vegetables (frozen are easier) you want to add.

Boil the rice until cooked. About 5 minutes before the rice is complete, add some sesame oil to a skillet, and simmer. 2 minutes before adding the rice to the skillet, add the vegetables, so they get a head start on the frying (my favorites to add are corn, onions, and carrots, but again, you can add whatever you'd like). Then, add the rice, along with some soy sauce. Stir fry the rice until brown (about 2 minutes). You can add a tad more soy once on the plate, if you like.

Somewhat unscientific (I'm no Chef Tell), but it tastes pretty good.

Mike

I have a whole web site full of appropriate recipes, and they're all low-fat, too. The url is http://www.agoron.com/~susang/page4.htm.

One of my favorites:


* Exported from MasterCook *

Dijon Mushroom Potatoes

Recipe By :John McDougall, MD and Mary McDougall
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:20
Categories : Main Dishes, Vegetarian Maximum Weight Loss Program
Potatoes Vegetables


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
4 medium baking potato -- scrubbed
3/4 cup water
1 medium onion -- chopped
1/2 pound mushrooms -- sliced
1 medium green bell pepper -- chopped
1 small carrot -- shredded
1 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cornstarch
freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prick potatoes in several places
with a fork. Bake for 1 hour or until tender, or microwave on high power
for 15 minutes, turning once. Let the potatoes rest while preparing the
sauce.

In a large saucepan place 1/4 cup of the water with the onion,
mushrooms, green pepper, and carrot. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables
are tender, adding a little more water if necessary.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Stir into the
vegetable mixture and cook, stirring, until thickened.

Serve the potatoes hot, passing the sauce separately.

Description:
"page 260"
Source:
"McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss"
Copyright:
"1994 edition"
T(cooking):
"1:00"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 198 Calories; 1g Fat (3.0% calories
from fat); 6g Protein; 44g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 0mg
Cholesterol; 219mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 2
Vegetable; 0 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.


Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mor Ephrem,

Rules vary - are you allowed a hot pot in your room? If the budget and the rulles allow, one of the most versatile small appliances you can get is a Black & Decker Handy Steamer (or other like brand. Under $30 at Wal-Mart) I keep one in my office.

An hour before I want to eat, I throw (brown, black or brown basmati) rice & the requisite amount of water in it, and set it off. Ten minutes before I want to eat, I throw the veggies and/or tofu in, if I'm using any. Dump in bowl, throw on some soy sauce, pray & eat.

If you have no cooking ability, peanut butter may be your route....

Also, I dunno where you are at school, but a lot of universities have begun to be open to regularly offering vegetarian options in their dining halls.

In any case, chat with your pastor or spiritual father/mother about what makes sense for you in your situation, where your food is really not under your control.

Best,

Sharon


Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Dear Friends,

I am a diabetic (Diabetes Mellitus).

One thing about us folk is that we need to eat frequently throughout the day to keep our blood sugar up at a consistent level.

I don't want to go to someone who'll tell me to forget about the rules of the Great Fast totally, owing to my condition.

What can I do to participate in this spiritual struggle, but without killing myself?

Your sugar-free servant,

Alex

Alex,

Even the Fathers said 'don't be stupid.'

'sfar as I know, the "two snacks & one meal" thing is a Roman discipline, and even that can be dispensed for good cause by one's pastor. Diabetes is EXCELLENT cause. For the food part of the Fast, you might want to change the TYPE of food you eat (in consultation with a dietitian, if you are not comfortable with exchanges) but not the FREQUENCY. If that is not an option, keep in mind that the three "legs" of the Fast are fasting, prayer and works of mercy. If you can't do a dietary fast, lean on one or both of the other "legs" more.

BTW, my husband is a Type II diabetic. God bless Glucophage!

Best,

Sharon

Sharon Mech, SFO
Cantor & sinner
sharon@cmhc.com

Dear Sharon,
Shalom!

Thank you for your advice - I am stupid!!

I can't even tell directions which is why I married a geographer/urban planner.

I should have reviewed this sooner, but I was just diagnosed etc.

The thing is I feel like a real failure, and I know I shouldn't, but hunger and low blood sugar is something that hits hard, as you know.

Thank you!

Alex

First off, I want to thank all those who answered my question on fasting and collegiate dining. It helps, and I'm getting more and more ideas on what to eat. Thank you all again.

And my friend Alex, it's good to see you again! There are many in my family who have diabetes and thus can't observe the fast as they would like. They also, having grown up with the rigours of Orthodox fasting, come to view themselves as failing God by not fasting as they want. God allowed them the diabetes, I say. Use it as part of your fasting. Part of the whole idea of fasting, as I see it, is to lose ourselves, to die to ourselves and what we want, and to grow in dependence upon God, of course, with the aid of prayer. What they do is to modify the fast so that they forbid themselves strictly meat products, but keep everything else. And anyone who knows about Indian cuisine knows that not having meat can be a difficult thing. Anyway, they do that, but don't lessen the amount they eat, and then they pray a bit more. They still get to perform the fast, but not the way they want, but still, the way God is pleased with. Take heart, Alex, God looks upon the sincerity of your heart, and blesses you. Pray for me, you are in my prayers, friend!

Dear Mor Ephrem,

Thank you, dear friend, for your kind encouragement and helpful words.

By the way, did you get the beads? And, if so, are you happy with them?

God bless,

Alex

Dear Alex,

Hehe, fasting's tough! Something I re-learned today. Anyway, I'm glad that my words were of some help to you. About the beads, as of last Friday I haven't received them. Our school is currently in its first of two spring breaks! So I don't know. I hope to be greeted by them in the mail when I get back, though, I'll let you know. Thanks again.

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
SLAVA NA VIKI BOHU!

Hey Alex

I'm Type II diabetic. I was told by my spiritual advisor that if by fasting I put my health/life in danger, I was forbidden from fasting.

I've learned to modify my fasting. I try to east only 3 meals at scheduled times BUT keep something on hand just incase. I keep some Graham crackers (the oatmeal kind) on hand just in case. I also do a lot of Chinese food because, at least the one I go to, has a lot of good steamed veggies with rice or Lo Mein which I can share with a co-worker or even save for a 2nd meal.

Salads are good too!

If you pack your lunch, say tuna salad or the like, avoid using low-fat or fat-free mayonnase or salad dressing. It has a tendency to seperate after sitting for a couple of hours and it's not pretty.

With a little planning AND the help of your doctor, you can "run the race" with no problems at all!!!

wishing you a prayerful Great Lent!

the least servant of the servants of God

mark

Dear Mark,

Thank you ever so much for sharing so much valuable information!

I wonder if there is a Patron Saint for Diabetes? Perhaps St John the Baptist since he ate wild honey? Or Sts. Savvaty and Zosima Solovetsky, the patrons of beekeepers?

I thank you and Sharon for caring and for sharing!

God bless,

Alex

SLAVA ISUSU CHRISTU!
SLAVA NA VIKI BOHU!

Hi Alex!

I'm leaning toward St.Raphael the Archangel, he's patron of scientists and if it wasn't for them, diabetics would be much worse off.

Or maybe Sts. Cosmas and Damian since they were both physicians and being diabetic I go to enough of them as it is.....

Keep up the good work!

mark

Dear Mark,

Yes, your choice of Patrons is much better than mine!

God bless,

Alex

MEATLESS HOLUPKI ????

Hospodi Pomiluj. I can wait six weeks.

Barbara

Here is some help when you go shopping, and are buying canned goods.If you see a lower case u surrounded by a circle, sort of like @ but put a u in the middle, that means that the product is concidered kosher by the Orthodox Union of Rabbis. Next to that it will either say dairy or parve. If it says dairy that is because it contains dairy ingrediants and cannot be combined with meat. However, if it says PARVE that means that it does not have any milk products, but you still might have to check the ingreadiants because eggs are not considered dairy. I hope this will help. Wishing all a blessed Lent