i picked both up from the health food store and im not sure what to use them for...any ideas or suggestions or recipes for me would be great!
tvp for 'unmeat' sauce - simmer with onions and or spices, etc. and combine with tomato sauce for a hearty, protein rich meal. or sloppy joe style sandwich. basically, tvp is used in lieu of chopped meat. flax is a bit different. use it for baking. if it's crushed, not whole seed, it will be digested and utilized by the body much better. thus, i crush the seeds before using them; you can find them as a flaxmeal in most health food baking departments too. so, regardless of whether you're using them whole or not, i use flax for regular baking stuff - muffins, breads, cakes even, or pancakes. or throw em on top of a stir fry - i 'd recommend you to use em similarly to how you'd use sesame seeds. both good choices! high in protein and fiber.
haha one time my mom mad flax seed pancakes....needless to say we were all "running smooth" that day! ^_^
okay cool ....tvp was the one i was having the most questions with..anything else i can use the tvp for as in a recipe?..i would like several options on how to use it.
i usually add a little tvp to anything i cook. it's good in soups. I like adding it to omelets/scrambled eggs...but if you don't eat eggs maybe try a tofu scramble? I've also added it to stir fry and mashed potatoes.
FLAX > TVP. it's a dirt cheap nutritional powerhouse, where as TVP is a highly processed un-natural food that really isn't fit for human consumption imo. flax seed is a complete protein, omega 3 anti-inflammatory essential fats, high fiber, high lignans, etc...it knocks out a lot of nutrition requirements in one food. the whole seed should be run through a coffee grinder to make the nutrients bio-avilable, and you really shouldnt cook it. no oil or fatty food should be subject to heat, especially the delicate oil that's found in flax. it becomes a trans fatty acid very easily... use the powder in a raw fudge recipe, or sprinkle it on a salad or put a little in a smoothie or something. drink a lot of water when you use it too.