Seitan meat "cheat" balls and Marinara sauce

I just made a video tutorial for a new recipe, Seitan meat "cheat" balls and Marinara sauce.  It is a great meat substitute,and economical if you buy the vital wheat gluten and nutritional yeast in bulk.  You could use this in a ton of recipes, like meatball sandwiches, "boy scout surprise" (meatballs in a crock pot with a jar of chili sauce and a jar of grape jelly.  Do not scoff, it is yummy!), maybe even a swedish-y meatballs dish.  Here's the link and a written version of the recipes.  I didn't get a pic of it all together, and we ate all of it except a portion for my husband, Matt, to take to work for lunch... Guess that means everyone liked it?!  At the end of the video is an out take where Vladdie sneaks up behind me and smacks me in the head with his toy sword!  The boys are busy being wild while I am cooking in the video.  You should have seen what the house looked like after I finished making this!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtAYgTVeyek


Seitan “Cheat” Balls

1 ½ cups vital wheat gluten

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp Basil

½ Tbsp oregano

½ tsp Marjoram
1 tsp salt

1 cup vegetable broth

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp rice vinegar


1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

2 tbsp olive oil

About 3 cloves of chopped garlic


Pre-heat the oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients and garlic.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix them together, the dough will become stiff; at that point, work with your hands until all the ingredients are mixed, then start kneading.
The seitan will become very elastic, and will not stick to your hands when it's finished.
Roll it into 1-inch balls and place in baking dish (oil lightly or use “Pam”).
Cover pan with foil and bake for approximately 55 minutes. Remove; it is fully cooked and ready to eat. Enjoy!


Marinara Sauce
1 onion
4-6 cloves garlic, diced
2 cans (28 oz. Each) diced tomatoes
2 cans (6 oz.0 tomato paste
1 Tbsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 ½ Tbsp Basil
1 tsp sugar
½ Tbsp oregano
*Sauté onion and garlic in small amount of olive oil until soft.
*add tomatoes, paste and 2 paste cans full of water. Add dry ingredients.
*Bring to boil and then reduce heat to allow it to simmer 1-2 hours. Enjoy!


Here is a link to my Sister-in-love's recipe for garlicky, sweet, spicy seitan which started a  renewed interest in seitan in our house.
http://penconfections.blogspot.com/2009/10/recipe-sweet-hot-and-garlicky-seitan.html