Cooking in the Season of Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday. The first day in the Christian season leading up to the Easter celebration.(For our friends in the Eastern church Lent began on Monday) "The purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. Lent, which comes from the Teutonic (Germanic) word for springtime, can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our corporate and personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him."(www.churchyear.net)

Many religions practice fasting and observe dietary restrictions. During Lent, Christians, particularly members of the Catholic Church, also practice certain dietary restrictions. "It is tradition to abstain from meat from mammals and fowl every Friday for the duration of Lent, although dairy products are still permitted. On Ash Wednesday it is customary to fast for the day, with no meat, eating only one full meal."(Wikipedia)

While I personally do not fast or abstain from eating meat on Fridays during this time, my husband was raised in the Catholic faith and I respect his traditions. Therefore, I will be preparing some meatless meals throughout the season of Lent. This isn't so different from my usual meal planning. I attempt to serve one meatless meal every week as it is. Preparing for Lent just means that I'm planning these meals for Fridays instead of throwing them into the meal plan on any ol' day the mood strikes me.

For those of you observing this custom OR for any of you just looking for some meatless or seafood menu options, I have compiled a list of links to my favorites.

Here you go....Meatless Meals:


Skillet Lasagna

Pasta with Green Beans, Potatoes, and Pesto

Spaghetti Pie


African Sweet Potato Stew

Basil Tomato Gnocchi


Weeknight Ravioli Bake

Broccoli Fettuccine

Veggie Burgers

Manicotti (omit the sausage)

Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes


Spinach Pine Nut Pasta

Tomato and Basil Pasta

Quesadillas

Baked Potato Bar


Creamy Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup with Mini Foccacias

And last, but not least...


Potato Pancakes



And now for some Fish and Seafood Recipes:


Dilled Fish and Vegetable Packets

Fish Tacos

Friday Night Fish and Chips



Shrimp and Spinach Risotto

Tuna Cakes

Shrimp Scampi


Spicy Shrimp

Garlic Skewered Shrimp

Linguine with Clam Sauce



Cajun Seafood Bread

Spicy Clam Chowder

Oyster Stew


Spicy Tuna Linguine with Garlic and Pine Nuts

Shrimp Bisque

And finally,


Spicy Coconut Shrimp Soup

So what's your favorite meatless or seafood meal? I love adding new recipes to my collection. : )