Top 5 Recipes Made with Soy

Soy products come from soybeans, the leading agricultural export in the United States. Many soy products are available in your local grocery store. Soy milk, made by soaking, grinding and straining the soybean, is a good substitute for cow milk. Soy cheese is made from soy milk and can be substituted for cream cheese, or sour cream in some recipes. Tofu is a soft cheese like food made by curdling fresh hot soy with a coagulant, nigari. Also available are miso, soy frozen yogurt, natto, miso, and soy flour.

Soy is rich in protein (38-45 %), vitamins, minerals, and is low in saturated fat. According to soy foods. com, the FDA has found that foods containing soy protein may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels. Soy may help you to lose weight because it is the only vegetable that contains more protein than carbohydrates, according to the makers of Revival, a doctor formulated soy protein. Soy may also help lessen the discomforts of menopause and PMS.

Here are five soy recipes for you to try in your kitchen.

Tofu Colada Smoothie
Ingredients:
10 ounces light silken tofu
3 medium bananas
1 1/2 cups pineapple juice
4 oz coconut milk
8 oz crushed pineapple
Directions:
Blend all ingredients until smooth, chill, garnish with a pineapple chunk, and serve.

Bacon Ranch Soy Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
10 ounces light silken tofu
1 cup unflavored soy milk
1 package ranch salad dressing mix
3/4 cup imitation bacon pieces
Directions:
Blend ingredients together, except for bacon pieces. When dressing is smooth, stir in imitation bacon pieces. Use over your favorite salads, or as a dip. Store refrigerated.

Creamy Soy Mushroom Sauce
Ingredients:
1 tbs. butter
1/2 lb button mushrooms, finely chopped
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tbs soy milk
1 tbs soy cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat until foam dies down. Add mushrooms and saute' for five minutes. Add chicken stock and soy milk, cook for two more minutes, then remove from heat and stir in soy cheese, salt, and pepper. Serve over steaks or pork chops.

Soy Salmon Cakes
Ingredients:
6 oz firm silken tofu, crumbled fine
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tsp salt
3/4 tbs seafood seasoning
1/2 cup soy cheese
2 tbs chopped cilantro
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1.5 pounds cooked, flaked salmon
Whole wheat flour for dipping
Directions:
Heat 2 tbs olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add celery and onion, cook until tender. Stir in salt and seasoning. Remove from heat and allow to cool. When celery and onion mixture is cool, mix with soy cheese, cilantro and Worcestershire sauce. Stir in Salmon and tofu. Form mixture into cakes, dip cakes into whole wheat flour. Heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add salmon cakes and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side. Drain on a paper towel and serve with lemon slices.

Chocolate Chip Soy Cookies
Ingredients:
4 oz unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
3 1/2 tbs vanilla soy milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup soy flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugars, add soy milk and vanilla, cream well. In another bowl mix dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate and walnuts. Drop by tablespoons onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown.

Always make sure that you, or someone in your family is not allergic to soy products before substituting soy in your recipes.