Summer time = Tofu Time!

It's summertime and that means....

Weekend travels

longer days

swimsuits

light refreshing foods

sunshine...

When the days are this pretty sometimes you just don't want to stop what you are doing, come inside, and start cooking.

Sometimes you just want to have a quick, easy, snack on hand to stave off hunger until the sun goes down and you are ready to retreat back inside from play time (yes even grownups need play time).

So on those days when you come home from work but need a quick bite to stave off hunger so you can go frolick in the sunshine, try this recipe for baked tofu.

Mr. Bacon gets stomped by Monsier Tofu!

Make it on the weekend, keep it in the fridge, pack it in a little lunch box and take it with you on road trips, or chop it up and toss with your salad for a protein punch!
It's Low Carb, G-Free, Low Cholesterol, and Vegetarian!

Easy Baked Tofu

Serves 4

Use this homemade baked tofu in any recipe that calls for baked tofu. Toss it with your favorite spices or herbs before or after baking, if you like.

Ingredients

1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu, drained
Natural cooking spray

Optional Ingredients (brush on for added flavor or lightly toss with tofu in small bowl before baking)

1/4 cup wheat-free tamari

2 Tbsp. sesame oil

1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. sesame seeds

1 Tbsp. grated ginger

3 garlic cloves, minced

OR

Just brush with wheat free tamari (or soy sauce if you are NOT gluten intolerant or allergic to wheat).

**Note: If you choose to add some flavor with a sauce toss the tofu with it before putting it on the baking sheet. If you pour liquid onto tofu and bake it, the sauce will burn onto the cookie sheet and make for a difficult clean up**

Directions

Wrap tofu snugly in 4 or 5 layers of paper towels and arrange on a plate. Cover with a second plate and balance a heavy can or two on top to weigh down the plate and press down on the tofu; set aside to let drain for 30 minutes. Remove and discard paper towels, then replace with dry paper towels and repeat process a second time.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut tofu into (1-inch) cubes and arrange them in a single layer on a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Lightly spray tofu all over with cooking spray and bake, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and just crisp, about 40 minutes total.

Nutrition (for plain recipe)

Per serving (about 3oz/99g-wt.): 60 calories (25 from fat), 2.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 35mg sodium, 2g total carbohydrate (0g dietary fiber, 1g sugar), 7g protein

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2639 (base recipe from whole foods, marinades and flavor boosting ideas courtesy of Steve Bodtke and Jamie)