tempeh "cheesesteak" sandwiches

I've read several articles bemoaning how "difficult" it is to eat healthfully in the current economy. This is a complete and total myth, and one I wish the media would stop perpetuating. Sure, many prefer the taste and ease of fast food and junk food, but are those really the only choices we have when faced with tight grocery budgets? Of course not!

One of my favorite quick and inexpensive meals is tempeh "cheesesteak" sandwiches:

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce (I make my own, HFCS again!)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
8 ounces tempeh
1 onion
1 green pepper
10 oz mushrooms (I like baby bellas)
olive oil
bread or tortillas
provolone (optional)

Whisk together the teriyaki sauce and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl.

Slice the tempeh as thinly as possible along the short side. Add the tempeh to the marinade, stir to coat, and set aside.

Thinly slice the onion, green pepper, and mushrooms.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, add a bit of olive oil. Add the veggies and cook until they begin to caramelize.

Add the tempeh and the marinade. Continue to cook until the liquid is absorbed and the tempeh is heated through.

I serve this in crusty bread or tortillas. I like mine without cheese, but I'm sure it's also delicious with a few slices of provolone melted under the broiler. A little bit of steak sauce makes it even more delicious ;)

Now doesn't that look better than one of those dollar menu sandwiches?

This recipe makes enough for 4-5 sandwiches. Tempeh is rich in fiber, which means it will keep you feeling full longer than the average fast food meal. At less than 225 calories and 3.7 grams of fat, 4 ounces of tempeh provides around 42% of the RDA of protein.

8 ounces of organic tempeh runs $1.69 at Trader Joes. Who says you can't eat healthfully in this economy?