Mexican-American people have enjoyed nopalitos (cactus) for breakfast, lunch or supper for generations. Fresh, tender nopalitos are not easy to come by anymore. As a child, my family and I harvested the tender cacti pads along country roads in South Texas. I will not explain the preparation for it takes much too long, but I will tell you that you can buy pickeled nopalitos that suffice. The final preparation is simillar to the okra recipe without the following added ingredients, chopped, fried bacon and about ½ tsp. chili powder. This is my substitute nopalito recipe and I really do like it.

3 block meal

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
½ cup fresh, tender okra; thinly sliced
2 Tbsp. chopped sweet onion
1 scallion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 turkey sausage – cooked/chopped (7g protein)
½ cup chopped tomato
½ - 1 pickeled jalapeno halves, Faro brand
1 Tbsp. tomato sauce
½ cup water (do not add all at once)
½ cup Egg Beaters
Piece of fruit – orange, apple, pear, grapefruit, 1 cup mixed berries

Instructions:
Saute garlic, onion, scallion, turkey in olive oil over medium heat for approximately 2 minutes. Add chopped tomato, jalpenos and saute for 3 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add okra and saute for another minute. (Okra is better if a bit crisp). Add tomato sauce and about ¼ cup water. Stir to make a sauce. Add ½ content of eggbeater container and let set before mixing. Add more water if you like it saucy. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Submitted By:
Mary L.