back in my pseudo-vegetarian days i used the stuff called so soy. it's sold like tvp as well as cubes. my cousin, who is a real vegetarian, gave me a box. i soaked it in beef broth and then stir-fried it up. my son and my husband had seconds. my son is a real meat eater. it really fooled them. i told them later though.
p.s. my son thought he'd died and gone to heaven when dh and i first started lcing. meat at every meal!!!LOL!!
wa'il, check out some of the ideas in the thread KAREN HELP on this board. the ladies there gave me some good ideas. i'm craving risotto.