Quick 'n' Easy "Man Meal" w/ Herbed Cornbread

Oops!  I just looked at the clock and realized that my husband would be home in less than 45 minutes, and I had NO IDEA what he was going to eat for dinner!  (If only this was the first time this had happened...but sadly, the scenario is all too familiar!)  Fortunately, this forces me to be creative, quickly!  I came up with this meal to try and fit his tastes on all different levels, thus making it a "man meal", because this is everything opposite of what I would prefer to eat!  Warm, filling, and hearty (and not to mention tasty), I don't think there's a man out there that would complain about this meal (or a wife who would mind making it for him, repeatedly!!)

Preheat the oven to 400

Follow the instructions on the package (I bought the Quaker Yellow Corn Meal), with these substitutions:

1 1/4 c. white whole wheat flour (King Arthur brand)
Omit sugar
1 c. unsweetened almond milk
1/4 c. applesauce (you could use canola oil if you wanted, but I thought, hey, why not make it low fat!)
2 "eggs" (2 prepared "eggs" worth of egg replacer)
2 t. garlic powder
2 t. dried basil
2 t. dried oregano

-So just to clarify, everything else that the regular recipe on the back of the container calls for, put that in too!

-Spray an 8x8 pan and bake for 20-25 minutes

-When it comes out, and is still really hot, melt some "butter" over top

-Cut and serve with the "Stew"

The "Stew" part:

In a large sauce pan over med/high heat, whisk together:

2 T. Earth Balance Buttery Spread (bubbling)
2 T. whole wheat flour

-This will serve as your thickening agent...it's a little thing the French call a Roux (roo)

-Add:

1/2 c. red wine (whatever you have laying around) or red cooking wine
2 c. vegetable broth

-Whisk until there are no lumps

-Add:

2 t. garlic powder
1 t. dried basil
1 t. dried oregano
1/8 t. sea salt (or more depending on your husband's palate)
plenty of fresh ground pepper
1 T. more of the "butter"

-Mix together and add:

4 oz mushroom slices (1/2 of a package...or more if he really loves mushrooms)
1 package of Seitan (aka "wheat meat"...extremely high in protein, and can be used as a beef or chicken substitute...GREAT texture.)  I cut mine into smaller pieces, because some of them were pretty big...I've only ever seen this at a health food store, but if you have a really great grocery store, they may have it.
3 c. frozen vegetables (whatever ones he'll eat!  I used a Normandy blend and added corn to it)
2 c. frozen hash brown potatoes (the cubes, not the shredded)...I only had the "western" style which includes peppers and onions...if he doesn't like those, just get the plain.

-Reduce the heat to medium until veggies are thawed and flavors are incorporated.

-That's it!  By the time the bread is done cooking, the stew will be done, and you can go ahead and serve it up!  This literally takes 30 minutes to throw together, and it will make enough for him to have a large helping for dinner, and leftovers to take to work the next day!  Win, win!