There are advantages to being a meat eater. For one, nobody assumes you're a special level of crazy based on what you do or don't eat. For another, you don't have to worry about your substitutes vanishing from store shelves because some company has decided they don't love you anymore.

I'm looking at you Morningstar.

First they took away my Smoked Sausages. I've been mad about it for, what? Ten years? I hold grudges, clearly. Now they've taken away my Chik'n Grillers and WOE IS ME. I used those things in SO many recipes. All of the recipes, even.

It took me a bit of experimenting and trying some really terrible alternatives, but I finally found one that seems to cook up similarly. Gardein. I've been using the chik'n strips in most every recipe that was formerly occupied by Morningstar.

Including this one.

(Thanks, Target, for often having the Gardein products available with a Cartwheel discount.)

This is the Chik'n Tortilla Soup that we all love and that's super easy to throw together. Feel free to sub in your real chicken for the fake stuff. At least you don't have to worry about it disappearing from store shelves.

Chik'n Tortilla Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 bag Gardein Chik'n Strips
1 16 oz jar black bean and corn salsa (I prefer whatever is cheapest.) (No, really. Fancy doesn't help.)
1 14 oz can broth (Vegetable for the vegetarians. Chicken for the other peoples.)
1 15 oz can black beans
Shredded cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips
(Optional -- if you want to, add a few handfuls of frozen corn just to up the vegetable ratio.)

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Throw the chik'n strips in and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned.

2. In a large stock pot, throw the salsa, broth, and black beans together. Add the cooked chik'n. Stir. Heat until boiling.

3. That's all. Seriously. I mean, if you want to make things more complicated, throw the extra corn in there. Regardless, life doesn't have to be difficult. Garnish the soup with some shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips and everybody will be happy.