Thanksgiving Ponderings

Five Thanksgivings as Vegetarian have passed and I am welcoming number six. Gives me a chance to take a look back and then towards the present. The first year was probably the most daunting. I was still new to the whole vegetarian thing only by a couple months. Outside of my immediate household the rest of my family still did not know the scary, dirty secret of my vegetarian decision (and yes that is how my mother treated it). At the family gathering, I ate around everyone else, without anyone paying any attention to my plate. No one noticed what was on my plate or what I wasn’t eating… until the car ride home where an argument ensured about me offending my unknowing grandmother because I did not eat any of her turkey. (By Christmas the rest of the family has been told, but is a whole different story.)

In the Thanksgiving that have followed I have added foods with my own meat-free twist, including my mushroom gravy and dripping-free gravy. This year I am ready to take the next step in the whole vegetarian feast… a meat-free alternative to their turkey thing. I’ve been playing with a few ideas. The first, and probably most obvious, is the whole tofurky idea. I’ve looked into the pre-made kind (by ordering or finding a store nearby) or by homemade, but I continue to have my doubts. I am hesitant to the idea of making something to look like meat. I even contemplated the idea of using my own stuffing/dressing recipe in a pumpkin and roasting (seemingly another popular idea). Of course a simple net search brings about all sorts of recipes and ideas of casseroles, roasts or whatever else. They got me thinking.

At a wedding over the summer they included “Vegetable Wellington” as the vegetarian option. Mystified and curious I did a net search to get a heads up on what we would be eating. My interest was piqued further. At the side down reception it was a surprisingly nice and savory entrée’ for ones who are accustomed to eating around salads and side dishes as such events (or the ever-present pasta). I’m contemplating my own version for Thanksgiving (and/or Christmas). Sounds like a yummy option for my and for my semi-vegetarian grandparent (the doctor has severely limited his meat consumption for health reasons.) Oh, the near endlessness of my options.

"Vegetarian: A person who eats only side dishes." ~Gerald Lieberman

Bow Season... Bleh!

I try to ignore that fact that in this area it is bow hunting season for deer. Of course, then I get those reminders like someone kicking you in the shin or somewhere else. My brothers hunt, my family hunts, and then there is me... the vegetarian and definatly the none hunter of the family. I try to keep my mouth shut, since it does no good otherwise. It just leads to fighting and arguments and that which does not good for anyone. So, I sit and I listen and I bite my lip as I hear them talking on the phone to the processing place regarding the deer that have to pick up and the talk about how the woods were this morning when my brother took his crossbow out, and to my sister calling to find out if anyone got one because she wants venison. I sit, trying not to listen and trying to keep my mouth shut, as I munch on my spicy thai peanut noodles wondering how I managed to become the person I am in this bunch.

"The fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at the right or wrong end of a gun." ~P.G. Wodehouse

Have you ever grilled your peanut butter?

A lot of kids grew up on grilled cheese, my family was no exception, but that was not the only grilled sandwhich that we know from childhood. For me there is another comfort food from childhood that comes in the form of two peices of bread grilled and often served along side tomato soup... grilled peanut butter. It was often grilled up along side of the grilled cheese sandwhiches my Mom made, but was something seemingly unique to my family. It's the same basic process as a grilled cheese sandwhich, but takes a little more finess when it comes to getting the butter on both of the outsides of the bread and peanut butter on the inside. Once grilled there is the nice toasty outsides so many of us remember from childhood with the oohy, gooey, melty insides of the peanut butter (crunchy peanut butter has always been my favorite). The white bread from younger days has been replaced with a multi grain oat bread, but crunchy peanut butter melting from the inside has lovingly stayed the same. For me it is a taste of childhood, a comforting blast from the past. We all have something to turn to from those childhood days, something that helps give us comfort on the bad days and during those trying moments when simplicty of days is sought. Maybe next time I get the urge to grill up some peanut butter I might even add some fruit, such as some sliced apples or bananas or something else I come across in the pantry. I was never one much for jam or jelly intruding on my peanut butter, but some might be up for it too.

Thanksgiving is coming and dinner lists are being made. Are you ready?

"Nothing spoils lunch any quicker than a rogue meatball rampaging through your spaghetti." ~Jim Davis

Happy Election Day

Happy Election Day! Hope everyone got out there got their vote on.

Made an easy vegetable pot pie. I used a vegetable stew I partially made from leftovers in the refrigerator (leftover onion gravy, lima,s etc) and a few frozen and fresh ones. Added a bit of rice and used about a tablespoon or so of instant mashed potato flakes as thickener. You could still use a flour or cornstarch type thickener, but I wanted to try out using the potato flakes. It worked well. I used unrooled croissant rolls from the refridgerator to make the top crust.

We ordered pizza for dinner.

In the words of George Bernard Shaw; "When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when the tiger wants to murder him he calls it ferocity."

Holiday Preperations Underway!!!

It was a rather simple day meal-wise. I made a pasta with olive oil and herb thing for dinner, adding some fresh sliced mushrooms and spinach, then a touch of parmasan. A lovely meal with a peice of oat bread. I was talking to a friend of mine that used to be a vegetarian online while I ate and she talked about how she has been really thinking about going back. (Her vegetarian days were in high school and she started eating meat only when she was accepted as a foreign exchange student and she worried about food options.) Now past college, law school, married and into the real world the draw seems back. The numbers nationally are growing, but more so in cretain areas and the options out there are in constant growth. The options for vegetarian and organic foods are so much easier to find than they once were... even in the last six years.

The holiday food planning has begun. I spent awhile this evening on the phone working my way through the potluck list for the big family Thanksgiving. (And I mean it'll be a big one.) We are working on balancing a feast for for vegetarians, semi vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike. At a minimun that puts us at around three different types of dressing/stuffing to uphold various traditions and dietary needs. This means regular poultry inspired stuffing, oyster dressing (a family tradition), and my very yummy mushroom dressing (depending on whether or not I decide to stuff in inside of a pumpkin and roast it). The one thing with me doing the organizig is that I get to make sure there are enough vegetable type dishes and salads. At least one other fmaily member is limited on his meat consumption and it is important that there are options for both of us.

In the words of Jeremy Bentham: 'The question is not, "Can they reason?" nor, "Can they talk?" but rather, "Can they suffer?" '

Pet Peeves

It was a mostly decent weekend (We had a good opening weekend, Halloween, some dancing, some hanging out with friends, all good things); but one full of some fairly annoying attacks to my way of being and eating and the whole vegetarian thing. We all have those peeves that just want to send us over the edge of just wanting to lash out at people and struggling not to.

Firstly, a friend of the family farms and their family all hunts (much like my own), they called to ask my mom and brothers if they wanted the meat from the deer one of the boys just got. (If they are going to hunt at least they use the meat or know people that will.) So since yesterday all I have heard around the house is about feild dressing, how long it can safely hang in this weather, getting it processed and butchered, finding a place to process, and what they are getting done with this meat (bologna, steaks, burger, etc.) and possibly the hide as well. There were phone calls, debates, conversations, gloating. I try to just ignore it... it doesn;'t do a bit of good to say anything, I just wish I did not have to hear it constantly. That was the start of yesterday.


Then came part two... the real point of my aggravation. It was Halloween weekend as well as an opening weekend for our show. This, unsurprisingly, means going out both night. (Halloween night I dressed as Mother Nature in a flowly, sheer, autumn inspired dress.) Well last night and into the wee hours of this morning we ended up at Denny's (after everything else was closed) and some of the group were still under the influences of alcohol (which probably did not help). Everyone had ordered and the food had just came. As the one girl (one that I had just met had already found myself shaking my head at more than once) began to dig into her chicken strips announced something about her being a vegetarian. I looked across the table at her plate then up at her, "Um, no your not." (This is probably one of my biggest pet peeves of people.) "Yes, I am. I'm just a vegetarian that eats chicken and seafood, I don't eat all things like beef or pork. You know there are all kind of vegetarians and vegans." She continued one babbling and raiing my blood pressure as she was going to lecture me about how a true vegetarian could still eat chicken and seafood and still be a true vegetarian. I don't think she liked my reference to "vegetarians" or eat such as semi-vegetarians. Finally she took a breath (I was getting more and more annoyed and just flat out aggravated) and something was said about me being a vegetarian (two fo the others at the others at the table know that I don't eat meat) and that I really didn't need her to tell me what one was. She asked what I ate and I explained as patiently as I could that I didn't eat anythign that had once had a face, that included chicken and seafood. So she started in on me about being a fake vegan... I don't claim to be a vegan and never had. She also started bragging about how good seafood was and how tasty her chicken strips are. These are the types of people who help make life harder for the rest of who us who actually do not eat meat. She kept at me about how good her chicken tasted and how I was a pretend vegan. I tried to explain why semi vegetarians who still eat some meat make it harder for the rest of us... when we go places people actually try to use chicken breath as "vegetarian" and fish as a "meat alternative." She was too caught up in her idea of always being right to even listen. I can't help it, but it just seems far worse to have pretend and fake vegetarians stirring up trouble than the meat eaters who just don't understand. It also confuses the meat eaters who think we can and do still consume things like that.

Check out these links:
http://www.theveggietable.com/articles/whatisavegetarian.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism
http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/OtherInfo/VegetarianTypes.htm
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetarianvegan101/tp/TypesofVeg.htm

"To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body." ~Mahatma Gandhi

Food on the run... welcome to another tech week

I'm moving towards the opening night and weekend of my current show, which makes things a little hectic, especially when it comes to things like meals. Tonight I ate on some potato bake thing my mom made to go with dinner (she made baked beans too, but there was bacon in them and hard to tell what else) and grabbed a banana on my way out the door to eat at rehearsal. It was enough to sustain me until we got home. We stopped at my sister's on the way home a bit, while my brother raided her refridgerator. I've given up on raiding my sister's fridge for such for me... she eats very few vegetables and puts meat in pretty much everything. When I came home I heated up some frozen ravioli and topped it with some jarred sauce (spiced up a bit) with a peice of wheat bread.

It promises to be a busy week and thankfully I have plenty of fruit on hand.

Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I'm halfway through my fishburger and I realize, Oh my God. I could be eating a slow learner. ~Lynda Montgomery

Back, and hopefully not forgotten

No, I didn't forget, it was just a busy summer full of spending time with family and friends, grilling veggie burgers and wonderful vegatables like corn on the cob, mushrooms, asparagus, onions, peppers, and anything else that seems to catch my fancy. Fall is very much upon us, kicked off in this area my the county fair in September. I entered my vegetarian cookbook collection in the hobby building for cookbook collections and took first place in the catagory, beating out the wildlife cooking collection and more tradional colletcions. (I viewed this as a fairly major personal victory in making this lifestyle much more accepted in mainstream farming country.)

I've been keeping myself busy with community theater (one current project that is getting ready to open, one just starting rehearsals, and one that I am working on proposing), as well as getting ready for the holidays. I just can't seem to resist trying new recipes (especially trying out new cookie recipes on friends and family). Plans for Thanksgiving are now in the works. As per the usual my family is all gathering round... vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

Hope ya'all are enjoying the fall foilage and enjoying the soup inspriing weather.

Check out the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) 2003 Position Paper

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm

"I think if you want to eat more meat you should kill it yourself and eat it raw so that you are not blinded by the hypocrisy of having it processed for you." ~Margi Clark

Live, let live, and be grateful always... Veggie Style

A lot of times vegetarians get a bad reputation for being pushy, demanding, militant, and extremists. I am a firm believer in not doing these things. I live my life the way I want to be treated by others... simply I am who I am. I want to be treated respectfully for my lifestyle and I try to treat others the same way. I know it's not always easy, especially when you are surrounded by meat-eaters nearly everyday and in many cases live with them. As many know, I am the lone vegetarian in my family, and over the years this has ofen caused tension and conflict. My brothers are still extremely bothered by it and often use names like "vege-terrorist." I really try not to turn around the attacks when meat is pushed in my face or when the comments sometimes come in wave after relentless wave.

I've done the research, I have the information at my fingertips, and I am willing discuss my diet and lifestyle in a respectful manner with those who are truly interested and curious. I see no point in attempting to push my ideals onto others and instead try to live more by example. We've all heard the line about attracting more flies with honey, than vinegar... well, it is more along those lines. No one wants to be lectured at or attacked, not me and not anyone I know. Over the past few years I have been approached to speak to my college biology class as well as interested friends and family, mostly as result of my not aggressive tactics. My cookbooks are usually free range for those interested that are close to me and I have to three-ring binders that are packed full of information, history, facts, quotes, and any other vegetarian bits that I have come across along the years. They have been a great resource for me and for those are are genuinly interested.

There is one thing I have found to be one off the greatest aspects of importance to living this life the right way is to be grateful to those who actually try to be respectful of this life. This means making an effort to thank those who take the extra steps to make it easier whether it was cooks at camp who made me something seperate (even if it meant heating up an veggie burger two), my caterer for the rehearsal dinner who made me a special fruit plate, or a family member or friend who remembered me (like Grandma who make snack plates for the wedding party the mornign of the wedding or the green beans that do not include bacon).

We vegetarians and vegans are not freaks of nature, but we will be treated likes ones more often if act like ones. There is nothing good to come of trying to life a peaceful diet while going out and attacking those who do not agree. Live, let live, and be grateful to those who try to undestand that which may still seem very foreign to them.

The woods were made for the hunters of dreams,

The brooks for the fishers of song;

To the hunters who hunt for the gunless game

The streams and the woods belong.

~Sam Walter Foss

Joined myspace and Attended Wedding

Yesterday was my cousin's wedding (I was a bridesmaid). The night before at the rehearsal dinner the caters made a special fruit plate for me to go with the few thigns I could eat and my grandma made a seperate plate for me the morning of the wedding (she made snack plates for the wedding party to snack on before the wedding). The dinner was good, what I had of it; a roll, relish type stuff, and potatoes. Although, when we left after the clean up was mostly done I was ready for something a little more meal-like.

The recent heat as made it almost too hot to really think about eating or cooking much of anything. Eating on leftovers, but nothing too special.

In other News Apple-A-Day has joined myspace. http://www.myspace.com/greenapple4life Feel free to come and visit me.

I hope everyone is staying comfortable and enjoying the summer weather. Smile!

As quoted by Sri Aurobindo - "Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage."

It's another day in my veggie paradise (or as near to paradise as I have so far found) and my entire family seems in a tizzy about the upcoming weeding this weekend. There seem to be a number of weddings this weekend, involving both family and friends. To top off the excitement I am in the wedding party of the cousin's wedding that is this Saturday and I am the only known vegetarian. The wedding food wasn't much of an issue (I was told), but the real "excitement" came when I asked my aunt about the menu for the rehearsal dinner (a mixture of simple curiousity and thought process about bringing something for me). As she went through the menu she started to come to the realization that there wasn't really anything for me... once again the token vegetarian as this family event. She was planning on calling the restaurant who is doing the catering for the rehearsal dinner and have something ordered for me. I hate adding extra work to people when it comes to stuff like that and I try to not only be especially appreciative when they do make special plans for me, but also to be willing to adjust as needed without giving up my ideals. (Much of the wedding dinner is being made by family members and my mom is making seperate pasta salad for me, minus the pepperoni she put in the pepperoni she put in the rest.)

In other news I ran across some interesting news on Oprah. If you get a chance check out her 21 day Cleanse blog and about how she's doing vegan. http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/blog/blog_main.jhtml

"The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot." ~Mark Twain, What Is Man, 1906

Yay for "The Traveling Vegetarian"

Sometimes it may seems like there are very few of us out there and that the idea of "vegetarian culture" seems to be but a myth, but every once in awhile I come across things that remind me that I am not alone, that we are not alone on our ideals. Culture is what we make and the internet is giving each of us amazing oppurtunities to reach out to others and to hopefully make a difference.

In my multiple Internet searches I have come across other meat-less beings who share a passion for food and life. These are individuals who choose to share their life and their love with the world. Among those I found was some online clips of various vegetarian eating establishments and an upbeat host. I found it while searching through youtube clips and got hooked. Maybe you will too. Check out Yvonne Smith as The Traveling Vegetarian at http://www.myspace.com/thetravelingvegetarian or http://www.youtube.com/travelingvegetarian. It is well worth it and I would lofe to send a shout out of thanks for her and for those like her who are bringing this more peaceful culture to the world.

As quoted bu Isaac Bashevis Singer, as quoted in 'You Said a Mouthful', edited bu Ronald D. Fuchs - "I did not become a vegetarian for my health, I did it for the health of the chickens."

A Vegetarian Happily-Ever-After?

Relationships always pose the possibility of conflict and differences in personalities, ideals, and interests. But what happens when a vegetarian, like myself, ends up dating a meat-eater? Well, I'm still trying to figure that out.

It's not secret that I intend to raise any future children in a meat-free lifestyle and would prefer to make my life with someone that is, at the very least, open to the vegetarian lifestyle. The other night, while hanging out with friends, I was asked about dating and marriage in how in translates to vegetarianism and what I want out of life. I know that it would be much easier to marry or settle down with a vegetarian, but it makes me wonder how realistic that actually is. The last guys I was seeing (as in not the current) was always very aware and respectful about the whole vegetarian thing. Even though I know he ate meat and he worked in a deli in which he was often around cooked chicken and other things he amde sure, without my asking, to keep it away from me. He always showered after work to make sure that I wouldn't have to smell the meat on him and when we were out someplace he would order meat-free options for himself so that I wouldn't have to taste it or smell it on him. We may have had other issues, but the vegetarianism thing was not always respected, but proven with actions.


That brings us to my current relationship. We socialize and are part of various groups that it is no secret that I am a vegetarian. He respects it, accepts it, and tries to me aware of it. He's faced questions from those close to him about how such a meat-loving individual can be dating someone like me... and this time we're talking about my diet and lifestyle and not my often sarcastic and border-line obscene sense of humor. It makes me wonder how many other people face vegetarian dating questions.

Dating and relationships are hard enough, but how does one look to the future when most of the people around them are meat-eaters?

"A man of my spiritual intensity does not eat corpses." ~George Bernard Shaw

Welcoming the Summer Season

The Memorial Day weekend is over and I made it through one of the biggest cookout weekends of the summer. Being like many families across the country my family joined in the BBQ, grilling, picnic festivites.

Even the vegetarian (me) was able to join in and enjoy my fill of grilled yumminess (of course grilled in a manner as not to touch any of the meat or meat juices). At last Sunday's bog family gathering I grilled up some mushroom veggie burgers for me and my grandpa (his doctor has limited his meat-intake by a lot and he has been embracing a semi-vegetarian diet now in the seventy year range). Despite the surprise to some family members it wasn't a big deal. On Monday, we grilled out again, this time at my mom's aunt house, my grandparents also attending. We grilled up some potatoes and onion, then I grilled some marinated portabella mushrooms for my grandpa and myself. (He likes the veggie burgers and mushrooms.) I love to to cook on the open fire and eating meat-free does not have to be a limitation.

The warming weather seems to have brought my desire to cook back. Although it could also be that the show i was involved with is now over and my stock up of frozen meals dwindled during that time. In the last week I made my favorite corn chowder and a rich and spicy vegetable stew. Hard to say what I might make next, especially if it can meet the dietary guidelines my grandfather's doctor set for him.

"I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals, as surely as the savage tribes have left off eating each other...." ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

Family Game Night with a Veggie Twist

About once a month my family gets together for a Game Night. It started out on Friday nights meeting with my aunt for dinner somewhere then often going back to her house and playing boardgames. It expanded from there with other family members included and eating mostly at her house. Some nights are more extensively planned than others, but it all comes down to sharing food, games, and time with family. Of course there is added planning when it comes to the lone vegetarian... me. I uslaly make something that compliments the rest of the spread, but highlights the yumminess of not eating meat. Last night was no exception. They planned to make 'haystacks' which basically comes down to a layered personal taco salad with homemade ice cream. Instead of taco meat for me I made a taco inspired mushroom mix by sauteeing mushrooms with garlic, then added some popper flakes and a mix of spices (all to taste). The spice mix included some onion powder, cumin, paprika, pepper, and chili powder. Added a touch of tomato sauce to give a little liquid and color. Then I let it all cook down and cook nicely together into a lovely spiced bit of mushroom taco yumminess. We had a very nice selection of additions for our 'haystacks,' that included corn chips (like fritos or the prefered), the taco mixture, cheese, nacho cheese, tomatos, sliced black olives, onion, sour cream (not a big fan, but my mom is), and shredded lettuce. Then everyone layers it on their plate or in their bowl to their own preferance.

My aunt has an ice cream recipe that does not include raw eggs. (Something that has always made be rather cautious about a lot of homemade ice cream.) We ended up making two beautiful bathches of vanilla and then has a selection of thigns to put in it; multiple candy bars to crush up onto it, carmel, peanut butter sauce, multiple chocolate sauces, pecans, toasted almonds, peanuts, whipped cream, and cherrries.

We did what we did best... we ate, we aggravated each other, we played board games, and we spend time together that a lot of families can not hardly begin to understand.

Quote attributed to George Bernard Shaw: "If a group of beings from another planet were to land on Earth - beings who considered themselves as superior to you as you feel yourself to be to other animals - would you concede them the rights over you that you assume over other animals?"

Sometimes it really drives me nuts how much my family chooses to order food in (usually pizza, subs, wings, and sometimes the occassional chinese).

Bridal shower buffet and the token vegetarian

Today we had a bridal shower, not mine for heaven's sake, but for my cousin-in-law to-be (did I mention that I am in the wedding?). this is the third one of my first cousins to marry (i have a lot of them) and the third one of them that I have been a part of the bridal shower. instead of doing the fooof ourselves (which we usually do, including the fondue one we had for my one cousin), we decided to go to a nice local restaurant that serves a nice all day brunch buffet. Real linens (thanks heavens, I hate the pastic covered table crap), castle-like setting, and nice quality food. my family can be rather picky when it comes to food, we are all pretty good cooks and therefore expect more. for me, being the 'token vegetarian' it wasn't bad, but, as always it could have been better. There just usually do not seem enough choices. We took deserts with us...a cake, a couple trifles, chocolate dipped strawberries, fun and yummy stuff that seemed fitting for a bride-to-be. It's nice when friends and family can get together over food, sharing and celebrating without argument or battles.

I'm Baaaaack

So, I haven't gotten lost. Mostly, I was on a cooking strike at home. My brothers, being the meat and potato type of guys that they are complained about one too many meals of mine and refused to cook for them anymore (or until they decide to act like decent human beings). In the meantime we've been eating a lot of pizza, take-out, and other assorted quick fixes or restaraunts. It has been this ways for the most part, with the exception of my Easter quiche. (It was fabulous and well-received by other members of my extended family.)

Now that it is spring and I have been working to get soil ready for planting, I have beem ready for some home-cooking.... my home cooking. Last night I went through my recipe collection and decided to try some new recipes. I had a recipe for homemade black bean veggie burgers, peanut soup, and a spinach bisque. I cut all the recipes in half and hoped that I would like at least one of the three. The spinach bisque was lovely, the peanut soup was pretty good, but the veggie burgers were a complete other matter (and usuallyI enjoy veggie burgers). I even followed the recipe as written (which goes against much of my nature), The patties were too soft and fell apart when I tried to turn them (I tried a few things to try to make it work, but no), then when I tried them they tasted like they were missing something... not anything I forgot to put in, but just pushing bland. I froze a serving of each soup for later use and now feel like I am back to my cookong phase, even if my family often does nto appreciate trying new things.

Jean Paul Richter quoated: "Because the heart beats under a covering of hair, of fur, feathers, or wings, it is, for that reason, to be of no account?"

Ode to Almond Butter

Yesterday, I baked. I was flipping through one of my cookbooks ("Table for Two" a dairy and egg free cookbook) and was debating on making the recipe for peanut butter cookies (vegan at that). But instead of using good old fashioned peanut butter I went to another pantry favorite of mine- almond butter. I discovered it while living at a youth camp where I worked as finding new ways to keep things on hand that were meat-free and tasty. I started using it part of the time on my pancakes instead of peanut butter (a family favorite) and even got my foreign vegetarian roommate embracing it on pancakes as well. The cookies turned out great and just the right amount when you are cooking for yourself. Of course everyone else in my family looked at me like I was nuts making cookies without butter or eggs. Yummy.

"God made all the creatures and gave them our love and our fear,

To give sign, we and they are His children, one family here".~Robert Browning

Unforgettable

I know it may seem like I have forgotten and abandoned you, but I have not. Hopefully, uou have not forgotten me either. Things have just been a bit hectic around here. Keeping busy in the kitchen; baking, cooking, and trying new recipes. I still can't get certain family members to try new foods, but a person can't make changes over night that easily.

"If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian." as quoted by Paul McCartney

Token Vegetarian

I am a vegetarian which to me means I refrain from eating things that include flesh, blood, or bone. This include meat, meat broths, and gelatin among other things. I am happy to be a vegetarian and content with the lifestyle that I have chosen (or lifestyle that chose me), however I do know that not everyone appreciates it for what it is or for what it is to me. It can be difficult at times when you feel so isolated. My family eats meat, the majority of my friends eat meat... and then there is me, the token vegetarian. I live in a world where my eating habits are considered strange and often times odd. If it weren't clear enough all I have to do is turn on the tv and be bombarded with commercials or tv shows serving cooked flesh. I know it is unreasonable to to feel more a part of the community as a whole, when the higher percentage is not vegetarian or vegan, but sometimes it would be nice to feel a bit more connected. Sometimes it would be nice not to feel so isolated from other vegetarians.

I know there are more out there like me, living a vegetarian lifestyle in a non-veg friendly world. I hope you are each finding your way the best way possible and enjoying the fruits of the lifestyle that is a pert of who we are.

As attributed to Bernie Wilke, in Joanne Stepaniak, 'The Vegan Sourcebook,' 1998: "I've found without question that the best way to lead others to a more plant-based diet is by example - to lead with your fork, not your mouth."

Homestyle Vegetarian Breakfast at Home

Sometime it happens that you've been out late with friends and want the smothered type breakfast type foods that you remembered from your meat eating days. It is possible without giving up your veg-friendly ways. I don't to miss those late night, early morning trips to an all night truck stop or other all-night food stop it's way to make yourself at home (plus you get to know excatly what goes into it and exactly what you want). I've been doing it for years, whether after a long night out or just a late night meal at home. My one brother doesn't eat sausage and it became an occasional late night tradition when we were both scavaging the hosue pondering something homie to bite into... without sausage.

White gravy smothers yumminess. For potaotes I use whatever is on hand... hash browns, fried potatoes (either from fresh potaoes, canned or frozen), french fries, tater tots, or whatever you have on hand prepared in skillet, oven, or in a fryer. Start with with two tablespoons of a seasoned flour (I prefer to use a brand called Kentucky Kernel Flour, we almost always have it one hand and use it for coatings and even to base the base for homemade macaroini and cheese as opposed to plain flour). I add a bit of extra seasoning with pepper, a dash of seasoning salt, some parsley, touch of garlic powder, and touch of onion pepper. (Remember, it is all to personal taste.) I melt two tablespoons butter and wisk in the seasoned flour until you've have created a nice base. Add 1 cup of water and whisk until well blended. Season as needed. Let simmer until comes to desired thickness. Cover biscuits or toast and prefered potato food (french fries or hash browns or whatever else) with the gravy. You can serve with a vegetarian sausage like crumble or sausage like patties or links (there are tons of brands out there) and sprinkle with cheese or onion or whatever else you like. It can be served along side eggs (I'm not really an egg fan so I don't, but sometimes my brother does). As with most things you don't have to give up those homestyle meals just because you have give up meat. Yum Yum. (Honestly this is what I fixed about 6:30a when I got home after being out with friends.)

In the Words of Albert Schweitzer: "Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight."

Let's Talk Veggie Burgers

While not necessary to living the veg life there are a ton of different veggie burger brands, flavors, and recipes. For me they are not an everyday thing, but often a convenient addition to my emat-free lifestyle. Surrounded my meat-eaters this is also at times a way to bring what they perceive some element of non-threatening normalcy to the table. It is a versitile food product that can be homemade (check out various online recipe sources, vegetarian/vegan cookbooks, or experiment for yourself), served by itself, along favorite foods, or added to favorite recipes such as chili or tacos. Some porducts are so close to mocking meat they are great for the reluctant vegetarian or even the meat-lover who want. needs to cut back on fats and cholestrol associated with a real burger. The veggie burger is not just for vegetarians, sometimes suggested by doctors for those suffering from heart issues. My personal tastes are in avoidance of the ones that too closely resemble actual meat and lean more towards mushroom flavored, tomato themed burgers, or other tasty flavor combinations. They are easy to prepare on teh stove top, grill, griddle, microwave, oven, or on a table top grill (like a 'George Foreman' brand). Cook them through and add your favorite burger toppers (I love to sautee or grill up some onion or mushrooms to top with a bit of cheese depending on the burger flavor). They are great for quick fix meals, dinner addition, or an afternoon BBQ with friends served along side some fabulous grilled vegetables. I've even been stopped in the grocery store veggie burger section of the freezer to be asked about my favorite flavors and brands. (This was a huge thing for my brother that was with me and witnessed that there are more vegetarians in our smallish college town than just me.)

Check out some of the links before and become educated on the love of veggie burgers. :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veggie_burger
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9685441/
http://www.amyskitchen.com/products/category_view.php?prod_category=1
http://www.gardenburger.com/

In the Words of Neal Barnard: "The beef industry has contributed to more American deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of "real food for real people" you'd better live real close to a real good hospital."

Loving Veg-friendly Leftovers in the Freezer

Thanks to my frozen leftover system, tonight while my brothers sucked down some turkey thing I enjoyed homemade white vegetable lasagna with garlic toasted french bread. I was thinking about making a new pan for dinner one night next week (and of course making enough to freeze for later). Dinner time is a constant attempt to create more middle ground in our eating habits without me giving up my vegetarian ideals and making sure they are getting some vegetables in their diet. Generally speaking, they are very meat and potaotes type guys who dislike a lot of vegetables. Normally, they all eat corn, but only one will eat peas. Lima beans (my favorite) is a lost cause as well as things like asparagus or most any green vegetable. The one is opening up and will sometimes eat spinach in things (still hasn't tried my white lasagna ut he confided that he might try it one time i make it). Carrots are an occassional success, but only with ceratin preperations. It is maddening at times, but I am deteremined to get some vegetables in their diets and give them the options of increasing the types of vegetables they do eat (one way or another it seems). Hope ya'all are enjoying all the bounties of life and having a fab new year.

As said by Christine Stevens: "The basis of all animal rights should be the Golden Rule: we should treat them as we would wish them to treat us, were any other species in our dominant position."

Chili for Now and Later

As with my typical view about being a vegetarian and eating a diet without flesh does not mean going without. I made a nice pot of chili for dinner (and froze the rest). Sometimes there is just nothing better than a spicy, steamy bowl of chili served over plain cooked pasta (especially like rotini, although any noodle will do inlcuding spagetti).




I sauteed some chopped onion and a clove of garlic in oil and water until everything was translucent and lovely. I added it to a pot with chili beans, kidney beans, and black beans. Then added tomato juice as needed with the chili spicespepper flakes, and hot sauce. Sometimes, I add tomato soup straight out of the can to work as a little bit of thickening, but not necessary. Pretty much whatever looks good to put in it. (I love adding the black beans with the other to add another level.) I let it cook through, then boiled some pasta noodles and drained. So yummy. When everything was ready I made a nice pile of pasta on the bottom of my bowl, sprinkled it with hot sauce and shredded cheese (without the cheese it is meat and dairy free), then toopped with a heaping portion of chili and a sprinkles of cheese. Fabulous and delicious.





Chili night has always been a fairly big night in my house. The table included not only a big pot of chili, but pleanty of fixings; cooked pasta noodles, corn chips, cheese, shreddded lettuce, salsa, hot sauce, hot pepper flakes, chili spices, sugar (my mom and brother prefer to sweeten it a bit), and whatever else looks like an apealing addition. Everyone has their own way and own preferences right down to how spicy it should be and what it chould be served over. I started adding black beans to mine and increasng the overall amount of beans in it (as well as the diced onion) to adapt to no longer including hamburger. I still make a decent amount and then freeze the extras for another day. (I do this alot with things instead of making single sized portions.) It's nice to have on hand when I don't feel like cooking.

As said by Marty Feldman: "I won't eat anything that has intelligent life, but I'd gladly eat a network executive or a politician."

I love Gardenburger

We are trying, as a family, to eat together at the table, all at the same time. This is, of course, easier said than done. I'm finding ways to eat pretty much the same things with the exception of meat. Tonight was cheesey julienne potatoes, peas, fried apples (with a touch of brown sugar and cinnamon), rolls, and a Gardenburger BBQ riblet. So full afterwards (yummy!). I was thinking about some baking, but maybe tomorrow.

I was out putting down fresh straw for our pet goats earlier. It is so hard for me to imagine that there are some people that would think about killing these sweet, usually gentle creatures and worse easting them. (We have three fixed males and one female... she is most absolutely the queen of the barn and makes sure the larger animals know this.) The longer I have been a vegetarian the stranger meat eating seems to me and the more horrific is seems that people would kill for the purpose of their tastebuds. Perhaps that sounds just a tad bit dramatic, but sometimes I look back towards the diet I was thought was normal with an uncomfortable shiver. This is the life that I have chosen, but also the life that seemed to choose me. How could I ever go back to that way of eating? I couldn't. My spirit is lighter because of it and my body is my own.

From Samuel Butler, 'Note-Books,' 1912; "Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them."

Chinese Food Yumminess

I am a big lover of what a lot of people would call "ethnic foods." Plus, they often offer more options for the vegetarian eater than a lot of the Americana-themed steak houses. I went yesterday to a local Chinese place with my mom and brother for lunch. Not only could I find things to eat, they have a bar full of veggies and noodles that they will grill up for you with whatever sauces you prefer. I find yumminess where-ever I can. Haven't really decided what to cook yet today, although I think I may have had an oatmeal-inspired dream last night

In the words of David Brenner; "A vegetarian is a person who won't eat anything that can have children."

I think. Therfore I am Vegetarian.

I served myself up a couple of those large portabella mushrooms sauteed with onion, garlic, and a bit of balsamic vinegar beside some sauteed peirogies (think potato stuffed pastry), cooked carrots, and a toasted bun for an easy lunch. Love, love, love mushrooms. They are so versitile, yummy, and use them in so many different ways. Dinner was another simple endeavor as I made homemade fried rice using mushroom slices (white button), shredded carrot, red and green onion, garlic, frozen spinach and a nutty brown rice. The vegetable egg roll was all I needed to compliment it. Fabulous. Dill pickles for evening snack (another food that I love.)

With the New Year I am trying to be more aware of certain food issues. I know how to cook and truly enjoy food without needing meat or meat products, but now I want to streamline a bit more. In other woods, I would like to slim down for the New Year, tone up, and get back closer to where I was physically back in high school and right out of it, maybe even better than I was. People often have this stereotype of the super skinny vegetarian with a frame that reminds a lot of people of a plant. I eat and eat vegetarian, but I maintain a loveable curvy figure (I just want to improve a good thing).

In the Words Of George Bernard Shaw: "My situation is a solemn one. Life is offered to me on condition of eating beefsteaks. But death is better than cannibalism. My will contains directions for my funeral, which will be followed not by mourning coaches, but by oxen, sheep, flocks of poultry, and a small traveling aquarium of live fish, all wearing white scarfs in honor of the man who perished rather than eat his fellow creatures."

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!! I hope it was a peaceful and hopeful ringing in of the new year.

We celebrated the New Year's Day as a family and extended family for our Christmas. (It seemed so much easier somewhat before my teen years and New Year's Eve parties.) Everyone cooks and brings something, we play Christmas Bingo (family tradition) that involved wrapped and inexpensive gifts that eventually are stolen from each other as the pile runs out), eat, and just spend the day together. Somehow everyone was able to make this holiday, including my two cousins that work in emergency services. The food, as always, is plentiful and filling. We took veggie pizza, a strawberry truffle, and soda. Despite my one cousin's continuing ignorance and long standing offensive vegetarian/vegan comments, there was plenty for me to fill my plate with; homemade macaroni and cheese, green beans, scalloped potatoes, fresh veggies, vegetables pizza, and dessert (one cousin made homemade mini cheesecakes with cherries on top... yummmy!). It was a filling day of family and talk of an upcoming wedding (I'm a bride's maid in it), my cousin's new pregnancy anouncement (twins!), and playing with the babies. I was stuffed (of course then I came home and heated some hot pretzel and cheese pizza bites).

From Henry Beston's 'The Outermost House' (1928): "The animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extension of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth."