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."