Family Gathering

We had a delayed family Christmas and due to circumstances, it wasn't until today. As mentioned before I am the only vegetarian in my family and this year, since my grandpa's recent death, I had not one to cook for but myself. I had frozen extras of both my Thanksgiving Vegetable Wellington and my Christmas spinach mushroom pastry for just such an event, and I FORGOT IT at home. I tried to call home and ask my brothers to grab one of them out of the freezer, but they had already left. Instead I was left with a few choice from the appetizers (spinach artichoke dip, cheese, olives, and pickles), corn, rolls, and a green bean casserole that was somehow not quite right and undercooked. The potato casserole included cream of chicken (yeck!) and the baked beans (which I never was much the fan) had bacon. I keep waiting for the day when they remember that there is a vegetarian in their family, but eight years hasn't let to much improvement. Oh well, it was otherwise a decent day and a good reminder for next time to take something.

Freezer Stock - The Soup Tour: Corn Chowder

I'm back to somewhat cooking regular and trying to get over the heaviness, richness, and junk that often comes with the holidays. For lunch today I roasted mushrooms, broccoli, some carrot and onion with a little but of seasoning and olive oil. Then stuffed the roasted veggies into a warmed pita with a touch of shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, and a touch of ranch dressing. Yum! While the veggies were in the oven roasting to perfection, I started my corn chowder for dinner. So so nice! I made enough chowder to help with me "Freezer Stock - The Soup Tour."

Also, in the spirit of things included link to an ABC Good Morning America segment on on "The Value of a Vegetarian Diet."

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