Quesodilla Night

Melted cheese isn't just for between two slices of bread or on top of some baked pasta. Sometimes it comes in quesodilla form that includes veggies and topped with salsa. Tonight was such a night. When I first saw the quesodilla makers in the store, I laughed. We did fine without one. Then somehow we ended up with one and tried it out. Its not one of those kitchen necessities, but it can be nice. Quesodilla Night is one of those where a spread of filling options are laid out and everyone makes what they want. I like to saute up sliced mushroom and a bit of onion with a touch of taco seasoning, using a sprinkle of water to really let everything start to meld together, then add my mushroom mixture with black olives in between the flour tortillas and shredded cheddar, then topped off with homemade salsa after cut. Of course, the great thing is you can add pretty much anything you want and even put the salsa on the inside.

We are still in discussions on what to do for my family birthday dinner. It really shouldn't be this much of a discussion. For some odd reason I seem to want to go somewhere that includes more than grilled cheese and the occasional salad that is meat-free. I want more, especially since it is supposed to be for my birthday. At this point I think I'd be happy just with ordering in from someplace I like and enjoying a lone bottle of wine or something sparkly. This area doesn't have the greatest restaurant choices (a lot of steakhouses and "homecooking") for those vegetarians, and I don't know how open they'd be to some of those options as it is. Looking at something maybe more 'ethnic'- based like Mexican or Italian. We shall see.

'I venture to maintain that there are multitudes to whom the necessity of discharging the duties of a butcher would be so inexpressibly painful and revolting, that if they could obtain a flesh diet on no other condition, they would relinquish it forever." -- W.E.H. Lecky

Vegetarian Culture

“Vegetarian Culture” -- a phrase heard in regarding restaurants and people understanding and embracing the ‘vegetarian culture.’ How does the concept of a “vegetarian culture” change in regards to geography, environment, family situation, upbringing, etc? Vegetarian culture in regards to internet, community, religion? Groups? “…Because they understand the vegetarian culture…” is a phrase I recently heard in regards to a restaurant and the offerings in their menu. I, like I am sure many others living a meat-free life, live in an area that does not offer a lot of like-minded individuals in this area. How does the vegetarian culture as whole affect the lives we lead with little personal interaction from other vegetarians?

This is sonething I have been thinking about a lot lately, along with the feelings isolation that is connected to loving in my house and in this part of the country. I've only a few friends who don't eat and most of them have gone back to those meat eating ways or it is a Lent thing. Once in a local grocery store I had someone ask me about my preferred type of veggie burger while I was shopping in that area. My brother, who was with me at the time, was floored. There are others!!! For a moment my lifestyle suddenly seemed almost normal to him as he met a rather normal woman who shared in this journey, but overall this has been the exception. On the whole I feel rather detached from the whole of "vegetarian culture." It's something I am a part of, but also something that seems so far away.

I meet people occassionaly who claim to be vegetarian... but they eat chicken, seafood, and attack others for choosing not to. I occasionally meet people who at least try to respect it, but I also meet a lot of people who just end up attacking me for it or puzzled over the "sacrafise." Sometimes, it feels like a rather isolated journey in a world that thinks I am nuts. Sometimes it would be nice to not feel way.
I did a net search... in hope of finding some other thoughts on it.

* "The Importance of Vegetarian Culture" http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj97sep/979cult.htm
* "Good for the Gods: India" http://www.veggieheadonline.com/india.html
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Building-Vegetarian-Culture/
* "Vegetarian & Vegan Diets" @ 'Home Chef' http://www.chefhome.com/Cookbook/Vegetarian.shtml
* "The Vegetarian Channel" http://www.thevegetarianchannel.com/directory/News/Publications/213.html
* "Becoming a Vegetarian" http://becoming-a-vegetarian.blogspot.com/

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals." ~George Orwell, Animal Farm

Food TV

There are a lot of people who believe that watching the cooks on TV work their culinary magic can have a calming effect. It seems to be something about watching someone prepare food. I have an uncle in a higher stress career that watches it to “veg” after work and grandparents who are HUGE fans of cooking and food shows. I’m a huge fan, even back to the days before an entire network and channel was created for it. I still sometimes catch episodes of Julia Child on public television. I guess for me part of it and extension of watching my family members cook in their home kitchens and being a part of it. This love that has continued from childhood is not always easy when you don’t eat meat, don’t cook meat, and don’t like the sight or smell of meat. I still watch the cooking shows- I just tend to look towards the side dishes and ways to adapt recipes to a meat-free mindset (sometimes that is as simple as using a vegetable broth or stock instead of chicken, beef, or such). I have been known to channel surf during things I would rather not see, such as roasts, steaks, etc.

There always seem to be reminders that we are a part of the few… that we, the vegetarians and vegans, are the minority. If restaurants and the meat counters at our local grocers were not enough, TV is yet another one of the ever-present reminders. On the plus side there is a growing awareness about the existence and growing numbers of people like me, the average (more or less) Americans who choose a meat-free lifestyle. While watching the food and cooking shows there are more and more meat-free meal ideas or even suggestions for cooking for vegetarian friends and family. It is slow, but positive.

http://www.vegtv.com/
(Traveling Vegetarian) http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=travelingvegetarian (or check out on my listed favorites)
http://www.delicioustv.com/aboutdelicioustv.shtml

"I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race or doesn't.... The pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further." ~Mark Twain

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.

What are your Holiday Plans?

Eating out with my family is often an eventful experience. There is usually a debate over where to eat, especially since my options are limited to salad in some places, but this afternoon while I was out trying to take care of some things we were able to agree on a place (without argument) where I could eat without problems and my brother could still satisfy his supposed meat cravings. We began the shopping for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is very hard to say at his point how many people will be here. I took it as a mini victory that while sitting at lunch discussing the menu my mother made a reference to needing more non-meat items. Yay!

From Berke Breathed, 'Bloom County Babylon': "Dear Lord, I've been asked, nay commanded, to thank Thee for the Christmas turkey before us... a turkey which was no doubt a lively, intelligent bird... a social being... capable of actual affection... nuzzling its young with almost human-like compassion. Anyway, it's dead and we're gonna eat it. Please give our respects to its family."

Eating Out

Going out to eat can be an interesting experience for anyone, but it seems to be more interesting at times for the vegetarian and vegan among us. When I first quit eating meat it was difficult to go out. I didn’t really know what I could get where and what places put things in what that would and could make me sick. I also was in the awkward stage of being a new vegetarian. I didn’t want to make a scene (I still don’t) and I wasn’t always sure about what even to ask. Over time it got easier (or maybe I adjusted… as with the rest of my family). Today was one of those family eating experiences out in a public restaurant (they can be so embarrassing sometimes I have learned to just ignore it and expect it). My great-aunt’s birthday is today and a number of us met in shared celebration. Sometimes it’s just nice to be able to sit down at a meal together (and sometimes it is really nice not to have to prepare that meal yourself). We went to this little local place (a favorite of my aunt) that has this great little bakery in part of it. We have reached the point in my family that even after the waitress or waiter as taken my order various family members (especially my mother) often make sure that the person knows that I am in fact a vegetarian and I do not eat meat. This is often a response to a question such as, “Would you like ham on that?” No, thank-you. Of course somewhere in there is the added chiming of a voice or two (not my own included) going, ‘She doesn’t eat meat,” or, “She’s a vegetarian.” As annoying as it may seem (especially after I have often asked the wait stuff person questions regarding a pasta sauce or potential broth usage or whether or not meat is included on some salad) it actually has become rather bearable and endearing in their own way.

When I first made the decision it was very difficult on my various members of my family. Surprising me the most at the time was the fact that my grandparents were the most supportive as it would seem to challenge their years of life the most. (“Whatever it takes as long as you are better.”) There were often times at restaurants when my mother seemed to have to apologize to wait staff that I was one of “them.” It always seemed in that tone… you know the one… the one apologizing for something that their kid or parent or someone has done. Then one afternoon I got a burger that was supposed to be veggie and wasn’t…. I never chew, just biting into the now strange substance was enough to make be almost vomit on the table. After nearly two years of hearing my mother utter phrases like, “I’m sure now your body has healed enough that you could start adding meat back…” she was suddenly ready to go up to bat for her vegetarian daughter. I was floored as she called over the waitress that fateful afternoon and calmly explained and asked to see the manager regarding the kitchen mistake. It seemed in that moment realization finally had come to her that this was not a passing phase and I wasn’t just “going to get over it.”

In a rather short amount of time my mother went from apologizing to wait staff to explaining and to making sure that they knew so that there was no misunderstanding. (Who needs a veg shirt when your mom is ready to tell the world?) She even told the sample lady at the grocery how long I had been a vegetarian when shopping for produce one day. Eating out is no longer her making excuses for the “freaky eater” at the table, but informing the staff that its not just I don’t what that ham on my salad or sandwich, but that I REALLY don’t want anything to do with it. (She even has called the pizza place to ask them twenty questions about what is in what and complain that an order was messed up and that her daughter is vegetarian and can not eat whatever the mess up usually is.)

A typical family trip to meet somewhere to eat often includes Grandma calling and making sure that where-ever we go has something that I can eat. (She does seem to have a thing for buffets.) Followed by at least two people asking me while we are looking at the menus if there is something I can eat and making sure that I will not go hungry. (This is often where one of my “sensitive” brothers asks me if I want some labeled “meat-lovers” or how raw I like my steak.) We order drinks. (And somewhere there is a lemon in water discussion.) Then we order and at least someone (no including myself) makes sure that whoever is taking our order is aware that there is a vegetarian in their midst. In the end it is kind of sweet and well-meaning. I know not every person who ever takes our order cares why I ordered what I did, but in many ways it means that my nutty family has finally found a sense of normalcy and acceptance in the fact that I do not eat meat and have no intentions of ever doing so again.