I did it. I made mung bean pancakes. I felt it was my obligation and duty after all the hype about them early on. Not to mention the fact that my mother called me all giddy one day with a "neener neener" kind of tone to say she knew what they were and where to buy them. I just couldn't let her down.
The shelless mung beans, or "Moong Dal" as they are actually called, were found in the Indian section of Jungle Jim's Market where you can find anything under the sun. I once purchased Ostrich steaks there. They also sell some of the craziest nastiest stuff that you could just never imagine someone would eat. Like chicken beaks and the like. They only thing was, there was just one size of Moong Dal for sale and it was the value pack. Large bag. I'm hoping this recipe is good.
Mung bean pancakes contain not only mung beans, but eggs, scallions, shredded carrot, garlic, and some red pepper flakes. You puree the pre-soaked mung beans in a processer for a bit, and don't you know it gets actually FLUFFY like a batter? Who would have thought? BEANS! FLUFFY! Anyhow, mix everything else together and cook on a griddle. As recommended, I also made some soy sesame dipping sauce.
I was home alone last night and didn't want this to be a solo experience. I needed a witness. Who in the world would be believe me if they turned out to be delicious? I called Miriam, who is the only other member of the "Veggie for a Month" club and she actually sounded excited to try them. She came right down and we did the honors simulataneoulsy.
The good news is, I now know for a fact what a good faker Miriam is. I almost believed that she liked them but since I was there to experience it first had, I knew they weren't all that tasty. She went on and on about how they were good and she liked the sauce but curiously, she didn't clean her plate. Something about having had rice before she came over or whatever. It's OK, Miriam. Seriously. I wasn't expecting them to taste GREAT but I was hopeful that they'd be.... I don't really know what I thought. These are mung beans after all. And they were fluffy.
Today was officially supposed to be the last day of my veggie month. But not only do I need to keep my diet as is until after the marathon on Saturday, but I'm actually enjoying it! There are still so many recipes I haven't had the chance to try yet (I'm preparing Tofu Cacciatore tonight). Also, I've got this big bag of mung beans that I'd like to use up. A friend of mine told me there is such a thing as "mung bean popsicles" but I'm going to totally pass on that one. He said they were delicious - I think he and Miriam would get along great.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Torture
So tonight, I had the experience I had been dreading all month - the one I thought would be utter torture - and I didn't even flinch. This? Has me worried. Tonight was the banquet for my mother's photography club that I promised her I would attend. This was BEFORE I found out the event was being held at The Montgomery Inn, aka "The Ribs King." I'm not just talking about a local favorite here - this IS the ribs KING. You can ask Andre Agassi, John Glenn, Oprah, Bob Hope, and countless other celebrities. He is the ribs KING and I am not kidding. To be fair, there are some purists out there who disagree with his method of ribs preparation (the whole boiled vs. grilled argument) but that's completely beside the point of this posting and I'm not even going to go there.
Yesterday, knowing I would be there for dinner tonight, I took a look at their menu on-line. As I suspected, not a single vegetarian entree other than the basic side salad. Which is not an entree anyhow. Now as a meat-eater, I sincerely have to apologize to the vegetarian world for the rudeness and presumptuousness of the restaurant industry. I really had no idea. So I called them and discovered that while it is not on the menu (it's a dirty secret), they DO have a vegetarian offering - it's a veggie pasta dish. I was satisfied. At least I would have an actual meal vs. side salad and dinner rolls. And wine.
You know what was so weird? I didn't even care that everyone around me was eating ribs! How weird is this? At one point, I noticed my mother had a little morsel of uneaten ribs on her plate and I instinctively thought to grab it and eat it but I didn't.... and I didn't crave it either. I was able to satisfy my need for the flavor by ordering some saratoga chips with a side of the BBQ sauce and it was perfectly satisfactory. In fact, the only thing about the dinner that left me wanting was the lack of dessert. There was none. What kind of banquet does not serve dessert? This one, apparently. I could have used a bit of chocolate but whatever. Damned photographers and their "we don't want dessert" nonsense. Pft.
This is not to say that I have not been without torturous moments. In fact, I almost gave up on the entire thing last Saturday. We hosted our running group at our home and I could not run because of strain to my IT band. I played hostess (with the mostess!) instead. While everyone was running, I baked an absolutely delicious breakfast casserole for everyone that is my step-mother's signature dish and one that we request every single time we visit her. This was my first attempt at making it. It contains copious amounts of chopped ham.
After everyone finished running and started eating the casserole, and commenting on how delicious it was, I had the worst "gotta have some" moment I think I have ever had. I've had some pretty fierce "gotta have some" moments in my life (specifics withheld), and this was definitely near the top of the list. I succumbed. I had some, but carefully picked out the ham. This borders on sacrilege, but I did it. Felt like an idiot with a big pile of diced ham on my plate, but I did it.
THAT was torture. But if I can eat Windsor casserole and pick out all the ham, and I can sit in The Montgomery Inn watching everyone eat ribs and not care, I can do virtually anything. In fact, I think maybe I'll try walking on hot coals later this evening.
Veg on.
Yesterday, knowing I would be there for dinner tonight, I took a look at their menu on-line. As I suspected, not a single vegetarian entree other than the basic side salad. Which is not an entree anyhow. Now as a meat-eater, I sincerely have to apologize to the vegetarian world for the rudeness and presumptuousness of the restaurant industry. I really had no idea. So I called them and discovered that while it is not on the menu (it's a dirty secret), they DO have a vegetarian offering - it's a veggie pasta dish. I was satisfied. At least I would have an actual meal vs. side salad and dinner rolls. And wine.
You know what was so weird? I didn't even care that everyone around me was eating ribs! How weird is this? At one point, I noticed my mother had a little morsel of uneaten ribs on her plate and I instinctively thought to grab it and eat it but I didn't.... and I didn't crave it either. I was able to satisfy my need for the flavor by ordering some saratoga chips with a side of the BBQ sauce and it was perfectly satisfactory. In fact, the only thing about the dinner that left me wanting was the lack of dessert. There was none. What kind of banquet does not serve dessert? This one, apparently. I could have used a bit of chocolate but whatever. Damned photographers and their "we don't want dessert" nonsense. Pft.
This is not to say that I have not been without torturous moments. In fact, I almost gave up on the entire thing last Saturday. We hosted our running group at our home and I could not run because of strain to my IT band. I played hostess (with the mostess!) instead. While everyone was running, I baked an absolutely delicious breakfast casserole for everyone that is my step-mother's signature dish and one that we request every single time we visit her. This was my first attempt at making it. It contains copious amounts of chopped ham.
After everyone finished running and started eating the casserole, and commenting on how delicious it was, I had the worst "gotta have some" moment I think I have ever had. I've had some pretty fierce "gotta have some" moments in my life (specifics withheld), and this was definitely near the top of the list. I succumbed. I had some, but carefully picked out the ham. This borders on sacrilege, but I did it. Felt like an idiot with a big pile of diced ham on my plate, but I did it.
THAT was torture. But if I can eat Windsor casserole and pick out all the ham, and I can sit in The Montgomery Inn watching everyone eat ribs and not care, I can do virtually anything. In fact, I think maybe I'll try walking on hot coals later this evening.
Veg on.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Bonus Gift for Chip
I'm going to have to voluntarily extend this meatless month for a few days, believe it or not. However, it won't be a COMPLETE ban on meat. Let me explain.
I am signed up for the Yakima River Canyon Marathon on April 4th, 4 days after I planned to eat nothing but meat for a solid 24 hours. But then I realized.... making drastic changes to your diet just before a 26.2 mile run is not smart. Some say "neither is running 26.2 miles" but to them? I say "try it before you knock it" and I usually don't hear anything more from them. But about this diet changing thing.
One thing I've noticed is that.... well, digestion "works" better or something when there is no meat involved. I'm afraid that if I go back to eating meat at 2 meals per day just before this marathon, my body will get all "what the hell?" and I'll "experience" the meat differently than I would like. I'm just not going to say more than that.
I'd say "somewhere out there, a chicken is thanking me for this." However, I know this is not true. In reality, someone else is going to eat that chicken. But I know Chip is thanking me and that is good enough, really.
I am signed up for the Yakima River Canyon Marathon on April 4th, 4 days after I planned to eat nothing but meat for a solid 24 hours. But then I realized.... making drastic changes to your diet just before a 26.2 mile run is not smart. Some say "neither is running 26.2 miles" but to them? I say "try it before you knock it" and I usually don't hear anything more from them. But about this diet changing thing.
One thing I've noticed is that.... well, digestion "works" better or something when there is no meat involved. I'm afraid that if I go back to eating meat at 2 meals per day just before this marathon, my body will get all "what the hell?" and I'll "experience" the meat differently than I would like. I'm just not going to say more than that.
I'd say "somewhere out there, a chicken is thanking me for this." However, I know this is not true. In reality, someone else is going to eat that chicken. But I know Chip is thanking me and that is good enough, really.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Back to Basics
Contrary to popular belief, I have NOT been losing weight while on this journey. In fact, despite running 23 (twenty-three) miles last weekend, I have managed to gain about 5 pounds. I asked myself... "WHAT IS GOING ON???" and then I realized - my dietary equation has changed. Where I used to evaluate food choices and recipes based on nutritional value, I have recently been evaluating them on one criteria alone... Does it contain meat? If not, I'm eating it. Case in point: All the cheese laden veggie pizza I've consumed in the past three weeks. The meatless 3 Musketeers Bar I ate after realizing that I couldn't have a hotdog. The meatless 3 Musketeers Bar I WANTED today after my husband screamed "STOP!!!" when I inadvertently put a piece of beef jerky in my mouth (close call and fortunately, my teeth had not yet even begun to sink).
Let me just say this about the beef jerky thing. Boy, was I pissed. My husband and I had been working in our rehab condo all day and I went to the store for some beer (which thankfully is meatless). He asked me to pick him up some beef jerky (not meatless), which I did. When I got back and ripped open the package of beef jerky and started to eat one without thinking, and he stopped me, I got all 5th grader pouty like "Now I don't have ANY snack!" I was a bit of a pill for a bit. I'll admit it. In fact, it was "BOGO" on the beef jerky so the second pack, the BBQ flavored one, was supposed to be for me. Damned vegetarian-diet-for a month idea. But I digress....
For the past few days I've tried to get back to basics and combine the "nutritious" part with the "meatless" part. Friday night, I made a delicious Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce which was made with tofu, fat free cottage cheese, roasted red peppers, and some other stuff. It was DELICIOUS and super creamy! According to my husband (as if he is more reliable), you would never know it did not contain heavy cream. Today? Breakfast was a fruit smoothie and lunch was a veggie "pizza" soup prepared in my blender made with practically nothing but veggies and some fat-free cheese. (Dinner was left over Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce and even though it was good, it's just not worth repeating here)
So, it's back to basics for me. I'll be running a marathon in 2 weeks and I've got to lose all this extra weight plus a little more in order for me to perform well in the race. Wish me luck. And hope I don't accidentally stick another piece of beef jerky in my mouth.
Tomorrow, I'll have to tell you about the meated torture I put myself through on Saturday. Oh... it was so painful. I almost caved in. And I almost didn't care.
Veg on.
Let me just say this about the beef jerky thing. Boy, was I pissed. My husband and I had been working in our rehab condo all day and I went to the store for some beer (which thankfully is meatless). He asked me to pick him up some beef jerky (not meatless), which I did. When I got back and ripped open the package of beef jerky and started to eat one without thinking, and he stopped me, I got all 5th grader pouty like "Now I don't have ANY snack!" I was a bit of a pill for a bit. I'll admit it. In fact, it was "BOGO" on the beef jerky so the second pack, the BBQ flavored one, was supposed to be for me. Damned vegetarian-diet-for a month idea. But I digress....
For the past few days I've tried to get back to basics and combine the "nutritious" part with the "meatless" part. Friday night, I made a delicious Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce which was made with tofu, fat free cottage cheese, roasted red peppers, and some other stuff. It was DELICIOUS and super creamy! According to my husband (as if he is more reliable), you would never know it did not contain heavy cream. Today? Breakfast was a fruit smoothie and lunch was a veggie "pizza" soup prepared in my blender made with practically nothing but veggies and some fat-free cheese. (Dinner was left over Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce and even though it was good, it's just not worth repeating here)
So, it's back to basics for me. I'll be running a marathon in 2 weeks and I've got to lose all this extra weight plus a little more in order for me to perform well in the race. Wish me luck. And hope I don't accidentally stick another piece of beef jerky in my mouth.
Tomorrow, I'll have to tell you about the meated torture I put myself through on Saturday. Oh... it was so painful. I almost caved in. And I almost didn't care.
Veg on.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Third time's a charm!
I am pleased to tell you, humbly, that I finally achieved the Holy Grail, as it were. A meatless meatloaf that my family actually liked!! I can't believe I had the nerve to try it, honestly, but I was convinced that it could be done. So, I picked up a pack of veggie "meal starter crumbles" from MorningStar Farm and noticed a webite on the package: http://www.seeveggiesdifferently.com/. I thought, if anyone should be able to give me a good meatless meatloaf recipe without a bunch of weird ingredients like TVP, it should be these guys. Here are a few highlights:
Pre-Oven:
Me: (Placing mixture in loaf pan)This one looks much more promising. Here, let me show you. See? It actually looks like meatloaf!
Husband: Let me smell it. (sniffing)Mmm... it smells good.
Son: Let me smell it. (sniffing with nasty wrinkled nose)Smells like butt.
(As meatlessloaf bakes, paranoia sets in. But I feel somewhat reassured knowing I have potatoes and green beans for sustenance)
After-Oven
Husband: Something smells delicious!
Me: (cautiously) Before you eat it, let me just remind you that it is NOT meatloaf so don't expect it to taste like meatloaf.
Husband: Don't be so hard on yourself. I bet it will be good. (Easy for him to say. He knows that if it does in fact taste like butt, he can go to McDonald's while I'm stuck with nothing but potatoes and green beans.)
Son: (says absolutely nothing because he knows if he makes another "smells like butt" comment, he'll be eating leftover Cottage Cheese loaf)
At the Table:
Me: (watching family members out of the corners of my eyes, afraid to try meatlessloaf, afraid to ask about it)
Husband: MMM.... this is a good one! You did it!
Me: Well, I figured it must have been OK since Cody has taken 4 consecutive bites without complaining. Must not be too bad.
Son: Well, it doesn't taste like meatloaf, but it's not bad. Actually, it tastes like stuffing.
I will call that a ringing endorsement! 3 Cheers for MorningStar Farms Recipe Starter Crumbles! But I will say this... it sort of did taste like stuffing. That's OK though because I like stuffing.
Tomorrow, it's just me and my husband. Since he was so supportive about the meatlessloaf, I'm going to try pineapple and black bean burritos. You think I'm kidding, but I'm dead serious. I'm on a roll now!
Pre-Oven:
Me: (Placing mixture in loaf pan)
Husband: Let me smell it. (sniffing)
Son: Let me smell it. (sniffing with nasty wrinkled nose)
(As meatlessloaf bakes, paranoia sets in. But I feel somewhat reassured knowing I have potatoes and green beans for sustenance)
After-Oven
Husband: Something smells delicious!
Me: (cautiously) Before you eat it, let me just remind you that it is NOT meatloaf so don't expect it to taste like meatloaf.
Husband: Don't be so hard on yourself. I bet it will be good. (Easy for him to say. He knows that if it does in fact taste like butt, he can go to McDonald's while I'm stuck with nothing but potatoes and green beans.)
Son: (says absolutely nothing because he knows if he makes another "smells like butt" comment, he'll be eating leftover Cottage Cheese loaf)
At the Table:
Me: (watching family members out of the corners of my eyes, afraid to try meatlessloaf, afraid to ask about it)
Husband: MMM.... this is a good one! You did it!
Me: Well, I figured it must have been OK since Cody has taken 4 consecutive bites without complaining. Must not be too bad.
Son: Well, it doesn't taste like meatloaf, but it's not bad. Actually, it tastes like stuffing.
I will call that a ringing endorsement! 3 Cheers for MorningStar Farms Recipe Starter Crumbles! But I will say this... it sort of did taste like stuffing. That's OK though because I like stuffing.
Tomorrow, it's just me and my husband. Since he was so supportive about the meatlessloaf, I'm going to try pineapple and black bean burritos. You think I'm kidding, but I'm dead serious. I'm on a roll now!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
It was an ACCIDENT!!!!
Wow.... what a close call. See, I am a runner and I'm training for my 10th marathon in a few weeks. I run with a group of crazy people (some could argue we are ALL crazy to run that far) which makes the long runs go much easier. On Saturday, we were out for a 23 mile training run. When you run distances like that, your mind tends to glaze over - probably for self-preservation, to be honest. Along the way, during a bathroom break at Starbucks, one of the runners bought a low-fat latte to share. And at mile ... oh, about 13 I guess, they got even crazier and decided to dash in to Wendy's to grab a couple of burgers. Yes, grabbing a few Wendy's cheeseburgers to eat WHILE RUNNING 23 miles. Like I said, crazy.
So, here is this group of us like a pack of wild dogs and this girl in the middle passing out morsels and pieces of cheeseburgers to the others. I'm not big on fast food anyhow so I didn't really think much of it but as I looked at my friend Paul holding a 1/4 of a burger, I thought "What the heck. I'm running 23 miles today. I'll burn it off." I was justifying the FATTENING part - without even thinking of the MEAT part! He handed it over, and I took a little bite.
No sooner had a closed my lips around the little morsel in my mouth than my eyes got big as saucers and I yelled (with food in my mouth - my mother would be ashamed) "ACK! I CAN'T EAT THIS! IT'S MEAT!" (Fortunately, all my running buddies know about my "experiment") I ran about 10 feet away and spat it out on the ground. With considerable drama. I turned around to see them all staring at me in disbelief, and one said (with just as much drama) "I can not believe you spit that out. God will strike you down for that."
Later that evening, my husband and I were at a St. Patrick's Day party - a benefit for the local athletic boosters - where they were serving mostly meat appetizers, with some cheese/crackers and some fruit. It's really shameful how few party planners consider that there may be vegetarians in the crowd. This disturbs me. They did have eggrolls so I took one of those too. The lights were dim but as I ate it, I thought I might have detected some meat, but it was difficult to discern. Before getting another one, I asked my husband to inquire and sure enough, they had some pork in them. I do not feel guilty because it was an accident and once I learned of the offending ingredient, I had no more. And besides, it was punishment enough to have to watch my husband eat BBQ meatballs.
So, here is this group of us like a pack of wild dogs and this girl in the middle passing out morsels and pieces of cheeseburgers to the others. I'm not big on fast food anyhow so I didn't really think much of it but as I looked at my friend Paul holding a 1/4 of a burger, I thought "What the heck. I'm running 23 miles today. I'll burn it off." I was justifying the FATTENING part - without even thinking of the MEAT part! He handed it over, and I took a little bite.
No sooner had a closed my lips around the little morsel in my mouth than my eyes got big as saucers and I yelled (with food in my mouth - my mother would be ashamed) "ACK! I CAN'T EAT THIS! IT'S MEAT!" (Fortunately, all my running buddies know about my "experiment") I ran about 10 feet away and spat it out on the ground. With considerable drama. I turned around to see them all staring at me in disbelief, and one said (with just as much drama) "I can not believe you spit that out. God will strike you down for that."
Later that evening, my husband and I were at a St. Patrick's Day party - a benefit for the local athletic boosters - where they were serving mostly meat appetizers, with some cheese/crackers and some fruit. It's really shameful how few party planners consider that there may be vegetarians in the crowd. This disturbs me. They did have eggrolls so I took one of those too. The lights were dim but as I ate it, I thought I might have detected some meat, but it was difficult to discern. Before getting another one, I asked my husband to inquire and sure enough, they had some pork in them. I do not feel guilty because it was an accident and once I learned of the offending ingredient, I had no more. And besides, it was punishment enough to have to watch my husband eat BBQ meatballs.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Strike Two
I am discouraged. This has been a difficult weekend for me to be meatless. Mostly because I've seen and smelled delicious meat all weekend. But my payoff was going to be dinner tonight. I found a recipe for a meatless meatloaf that actually won second place in a meat loaf cookoff! This was super encouraging so I thought SURELY this would be a winner! The main ingredient is something called "Textured Vegetable Protein" which is not only supposed to be a great source or protein, but also super meat like in texture and consistency. I made a trip to Whole Food, purchased some TVP, and was supremely optimistic. I couldn't wait to serve my masterpiece and just knew my family was going to write a song about me and I was going to be a hero! The stuff of legend! A delicious meatless meatloaf!
The only thing I did differently when making this dish was using a real egg instead of egg substitute. I can't believe THAT made any difference! I shaped it into a loaf (well, loaf-ish shape anyhow) and baked it as directed. What came out of the oven was pretty much like a big pile of brown rice - seasonded like meatloaf. As brown rice was one of the other main ingredients, I'm wondering if something went wrong there. I slopped it on to the dinner plates with significantly diminished enthusiasm. My husband and daughter ate it (my husband appeared to like it) and both were gracious enough to keep their opinions to themselves. Well, except when I heard Holly snicker under her breath "That? Is supposed to resemble meat?"
I'm not giving up. I've actually TASTED a meatless meatloaf that was delicous. I know it can be done. This is now my quest. There is no way what I pulled out of the oven tonight could win ANY contest, much less a meatloaf cookoff. Well, maybe it could win a "This does not taste like grapefruit" contest because that's about the only thing I can say about it for certain.
In other, more positive news, I've received several reports about mung beans and now know where they can be purchased. I'd be more excited about it if my dinner had turned out a little better.
The only thing I did differently when making this dish was using a real egg instead of egg substitute. I can't believe THAT made any difference! I shaped it into a loaf (well, loaf-ish shape anyhow) and baked it as directed. What came out of the oven was pretty much like a big pile of brown rice - seasonded like meatloaf. As brown rice was one of the other main ingredients, I'm wondering if something went wrong there. I slopped it on to the dinner plates with significantly diminished enthusiasm. My husband and daughter ate it (my husband appeared to like it) and both were gracious enough to keep their opinions to themselves. Well, except when I heard Holly snicker under her breath "That? Is supposed to resemble meat?"
I'm not giving up. I've actually TASTED a meatless meatloaf that was delicous. I know it can be done. This is now my quest. There is no way what I pulled out of the oven tonight could win ANY contest, much less a meatloaf cookoff. Well, maybe it could win a "This does not taste like grapefruit" contest because that's about the only thing I can say about it for certain.
In other, more positive news, I've received several reports about mung beans and now know where they can be purchased. I'd be more excited about it if my dinner had turned out a little better.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Almost slipped up...
Last night, my husband and I drove up to Bowling Green State University to pick up my son who is coming home for spring break. I told him we had to eat before we left because I was not confident there would be much along the way I could eat without really having to search. He tells me "You can get a bean and cheese burrito from Taco Bell." Yeah, that's healthy. Heck, I could get a Biggie fries and a Frosty from Wendy's too but that's just not nutritious. Instead, I had some leftover Roasted Pepper Vegetarian Chili that I have to tell you was exceptionally tasty. Even my 15 yr old son liked it!!
Anyhow, along the way, we stopped for gas at a Speedway station and I decided to go in and get a soda. I asked my hubby if he wanted anything and he said "Yeah, get me a hotdog." Without even thinking, I started to get one for myself, too! The only reason I caught myself was because I don't typically like hotdogs so I wondered why I wanted one. That was a close call! But then, I wanted a hotdog so bad, I had to get a 3 Musketeers bar just to distract myself. And I don't really even like hotdogs. Weird.
I found a recipe on line for a meatless meatloaf that actually won 2nd place in a meatloaf cookoff. This intrigues me so I plan to try it for dinner tomorrow. Cottage cheese is NOT an ingredient in this one.
So, here is a quick score card of some of the things I enjoyed eating last week and some that I didn't:
Thumbs Up
Morningstar Farms veggie burgers (any variety, they are all yum)
Mangos (can't seem to get enough)
Lightlife Smart BBQ (meatless BBQ - tastes authentic!)
Roasted Red Pepper veggie chili
Samosas from the Whole Foods deli case
Thumbs Down
Tofurkey brand italian sausages - not enough like the real thing
Cottage Cheese Loaf - it was OK, but I won't make it again
Anyhow, along the way, we stopped for gas at a Speedway station and I decided to go in and get a soda. I asked my hubby if he wanted anything and he said "Yeah, get me a hotdog." Without even thinking, I started to get one for myself, too! The only reason I caught myself was because I don't typically like hotdogs so I wondered why I wanted one. That was a close call! But then, I wanted a hotdog so bad, I had to get a 3 Musketeers bar just to distract myself. And I don't really even like hotdogs. Weird.
I found a recipe on line for a meatless meatloaf that actually won 2nd place in a meatloaf cookoff. This intrigues me so I plan to try it for dinner tomorrow. Cottage cheese is NOT an ingredient in this one.
So, here is a quick score card of some of the things I enjoyed eating last week and some that I didn't:
Thumbs Up
Morningstar Farms veggie burgers (any variety, they are all yum)
Mangos (can't seem to get enough)
Lightlife Smart BBQ (meatless BBQ - tastes authentic!)
Roasted Red Pepper veggie chili
Samosas from the Whole Foods deli case
Thumbs Down
Tofurkey brand italian sausages - not enough like the real thing
Cottage Cheese Loaf - it was OK, but I won't make it again
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
You think you know someone.....
Alright, get this. I'm on the phone last night with my step-mother who's all "How's it going? What's new?" and all. So, I fill her in on how the first 2 days of being a vegetarian went and we get to talking about it and somehow, I mention how I will be shopping for exotic things, like mung beans. And listen to this. I kid you not. She says "Oh, I love mung beans!" After pausing to let it sink in, and confirming that she was not in fact joking, I absolutely burst into laughter. They actually exist and someone I know has actually eaten them? And loves them? HAHAHAHAHA! I told her that was definitely going on my blog. So blog-worthy, that little piece of information. That's just something you never think to ask someone, isn't it? "Have you ever tried mung beans?" Nope, can't say I've ever had that question come up in a job interview.
So, she's had mung beans, and I've had Cottage Cheese Roast (a.k.a. Vegetarian Meatloaf). Things could be stranger, I suppose. But I have to tell you, the Cottage Cheese Roast was not half bad! Now, it's not going to FOOL anyone, that's for sure, and likening it to meatloaf is really not a fair comparison, but really not a bad little meal. The ingredients? Thought you'd never ask: eggs, cottage cheese, chopped walnuts, corn flakes, onion, and dry onion soup mix. Yeah, no kidding. And believe it or not, it is meatloaf-ish enough to pass (as long as it's been a while since you've actually HAD meatloaf and the memories of it's texture and taste aren't too fresh in your mind). It was a little spongier I expected - and next time I'll chop the walnuts in my food processor to make them more like bread crumbs. Biting into a walnut is a dead giveaway that the food on your fork is not meatloaf.
Today? Haven't really eaten too much because I've had a busy, busy day of work so I don't have much to report. Since I'm all alone again tonight, I'm probably going to cop out and just have one or two of my veggie burgers. Or maybe some eggs. Or maybe leftover Cottage Cheese Loaf. I wonder if it's as good the next day?
So, she's had mung beans, and I've had Cottage Cheese Roast (a.k.a. Vegetarian Meatloaf). Things could be stranger, I suppose. But I have to tell you, the Cottage Cheese Roast was not half bad! Now, it's not going to FOOL anyone, that's for sure, and likening it to meatloaf is really not a fair comparison, but really not a bad little meal. The ingredients? Thought you'd never ask: eggs, cottage cheese, chopped walnuts, corn flakes, onion, and dry onion soup mix. Yeah, no kidding. And believe it or not, it is meatloaf-ish enough to pass (as long as it's been a while since you've actually HAD meatloaf and the memories of it's texture and taste aren't too fresh in your mind). It was a little spongier I expected - and next time I'll chop the walnuts in my food processor to make them more like bread crumbs. Biting into a walnut is a dead giveaway that the food on your fork is not meatloaf.
Today? Haven't really eaten too much because I've had a busy, busy day of work so I don't have much to report. Since I'm all alone again tonight, I'm probably going to cop out and just have one or two of my veggie burgers. Or maybe some eggs. Or maybe leftover Cottage Cheese Loaf. I wonder if it's as good the next day?
Monday, March 2, 2009
One down, 30 to go
So yeah, yesterday was not bad. And I am happy to report that I suffered no ill effects from the excessive meat consumption at the party. Other than the fact that I have a NASTY cold, but I don't think it's related to meat consumption. And now, the meatless month begins!
I had always wondered what those meatless hotdogs taste like so yesterday for lunch, I bought some Morningstar Farms meatless mini corn dogs and heated them up. To my surprise, they tasted just like corn dogs! What a treat! But they weren't enough to fill me up and higher in calories than I would have liked, so I supplemented with a meatless tomato/basil pizza burger topped with meatless spaghetti sauce and fat-free mozzarella cheese. I was content.
I followed through with my pizza plan and went with my husband and step-son to my favorite pizza place, Dewey's, where I created my own pizza. Green peppers, onions, roasted red peppers, fresh basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic. YUMMMMM!!!!! The plan would have been perfect if it wasn't for the fact that my step-son decided to order my all-time favorite pizza (BBQ chicken) for his half. And when they brought it to the table, they put the chicken half directly in front of me. In my rush to get the chicken out of my face, I knocked over my wine glass and dumped it all on Cody. Serves him right for making me watch him eat BBQ chicken pizza. He won't try THAT again any time soon!
All in all, Day One was not hard. But I can already tell that it won't be an easy month. My friend Miriam was intrigued by my quest and decided to join me as a vegetarian for a month so we went out to lunch today. I had NO idea where to go but I had heard one of my favorite restaurants was "vegetarian friendly" so I got on line to check out their menu. I think "vegetarian friendly" must be code for "they have a few salads on the menu" because I did not see a one vegetarian entree, other than a cheese pizza. This is a bummer because I like that place.
We opted instead for a new "100% organic" restaurant up the street. When I hear things like "100% organic" I think "earth friendly" which makes me think "tree hugger" which makes me think "vegetarian and possibly vegan" so I was optimistic. A quick online search did not come up with their menu, but I found a review that indicated they were not a vegetarian restaurant but that vegetarian choices were "good, but not as many as you would think." This is code for "They have a few salads, squash soup, and a few meatless pizzas." Options were fairly limited. I am hoping this is not a trend. For the 2nd day in a row, I had vegetarian pizza. It was quite tasty, but I simply can NOT eat pizza every day. For a wide variety of reasons that go without saying.
Tonight, my husband is out of town so I am going to experiment. I found a recipe for ... get this ... "Cottage Cheese Roast" which is also dubbed "Vegetarian Meatloaf." Since I have not yet been able to find "mung beans," this will be my "so disgusting I have to try it" recipe of the week. I told Miriam I will bring her some of the leftovers. She was less than enthusiastic. Wait until she hears about the mung beans!
I had always wondered what those meatless hotdogs taste like so yesterday for lunch, I bought some Morningstar Farms meatless mini corn dogs and heated them up. To my surprise, they tasted just like corn dogs! What a treat! But they weren't enough to fill me up and higher in calories than I would have liked, so I supplemented with a meatless tomato/basil pizza burger topped with meatless spaghetti sauce and fat-free mozzarella cheese. I was content.
I followed through with my pizza plan and went with my husband and step-son to my favorite pizza place, Dewey's, where I created my own pizza. Green peppers, onions, roasted red peppers, fresh basil, dried oregano, and minced garlic. YUMMMMM!!!!! The plan would have been perfect if it wasn't for the fact that my step-son decided to order my all-time favorite pizza (BBQ chicken) for his half. And when they brought it to the table, they put the chicken half directly in front of me. In my rush to get the chicken out of my face, I knocked over my wine glass and dumped it all on Cody. Serves him right for making me watch him eat BBQ chicken pizza. He won't try THAT again any time soon!
All in all, Day One was not hard. But I can already tell that it won't be an easy month. My friend Miriam was intrigued by my quest and decided to join me as a vegetarian for a month so we went out to lunch today. I had NO idea where to go but I had heard one of my favorite restaurants was "vegetarian friendly" so I got on line to check out their menu. I think "vegetarian friendly" must be code for "they have a few salads on the menu" because I did not see a one vegetarian entree, other than a cheese pizza. This is a bummer because I like that place.
We opted instead for a new "100% organic" restaurant up the street. When I hear things like "100% organic" I think "earth friendly" which makes me think "tree hugger" which makes me think "vegetarian and possibly vegan" so I was optimistic. A quick online search did not come up with their menu, but I found a review that indicated they were not a vegetarian restaurant but that vegetarian choices were "good, but not as many as you would think." This is code for "They have a few salads, squash soup, and a few meatless pizzas." Options were fairly limited. I am hoping this is not a trend. For the 2nd day in a row, I had vegetarian pizza. It was quite tasty, but I simply can NOT eat pizza every day. For a wide variety of reasons that go without saying.
Tonight, my husband is out of town so I am going to experiment. I found a recipe for ... get this ... "Cottage Cheese Roast" which is also dubbed "Vegetarian Meatloaf." Since I have not yet been able to find "mung beans," this will be my "so disgusting I have to try it" recipe of the week. I told Miriam I will bring her some of the leftovers. She was less than enthusiastic. Wait until she hears about the mung beans!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Reflections of meat
This is it. The last day. I woke up this morning and when I realized it was February 28th, that tomorrow is the first day of March, I felt a bit of panic. I'm over the panic now (after all, I've had 2 full months to mentally prepare), but I find myself a bit wistful and reflective. I haven't had the "gotta eat meat!!!" mania I expected to have this week. In fact, this past week I caught myself having a few of those veggie burgers I mentioned earlier. On one of those occasions, I had a "what are you doing?" moment and promptly drove to the nearest Subway for a chicken teriyaki sandwhich. SO much more appropriate.
However, I AM throwing a "Bon Voyage Meat" party tonight as a suitable send off. Marinated steak and shrimp cocktail are on the menu, and my guests have all been told to bring an appetizer of some sort. I don't care what kind of appetizer, as long as it is meat. That is the only requirement. Something tells me that all this meat might create a gastro-intestinal disturbance of some kind, but I'll get over it. But now that I think about it, maybe I should do some research. I know what happens when you drink too much milk at one sitting... what happens if you eat too much meat? Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. I will have to research. But FEAR NOT! The party is still on. I'll just go into it with eyes wide open.
So on the eve of my vegetarian month, I ask myself... why do I love meat? Truly, I think it's what I'm used to. Nearly every evening meal I prepare consists of a meat product. In planning for dinner, I start with "Do I want something beef? Something chicken? Or something pork?" And then I go from there. I will need to develop an entirely different set of questions now. "Do I want something tofu? Something tempeh (seriously, what IS this)? Or something pasta?" Truly, I don't think it will ever come to that. I think a far smarter strategy is to plan out a series of meals in advance, buy the ingredients, and then prepare it for dinner. Allowing myself to contemplate "what I want" for dinner will only cause problems because historically "what I want" nearly ALWAYS involves meat.
And "what I want" for dinner tonight is a big hunk of marinated steak, shrimp cocktail, and a veritable smorgasbord of meaty appetizers. Can't wait!
However, I AM throwing a "Bon Voyage Meat" party tonight as a suitable send off. Marinated steak and shrimp cocktail are on the menu, and my guests have all been told to bring an appetizer of some sort. I don't care what kind of appetizer, as long as it is meat. That is the only requirement. Something tells me that all this meat might create a gastro-intestinal disturbance of some kind, but I'll get over it. But now that I think about it, maybe I should do some research. I know what happens when you drink too much milk at one sitting... what happens if you eat too much meat? Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. I will have to research. But FEAR NOT! The party is still on. I'll just go into it with eyes wide open.
So on the eve of my vegetarian month, I ask myself... why do I love meat? Truly, I think it's what I'm used to. Nearly every evening meal I prepare consists of a meat product. In planning for dinner, I start with "Do I want something beef? Something chicken? Or something pork?" And then I go from there. I will need to develop an entirely different set of questions now. "Do I want something tofu? Something tempeh (seriously, what IS this)? Or something pasta?" Truly, I don't think it will ever come to that. I think a far smarter strategy is to plan out a series of meals in advance, buy the ingredients, and then prepare it for dinner. Allowing myself to contemplate "what I want" for dinner will only cause problems because historically "what I want" nearly ALWAYS involves meat.
And "what I want" for dinner tonight is a big hunk of marinated steak, shrimp cocktail, and a veritable smorgasbord of meaty appetizers. Can't wait!
Friday, February 27, 2009
I am so unprepared
I have so little time to restock my refrigerator. And restock I must because you know what happened to me this morning? This is so sad, really. I opened the fridge to get ingredients for my breakfast and as soon as I opened the door, this little baggie containing a piece of leftover steak fell at my feet. Poor little piece of meat LITERALLY threw itself at my feet, begging for a place in my life. Now, I just ATE some meat last night (hamburgers, actually) so I didn't feel too bad about picking it up and putting it back in it's place, but how will I react next week? As much as I hate to say it, that forlorn little piece of steak is going to have to go in the trash. Unless I eat it for lunch which is another distinct possibility, actually.
So how to restock? Well, my first dinner as a vegetarian, I think, should be veggie pizza. This is actually part of a plan to trick myself. You see, I follow the Weight Watchers program and pretty much avoid pizza for the most part. So having PIZZA will make me feel so decadent and naughty, that I shouldn't even NOTICE the lack of pepperoni. And sausage. And bacon. I have also done a little research on my favorite recipe website, www.recipezaar.com, and found some modifications of foods I already know I like that I actually can't wait to try (such as Roasted Red Pepper Vegetarian Chili). I've also been scouring my new cookbook and found some other great NEW recipes like Stuck-Pot-Rice with Yogurt and Mango or Garlicky Mashed Potato Pie that sound really great. I need to get my shopping list together.
But let me tell you a little secret that may shock you..... I already have some veggie burgers in my freezer and I like them!! However, I think 31 straight days of Asian Veggie Patties might not be a good idea so I'll need to start getting some veggie leftovers in the fridge right away.
Tomorrow I'm hosting a "Farewell to Meat Party" so I can gorge myself with all sorts of yummy meats. It's meant to tide me over for a month but really it's just a darn funny reason to have a party and steak. More on that some other time.
So how to restock? Well, my first dinner as a vegetarian, I think, should be veggie pizza. This is actually part of a plan to trick myself. You see, I follow the Weight Watchers program and pretty much avoid pizza for the most part. So having PIZZA will make me feel so decadent and naughty, that I shouldn't even NOTICE the lack of pepperoni. And sausage. And bacon. I have also done a little research on my favorite recipe website, www.recipezaar.com, and found some modifications of foods I already know I like that I actually can't wait to try (such as Roasted Red Pepper Vegetarian Chili). I've also been scouring my new cookbook and found some other great NEW recipes like Stuck-Pot-Rice with Yogurt and Mango or Garlicky Mashed Potato Pie that sound really great. I need to get my shopping list together.
But let me tell you a little secret that may shock you..... I already have some veggie burgers in my freezer and I like them!! However, I think 31 straight days of Asian Veggie Patties might not be a good idea so I'll need to start getting some veggie leftovers in the fridge right away.
Tomorrow I'm hosting a "Farewell to Meat Party" so I can gorge myself with all sorts of yummy meats. It's meant to tide me over for a month but really it's just a darn funny reason to have a party and steak. More on that some other time.
Monday, February 16, 2009
My New Cookbook - Part One
Fearing I would to try to subsist on nothing but oatmeal, macaroni and cheese, and Boca burgers for an entire month, Cool Bro #1 sent me a GARGANTUAN book for my birthday entitled "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian - Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food." This is not only super sweet, but came as a huge shock to me since not only was I surprised that he has my address, I had no idea that he knew when my birthday was. He is just full of surprises, that boy.
This huge book is not just a collection of recipes, but also a "how to" for first time veg-heads. With such side bar notes as "The Many Ways to Flavor Mashed Potatoes," "18 Additions to Stir-Fried Vegetables," and "Top 5 Rices to Keep on Hand," I'll be able to learn not just the "whats" but the "whys" and "hows" of being a vegetarian. To my absolute delight, there is even a section on "The Basics of Tempeh." AT LAST! This curious substance will lose some of its mystery to me!
The recipes? Some sound scrumptious ("Summer Vegetable Stew with Wheat Berries"), some sound exotic ("Pasta with Chestnut Cream"), some puzzle me (what would you put "Fast, Down-Home Barbecue Sauce" ON, exactly?), and some sound like something my mother would have forced me to eat as a young child ("Baked Lima Beans Parmigiana"). There is not a dessert in the world that would have been tempting enough to convince me to eat Baked Lima Beans Anything, thank you very much.
One of the more interesting entries is found on page 631 - Mung Bean Pancakes. No, that's not a typo - MUNG BEAN pancakes. What the *** is a "mung bean?" Only one thing comes to mind at the moment but nothing I've ever considered edible. It sounds so horrifically frightening that I will just have to try these. It feels like some sort of childish dare, to be honest with you. Sort of gives me a rush. Whoo hoo!
Glancing at some of the other ingredients such as garlic, chilis, scallions, and carrots, I'm guessing these are not they syrup variety of pancakes, but some kind of Asian dish. This is definately going on my menu for Week One. If only I had any idea where to buy "mung beans."
This huge book is not just a collection of recipes, but also a "how to" for first time veg-heads. With such side bar notes as "The Many Ways to Flavor Mashed Potatoes," "18 Additions to Stir-Fried Vegetables," and "Top 5 Rices to Keep on Hand," I'll be able to learn not just the "whats" but the "whys" and "hows" of being a vegetarian. To my absolute delight, there is even a section on "The Basics of Tempeh." AT LAST! This curious substance will lose some of its mystery to me!
The recipes? Some sound scrumptious ("Summer Vegetable Stew with Wheat Berries"), some sound exotic ("Pasta with Chestnut Cream"), some puzzle me (what would you put "Fast, Down-Home Barbecue Sauce" ON, exactly?), and some sound like something my mother would have forced me to eat as a young child ("Baked Lima Beans Parmigiana"). There is not a dessert in the world that would have been tempting enough to convince me to eat Baked Lima Beans Anything, thank you very much.
One of the more interesting entries is found on page 631 - Mung Bean Pancakes. No, that's not a typo - MUNG BEAN pancakes. What the *** is a "mung bean?" Only one thing comes to mind at the moment but nothing I've ever considered edible. It sounds so horrifically frightening that I will just have to try these. It feels like some sort of childish dare, to be honest with you. Sort of gives me a rush. Whoo hoo!
Glancing at some of the other ingredients such as garlic, chilis, scallions, and carrots, I'm guessing these are not they syrup variety of pancakes, but some kind of Asian dish. This is definately going on my menu for Week One. If only I had any idea where to buy "mung beans."
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Twas the Month Before Meatless
Post #1 = Why I am Here and What I am Doing. This blog is partly a gift to my brother and partly a gift to myself. For Christmas this year, I made the decision to sacrifice meat and become a vegetarian for a month as a gift to Chip (a.k.a. #1 Cool Bro). He's been going through this "phase," if you will, for like more than 1/2 his life - some 15 years at least - so I figure maybe he's serious about this. But since I'm the one giving the gift, I picked a month that would be the least painful for me. So, the month is March. One of the longest months of the year, but with the least pitfalls for me. A win/win, I'd say.
At first, I was kinda' jazzed about the idea. I felt cool, hip, and trendy or something. But as I approach the beginning of The Meatless Month, panic is setting in. Ever since making this commitment, I've become aware of just how much meat I actually consume. This fact alone does not make me feel the slightest bit guilty (I am, in fact, a proud carnivore), but gives me reason to question my ability to actually give up meat for a full 31 days without losing my mind. Or cheating.
I know that I need some method for public accountability. This is why I decided to journal the experience. I hope that in addition to sparing a few animals in the name of sisterly love, the blog will show Chip how much I love him as I struggle to find meaning in a life without meat. And I hope to actually FIND meaning in the experience and come away with a whole different perspective on food and sustenance. And I also hope to figure out exactly what "tempeh" is and to learn to speak fluent tofu.
But above all, I want to connect with my #1 Cool Bro in a way that is unique and profound. After all, I love my brother more than bacon, hamburgers, BBQ ribs, and pepperoni. And that is a fact.
At first, I was kinda' jazzed about the idea. I felt cool, hip, and trendy or something. But as I approach the beginning of The Meatless Month, panic is setting in. Ever since making this commitment, I've become aware of just how much meat I actually consume. This fact alone does not make me feel the slightest bit guilty (I am, in fact, a proud carnivore), but gives me reason to question my ability to actually give up meat for a full 31 days without losing my mind. Or cheating.
I know that I need some method for public accountability. This is why I decided to journal the experience. I hope that in addition to sparing a few animals in the name of sisterly love, the blog will show Chip how much I love him as I struggle to find meaning in a life without meat. And I hope to actually FIND meaning in the experience and come away with a whole different perspective on food and sustenance. And I also hope to figure out exactly what "tempeh" is and to learn to speak fluent tofu.
But above all, I want to connect with my #1 Cool Bro in a way that is unique and profound. After all, I love my brother more than bacon, hamburgers, BBQ ribs, and pepperoni. And that is a fact.
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