well, the vegan thing is going good.
I even cooked bacon for the kid the other morning, and didn't sneak one single piece.
can we say SELF CONTROL??!
I've never been known for self control, but I did it!
But damn I'm tired of beans! and I love beans! but sheesh.....enough already. and grain...yowza. ENOUGH ALREADY!
I WANT A STEAK!!!!
Soo......I think I'm gonna look around at some local farms and see how they do their meat...is it grass fed? do they slaughter humanly? tho, is ANY slaughter really humane? and friend has some chickens so I'm gonna get my eggs from her. Not that I want to get back into the whole "meat" thing, but I think once or twice a week will be OK. and god I miss cheese!!!! FETA! GORGONZOLA! SHARP SHARP CHEDDAR!!! OH YES PLEASE!
But I proved to myself that I can do it....I won't go back to the burgers. ground meat is not a pretty thing...unless I know exactly who's making it or I can swing it and buy the expensive stuff that is REAL meat...not all the gross left over crap they grind up.
And as for beans? well, I just ate butter beans w/rosemary for breakfast.
so , don't get too close to me today. or any other day for that matter. ;)
5 comments:
We have a local farmer who sells grass fed beef. They do ship it to you but the s/h rates are pretty expensive. That's my 1st choice. 2nd I buy organic ground beef from Costco or Earthfare which is kinda like Whole Foods. I'll buy eggs at the farmer's market. Chicken I get at Earthfare. The local farmers sell whole chickens. I only deal with boneless breasts. I don't drink milk but I buy organic milk for the kids. Whole milk for my son. 2% for my daughter. I confess I get regular cheese. My daughter & I don't eat pork. The men do.
I think Im gonna follow in your smart footsteps Joan...sounds a little more manageable.
Vegan is seriously hard core....
For burgers, you could locate a humane meat guy and have him grind it, or grind your own.
tofu, the simplest way, and I love it, is with firm tofu. Heat a pan, toss in some oil - good stuff, not that canola crap - and garlic, of course. When that's looking ready, throw in the diced tofu and a whole lot of - good - soy sauce. Not the kikoman, good stuff, the flavours coming here. Cook it up well, and eat. Super yummy.
Summertime, this is excellent. Silkent (soft) tofu in the coldest part of your fridge. Then put a cup of water, half a cup of sugar or more and a couple of tablespoons of minced ginger root in a small pot, bring to a boil, then simmer till you have a syrup. Probably about 20 min. Take the silken tofu from the fridge, pour the hot spicy sweet sauce over it and tell everyone it's tofu so you don't have to share.
If you freeze tofu, forgive me I cannot remember if the soft stuff or the firm stuff works better for this, I think the firm...then when you are making a stew, one with really good flavourful broth? Defrost the tofu in advance, then squeeze all the water from it that you possibly can. The texture will be quite different, then toss it into the stew, diced. It absorbs all the flavours, man it's good.
Also Indian food is a winner for this. I make a killer daal.
Those split red lentils, is the basis.
OK, here goes. Get a big pot of basmati cooking, I use three cups -dry- of rice. Let it soak for 20 min before you start and after you wash it then cook it with , OK, three cups dry rice, and 6 and three eighths water. Bring to a boil, stir, cover, simmer on low 15 min (I think) let sit ten.
Meanwhile, oil in a small pot, then an onion diced. When that is translucent toss in a cup and a half of red lentils and 6 cups of water. This is flexible depending on how thick you like it. Bring that to a boil, then simmer till the lentils are all fallen apart. When it is finished, add salt and lots of lemon juice, the fresh stuff is best. Really good and really easy.
While the lentils and rice are cooking, in a mortar, or bowl or whatever, mash together a half tsp of salt and a clove (or three) of garlic with some dried hot chili peppers. You need a paste at the end. Then add in a half cup of yogurt, 2 tblsp of tahini and a whack of lemon juice. Taste, adjust seasonings.
Mango chutney goes wickedly well with this.
More?
Lentil soup?
Oil, pot, an onion, two carrots, diced, celery, diced, garlic (of course) bay leaves, herbs you like, but mild ones.
Cook till softened. 2 cups of lentils, probably 10 of water, bring to a boil, simmer till the lentils are falling apart. When done, add a tablespoon or two of vinegar, another of sugar, salt and lots of lemon.
Mmmmmm
Also, protein, you're good if you eat it once a day....you don't have to at every meal. If you have any two of a dairy, bean or grain together, you have a complete protein, or tofu, so a grilled cheese is a complete protein.
You're gonna do what you want to do, but staying healthy as a vegan is something of a career, a little meat when you crave it, some eggs and some cheese are not a disaster...and if you source it well, you aren't doing too much harm......
More?
rocky: YES MORE!!!!! PLEASE! I have to tell you, I make your chick peas and spinach ALL THE TIME!!!! My daughter loves it too.....I WILL be making these recipes. THANKS ROCKY!!!!!!! MWAH!
ok, I just put some lentil soup o n. cooked up some onion and carrot and garlic in some olive oil...added some crumbled, browned "soyrizo" sausage, and the lentils...water. we'll see how it goes.
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