it's been a long time coming - although i really, really am a meat-eater, i just can't stand the thought of what those commercially raised animals go through - not to mention the diet they're fed. we passed a truck hauling hogs on our way back from vacation and they were absolutely jam-packed in there, sticking their snouts out, ears were sticking out, tails, too. *sigh* i felt so sorry for those hogs. and in a move that truly could only be brought on by the luteal phase of my cycle, i got all teary-eyed.
i pretty much decided then that i was done. i need to lose 20 lbs anyway, this should be a good way to do it. dd#2 said she'd go vegetarian with me. that was all well and good for a little while, but she told me the other day that she doesn't want to be a vegetarian anymore ("why?" i asked, thinking that she would answer that she doesn't like vegetables. "because i really really really like bacon," was the actual answer ).
unfortunately for my family, i'm the one who cooks dinner in this house so far they've not been too fond of any of the vegetarian meals i've cooked, but i've really liked some of them a lot. i have "The Greatest Ever Vegetarian Cookbook" and have had it for years (see, i said it was a long time coming), but now i'm actually using it for main courses instead of just side dishes and desserts.
i really like the Jamaican black bean hot pot. i think i'm going to make a vegetable moussaka shortly, if the baby stays sleeping. this is probably one of the few times i'll ever have all the ingredients for it already in the house.
so...anyone have some really delicious not-from-a-box vegetarian meals they'd like to share?
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I think you're on the right track in terms of not just eliminating a meat protein from a traditional meal. One pot, one dish meals are a great way to go, as are ethnic foods. We are the most conflicted eaters you'll ever meet I always say I have a vegan conscience. I would much rather eat vegetarian, personally (or vegan, ideally) than eat factory farmed, but will sometimes try to compromise with humane/natural/organic meat. (We have a local supplier as well as Whole Foods)
italian - pasta with lots of veggies, spinach lasagna, cheese ravioli
I try to focus on minimal sugar and good protein when I plan meals. Here are my suggestions, and for the most part, my kids actually eat this stuff with little to no complaining.
*breakfast for dinner, unless you plan on cutting out eggs.
eggs, potatoes, pancakes/waffles, fruit and morningstar farms makes a veg bacon that is super salty and crisps up like the real thing.
*egg salad sandwiches, with lots of veggies in them, like grated carrot, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, onions, etc. load them up and serve on yummy good quality whole wheat bread. I am drooling thinking about it!
*bean tacos, with spanish rice and corn on the side. And a salad of course.
I season the beans with taco seasoning from a packet. pile the taco shells with all the regular stuff that tacos have in them.
You can also crumble and fry up extra firm tofu (press first by taking out of the package, put on a plate, put another plate on top like they would stack in the cabinet and weigh down with a soup can or some other 15 oz or more can for 15-20 minutes. drain off water, and cube or crumble). I use a lot of olive oil when I cook and usually sautee a whole onion chopped up when I make tofu taco "meat". cook the tofu with the onion til the onion is soft and clear and add taco seasoning and water like the packet says. if need be, add a little salt to make it taste more like meat.
*I also have used tofu this same way to make sloppy joes. the taste is a bit different from meat but if you know your spices, you could adjust it to taste more realistic. I dont have a clue how hamburger tastes anymore, so I just add a little extra salt and some sage and always garlic powder.
*bean and cheese burritos or enchiladas.
*minestrone soup and salad and bread
*homemade mac n cheese
*eggplant parmesan
*hummus with veggie sticks (and if you can find a way to convince my kids to eat jicama let me know!)
*layered bean dip with chips.
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I need some good indian recipes, now that you mention it.
I'm falling into a rut and financially we need to focus on more veg meals anyway. Perfect time to do it.
I read in some magazine about making a foil packet for the bbq using:
cubed raw chicken
cubed potatoes
chopped onion
bbq sauce
make sure the foil pouch has enough room in the top for air to move around in there.
toss on the grill and check after 30 minutes.
if my oven was not broken (ahem, ), I was going to cook a similar version in the oven, using frozen then thawed and squeezed out extra firm tofu. it is now cooking on the stove in a cast iron pan.
probably burning.
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this site is vegan, but these chiquitas are some of the best damn cooks I've seen. Their recipes rock, and they use REAL food, not boca burgers (not that I'm opposed to the boca burger. But when I want to cook, I want to COOK).
thanks for all the info, ladies! we do eat a lot of eggs, so tons of options there.
and i AM opposed to all things Boca - they're owned by Kraft, who is owned by Phillip Morris. apart from the fact that kraft has no scruples at all in the manufacturing of their so-called "food", i have no desire to line a cigarette manufacturer's pockets.
this drives my dh nuts because there's a ton of stuff that we just won't buy anymore because it's made by kraft - and add that to the nestle boycott...well, our grocery bill gets more bang for the buck now, i will say that!
I'm not a vegetarian, but due to insisting on organic/free range meats, we eat little meat these days. (LOL - I'm not a vegetarian b/c I really really really like bacon, too!)
Here's some meals that my family likes a lot:
Italian Beans - white kidney beans or great northern beans cooked with sun-dried tomatoes, Italian spices, and salt. Add fresh chopped basil before serving. You can serve this over rice or make burritos with the beans, rice, and cheese.
Blackeyed peas with rice and cornbread. I cook the peas in a crockpot and add salt, pepper, garlic, mustard, and a bit of a hot pepper. The cornbread I stir up according to any ol' recipe and then I make cornbread pancakes with it in the skillet - my boys just prefer that to baked cornbread.
I think it was Meeshi who shared a recipe for Honey-Baked Lentils on the market... you can search for that there or just google it as I found versions of it on several different blogs. Very good stuff there.
Black beans and rice - cooked in a crockpot, then stir in fresh or stewed tomatoes, chopped onions, fresh cilantro, and corn (cooked separately).
Quote:
Originally Posted by xt
Everything they said, and don't forget Indian food. So fun to cook and delicious!
YES! A staple in our home - this was the first step I took in decreasing meat intake in our home. DH never noticed a lack of meat when I started with Indian food!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandi
I need some good indian recipes, now that you mention it.
I'll come back later and post some of my faves here!
Now, I may be biased, but I really like Fakin Bacon. It satisfies the salty, crispy calling of bacon for me. I went veg, not for taste reasons, but for animal treatment reasons. I still like the taste of meat, just not the torture behind it.
My family loves spinach pie and I know I've shared my vague recipe for that a few times. We love good ol rice and beans, especially rice and honey baked lentils (Meghan~CityLove~ turned me on to that) We eat some meat alternatives, Yves Smart Dogs are the only veggie hot dogs I've found that taste and have the same texture as the "lips&*******s" variety most people eat.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Mama Hughes
thanks for all the info, ladies! we do eat a lot of eggs, so tons of options there.
and i AM opposed to all things Boca - they're owned by Kraft, who is owned by Phillip Morris. apart from the fact that kraft has no scruples at all in the manufacturing of their so-called "food", i have no desire to line a cigarette manufacturer's pockets.
this drives my dh nuts because there's a ton of stuff that we just won't buy anymore because it's made by kraft - and add that to the nestle boycott...well, our grocery bill gets more bang for the buck now, i will say that!
that's good to know about boca. we don't buy them, anymore. we are eating some kind of sunflower burger now. it's not as bad as it sounds, though, but it's unique in flavor and texture, for sure.
We don't buy nestle, either. haven't ever, I don't think.
One great veggie dish is if you want to grill on the BBQ, you make Kabobs with the extra firm tofu or just veggies.
I cube the tofu really big (like 2" chunks) sprinkle some olive oil, crushed garlic and pepper on it, set aside, then I make a big bowl of cubes zucchini, eggplant,peppers, onions,grape tomatos, whatever else..... add olive oil, garlic and a splash of balsamic, put everything on bamboo sticks and grill!
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Okay, not to dissuade you from being veggie, but there are options other than factory farmed meat. We belong to a local meat csa modeled after the farm in Omnivore's Dilemma. No growth hormones, no genetically modified feed, all grass fed, not sent off to be finished, etc. Yes, we do eat bacon and sausage and the like, but that pig never left the farm and was well cared for until they time s/he was killed.
Okay, not to dissuade you from being veggie, but there are options other than factory farmed meat. We belong to a local meat csa modeled after the farm in Omnivore's Dilemma. No growth hormones, no genetically modified feed, all grass fed, not sent off to be finished, etc. Yes, we do eat bacon and sausage and the like, but that pig never left the farm and was well cared for until they time s/he was killed.
thanks for the link! i'd love to have ethically raised, local meat, but we definitely can't afford it - it's not local enough. the prices on the places listed on the site are actually really good, same as the grocery store. unfortunately, the places are too far away - in the direction that we never travel.
i'm sorry to report that my vegetarianism isn't going all that well. because i keep forgetting and eating the meat people give me (this morning dh stayed home from work because i'm sick, and he cooked breakfast. he handed me a plate and i ate every bite before remembering that i don't eat sausage anymore )
). 
so far they've not been too fond of any of the vegetarian meals i've cooked, but i've really liked some of them a lot. i have "The Greatest Ever Vegetarian Cookbook" and have had it for years (see, i said it was a long time coming), but now i'm actually using it for main courses instead of just side dishes and desserts. 
I always say I have a vegan conscience. I would much rather eat vegetarian, personally (or vegan, ideally) than eat factory farmed, but will sometimes try to compromise with humane/natural/organic meat. (We have a local supplier as well as Whole Foods)
Tawnya, your memory lives on in your children.
), I was going to cook a similar version in the oven, using frozen then thawed and squeezed out extra firm tofu. it is now cooking on the stove in a cast iron pan.
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