Rachael Ray always has a bowl nearby while cooking that she calls her "garbage bowl." She even has identical bowls for sale in her Rachael Ray line of cookware. Honestly, I can just take a plastic bowl from our plasticware cabinet and it would do just fine. Or better yet, I'll throw everything directly into the trash and save some soap and water.
But the idea is that everything goes into this garbage bowl. So much has gone on in a seemingly short period of time that I couldn't decide what to post first. It seemed silly to post several items in a row--why make my readers feel bombarded by blog? So, I give you my written version of a garbage bowl.
Trash #1
My family is quite liberal, generally speaking. My immediate family is definitely liberal. My dad and I you can easily call progressive and active and political. My dad, however, can't get politics off the mind and listens to pundit radio, watches pundit TV, and has been known to live and breathe politics. I'm not far behind, but I have too much on my mind to devote my life to politics. (But what isn't political these days?). Anyhow, to get to the point, my dad is a HUGE fan of Thom Hartmann, a progressive radio personality. I often listen to Thom while in the car with my dad. He's very smart and not too imposing like many similar people can be.
Last week Thom Hartmann had a dinner for a small number (less than 100) of his fans that was based around the idea of local and sustainable food and living. Knowing that was right up my alley (I'm all full of cliches today) my dad invited me to tag along. We dressed all nice for our adorable father-daughter date and headed into the city. My dad repeated to me that not only is Thom Hartmann a celiac patient, but he is vegan as well. We both assumed the vegetarian option for dinner would be vegan friendly. My dad's biggest worry was that he'd be the only meat eater present.
Only half of the main course was vegan. I ate a single stuffed cabbage leaf armored with garlic cloves the entire night. I had some wine (unsure if it was vegan). A cheese maker helped to sponsor the dinner as well as the radio station. When my dad asked if there was anything at all I could have for dessert, a caterer left to find out and never came back. My mom later scolded (and by scolded I mean tsk'd me lightly) for not asking myself and not continuing to ask until I got an answer. My dad defended his statement that Thom is a vegan until we went back into the car when he decided maybe he was wrong after all. What did Thom eat? Did they make something special just for him? That would be silly. At least that's the way I saw it. The next day I found out my dad had paid for the dinner and I still feel pretty terrible. If I had known, I would have sent my mom along with him although she probably would not have appreciated the topics as much. Hearing Thom speak did make it worth the trip. He's written several books and is still on the radio. He's worth looking up (beyond politics he talks about global warming, food, and other interesting things. He's currently rewriting a book based on the original case which brought about this whole corporate-personhood mumbo jumbo).
Trash #2
The other day I made a faux meatloaf from a recipe in the latest Vegetarian Times issue. It uses tempeh and oatmeal. Aside from the process being slightly more involved and messy than I exepcted, it turned out really well. It doesn't taste like meatloaf (not that I would remember, my mom stopped making meatloaf well before I became a vegetarian) but it is good. The rest of the loaf is in the freezer for later consumption. If I didn't know the point value of a serving, I would have eaten half of the loaf in one sitting (and considering the sensitivity of my digestive track, that would have been ugly). It feels really good to make a real meal for myself. That means no meatless hotdog in the toaster-oven for a few minutes as a substitute for whatever meat the parents are having. This was real.
Trash #3
Every night my mom and I sit down to the news before dinner. We usually watch World News on ABC followed by the local news and Wheel of Fortune. We love Wheel of Fortune. This week on World News, Diane Sawyer did a short piece previewing what would be shown on Nightline later that day. It was a piece on the horrors and truths of the dairy business. The piece showed some of the less graphic images, but my stomach still churned. I didn't say a word the entire couple of minutes this went on, reporter voice telling my mother and I about perpetually pregnant cows, docking tails, and feces. Not even the worst of what I read leading me to give up dairy, although that alone would do it. I didn't say anything to my mom about it even hours later. I still haven't and I probably won't. It is enough for me that she saw what she did. I'm glad she finally knows a little bit of why I'm doing what I do. If you recall from previous posts, my mom didn't want to know the truth about dairy farming. She wanted to eat cheese in ignorance like most people and I respected that and left her alone. The only problem was that she was clueless as to why I wouldn't even eat dairy once a week for protein and calcium. It really bothered her. I think she's accepting it now, but after that clip she won't have much wondering to do anymore. If anybody is interested, I'm sure both shows have links to information on their websites, but don't take my word for it. I haven't gone to look for myself. Just remembering the faces of those cows makes my stomach spit extra acid.
I'll leave it at that for now. Happy Hump Day!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Salivating for a Sandwich
A few days ago I did a web search for vegan-friendly bakeries. My birthday is approaching and the thought crossed my mind, where will I get my cake? I can't have dessert at a restaurant or from the grocery store bakery anymore.
A few bakeries came up in the search, most located in the city. All of them quite expensive.
One bakery was also a cafe. I stopped in at the Sweet Dreams Organic Bakery and Cafe yesterday to take a look--and a taste. The atmosphere was pleasant, much like your average Starbucks Cafe or Caribou Coffee location. Tables brought together small gatherings of diners and sippers amidst brown and petal-pink decor.
I didn't bother to read the menu in full, simply blurting out that I'd have a grilled vegetable sandwich, a la carte and to go. The girl behind the counter made the sandwich from scratch as evidenced by how long I wandered the dining/lounging area picking up fliers and browsing the cookies and cakes while I waited. It took a significant amount of will power to leave without a vegan cupcake or cookie of some variety.
In the car I unwrapped the warm sandwich to some surprising ingredients. As I took a bite, I flipped open the menu I had taken to find out I was given a tofu sandwich instead of a grilled vegetable sandwich. Instead of returning it, I ate it.
My tastebuds did a little dance across my tongue and I may have even said, "Mmm, that's good!" aloud to myself. Seasoned tofu, roasted red peppers, grilled zucchini, and leafy greens were piled carefully on vegan ciabatta bread spread generously with zesty hummus. The only mistake I made was eating the whole darned thing. It was enough for two meals.
I will be going back to Sweet Dreams again despite relatively high prices. Next time, I will indulge my sweet teeth. (Yes, I have multiple.)
A few bakeries came up in the search, most located in the city. All of them quite expensive.
One bakery was also a cafe. I stopped in at the Sweet Dreams Organic Bakery and Cafe yesterday to take a look--and a taste. The atmosphere was pleasant, much like your average Starbucks Cafe or Caribou Coffee location. Tables brought together small gatherings of diners and sippers amidst brown and petal-pink decor.
I didn't bother to read the menu in full, simply blurting out that I'd have a grilled vegetable sandwich, a la carte and to go. The girl behind the counter made the sandwich from scratch as evidenced by how long I wandered the dining/lounging area picking up fliers and browsing the cookies and cakes while I waited. It took a significant amount of will power to leave without a vegan cupcake or cookie of some variety.
In the car I unwrapped the warm sandwich to some surprising ingredients. As I took a bite, I flipped open the menu I had taken to find out I was given a tofu sandwich instead of a grilled vegetable sandwich. Instead of returning it, I ate it.
My tastebuds did a little dance across my tongue and I may have even said, "Mmm, that's good!" aloud to myself. Seasoned tofu, roasted red peppers, grilled zucchini, and leafy greens were piled carefully on vegan ciabatta bread spread generously with zesty hummus. The only mistake I made was eating the whole darned thing. It was enough for two meals.
I will be going back to Sweet Dreams again despite relatively high prices. Next time, I will indulge my sweet teeth. (Yes, I have multiple.)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Vegetarian Dating
Let me just put it out there flatly. I don't have many vegetarian friends. I can count them on one hand, and they don't even live in the same state as I do. I have friends who are "occasional vegetarians" or who are very conscious of what they eat, but that doesn't count. I've also never dated a vegetarian. In fact, the last person I "dated" found it quite enjoyable to talk about how he loved to eat his cow still mooing. Tacky? Yes.
I have decided (and my mother whole-heartedly agrees) that it is time to connect with more of my "kind." I found a connection website--I hesitate to say dating website because there is an option for finding friends, too--for vegetarians and vegans. It is completely free. FREE. So, I signed up and have been obsessively checking for the past day and a half. That's what people do after first signing up for a site like this, right? Well, in my search, only two guys came up. I get the feeling this site is not nearly as popular as, say, Match.com, eHarmony, or Jdate.com. My profile has been viewed over twenty times, but I have not received any messages. And there is no feature to see who had viewed your profile. Sad.
We'll see what happens. I have a feeling connecting will be much easier if/when I move to the city. Oh, surburbia, how you stunt me.
I have decided (and my mother whole-heartedly agrees) that it is time to connect with more of my "kind." I found a connection website--I hesitate to say dating website because there is an option for finding friends, too--for vegetarians and vegans. It is completely free. FREE. So, I signed up and have been obsessively checking for the past day and a half. That's what people do after first signing up for a site like this, right? Well, in my search, only two guys came up. I get the feeling this site is not nearly as popular as, say, Match.com, eHarmony, or Jdate.com. My profile has been viewed over twenty times, but I have not received any messages. And there is no feature to see who had viewed your profile. Sad.
We'll see what happens. I have a feeling connecting will be much easier if/when I move to the city. Oh, surburbia, how you stunt me.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I Didn't Forget
You might remember early on in the days of this blog (I say as if this blog is really really old) I designated a space for books. It is a list of links to books which have to do with food, usually vegetarian or vegan food, that I find fabulous in some way or another. Not only was I going to list those books, but "review" them within the blog as well.
I haven't done that much.
It isn't so much that I have forgotten about that feature, but that I am a little intimated by the idea of reviewing this next book. I could always choose another book first, but why go on any longer? I'll have to do it sooner or later.
The Face on Your Plate by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson is the book that launched me into a dairy-free, humane-egg-only lifestyle. Most of the people I know won't even touch this book simply because of its title. I read the title now and it's quite clear, this is a book that will tear into every detail about your diet and make you feel guilty about it. For G-d's sake, just look at the word face.
I originally picked up this book and read the jacket thinking it would be an exploration into the psychology of why people eat what they eat. Cool. I'd like to know that considering I am so profoundly effected emotionally that I can't eat certain things (and thus this blog).
Not so much.
Moussaieff Masson digs into the food industry, into the psychology of eaters, into cultural dining, into the economics of food, and into the environmental effects of the way we eat. He didn't leave many corners unexplored and he tied many of these elements together. The Face on Your Plate is a good go-to book for any information you may want on the food industry, unless you'd like to keep eating flesh without a guilty conscience.
That last part is unfortunate in my opinion. So much of that information is invaluable and could be used to help make healthier, cleanier, safer farms and an Earth on the way to improvement instead of in a constant downward spiral of damage and global warming. But what omnivore wants to read about how cows, chickens, and fish are treated pre-plate? Or about their negative carbon foot print?
Prior to reading this book I always thought I was doing my part by not eating meat and that dairy and eggs were okay because no animal was being killed. I laugh at that now because cruelty does not equal death. And as I read those sections of the book, I wanted to kick myself because it all seemed so obvious. I'm not giving specifics because some of my readers won't want to know them. I am going to respect that. At the same time, I am going to encourage everyone to read this book. I have a sneaking suspicion it is very under-read.
To address what I know some people are thinking:
*No, this is not the only book from which I've gotten my information. After reading these menu-altering chapters, I picked up other books and joined online groups. I asked many questions, researched, and confirmed what I originally read.
I haven't done that much.
It isn't so much that I have forgotten about that feature, but that I am a little intimated by the idea of reviewing this next book. I could always choose another book first, but why go on any longer? I'll have to do it sooner or later.
The Face on Your Plate by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson is the book that launched me into a dairy-free, humane-egg-only lifestyle. Most of the people I know won't even touch this book simply because of its title. I read the title now and it's quite clear, this is a book that will tear into every detail about your diet and make you feel guilty about it. For G-d's sake, just look at the word face.
I originally picked up this book and read the jacket thinking it would be an exploration into the psychology of why people eat what they eat. Cool. I'd like to know that considering I am so profoundly effected emotionally that I can't eat certain things (and thus this blog).
Not so much.
Moussaieff Masson digs into the food industry, into the psychology of eaters, into cultural dining, into the economics of food, and into the environmental effects of the way we eat. He didn't leave many corners unexplored and he tied many of these elements together. The Face on Your Plate is a good go-to book for any information you may want on the food industry, unless you'd like to keep eating flesh without a guilty conscience.
That last part is unfortunate in my opinion. So much of that information is invaluable and could be used to help make healthier, cleanier, safer farms and an Earth on the way to improvement instead of in a constant downward spiral of damage and global warming. But what omnivore wants to read about how cows, chickens, and fish are treated pre-plate? Or about their negative carbon foot print?
Prior to reading this book I always thought I was doing my part by not eating meat and that dairy and eggs were okay because no animal was being killed. I laugh at that now because cruelty does not equal death. And as I read those sections of the book, I wanted to kick myself because it all seemed so obvious. I'm not giving specifics because some of my readers won't want to know them. I am going to respect that. At the same time, I am going to encourage everyone to read this book. I have a sneaking suspicion it is very under-read.
To address what I know some people are thinking:
*No, this is not the only book from which I've gotten my information. After reading these menu-altering chapters, I picked up other books and joined online groups. I asked many questions, researched, and confirmed what I originally read.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
And So Begins 2010
Not much has happened in the ten days of the new year, especially food related. I haven't even used my new cookbooks yet. Mainly, whenever I go to find a recipe there either isn't anything I can make with the ingredient I am looking to cook, or whatever looks appealing I don't have the ingredients for at the moment. There are several key vegan-cooking ingredients that I will need to learn to keep in the cabinets and refrigerator, things I've never used before or that we don't keep regularly. I also need to learn to plan a dish several days in advance so that I can go buy the ingredients that I don't have.
Salad dressing:
I made a salad dressing with flax seed oil several days ago. I used the typical 2-1 ratio of oil-to-vinegar with balsamic vinegar. It was a very simple dressing, no recipe, but it was very, very balsamic-y. I think this is in part due to flax seed oil being nearly tasteless, and the balsamic vinegar has been sitting in our cabinet for a very long time. Today I doctored the dressing up a bit and it's interesting to say the least, edible, maybe quirky? I added a bit of walnut oil (which is also high in omega-3s) and a splash of orange juice (we don't have lemons or lemon juice in the house). Next time I think I'll use half flaxseed oil and half walnut oil.
Popcorn:
I got my microwave popcorn bowl in the mail! It is my new favorite toy. The first time I used it, I over-popped my popcorn and it burned, but I ate it anyway. I topped it with some melted Earth Balance spread and salt. The next time I popped it just right and sprayed some cooking spray on top for a light oil-taste and no fat. I think I need to experiment with different oils and perhaps buy popcorn salt. Mmmm. I love popcorn! I bought the bowl from Amish Country Popcorn whose popcorn I have as well. It's delicious stuff.
Happy Eatings!
Salad dressing:
I made a salad dressing with flax seed oil several days ago. I used the typical 2-1 ratio of oil-to-vinegar with balsamic vinegar. It was a very simple dressing, no recipe, but it was very, very balsamic-y. I think this is in part due to flax seed oil being nearly tasteless, and the balsamic vinegar has been sitting in our cabinet for a very long time. Today I doctored the dressing up a bit and it's interesting to say the least, edible, maybe quirky? I added a bit of walnut oil (which is also high in omega-3s) and a splash of orange juice (we don't have lemons or lemon juice in the house). Next time I think I'll use half flaxseed oil and half walnut oil.
Popcorn:
I got my microwave popcorn bowl in the mail! It is my new favorite toy. The first time I used it, I over-popped my popcorn and it burned, but I ate it anyway. I topped it with some melted Earth Balance spread and salt. The next time I popped it just right and sprayed some cooking spray on top for a light oil-taste and no fat. I think I need to experiment with different oils and perhaps buy popcorn salt. Mmmm. I love popcorn! I bought the bowl from Amish Country Popcorn whose popcorn I have as well. It's delicious stuff.
Happy Eatings!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A Vegetarian 2009
2009 marked my nine-year anniversary of becoming a vegetarian and I decided on that anniversary to give up dairy and become "almost-vegan." Needless to say, I've learned a lot and have more to learn than I ever thought possible. I've decided to compose a list of what I learned this year in the realm of vegan dieting:
1. It is very hard to find certain pre-made food items without dairy ingredients. Even when you think dairy wouldn't be necessary and wouldn't think dairy would be an ingredient at all, many times it is. Whey and milk solids sneak up on you like unwelcome birthdays (okay, okay, I'm not that old yet. But it was a good comparison, no?)
2. Tofu is good. It takes a lot of draining and some creativity, but baked, broiled, or pan fried, it is a tasty source of protein that is good for dieting, too! I never thought I'd put tofu on the grocery list on such a regular basis. I still haven't gotten my parents to partake in the bean curd goodness, but it is a vital source of protein that I finally have gotten myself to accept and eat.
3. Even with all the nifty vegan replacements out there like Earth Balance vegan spreads and Tofutti sour creams, baked goods will never be exactly the same without dairy ingredients (I will let you know when I find the perfect recipes!) They're all a little less buttery (obviously) and a little more dry. I could use something like vegetable shortening, but that would involve hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, just the sound of which hardens my arteries.
4. Veganizing is expensive. Whether it's buying vegan butter replacements, vegan sour cream, or any other speciality ingredient for baked goods and special meals, stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are not cheap. Typical grocery stores don't always carry the necessary ingredients and those they do are sometimes marked up because they aren't in high demand or are just expensive to make. And my humane certified eggs? Expensive! I need a job.
5. You can't rely on people to remember that you've changed your diet. I should have remembered from back in high school when I became a vegetarian, although completely giving up meat products is a bigger change that giving up dairy. More people remembered back then, but it still took a lot of reminding. People are also more likely to make sure there is something for a lacto-ovo vegetarian to eat than for a vegan. I admit, it's easier for the average eater to prepare food for a lacto-ovo vegetarian. But really, it's not hard to make vegan food.
6. Being dairy free feels good! I've known for quite awhile that I'm sensitive to dairy food, but I didn't know I'd feel so much better completely off of dairy foods. Granted, I've had some digestive issues due to swine flu, antibiotics, and some other digestive problems I have, but over all I'm less bloated, less gassy, and more regular. And I know you all wanted to know that!
7. Don't be surprised to find omnivores, very set in their ways, to be afraid of vegan foods no matter how normal they may seem. Just the word vegan can weird people out. Some people are scared of new things. Vegetarians and vegans are so used to trying new and "ethnic" foods because otherwise our food choices would be very limited. Omnivores aren't as pressured to expand their tastebuds and thus don't always want to.
8. Chefs, even at the cheaper restaurants, are usually eager to please. If you say you're a vegan, the chef is usually ready to doctor something up for you, take out an ingredient from a listed entree, or create a new plate of food not listed at all. This aim to please, after all, is what pays the bills.
9. Some locations are more vegan friendly than others. The suburbs are okay. Chicago is better because it's more diverse. A place like London would be even better because of the large Indian population. I would eat very well in California (and not just because I'd be raiding Rachel's kitchen). Texas doesn't even understand the lacto-ovo vegetarian yet. Texas is special, though.
10. Lastly but definitely not leastly (I know it's not a word), not everyone accepts the vegan. Even parents can find it difficult to come to terms with their daughter's anti-dairy ways. It's a clash of values, generations, and comfort. But you have to realize that maybe hard time people give you is out of love and caring and a genuine worry that you aren't getting enough nutrients and protein. But you can't let it go to your head or get too far beaten down. If nobody ever stuck to his or her guns, where would we be?
The end.
1. It is very hard to find certain pre-made food items without dairy ingredients. Even when you think dairy wouldn't be necessary and wouldn't think dairy would be an ingredient at all, many times it is. Whey and milk solids sneak up on you like unwelcome birthdays (okay, okay, I'm not that old yet. But it was a good comparison, no?)
2. Tofu is good. It takes a lot of draining and some creativity, but baked, broiled, or pan fried, it is a tasty source of protein that is good for dieting, too! I never thought I'd put tofu on the grocery list on such a regular basis. I still haven't gotten my parents to partake in the bean curd goodness, but it is a vital source of protein that I finally have gotten myself to accept and eat.
3. Even with all the nifty vegan replacements out there like Earth Balance vegan spreads and Tofutti sour creams, baked goods will never be exactly the same without dairy ingredients (I will let you know when I find the perfect recipes!) They're all a little less buttery (obviously) and a little more dry. I could use something like vegetable shortening, but that would involve hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, just the sound of which hardens my arteries.
4. Veganizing is expensive. Whether it's buying vegan butter replacements, vegan sour cream, or any other speciality ingredient for baked goods and special meals, stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are not cheap. Typical grocery stores don't always carry the necessary ingredients and those they do are sometimes marked up because they aren't in high demand or are just expensive to make. And my humane certified eggs? Expensive! I need a job.
5. You can't rely on people to remember that you've changed your diet. I should have remembered from back in high school when I became a vegetarian, although completely giving up meat products is a bigger change that giving up dairy. More people remembered back then, but it still took a lot of reminding. People are also more likely to make sure there is something for a lacto-ovo vegetarian to eat than for a vegan. I admit, it's easier for the average eater to prepare food for a lacto-ovo vegetarian. But really, it's not hard to make vegan food.
6. Being dairy free feels good! I've known for quite awhile that I'm sensitive to dairy food, but I didn't know I'd feel so much better completely off of dairy foods. Granted, I've had some digestive issues due to swine flu, antibiotics, and some other digestive problems I have, but over all I'm less bloated, less gassy, and more regular. And I know you all wanted to know that!
7. Don't be surprised to find omnivores, very set in their ways, to be afraid of vegan foods no matter how normal they may seem. Just the word vegan can weird people out. Some people are scared of new things. Vegetarians and vegans are so used to trying new and "ethnic" foods because otherwise our food choices would be very limited. Omnivores aren't as pressured to expand their tastebuds and thus don't always want to.
8. Chefs, even at the cheaper restaurants, are usually eager to please. If you say you're a vegan, the chef is usually ready to doctor something up for you, take out an ingredient from a listed entree, or create a new plate of food not listed at all. This aim to please, after all, is what pays the bills.
9. Some locations are more vegan friendly than others. The suburbs are okay. Chicago is better because it's more diverse. A place like London would be even better because of the large Indian population. I would eat very well in California (and not just because I'd be raiding Rachel's kitchen). Texas doesn't even understand the lacto-ovo vegetarian yet. Texas is special, though.
10. Lastly but definitely not leastly (I know it's not a word), not everyone accepts the vegan. Even parents can find it difficult to come to terms with their daughter's anti-dairy ways. It's a clash of values, generations, and comfort. But you have to realize that maybe hard time people give you is out of love and caring and a genuine worry that you aren't getting enough nutrients and protein. But you can't let it go to your head or get too far beaten down. If nobody ever stuck to his or her guns, where would we be?
The end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)