A Very Veggie New Year

To say this post is overdue is an understatement, and for that I apologize.

Where to start?  I suppose I will start with my recent mini-vacation to Baltimore (the one in Maryland that usually makes me sweat like 3 beastly men, only it is mid-winter right now).

I went to visit some long lost friends and stayed with Robyn, a fellow vegetarian who recently went vegan.  Since she's had her gall bladder out, she hasn't been able to eat dairy and other hard-to-process foods, thus the transition.  Dang gall bladders.

Anyhow, I ate better that weekend than I do most any other week(end) ever.  She is a fabulous cook and not at all as lazy as I am.  I usually cop-out and give in to the pre-made versions or just slap together a peanut butter sandwich.  At Robyn's place I had amazing chili, vegan cornbread, tofu scramble, fake chicken and dumplings, and gingerbread pancakes.  She still needs to send me the recipes (Ahem).  It was fabulous bumming around with a like-minded individual (and her little leprechaun, Collin, who at 1.5 years old will shovel tofu scramble in his mouth and then beg for yours).  We even found a book at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse all about animal ingredients.  It is both my savior and demise.  I ended up buying it at a discount bookstore at home, but we had a delicious vegan lunch at Red Emma's.  The book is Animal Ingredients A to Z.

We also met Claire at this wonderful little restaurant, Woodberry Kitchen.  I have been there with my parents and the atmosphere is earthy, relaxed, and delicious.  Everything is as local and fresh as possible, not to mention as organic as possible.  The chefs are great at accomodating all types of eaters, too (like Robyn and me).  It came out that I only eat humane certified eggs and the waiter went off on how fabulous the farm is that supplies the restaurant with eggs.  I probably would trust their eggs, but I ordered something vegan instead.  And then, right as we were about to leave, he brings over a bowl of the most beautiful eggs that had just come in from the farm to show us.

I've been ants-in-my-pants dancing around the kitchen wanting to cook all the time since I've gotten home, but I don't have the time, nor do I know what to make!

Next stop, California where Rachel and her fiance will fatten me up veggie-style.