Thought I’d update you on both going vegetarian in today’s post. This is how cute a town I live in. I mention on the blog that we’re going vegetarian and some good townsperson leaves 3 vegetarian cookbooks on our porch while we’re out lollygagging around. Thank you, nice neighbor person. Let me know who you are so I can return them in due time! In the meantime, oh, such good ideas!
I’ve been asked what our parameters are for going vegetarian. My hope was to not eat fish or eggs (in addition to the other vegetarian no nos like red meat, pork, and chicken) but I am not sure that I am brave enough to bake without eggs. I was, at first, but then my friend Nikki (read her fabulous food blog here) walked me through why eggs are important in recipes (while giving me good advice about how to try to cook without them) and I got a little nervous. So, eggs in baked goods are okay for now. And dairy. Dairy is a yes. So dairy and eggs are yeses. Fish is a no. And the other rule is that I will not ask anyone to cook differently for me so whether it is book club or extended family dinner night, whatever is served is what I will happily eat.
So what have I been eating the last few days?
Monday’s breakfast was yogurt, Go Lean Crunch, and berries. Snack was string cheese (because I stole it out of Happy’s bag). Lunch was white bean, diced tomato and tortellini soup (made with vegetable broth which did not at all compromise the taste) and a salad of romaine leaves, artichoke hearts, avocado, carrots, cucumber, and goat cheese. Afternoon snack was a piece of toffee (yeah, I know, but I had to go to the PostNet right next to the chocolate shop and I totally support local businesses. It was for them, not me). Dinner was black bean and corn tortilla pie (We love this recipe).
Tuesday’s breakfast was the same as Monday’s. Snack was an apple. Lunch was black bean and corn tortilla pie and watermelon. Snack was spinach and artichoke dip with pita chips. Dinner was spinach ravioli casserole and green beans.
Wednesdays breakfast was oatmeal. Snack was an orange. Lunch was the last of the white bean, diced tomato and tortellini soup and edamame. Snack was white bean dip with pita chips. Dinner was cheese pizza (it was pizza night with friends) and the same salad from Monday.
The cookbooks I am perusing these days are Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant, Top 100 Finger Foods: 100 Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Child, Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home, A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen, The New Moosewood Cookbook, and Veganomicon.
Our vegetarian time coincides perfectly with the opening of the local famer’s market this Saturday. My plan is to go there, shop for what’s appealing, and then come up with next week’s menu based on what I find. I’ll definitely share any recipes worth trying!
One more for your list, Rosie: _How to Cook Everything Vegetarian_ by Mark Bittman (a writer for the New York Times).
Whoa – big step Rosie! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing the recipes…I love vegetarian eating. But I’m certainly not ready for this…and I PROMISE not to brag to you after my next McDonald’s run – haha! I tried to call you earlier…holla when you can!