Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[Glenn]

Mornin Folks; I've been eating Cream Of Wheat (Red box) for breakfast since I was a kid, and I love it! One half cup in three cups of milk will make you a good breakfast or snack for two days.

[Greco]

Hi Veggie Lovers,

Today's dinner everything organic

simple inventing a combination of things
no recipe

pasta

red onions, manzanilla olives, garlic, grapes,
black beans, broccoli sauteed in coconut oil
crushed/blended tomatoes

we'll see how this combination turns out.

very glad I haven't invited anyone to dinner
tonight

with green thoughts, Greco

[kittygrrl]

Originally Posted by greco

Hi Veggie Lovers,

Today's dinner everything organic

simple inventing a combination of things
no recipe

pasta

red onions, manzanilla olives, garlic, grapes,
black beans, broccoli sauteed in coconut oil
crushed/blended tomatoes

we'll see how this combination turns out.

very glad I haven't invited anyone to dinner
tonight

with green thoughts, Greco

greco it sounds amazing..someone is missing out!

[Martina]

I have been mostly vegan this summer. For health reasons. I still haven't increased the number of vegetables I eat a day as much as I need to. I still eat too much processed food and way too many carbs.

Twice I have eaten meat and a few times dairy. The meat is less of a temptation than the dairy.

I do not feel tons better. I recently had an allergic reaction to something. I actually think it was caffeine. I also went off caffeine for the most part this summer. Anyway. I am not sure it's working out. I imagine I would be doing a lot better if I were eating many more green things and fewer carbs. But I haven't been able to make that happen.

[Greco]

Hi Martina,

Sounds to me like your taking the steps you need to get where you want to go. Getting off caffeine for example is an incredible step in lessening the toxic load on your kidneys, way to go for getting off it as much as you can.

What I did last year was simply add green smoothies to what I already was eating. At that time I was eating meat, some cheese(I'm allergic to dairy), and rice mostly. So I added the green smoothies and they made me less hungry for carbs, and after watching "Earthlings" I quit eating meat altogether.

So, take yourself off the hook and continue to do what your doing. It sounds to me that your on your way to healthy living one step at a time.

Hope this helps.

Greco

Originally Posted by Martina

I have been mostly vegan this summer. For health reasons. I still haven't increased the number of vegetables I eat a day as much as I need to. I still eat too much processed food and way too many carbs.

Twice I have eaten meat and a few times dairy. The meat is less of a temptation than the dairy.

I do not feel tons better. I recently had an allergic reaction to something. I actually think it was caffeine. I also went off caffeine for the most part this summer. Anyway. I am not sure it's working out. I imagine I would be doing a lot better if I were eating many more green things and fewer carbs. But I haven't been able to make that happen.

[Greco]

Hi kittygrrl, and veggie lovers,

Actually, it was delicious...I was really surprised because of the addition of the red grapes...thought the combining of fruit and pasta was not going to be a good idea...well, it was so my inventions carry on. Next time I will invite someone, or more then one friend for this dinner.

with green thoughts, Greco

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

greco it sounds amazing..someone is missing out!

[stephfromMIT]

Amanda doesn't do dairy or egg yolks, but DOES do seafood. Anyone have good recipes?

[WolfyOne]

Colorful Lentil Salad

Ingredients
3/4 cup lentils
1/2 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium carrot, chopped fine or grated
1 small tomato, diced
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, diced
1/2 cup frozen corn
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon thyme, dried
1/2 teaspoon cumin, ground
salt and pepper, to taste
cilantro, fresh
1/2 cup feta cheese


Directions
Rinse lentils.
Cook lentils in lots of water until tender but not mushy.
Drain and rinse briefly in cold water.
Combine the lentils and vegetables. Mix gently to combine.


In a small bowl, combine the oils, vinegar and seasonings.
Add to vegetable and mix gently.
Add crumbled feta cheese.
Refrigerate for a minimum of one hour to 24 hours to allow flavours to combine.

[kittygrrl]

Take a red bell pepper, seed & cut in half. You have an option (at this point) of roasting it with a little olive oil or preparing a semi-raw meal by keeping it as raw as possible. When you have decided, fill with a raw/cooked hummus, top with purple onion, slices of avocado/radish, greek olives, and spicy pumpkin seeds. drizzle olive oil on top (if you like). w/ and super company-Perfection~!

[Teddybear]

Ok let me say first I love meat however in the last yr or so some of it is showing me IT hates Me. I have met and fell in love with the most incredible vegetarian who loves me back which in itself is a miracle

I have decided that I'm going to try and wean myself off all meat except fish and seafood. I'm a diabetic so I'm hoping it will help me with that also

So any tips on where to find cookbooks for a beginner and one for diabetics would b helpful. I could also use tips on,how to fight the cravings for meat.

Any input will b appreciated

[Blue_Daddy-O]

My muffins keep caving in the middle... anyone know how to correct this?

These are the ingredients:

Pumpkin
Spices
Oil
Flour
Salt
Applesauce
Honey
an egg
Oats
Vanilla Extract
Baking Powder
Baking Soda

Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes.

Today I left the oats out and did a full can of pumpkin instead of 3/4ths. I also tried half a cup of white flour/half a cup of wheat pastry flour. I was doing 1 cup of wheat pastry flour before. I also increased the honey to 1 cup instead of 1/2 a cup.

I'm thinking I may need more flour? Any suggestions?

[StillettoDoll]

Originally Posted by Teddybear

Ok let me say first I love meat however in the last yr or so some of it is showing me IT hates Me. I have met and fell in love with the most incredible vegetarian who loves me back which in itself is a miracle

I have decided that I'm going to try and wean myself off all meat except fish and seafood. I'm a diabetic so I'm hoping it will help me with that also

So any tips on where to find cookbooks for a beginner and one for diabetics would b helpful. I could also use tips on,how to fight the cravings for meat.

Any input will b appreciated

I think your decision is awesome !!!!!! It's the healthiest way to go. You know all heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are the result of bad nutrition!!!! . May I suggest you read the book The China Study, by T. Collin Campbell.
This is my first year to eat less meat and diary. It is a process...One meal at a time.....

[Teddybear]

Originally Posted by StillettoDoll

I think your decision is awesome !!!!!! It's the healthiest way to go. You know all heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are the result of bad nutrition!!!! . May I suggest you read the book The China Study, by T. Collin Campbell.
This is my first year to eat less meat and diary. It is a process...One meal at a time.....

Thank you. I will c if I can find the book I know if I'm unable to read ir mt beautiful and talented baby can and then help me put it in practice. We are getting ready to start juicing I have to say that has me a bit worried but I have to try u know

[sylvie]

i am not vegan or vegetarian, but love this thread for a few reasons.
In this passed year, i have made many changes to my eating, and i have really started developing a very healthy relationship with food. Since i have been abstinent from sugar and my binge foods, i find myself craving new, healthy & delicious foods which were foods i wouldn't even attempt trying in the past.

The only meats i do eat are chicken, turkey, fish & seafood.
No beef, pork, etc. They've never agreed with me anyway. i do love my milk, eggs, etc though.

i have been trying so many vegetables that are new to me, and loving it. In fact, it's what i crave now, instead of the binge foods which is new & exciting to me.. So loving this thread, the recipes, tips and conversation and so many different things i would love to try.. Always looking for new ways to healthy up my eating & creating pretty, colorful dishes!

[ahk]

::subscribing::

I am not a vegetarian or vegan -- but I can go months without eating meat.

Linus, the banana bread sounds delish-- and the cake, yummy.

[WolfyOne]

I saw this recipe and immediately thought of Jenny and BB


Baked Sweet Potato Falafels

Ingredients (serves 4):
1 pound sweet potatoes, cooked and peeled
14 ounces chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. coriander
2 tsp. parsley
1 tbsp. Earth Balance® Buttery Spread, (use Soy Free for a soy free dish)
2 tbsp. ground flaxseed

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mash sweet potatoes with chickpeas.

Add seasonings, Earth Balance® Buttery Spread, and flaxseed to chickpea mixture.

Spray baking sheet or line with foil. Roll mixture into quarter-sized balls and place on baking sheet.

Brush or spray the tops of the falafel with oil.

Bake 25-30 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Let cool 5 minutes before removing from sheet.

You can serves these falafels as with hummus, veggies and topped on pita bread, or chop them up for salads, sandwiches or even eat them on their own.

[Hollylane]

Subscribing

Day 2 on the next leg of my journey to living a cruelty free life!

[nycfem]

This is so awesome! As time passes, you will be happier and happier that you made this choice! Also, I find that you will be more sure of the ethics of it too. Distance from engaging in cruel eating makes one think more about how awful that it's the cultural norm to begin with!

Originally Posted by Hollylane

Subscribing

Day 2 on the next leg of my journey to living a cruelty free life!

[Hollylane]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

This is so awesome! As time passes, you will be happier and happier that you made this choice! Also, I find that you will be more sure of the ethics of it too. Distance from engaging in cruel eating makes one think more about how awful that it's the cultural norm to begin with!

Thank you nycfembbw!

This is going to be a balancing act, because of my gastroparesis and diabetes (IE...finding adequate fat and protein, and limiting carbohydrates while avoiding too many high fiber options, sounds impossible right?), but I am ready for the challenge... My brain is about to explode with all of the information I am cramming into it, but luckily there is a little room for expansion.

I've never been so grateful for the internet, and like minded people!

[Hollylane]

Stir fry with rice noodles:

(all to taste, I don't do measurements)

Stir fried:

Olive oil
Diced onion
Minced garlic
Sliced mushrooms (portobello)
Garlic chili paste
Sweet chili sauce
Soy sauce
Flour and olive oil roux to slightly thicken the "sauce"

After all were done, I tossed the above in the hot wok with cooked rice noodles, fresh lime juice, cilantro, and green onions...and then garnished with hemp hearts (10 grams of protein)...

It was absolutely spicy and yummy!


Next time I might try adding red bell peppers...The experimenting has begun! I love fun with flavors!