Family still isn't convinced

Well we got an invite to a family dinner and they said "come on, aren't those pork ribs just making you cheat". I think they think its just a faze...

When you realize the reason why you don't eat meat anymore, those things just aren't enticing anymore. We've tried to explain and they just aren't listening. thats o.k. because I have been trying to surround myself with like minded people and its working.

Ribz

Wow - again last night I made Ribz - yes with a z - got the recipe from www.everydaydish.tv.

I doubled the recipe and it made enough for 6 people, served it with garlic bread and my homemade broccoli slaw. And of course my barbecue sauce.

We had my son's girlfriend over who is also a vegetarian and she so enjoyed it

We served this to my mother in law a few weeks ago and she so enjoyed it. but in front of my sister in law she says things like - I prefer pork, etc.. but the ease of eating for an old person, makes it an ideal substitute.

This is one recipe you will need to try.

If you would like my recipe for the slaw or my barbecue sauce, let me know.

Thanksgiving

What a success. The meat-eaters didn't even want to try our dish, well more for us. I think they think this is a faze, not!

We so enjoyed having our healthy dinner - no fat in the gravy either.

I am slicing the balance and using it in sandwiches, etc. Wheat Gluten is so versatile, got to love it

Test recipe for Thanksgiving

This will be our first Thanksgiving as vegetarians. I started to feel the pressure that what would we be eating and how to not eat the meat products set out by family.

I asked my sister-in-law if it would be o.k. for me to bring something that my family could eat and she said "sure", phew.

Then I was reading a post on Facebook about how it is a lot of fun to bring vegetarian foods to dinner parties because it is fun to surprise meat eaters how delicious it can be. Now I feel confident that it will be o.k. and no one will mind.

Last night I practiced a recipe on my family and a meat eater guest and it came out delicious. I served dressing with mushroom caps on the side along with of course vegetarian gravy.

The recipe I used is http://www.everydaydish.tv/index.php?page=recipe&recipe=148, I added 2 tb. poultry seasoning. There was an additional part to the recipe using puff pastry, I did that as well.

I made gravy by making a broth using Vagetta (found in the polish section of grocery stores) and thickening it will a slurry of cornstarch and water. I also added 2 tb. of stir-fry sauce.

and just using stove top stuffing with of course add sauted diced onions, carrots, celery and mushrooms.

Well the consensus was - terrific, but... we all agreed that adding diced onion, celery and mushrooms to the roast mixture would add wonderful texture and flavor.

The meat eater at the table said that he would become a vegetarian if he could eat like this all the time.

How it all began

After going to the Green Fest in Chicago back in May, 2010, my husband asked, "we should try a vegetarian diet for the environment". The inpact on mass producing meat for human consumption is horrendous on this planet.

Well we started June 1, 2010.

After exploring vegetarian dieting (using the quick vegetarian start up guide www.tryveg.com/img/vsg0501.pdf) it became clear that it will be easier then we thought.

Then we explored more information and it also became a way to be kind to all living things. And ripping into the flesh of another being just didn't seem right.

I am happy to say that we have been vegetarians since. My mother in law says "can't you cheat a little" not realizing that the thought of eating another living being- truly detests me.