Thank you for all the comments yesterday. What anybody chooses to eat, or not, is entirely up to them, I would never presume to try and force my food choices on anyone. Jessica, I'm sorry to hear you've had lectures from people who don't approve of your choices, that's not nice or necessary at all. We live in a free country and are able to make our own decisions, and long may that last.
Gill, there'd be no point in me using the cheap frozen mixed veg in Betty's food - she doesn't like peas or sweetcorn, sorts them out and leaves them in her dish! 😂
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I wouldn't be averse to becoming vegetarian, although I would miss chicken and fish (and bacon of course!). If the cost of meat and fish becomes prohibitively expensive, then I'd certainly consider a vegetarian diet for myself, and just give husband meat or fish 3 or 4 times a week. In fact, that's given me an idea for a kind of challenge. I'll have to think about it some more, but I might well see if I can have a totally vegetarian diet myself for, say, a week or even two. If I like it, then I may go vegetarian full time.....that should certainly be cost saving anyway. Or I might try for pescatarian - if I could only choose one type of meat or fish, I would definitely go for fish.
I'm not really keen on the idea of using bought 'fake' meat things.....you know, the things that are made of who-knows-what and shaped to look like a chicken fillet or bacon rasher or minced beef, etc. Although, having said that, we have tried a few meat-free sausages and burgers in the past, with mixed results. I'd be more interested in making vegetarian dishes from scratch. So how about the vegetarians amongst you giving me some ideas for savoury dishes? Especially things using cheese (any kind), nuts, brown rice, lentils - not so much red lentils but I do like the little Puy lentils. I also really like nut roasts - husband doesn't, so I've only rarely made them. I have no idea about tofu, I've never had it. I'm not very keen on hot curries or chillies, preferring milder spices like cumin, ginger and smoked paprika. I quite like pulses if they're in a well-flavoured dish.....husband claims they're too pea-y or bean-y, whatever he means by that! I'm not really a lover of vegetable stews - now a chicken stew with sage dumplings would be lovely! Oh, and I really hate celery! I'm also not overkeen on kale, spinach, chard - all those worthy healthy veggies that just make me feel like I'm punishing myself if I'm forced to eat them 😒😂😁. I do love Brussels sprouts, oddly enough.
Over to you - tasty vegetarian recipes please?
Having started to settle down a bit, my guts have been playing up again. I'm sure it's stress related, but maybe a vegetarian diet - even if it's only for a couple of weeks - might help?
Margaret Powlings blog, "Devon dreaming" has some nice veggie recipes published a couple of days ago.
ReplyDeleteTry the Vegetarian Society website, or Rose Elliot's. I have several of her books and they are all easy, don't use weird ingredients that you've never heard of and will never use again (one of my real bugbears!) and are tasty. You can often buy her (and other veggie) books in charity shops. I think that's where I got all mine! As for tofu - try scrambled tofu, as a replacement for scrambled eggs on toast.
ReplyDeleteServes 2-4
1 tbsp olive oil half tsp dried mixed herbs
half an onion half tsp turmeric
1 garlic clove 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp white flour 1 dsp mustard
120ml soya milk salt and pepper
1 block tofu (200g or 250g) crumbled
Heat the oil, fry the onion and garlic on low heat until soft.
Add the flour and cook for a minute or two, stirring, so it doesn't burn. Add the soya milk and continue to cook, stirring to prevent lumps.
Add the tofu, mixed herbs, turmeric, tomatoes and mustard and stir for 5 mins.
Season to taste.
There are several types of tofu - just go for the firm block for this. Silken tofu is good for making desserts or creamy sauces.
You can replace the soya milk with any other milk of choice. Add any other veg you like eg. peas, spinach, pepper etc.
Enjoy! xx
I can never under stand why they make vegetarian sausages, why eat anything meat free which looks like meat, or is that just me. On my blog I have a recipe for Mallie quiche, you can add what you want, why change, this one does not use pastry, which I find a benefit for my tummy health. Pop over and try it, I often make 2 smaller ones and have different fillings in each. https://poppypatchwork.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI make bean based stuff that is sausage shaped or burger shaped, because they are shapes that work. Ditto with non-meat load, etc. But I dislike the taste of most meat substitutes - fake ham or bacon, etc.
ReplyDeletexx
Yes, exactly that Joy. The words sausage and burger describes the shape not the contents, that's why they are called Beef Burgers, Pork Sausages, meat-free burgers etc etc
DeleteI will take time this week for veggie chili, lasagna, and spaghetti…I make homemade veggie burgers also. I do not eat meat substitutes or Tofu…
ReplyDeleteI especially like Hugh Fearnley Mushroom stoop with dumplings but it can just be made with vegetables and spinach using the same seasonsings. I make it on the hob and in a slow cooker. I enjoy tempura vegetables with courgette noodles as a treat because its a faff.
ReplyDeleteMy go to 'recipe book' when I am not inspired is the BBC good food website - https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/all-vegetarian
ReplyDeleteit caters for all levels of vegetarian and the recipes tend to be quite reliable. I always swap out something I don't like or we don't have in - using the recipes mores as a guide line rather than set in stone - I do use the Quorn 'chicken pieces' and sausages as they helped feed my boys when they were younger, now they're adult one is a fully grown veggie and the other a pescatarian - so they survived!
Yes, we use the Quorn products, too. I see them as a protein source rather than a meat substitute. I make a Quorn pate - 300g Quorn pieces, 1 leek sliced. Cook in a frying pan with a slosh of wine (although I use water and some Marigold bouillon powder), some dried thyme and basil, until the leeks are soft and most of the liquid has gone. Allow to cool, then whizz in the food processor with a tub of cream cheese (I use Oatly). Nice on crackers, jacket potatoes, stirred into pasta. xx
DeleteQuorn mince is delicious and a lot cheaper than the real thing.
DeleteOne of my favourite puddings take one pack of shelf stable silken tofu you can get it in most supermarkets and put in a food processor and blend. Add 3 tablespoons of liqueur of your choice I like coffee and about 2ozs of melted plain chocolate blend till smooth put into individual dishes and chill. It will last for a few days so is handy to make in advance and you can add fresh fruit to pretty it up. It's a very grown up dish and so easy if you need something in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteLong time reader, first comment- I have done some research on homemade food for pets and I think there are two key points. First, dogs are obligate carnivores. They must have meat and bone for their organs to function properly. However, they can do well with organ meats, intestines, and other meat products (feet) that are not suitable for human food. Perhaps there are some less expensive options than the pet store mince? Or, if you have freezer space, can you buy larger quantities at a discount? What about an online source for frozen whole birds that you can grind yourself? Oats can be purchased in bulk as horse feed and put through a grinder for Betty's food. Perhaps you can find a grocer who will let you have veg that is past it's prime or just spotted/too ugly to sell. And second, having the correct vitamin and mineral balance is important. You can easily source a canine vitamin and mineral powder to mix with the fresh food so you won't need the commercial food at all. Having that be consistent will be better than her getting partial amounts. Veg that she doesn't like can be pureed first and added in small amounts to the meat mix. If you search homemade pet diets you will find some decent recipes. Try here: https://www.thesprucepets.com/homemade-dog-food-recipes-5200240 It is more work to make her food but you are already doing most of it!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what others post as I am trying to introduce more vegetarian meals into our menu. Or at least a few more that don't contain meat, but fill Harvey up.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.