Vegan/Vegetarian

[SeattleDeb]

I'm hoping that some discussion can begin on cooking vegetarian meals. Curious if any of the chefs here in cheftalk are vegans/vegetarians.

[markdchef]

That is my specialty. Every week I post a new recipe on my web
http://www.onthemarkpcs.homestead.com

Cooking tips, health tips etc.

I love vegetables!

[SeattleDeb]

Thanks Mark, I'll check the site out. With all that mad cow/hoof/mouth, etc. going on, thought I'd look into a different way to cook/eat. Went to the library and checked out a bundle of Vegetarian cookbooks today as well.

[Isa]

Deb,

I am thinking the exact same thing. I've had no meat at all this week and I am considering being vegetarian for now. I am not trying to convert people to my way of thinking either and I am not saying I'll never eat meat again. Simply, all the problems we've seen in the last year really scared me. The worse is that we, humans, created a lot of these problems by turning cows and lambs into carnivore.

[SeattleDeb]

Same here...just want to give it a try. I really like the veg recipes in the Moosewood cookbook. One of my vegan friends is really excited about this, keeps getting me to try her veg things..today I had baked spiced tofu...pretty good stuff. I do love my dairy though....cheese, cream, all that fattening stuff.

It's funny how we go through phased in our lives. I'm not vegetarian, but everyone thinks I am. There are so many wonderful blessings on this earth. Fruits and veggies are definitely some of the best stuff.
But, can you imagine living without seafood?
Anyone understand the biblical referrals to not eating hoofed animals? I thought it was strange that this hoof and mouth thing is here, and I was doing some research for an article - and found that in the bible...

Nutritionpost

[Isa]

For now I just say I am trying another way of eating. Maybe tomorrow or next week I'll change my mind.

I am not giving up dairy, fish and seafood. Life without milk or cheese would be too hard... As for tofu I'll give a try someday.

[Mezzaluna]

Nutritionpost, the Old Testament rules, followed today by Jews who observe kosher laws, allow eating of animals which BOTH chew cud and have a cloven hoof. That includes sheep and beef cattle (lamb and veal, of course, too) among others. Pigs have a cloven hoof, but don't chew cud; therefore, they're forbidden. That also leaves out horses. Some scholars say this is because those who don't browse on grass may eat garbage, spreading disease; others have other opinions- I believe it has to do with disease and spoilage. (Bottom-feeding fish/shellfish, which can cause deadly poisoning from fast spoilage, are also prohibited, but that's another topic.) Eating of meat isn't at all prohibited in the Torah (Old Testament).

[Isa]

It's what I learned too Mezzaluna. Old rules regarding food were often enforced for the safety of the people.

[ March 24, 2001: Message edited by: Iza ]

[kokopuffs]

Should you relinquish ALL animal products including eggs and milk, please take vitamin B-12. It's the one vitamin furnished almost only by animal products. There is some evidence, however, that B-12 is furnished by soybeans. Do take a B-12 supplement if you go strict vegetarian. A B-12 deficiency leads to pernicious anemia.

[ March 28, 2001: Message edited by: kokopuffs ]

[markdchef]

Actually milk and milk products are easy to give up. The rise of asthma, autism, allergies, and other diseases has been linked to consumption of milk, especially milk that has been altered with chemicals and hormones. There is a website called notmilk.com with some interesting links about milk. I went dairy free 3 years ago and I have never been healthier in my life.

[SeattleDeb]

Markdchef, I saw your post on going totally dairy free - do you use any of the soy/tofu cheeses?

[SeattleDeb]

Oooops Mark..disregard my previous post, went to your site and saw your recipes...I'll have to see about those soy cheese products in our local market...they said they carry them at QFC..

[markdchef]

I highly recommend Soymage by Soyco (division of galaxy foods) vegan cheeses which are soy based. The parmesan, cream and mozzarella are all very good. The mozzarella is not like the real thing but the parmesan is pretty close.

Nutritional yeast is a natural source of vitamin b-12. I live a mostly vegetarian lifestyle free of dairy, meat, procesed sugars and chemicals.

Great books to check out: Whole Foods Cooking by Christine Pirello, Total Health Makeover by Marilu Henner, Fit For Life and Eating Well for Optimum Health by Weil.

[SeattleDeb]

Do you have a good health store close by or do you mail order some of these things? What do you use in place of refined sugar?