Going Veggie

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Hmm... I had different plans for tonight, but I think it'll end with a bowl of rice and fried cabbage

My fingers twitched to like that sentence!

 

[SmoothieX]

I adore everything with cabbage and about cabbage and containing cabbage. Every possible kind of cabbage. I made a ton of kimchi last year, that was like the most exciting thing I've ever done.

I made stuffed cabbage leaves a couple weeks back. I had the remnants of two heads I used sitting in my fridge this weekend. These were the tougher, less choice inner leaves. So I decided to make sauerkraut out of it. I'll try my concoction next weekend while the rest continues to ferment.

I never realized how easy it was. Chop the cabbage, add salt, put in a jar with pressure on the cabbage to draw out the water, and drape a towel over it to keep dust, etc. out, and let the bacteria in the air go to town.

 

[lurok]

Are we all sauerkraut fans? Yum.

 

[thestrangequark]

Would it be totally un-kosher of me to share a pescetarian recipe I came up with? It's just I'm doing a great job at sticking to my J Allen-inspired goal of stepping outside my cooking comfort-zone to learn more about cooking and to get more variety in my diabetes-friendly diet. Today I made up a coconut shrimp recipe that was fast, easy, and SOOOOOOO good!

It would be welcome!

It was SO easy and SO yummy! I did spicy coconut shrimp. Sauteed 1 sweet onion, 1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow bell pepper, 2 jalapeno peppers, and string beans in olive oil. When they were cooked through I added the shrimp and a dash of salt. Then, 1 can of coconut milk. Cooked about 5 minutes until the shrimp was pink, and done! Topped with coconut flakes and it was AMAZING! I'm practically drooling thinking about the leftovers in the fridge!

Bajillions of asians don't seem affected by this.

How do you know, though? Maybe that's why they're so tiny.

In all serious, though, it's not going to suddenly turn men into women, but it has been shown to cause things like gynecomastia, lowered sex drive, etc.

Anything is bad for you in too high a dose. Having a bit of soy each day's not going to do anything. Eating nothing but soy in huge quantities probably won't do you much good.

 

[Amaris]

^ That recipe sounds fantastic, tsq!

Are we all sauerkraut fans? Yum.

ZOMC yes! I love sauerkraut.

By the by, we totally had cheeseburger helper today, with lots of delicious beef. Totally beef.

See all of this beef? Because that's what it is.

See this delicious, beefy meal with incidental vegetables?

Yes. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing at all.
A fine 100% American dinner.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

So that's the soy stuff? I've never used any pretend meat things, but I've never had to disguise my meals That's very beefy looking and I suppose putting the helper flavored stuff through it just triggers a beef association in anyone used to that taste!

tsq, a can of coconut milk is a thing of beauty. You could substitute tofu for the prawns, the pre-fried tofu would work especially well. Or just use all vegies and eat over brown rice and you have deliciousness. I would add coriander on top!

 

[thestrangequark]

But...but...the shrimp is the best part! Besides, I've made tofu a gazillion times -- I'm trying to expand my cooking repertoire! This is my first time cooking shrimp.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I agree about the shrimp, I'm just making a vegie suggestion for the thread. The pre-fried (browned on outside) tofu holds together and would be good in that dish.

I think coconut milk + chillie + coriander is one of the greatest tastes ever.

I have a ton of frozen prawns in the freezer, just grab a handful, pour hot water on it to defrost and then throw into any stir fry. I also like to sautee them briefly in garlic and then just eat them in tacos with avocado. The are very simple things!

 

[thestrangequark]

I agree about the shrimp, I'm just making a vegie suggestion for the thread.

I know

The pre-fried (browned on outside) tofu holds together and would be good in that dish.

For ease, I like to get the pre cooked tofu as well. There's a really good smoked one I like a lot.

I think coconut milk + chillie + coriander is one of the greatest tastes ever.

I'll have to try coriander next time. There's nothing quite like the spice/sweet combo!

I have a ton of frozen prawns in the freezer, just grab a handful, pour hot water on it to defrost and then throw into any stir fry. I also like to sautee them briefly in garlic and then just eat them in tacos with avocado. The are very simple things!

Yeah! I'm definitely going to make them more often!

 

[Amaris]

So that's the soy stuff? I've never used any pretend meat things, but I've never had to disguise my meals That's very beefy looking and I suppose putting the helper flavored stuff through it just triggers a beef association in anyone used to that taste!

tsq, a can of coconut milk is a thing of beauty. You could substitute tofu for the prawns, the pre-fried tofu would work especially well. Or just use all vegies and eat over brown rice and you have deliciousness. I would add coriander on top!

It did help. He was a bit suspicious, but I put that to the fact that his plate had cooled before he ate dinner. It tastes much better warm.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

So did he not know it was soy??

This is so exciting, it's guerrilla veggie cooking.

 

[lurok]

Coconut milk is just heavenly; best thing in my rice & peas (nabbed from ex's mum's family hand-me down recipe.) But the calories are deadly, and I'm not a huge fan of reduced fat version. It's ok; just doesn't quite taste the same

 

[Amaris]

So did he not know it was soy??

This is so exciting, it's guerrilla veggie cooking.

I don't think he knew it was soy, but I'm not entirely positive. Mom said she didn't know. She had forgotten that I was going to try it, and enjoyed her meal, saying she couldn't taste the difference.

See, it had cooled off, and soy texture becomes much more noticeable when it cools.

 

[Mary Ann]

So did he not know it was soy??

This is so exciting, it's guerrilla veggie cooking.

I've fed Quorn mince to my rabidly carnivorous father before, and he never noticed. My husband's a pesco-vegetarian, so I hardly ever cook with actual minced beef. I'm so used to cooking with Quorn that dishes like spaghetti bolognaise and cottage pie made with real meat no longer taste right to me.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I had to look up Quorn.

For me I had to learn how to cook actual Big Meat meals since I used to vegetarian style cooking where it's not about imitating meat but about celebrating vegetables and grains. I have never made a roast for instance.

Oh and agree about the coconut milk calories, deadly stuff But if you make it full of chillie you will be minimizing how much you pour over your rice! I also tried the reduced fat version, I think you might as well just add water to regular coconut milk and use less.

 

[Sector 7]

Do any other asparagus lovers get that unfortunate side-effect?

It is a genetic trait. My brother has that effect, so I never eat asparagus.

Really, just because it makes your pee smell funny? It doesn't seem a good enough reason not to eat a delicious and healthful veggie like asparagus!

The really interesting thing about the asparagus urine odor effect is that there are actually different types of people, all genetically determined, as you said. First, asparagus only affects the odor of urine for some people, but added to that is that only some people are capable of smelling the effect! So, you may not have the effect at all, nor be able to smell it, you may be able to smell it, but not have it, you may have it, but not be able to smell it, or you may be able to smell it, and have it.

Asparagus is like artichoke hearts: though people rave about them, they don't do a thing for me.

As for coconut milk, I've been hesitant to try it in cooking. However, I occasionally try the coconut shrimp at our local Chinese buffet (a very good restaurant, actually). Since I should be on a low-fat diet, perhaps I should pass on this, as well.

I love stir-fry. I found a brand of "Stir-Fry Blend" veggies without green peppers, so I make it more often. I'll be trying some of your recipes to change it up a bit.

 

[lurok]

Here's a recipe I'm sure the foodies will love. It's Japanese, so no measures; bit minimalist.

Mountain grapes. (I assume ordinary grapes might do)
Balsamic vinegar.

Wash and boil grapes. When cooled, place in airtight jar. Cover with balsamic vinegar. Seal and leave for twelve years.

 

[thestrangequark]

This article appeared on the BBC today, in case more people are "concerned" about your health as a vegetarian, J!

Vegetarians 'cut heart risk by 32%'

 

[Amaris]

This article appeared on the BBC today, in case more people are "concerned" about your health as a vegetarian, J!

Vegetarians 'cut heart risk by 32%'

Oh, wow! That is awesome news! My family has a history of heart disease, and I believe it was mostly dietary related. Now if I can couple my Vegetarianism with an increase in my resistance training, I'll be bigger than Jesus! Wait, I mean stronger than Superman!

Hold on. Which one do I believe in again? Eh, nevermind.

Thanks for the article, tsq.

 

[Gul Re'jal]

An interesting article, but I can't say I'm shocked by the "revelation." A diet rich in veggies and fruits must be healthy, whether or not it's fully vegetarian.

Now, did anyone else got hungry seeing the picture in the article, or such a veggie porn works only on me?