30 Day Vegetarian Experiment: Southern Curtesy vs. Scientific Method

My kind niece and nephew invited us over to their home for a craft beer tasting. I was thinking beer, maybe a few snacks. I should be safe with a veg and dip or cheese, right? Unknown to me, my niece had spend a large part of her busy day making dinner for us : Boef Bourguignon. Just to present all the factors in my decision making process.

(1) My niece has two small boys under three years old.

(2)My niece was unaware of my experiment when she planned her menu.

So now I had a moral dilemma. Do I keep my experiment pure and tell my niece although I appreciate your hard work, I'll just have rice? Or do I follow Southern Courtesy, prioritize her feelings and just eat the dinner. Those of you who know me already know the answer: I just ate the dinner. It was delicious! Although I know science requires rigor and sacrifice, I believe the sacrifice should be mine alone, not my sweet niece who made time to create a wonderful meal for us. My answer may have been different if I actually were a KNOWN vegetarian. I am not.

Do I consider this a failed experiment? Absolutely not! This is the only meat I have eaten in nearly four weeks. It is the only exception I have made. Surely, statistically this is within acceptable tolerances.

Comments

Emulsion Blender

Making creamy soups is so much easier with an emulsion blender. One pot and done! Also known as a stick blender or hand blender. Because it is compact and cleans easily it is perfect for small mixing projects like French toast custard or whipping cream. This particular model is inexpensive and comes with a couple of useful attachment. It costs about $60. Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB77

Guacamole

This is my simple guacamole recipe that I made with my awesome "culinary" students, aka my good friends Sara and Liz. Ingredients: 3-4 Ripe Avocados (depends on the size) 1/2 - 3/4 cup fresh salsa 1/4 Cup cilantro Juice of 1 small lime Salt to taste Pit and peel avocados. (If you whack the pit with the knife and twist, the pit comes out easily) Rough chop avocados and place in a bowl. Add lime, cilantro and fresh salsa (see previous post). Using a couple of forks mash ingredients to desired consistency. Add salt to taste.

Grilled Portobello and Roasted Red Pepper Burgers with Wasabi Mayo

This is a great vegetarian dish that is tasty enough for meat eaters. I like to serve this with homemade sweet potato chips or sweet potato fries. Wasabi is Japanese horseradish (Wasabia japonica or Eutrema japonica). I like a fair amount of wasabi, but you may need to experiment a little to find the perfect level of spice for you. I usually keep a tube of wasabi paste in my refrigerator (Odd I know). You could also check with your local sushi shop to see if they will sell some fresh wasabi. One product you should avoid is powdered wasabi. I was desperate once when I could not find the wasabi paste at my local grocery store and tried the powdered wasabi. It was dreadful! Don't use this! INGREDIENTS: 4 Onion Rolls (or any burger bun that you prefer) 4 Whole Portobello Mushrooms 2 Red Bell Peppers 1 1/2 Cup Teriyaki Sauce 1/2 Cup Olive Oil (plus a little extra for coating the red peppers) 2 Tsp. Herbes de Provence 1 Cup Mayonnaise 1-2 Tbs. Wasabi Arugul...

Tracy Lee : Food, Style and General Musings

Search This Blog