So, the family gave up meat for lent

[maxrandb]

So far so good, although the Portobella Mushroom Burgers were kind of "interesting". Lots of cheese and catsup.

How long until I'm licking the TV when I see an Outback commercial?

How long until I ask a co-worker just to let me smell their Quarter Pounder?

Doing lots of salads and surfing the net for good vegetarian meals. Don't know if it will stick, but the kids seem to enjoy it so far too. If it brings us a little closer, and maybe improves our health long-term, I'm all for it.

Any good vegi recipes from some good DU cooks?

This weekend, I'm making a meatless Quiche. It's only 40 days, right?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Try the Morning Star

fake meats. Hamburgers, suasage, hotdogs, crumbles. Good stuff.

[RebelOne]

2. Morningstar is excellent. I prefer their sausage.

[coffeenap]

14. mmmm, Morningstar Corn Dogs...mmmm. nt

[LeftyMom]

3. Down in the Veg/vegan/AR forum we have a lot of recipes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=231

My other favorite source of ideas is http://vegweb.com/

[maxrandb]

5. Thanks. I guess if I would look around a little bit

instead of just posting "willy-nilly" I would have known there was a Vegan Group.

So many feature on DU...so little time.

[LeftyMom]

7. Well, there are over 100 DU groups I think

I'll forgive you for missing this one. ;)

[sbj405]

4. Not sure how old the kids are, but if you pack lunch check out

http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/

Lots of good ideas for kids and adults.

[maxrandb]

8. Thanks

Kids are 16 and 14 and so far are enjoying making their own lunches and skipping the usual school lunch fare.

They could eat Chicken Patty Sandwiches and Fries everday. For those of you, with or without kids, you'd be amazed at the junk offered at school. And we wonder why there is a problem with obesity in this country.

[sbj405]

9. I don't have kids, but check out the menus posted in the newspaper

It's crazy. Totally fatty food. yuck

[AllegroRondo]

6. Are you still allowed fish?

[maxrandb]

10. Yes, we still do fish on Friday

It's kind of weird, I'm Catholic, but my wife and kids are Greek Orthodox.

[billyskank]

11. Curried vegetables (subji) and rice

You need potatoes, plus one or two other vegetables of your choice. I use cauliflower and broccoli. You can substitute for the potatoes too, if you wish. Peel everything that needs peeling, wash everything else and chop it all up into bite-sized chunks.

You also need one chilli per two people you are cooking for, plus some ginger peeled and chopped or grated. You also want one onion and a couple cloves garlic, peeled and chopped, but I use hing (asafoetida) instead of these last two.

You also need spices: cumin seeds, mustard seeds, ground turmeric, ground paprika and garam masala.

You also want some chopped tomato. From a can is fine. You need rice too, Basmati is best in my opinion.

Heat a goodish amount of oil in a pan. Maybe three tablespoons for every two people you are cooking for. Put 1/4 a teaspoon of mustard seeds into the oil. When they start to pop, add 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds. When these darken and start to get a bit excited too you can add the chopped onion, garlic, chilli and ginger. Chuck a level teaspoon of turmeric in there too, and a bit of paprika for colour. This is why you need a good amount of oil. You should end up with an oily spicy paste in the pan.

When the onion and/or chilli starts to brown/cook, add the potato, or whichever of your veg will take the longest to cook. Progressively add the other veg at appropriate times so all will be fully cooked at roughly the same time. Shouldn't take more than 20 mins in all. When all the vegetables are in the pan, add the chopped tomatoes, plus roughly an equal volume of water. Bring this to the boil and add a heaped teaspoon of garam masala. Add a little sugar to take the sharpness off the tomato, and add salt to taste. Simmer until all the veg is cooked.

Serve with basmati rice (or chapatis, if you are up to the task). :9

[maxrandb]

12. Man! That sounds good!!

I'll have to experiment with the spices. I like a little bit of spice, but the spouse will eat jalapenos right from the vine.

I don't know how my daughters survived through their development. Spouses spicy cravings went nuts when she was pregnant. Both my girls were born a bit early. Guess they wanted to get the hell out of there.

I've seen this girl eat chili with habanero peppers and not so much as break a sweat.

[redwitch]

13. There is an Indian take away near one of the shops I sell to

I always get the curried veggies and rice when I go there. It would be impossible not to be lured in- the aroma is heavenly! Your recipe looks quite lovely, I will bookmark it for future use, thanks!

[coffeenap]

15. Any Thai dish made with tofu--delicious. Really. nt