Intro

When I was a teenager, I was probably the last person you would expect to be interested in vegetarianism.  My favorite lunch was bologna and cheese sandwiches (not just regular bologna, mind you, but the kind with little cheese pieces in it).  I ate whatever my mom cooked for dinner (meatloaf, chicken with Honey Mustard sauce, Shepherd’s Pie).  My favorite vegetables – and pretty much the only ones that I ate – were corn and potatoes, or anything smothered in cheese.  I loved that after basketball practice we would stop by Hardees to pick up two ham and cheese sandwiches on croissants.  Obviously, not the most healthy diet.  I had thought about trying vegetarianism, but knew that it would be too difficult.  Then, I went to Italy on a school trip.  The first night, they served veal – and that’s when it clicked.  No way, no how was I eating a baby cow.  I was only 14 years old, but I still had that sense of morality that it was wrong (not for everyone, but definitely for me).  I told the trip advisors that I didn’t eat red meat, and it stuck!  I still ate chicken and turkey (and some fish, though I never really liked that anyways) for two years after that, but at the end of the school year – junior year – I decided enough was enough.  I was going to take the plunge and give up meat indefinitely.  I had no interest in becoming a vegan – still don’t – cheese, milk, and ice cream are my favs!  However, I am still a vegetarian 13 year after my initial decision and have no desire to turn back.

I am writing this blog to help new vegetarians get interested in cooking.  For my first years, I cooked vegetarian refried beans and lived off of peanut butter sandwiches.  I didn’t have my first salad until college!  Even after moving to New Hampshire after college I didn’t cook that much – and if I did, it was normally packaged pasta with store-bought sauce.  I was not getting enough protein or other nutrients.  I finally got interested in cooking about four years ago and absolutely love it! I always enjoyed baking, but cooking just seemed like too much work.  Now, I dabble in all types of recipes – and taper them all to meet my vegetarian needs.  I want to show new vegetarians, people interested in vegetarianism, or those who just want a healthier lifestyle (I am not someone who thinks that everyone should be a vegetarian – to each their own) that meatless cooking is fun and easy!  I will also be throwing blurbs in about restaurant foods – you need to be careful when choosing your meals and always ask about whether or not it is vegetarian.  I learned that the hard way and have gotten violently ill on a few occasions. :-/

I look forward to this new step in my life and hope that you will come along on the journey!