Weekly Veggie

I briefly tried being a vegetarian. For a boy.  Like Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, only it didn't last very long as I am, at heart, strong-willed and a lover of pig. I resented feeling guilty and I really, really missed bacon.

The boy, incidentally, was not the MM. Early in our relationship when the MM mentioned that he had not eaten meat for awhile, I panicked a little.  Luckily, he loved my cooking more than his principles, so now we're a happy meat-in-moderation family.  The MM doesn't get emotional over the images of pulled pork sandwiches and biscuits in Garden and Gun (this is what happens when you live far, far from anyplace where you can just go eat this stuff), but we have to have sympathy for those unfortunate enough not to grow up with these things as part of their regional food culture. 

 Images via Garden and Gun Magazine

Anyhoodle, even I, professed lover of pig, feel the need for a weekly "reset" on the meat in moderation balance. So at least one night a week, sometimes two, we have a vegetarian or even vegan supper.  Here are two of my recent favorites.

1. Roasted Root Vegetable Bisque from Eat, Live, Run (found on Pinterest). Sweet potato, rutabaga, parsnip, carrot and poblano pepper, all roasted and then pureed with coconut milk to make it creamy. It was even better the next day. 

 

2. Masala Lentil Dhal. Simple and delicious. Red lentils simmered with tumeric and then you add toasted mustard and cumin seeds (I left out the crushed red pepper so that Ford can eat some tomorrow), lemon juice, coconut milk and cilantro. Serve it over rice.

Ford updates:  Little man is really into books these days! He will bring us his favorites and crawl onto the sofa to have us read to him. He is also into throwing things when tired or frustrated....or to see what our reaction will be.

All good things must come to an end.