the worse vegetarian column of the year

[Guest guest]

this has to be the worse " vegetarian " column i've read this year..

i don't even know where to begin....

 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/sso_detail?blogid=49 & entry_id=33156 & ty\

pe=green

 

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

The Lazy Vegetarian

 

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years, starting back in the days when health food

stores were tiny, strangely-smelling affairs packed with TVP. To be honest, I

don't know why I still eat vegetarian, and I'm certainly not much of a cook. But

over the years I've learned what's surprisingly good and what's, well, not. So

here are a few recommendations.

 

Tofu. I'm not a fan. Who would've thought I'd make it 20 years? But in that

time, I've learned two ways to make it acceptably tasty. If you're a good cook,

I'm sure there are many other ways, but these are simple and relatively

foolproof. In both cases, small squares also help it go down easy (think cutting

the chunks in the photo in half).

 

 

Buy the baked kind, and choose spicing appropriate to the dish you'll be putting

it in. My brand is Soy Deli, and all the flavors except Italian are good.

Buy extra firm, chop it in small squares. Sautee the squares in equal parts of

vegetable oil and teriyaki sauce until brown. Then flip all the little squares

and sautee the other side.

 

Fake meats. Some are good, some are bad. In general, chicken tends to be

disgusting, and beef tends to be better. Fake bacon does fine in things, but is

less than thrilling on its own. Meatballs are good. Salami is tempting but never

fails to be terrible.

 

My latest favorite fake meat dish is Vegetarian Plus brand Citrus Sparerib

Cutlets. At one point, Trader Joe's had something similar, which was also good.

 

Veggie burgers. Garden Burger originals, yes. Boca Burgers, no. Amy's are OK.

 

Seitan. I'm not an expert, but White Wave's Oriental flavor is very good in a

stir fry.

 

 

Wikipedia

 

Beans. Beans are the cheapest, healthiest way to get your protein, and there are

any number of ways to make them delicious. I'll limit myself to three tips.

 

 

Vegetarian chili, with peppers, onions, carrots and even zucchini, is very good.

Red lentils are, in my opinion, far superior to the more common greenish

variety. Masoor dal is easy to make and flavorful.

Don't forget white beans. I'm a big fan of pea beans, but Cannellini are also

good.

Rice. Where there are beans, there's often rice. I don't believe in brown rice

with everything, but it is better for you. If you don't like long grain brown

rice, which is the most common type, try short grain: It's nuttier and not as

reminiscent of cardboard.

 

Nuts. Cashews are closest to having a full protein, and they're delicious to

boot! Try them with raisins or in an Indian-themed dish. A few toasted nuts on a

salad are also a good way to get a little extra protein. You can also substitute

peanut butter and jelly for cream cheese to get an extra kick out of your

morning bagel.

 

Power vegetables. Make sure you're getting the most from your vegetables: Be

sure to eat some orange vegetables, and seek out ways to prepare the dark leafy

ones that really pack the vitamins. My lazy favorite: A mixed-greens salad. It

never gets old.

 

Eggs. My doctor friend tells me that eggs don't have as much bad cholesterol as

they are rumored to. And they do have a lot of protein. So after a big workout

at the gym, I dive in to a plate of scrambled eggs with a little Parmesan cheese

mixed in—and a salad, of course.

 

Cheese. Cheese gets a very bad rap. But don't let it get you down. Cheese is the

gooey stuff that holds life together and makes it possible to be vegetarian for

a couple decades.

 

Got veggie eating tips of your own? Share them in the comments, or here.

 

Posted By: Cameron Scott (Email) | Dec 02 at 09:08 AM

 

Listed Under: green eating | Comments (10) : Post Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

" NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may

have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this

without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor

protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. "