Becoming a Vegetarian – Making a Case For the Vegetarian Lifestyle
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Let's talk about becoming a vegetarian. First of all, let me tell you that I am a vegan so this is a subject that I'm passionate about. I know that being vegan seems extreme to many people so we can talk about becoming vegetarian but trust me the more you clean out your diet the better you will feel and vegan is an extremely clean way of eating. The vegetarian diet has become much more common and it is a trend that will certainly continue. Fortunately, the medical community is now supporting becoming vegetarian strongly and suggesting that people cut out the saturated fats and cholesterol ingested by eating meat.
There are many myths associated with becoming vegetarian. Many people think of vegetarians and imagine long-haired hippies eating granola in their VW bus. Well, let me assure you that there are vegetarians and vegans in every social class, every ethnicity and every religion. There are people who make this lifestyle change for health reasons, for ethical reasons, for religious reasons and even for environmental reasons. It is multi-faceted to say the least. I will tell you that I became vegan after learning about what really goes on in the factory farming industry in this country. It is nothing like what you would imagine it is and the cruelty is unspeakable and difficult to face. Of course people can eat meat and drink milk and not have to face the horrors, they are all tucked away behind closed doors, hidden from view. We call it 'beef' when in reality it is a dead cow; we call dead pigs 'ham'. It comes all cut and packaged so we don't have to face the reality and do it ourselves.
Unfortunately, in trying to reduce the bottom line there is no limit to what will be done to animals, forgetting that they are living, breathing creatures that feel pain and feel fear. It never ceases to amaze me how horrified a meat eating person will get when there is a report of an animal abuse case or find it disgusting that people in other countries eat cats & dogs. Why do people see a difference? Could it be that we just don't know what is done to the cows, pigs and chickens that are eaten or is it that somehow they don't appreciate that these are indeed living, feeling animals? Have we been conditioned to think of them as things instead of animals? There are many books and websites on the subject of factory farming. I am a firm believer that knowledge is power and I encourage you to learn more, that's what I did, and as a result I have not had an animal product in over 8 years. Becoming vegetarian or vegan was never a goal of mine, far from it, but once I learned the truth I simple would not have been able to eat meat and look at myself in the mirror.
I wouldn't eat animal products no matter what but it turns out that my ethical choice has also led me to feeling better physically than I ever have in my life. No one will ever be able to tell me that being a vegetarian or vegan is not the healthiest way to eat. I live it and I feel it! I have a family plagued with cardiac problems so my heredity is not good. Well, let me tell you, I am now the only one in my family who has not had an episode of some sort and not only that but also my cholesterol and blood pressure are extremely low.
Since becoming vegan, my energy level is so high and contrary to popular belief you do not need animal protein to build muscle. My workouts and results have not been the least bit compromised because of the change in my diet. Far from it, my muscular endurance is the highest it's ever been and since becoming vegan I have much more stamina to during my workouts.
I encourage you to learn more about becoming vegetarian (or even vegan).
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Italian Recipes – Culinary Appeal
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It is easy to find a wide variety of vegetarian Italian recipes.
Their mouth watering menu has a wholesome mix of soups, salads, lovely pastas to crusty breads. Most cooking depends on the local rice known as Arborio and the cuisine enjoys a rich lineage of cheese.
Italians add life to their food with a variety of herbs, spices and fresh olives primarily cooked in olive oil. Tomatoes are an essential part of every day cooking.
It is well said that Italian cuisine is the mother of South Europe.
Like Indian and Chinese, Italian cuisine also has several regional variations. But unlike the rest, Italian cooking has least blending so as to preserve the unique flavour of every dish.
Sauces lie at the heart of Italian cooking. And serve as an accompaniment to almost every dish whether it is pasta, meat dish or baked vegetables.
List of popular culinary sauces
Alfredo: is a white sauce which is made from butter and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. However these days heavy cream is added to enhance flavour and richness, mainly in the U.S. This sauce best complements a dish known as fettuccine pasta.
Arrabbiata: in Italian for "angry", this zesty tomato based sauce is given an extra spicy flavour due to the addition of hot chilli peppers. This sauce best complements any plain pasta recipe, but is best enjoyed with penne pasta.
Bolognese: also known as ragu alla Bolognese, which translates into a robust meat based sauce from Bologna Northern Italy, the place of its origin. Made with an assortment of fresh vegetables, herbs and meat (beef) ingredients lend it a typical dark shade. Lastly a bit of wine, cream and seasoning is added to further concentrate flavours. Usually tossed with pastas or drizzled and served.
Carbonara: originated during the World War II and has 2 distinct versions. One is American (much richer) and second Italian. Made with eggs, cream, Parmesan and bits of bacon, this sauce is cooked any type of long pasta such as spaghetti, linguini, or fettucini.
Marinara: classic Italian tomato sauce made, which serves as a versatile base for many great Italian dishes. This sauce not only pairs well with pastas, but is also used as a dip for finger foods, topping pizzas, burgers and sandwiches.
Italian Sauce Recipe
Neapolitan collective name for the various tomato based sauces derived from the Italian cuisine. These can be a wonderful addition to pizzas, pastas topping for sandwiches etc.
2 tbsp - Olive oil
1 1/4 - Tomatoes drained diced
1 No - Onion diced
1/4 tsp - Garlic
1 No - Bay leaf
1 tsp - Dried thyme or oregano
2 tbsp - Red wine (optional)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Set a pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes to it. Blanch for a few minutes and remove.
Peel slice and set aside the tomatoes.
Heat oil in a pan and add the onion, garlic, bay leaf and gradually stir in the tomatoes.
Add the wine and season with salt and pepper. Simmer over a low flame for 10 minutes.
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Ramen Noodle Tips
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Awe...those quick, easy and inexpensive Ramen noodles. There are so many ways to cook these long and curly noodles.
Take a package of the chicken flavored Ramen noodles and follow directions on package. Remove noodles after cooking and place them in an airtight container, but before closing the lid place 3 slices of Velveeta cheese (3 thin individually wrapped slices). Let set for 5 minutes. Remove lid and stir thoroughly and you have one of the most quick delicious meals that's similar to Mac 'N' Cheese, but better.
Another way is to take two packages of the chicken flavored Ramen noodles and follow directions on package. Remove noodles and drain most of liquid; add flavor packets then add a small can of Rotel tomatoes and chili's; next add 6 indivdually wrapped slices of Velveeta cheese. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove cover and stir thoroughly; serve warm. It's absolutely delicious.
One more great way is to take one package of the chicken or beef flavored noodles and follow directions on package. Drain noodles and rinse; add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and toss to coat well; serve warm. This is so simple but absolutely delicious.
This is just a few ways to fix Ramen noodles. Let your taste buds decide new creations.
Cristie has many more simple, but great tips at Cristie's Cookin. Be sure to check her spices out and submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a free "Gotcha Covered" apron.
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A Delicious Vegetarian Meal – Eliminating Animal By-Products
After eating meat and animal products your whole life, you may ask yourself why should I consider the change to a vegetarian lifestyle. For most of your life you have survived on eating eggs, hamburgers, hot dogs, poultry, so why change now?
To honestly answer this question you need to start by looking in the mirror. Is your weight at a healthy level compared to your height? Do you look and feel good about yourself? Are your energy levels where they should be or do you wake up tired and sluggish?
What you eat on a daily basis definitely has an effect on your general health, as well as your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels and much more.
When you eat the right foods that your body responds to, you should feel energized rather than tired and sluggish and feeling like you need a nap after a meal. How do you feel after eating? Food should nourish and feed the body and leave us energized and refreshed.
A delicious vegetarian meal, eliminating animal by-products will have your body running in peak condition like a well-oiled machine. It needs the right kind of fuel to run at peak efficiency, and when you're eating high-fat meat, or meat that's been fed antibiotics throughout its life, that's simply not the kind of fuel the human body flourishes on.
If you are serious about your health why not try eating vegetarian for a set period. Your body will respond in a way you have not seen previously giving you extra energy, feeling more mentally acute and more physically fit. The change can make a big difference in your overall health and well-being.
To maximize the 'healthy heart benefits' of a vegetarian food lifestyle for you and your loved ones you will need to master the art of cooking quality, mouthwatering, delicious meals that are easy to prepare and sumptuous to eat.
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Getting the Most Out of Your Chili Vegetarian Recipe
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Chili is now an accepted mainstay of vegetarian cooking. A true chili vegetarian recipe cook however, knows that there is more to just randomly adding any kind of chili pepper. There are some things that you need to take into consideration with your recipe.
Know Your Chili
Naturally, the amount of chili in your chili recipe will of course depend on your natural capacity to endure hotness. The question however is how to find out if there is too much chili. One basic step is to know your chili peppers. It is a fact for example that bell peppers and pimiento provide no hot taste at all so you can basically add as much as you want in a dish. Habanero and santaka chilies however are among the hottest so you would do well to add moderate amounts in your recipe. The famous jalapenos are only about moderately hot and are often the favorite ingredients in a vegetarian cooking.
Rev Up on Moderately Hot
For those who can't handle habaneros that are too hot, they can increase chili peppers to the middle or lower range of hotness. It is a fact that a this cooking is packed with full flavor which means that you need less of salt, sugar or other sources of flavor which are not healthy in large amounts.
Chilies have also health benefits like the antioxidants that can help clean up your system. They are also natural pain killers that do not dull all of your vital senses.
Handle Chilies Properly
Chilies can burn the skin. Handle chilies only with your bare hands if you only have a small quantity to cut. Handling lots of them for a flavorful chili can burn your skin. It makes better sense to use cooking gloves with lots of hot chilies. Make sure too that the juice of peppers never find its way into your eyes. Chili juice on your eyes can be a very painful experience. You can also keep your skin and hands off peppers by grinding them instead.
Manage the Heat
If you can't take too much heat then the best solution for your cooking is to simply remove the seeds and the white membrane before cutting and adding to your recipe. Tomato sauce is also said to be effective in helping lessen the hotness of chili.
Beer and other beverages should be avoided if it is already too hot on your mouth. While people still popularly use water to kill the fire of a chili recipe, yogurt and milk seem to be more effective.
Mix with Other Tastes
Your food would taste best with garlic, beans, tofu, onions and tomatoes. Just make sure that you mix your ingredients well so that the flavor does not stick in just some parts of the recipe but watch out for burned ingredients. Experts advise though that ingredients shouldn't be mixed all at once since this could kill the hot taste. Sauté the spices gradually to release the oil that holds the secret to its hot taste. Depending on the dish, you can serve a chili dish the next day to give time for flavors and tastes to mix.
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Cooking Tips – Low Fat Cooking
Most of us are aware that we should eat healthy to stay fit. But most of us fail to follow this sensible advice mainly because we lack information on low fat cooking. Low fat cooking does not require special ingredients or a lot of extra effort. By giving a little more attention to what we eat and what we use to cook our food, we can come up with healthy and delicious low-fat food.
Low fat cooking is a way of preparing and cooking food that reduces our total fat intake. By making simple changes in how we cook, we will be able to enjoy a healthier diet without sacrificing flavor or giving up whole food groups
There are many benefits that we can get from lower fat cooking. It helps to keep us fit, lowers cholesterol levels, and protects us from heart problems. Below are a few tips to cut the amount of fat in the diet:
1. Use non-stick cooking spray instead of oil or butter. If cooking spray is not an option, use liquid oils instead of solid fats.
2. Choose lean meat and skinless chicken breasts, and trim all visible fat from meat.
3. Instead of frying, use other cooking methods such as grilling, broiling, baking, braising, poaching and microwaving foods. When you must saute, use minimal amounts of oil or use broth instead.
4. Dredge chicken or fish in breadcrumbs instead of batter, and then bake them instead of frying.
5. Replace some of the meat content in burgers, meatloaf, chili, etc. with vegetables, whole grains or beans.
6. Instead of pork or beef sausages, use chicken or turkey sausages. Replace regular bacon with Canadian or turkey bacon.
7. Use an egg substitute to cut out cholesterol. Or, use one egg and two egg whites to replace two whole eggs in your recipes.
8. Use fat-free or low-fat dairy products. Substitute full-fat cheeses with reduced-fat ones, and lessen the amount you use. Use yogurt or reduced fat sour cream in dressings, dips, spreads and stews.
9. Marinate your food in soy sauces, flavored olive oil, herbs or spices.
10. When baking, replace some of the fat with applesauce, low-fat buttermilk, or nonfat yogurt. Your baked goods will taste just as good without the extra fat.
Obesity and heart disease are on the rise. Low fat cooking can lower the amount of fats in our diet and help us avoid heart disease and common health problems associated with excess weight such as arthritis, joint pains and back problems.
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Vegetarian Foods – A Brief Introduction
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High in fibre but low in fat, whole foods can form the basis of a vegetarian diet. Many of the ingredients used will be quite familiar to you but the lesser known ingredients are illustrated in greater details when required.
To cook and prepare vegetarian foods, one must have a grasp of how to deal with the processing and cooking of simple food stuff such as, how to cook brown rice, how to cook wholemeal paste and how to prepare, beans, nuts, lentils and dried fruit.. All of the previous ingredients will keep for a long time under correct storage conditions. Not only do these ingredients provide and excellent contribution to your food store, but they are very handy should an unexpected or unannounced guest descend upon you.
Most vegetarian recipes require no special cooking skills and most defiantly need not be a burden on your time as many vegetarian dishes can be made ahead of time and finished off at the last minute.
It should be noted that dried beans and pulses could be replaced with already processed produce from a tin. A dried bean or pulse will approximately double in its size when re-hydrated, so if a recipe calls for 4oz of dried chick peas, you can substitute these for 8oz of tinned chick peas. A similar situation arises with the use of herbs in cooking vegetarian dishes. If you do not have access to fresh herbs, you should substitute them with dried herbs but be sure to half the quantity.
A vegetarian diet makes full use of fresh fruit and vegetables and are used both cooked and raw. A rich source of many of the essential minerals and vitamins, fruit and vegetables are a great way to add colour, flavour and texture to any dish.
Fruit and vegetables in a vegetarian diet are very versatile and this alone adds interest to your diet. So many fruit and vegetables in all shapes and sizes are freely available throughout the year, although cheapest during their own growing season.
There is now a huge range of fruit and vegetables available to the vegetarian cook, from the common or garden, onions, potatoes and brassicas, through to the more exotic delights of warmer climates.
Fruit in any diet, can help to offset the cravings of a sweet tooth, so it maybe possible for you to cut down on additional sugar or sugary foods. A bonus for those of us who need to watch our waistlines!
Vegetarian cookery is more of a lifestyle for a true dedicated vegetarian but it also provides a very tasty alternative to meat based cooking.
Look at it this way.
A meat eater can eat vegetarian food but vegetarian can't eat meat, so next time you entertain, why not consider a meat free recipe or two for your guests?
Vegetarian cooking is no longer the elitist weirdo cooking that it once was, it has become a way of life for millions of people across the world.
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