My Twenty-Ninth Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Nine

Today I tried the other Linda McCartney meal that I bought — Vegetarian Lasagne.

And in all honesty, it was the same as the cannelloni, just flat instead of being rolled. Saying that I preferred the cannelloni. Perhaps it’s one of those things where button shaped chocolate tastes that little bit better than square chocolate, or am I alone in feeling this way?

So I have ventured into the ready meal vegetarian market. I’m done now.

Saying that, there is something so good about ready meals. It’s probably because of the infrequent amounts that I have them…

My Twenty-Eighth Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Eight

Today I tried Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Cannelloni, and it was super nice !

My mum bought me a couple of Linda McCartney meals for me to have some nights when my parents are cooking meat dishes. Tonight was a cannelloni dish from her frozen range. It was like a typical cannelloni and  the pasta was filled with spinach and soya mince (whatever that is…) but it was super good.

It’s ‘new’. How exciting !

Okay so it doesn’t look great on a plate. But who cares. It was tasty! I forgot to photograph the meal when I had put salad on my plate, so image a green salad on the side of the plate. And at around 350 calories, it’s healthier than a sandwich! That’s the one thing about veggie meals which I really like, is that they are healthier and have fewer calories, although I do find that I have to eat more carbs because the meals aren’t as filling as meat dishes.

So this is the second Linda McCartney dish that I’ve tried. I really like her range. It’s really affordable and really good food. Do any of you have any suggestions of any of the range with I should try?

My Twenty-Seventh Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Seven

Tonight I cooked a Potato Frittata with Pesto and Goat’s Cheese.

Yes, I had no idea what that was before tonight. My mum buys Good Food every month, and she asked me to pick some veggie recipes that I would want to cook a couple of nights for us. We decided to cook the frittata because it looked to be something a little different that what we would usually cook. Recently I’ve been really enjoying goat’s cheese. I had never eaten it much before, but recently I have been really liking it.

The frittata was super easy to cook. Basically you need potatoes, eggs, garlic, goat’s cheese and pesto (veggie friendly). Salad is also nice to serve it with. I’ll be honest and say that it was a little bland. But then when it’s only eggs, potato, cheese and pesto, there isn’t that much flavour there.

I think this might be a good recipe to play around with and see what you can add to make it taste a little better. I really liked the variations in textures and it was super easy to make. If you are on a student budget, super cheap too. The only pricey thing is the goat’s cheese, but other ingredients are ones that you always have in the house. So as it is coming to the end of term, this might be a good way of using up some of the food without having to buy more.

 

My Twenty-Sixth Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Six

Today is Mother’s Day.

This quote from Virginia Woolf was at the front of the menu. It’s so true. Food is something to be appreciated, rather than consumed for need. Appreciation of basic things can allow for appreciation of the bigger picture.

My family and I went out for lunch at a local hotel. It was lovely. I will be honest and say that I didn’t think today would be overly hard. Many people thought today might be my hardest day as I would have to sit next to roast dinners and be around meat, but I’ll hold my hands up and say that I don’t really like roast dinners that much, so it wasn’t too hard.

The menu at the hotel was beautiful, and the vegetarian options were stunning. I was concerned that due to recent restaurant experience, the veggie options would be lacking…but they weren’t. Okay, this might be a bit hypocritical compared to other posts, but there was only one veggie option for each course, which was completely fine because there were only five options per course. The usual beef, lamb, pork, fish and veggie options. I think my frustration with other restaurants is the fact that on a whole menu, there have been a shocking lack of veggie options.

For starter I had a ‘Baked Goat’s Cheese and Red Onion Tart, Pickled Beetroot and Black Olive Dressing’. It was so good.

Honestly, I would have probably chosen this for my starter had I not been veggie. I love baked goat’s cheese and red onion, so this wasn’t so hard to begin with. I’ve always been a bit weary of olives. I think I’ve convinced myself that I don’t like them. I don’t think I’ve ever tried one actually, so I don’t know if I like them or not, but today I tried olives and I was surprised, I liked them. I like how often this is happening during the course of this veggie stint.

For main I had ‘Tomato, Fennel and Saffron Linguini, Garlic Veloute, Micro Salad’.

I know that I said I wasn’t a fan of roast dinners earlier, but I actually missed meat and the roast potatoes and gravy. But I got on with it and had my pasta, and although it wasn’t a roast, was a lovely dish and super tasty. And it was so beautifully served. I am loving the amount of colour that I have on my plate with my meals. I sort of feel that I’m eating more healthy things. Don’t they say that the more colourful your food is, the more healthy it is?

Dessert wise, I opted for ‘Raspberry Cheesecake with Custard Ripple Ice-Cream’. 

I adore cheesecake. I haven’t had it in so long. I had heard that cheesecake wasn’t suitable for vegetarians because it contained whey products and rennet. I said at the beginning I would try and reduce the whey products which I eat, but I figured that because it doesn’t not directly contain animal products, and I am vegetarian not vegan, I would be okay. I think it’s easy to get under all the things you can and cannot eat, and as I am only doing this for lent, to go all into ever detail is something which I feel that I would do if I was becoming a permanent vegetarian. I have given up meat and fish and reducing my consumption of animal products. I am not eating gelatine, but with things after that, I will try and avoid them, but I will eat them, just not at the same level as I did before.

Also how beautifully is it served? I really love it when food is served with care. It just makes it look like a piece of art and so appetising. Presentation is key in my books. I am such a sucker for presentation. I just believe it shows care.

So overall, the meal was lovely. I did think today would be hard, but it was actually much easier than I expected. The vegetarian options were beautiful, and yes I did miss meat, but I didn’t crave it. The restaurant had fabulous vegetarian options, so I didn’t feel that I was missing out on anything, but rather trying something that I would probably never choose.

My Twenty-Fifth Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Five

Happy Belated St. Patrick’s Day !

As I am home for the weekend, I offered to cook dinner. I cooked a risotto – my new speciality. As my family are meat-eaters, I wanted to cook a dish that could also have meat in it. My family are really supportive of what I’m doing, but I don’t really want to make them eat vegetarian if they don’t have to, so a risotto seemed a good option!

I cooked a mushroom and asparagus (and chicken) risotto.

Basically I cooked some risotto rice in some vegetable stock. I average 80-100g per person for rice — hunger dependant. This recipe is for 5 people so keep that in mind. Also everything is approximated. I just cook with what I think works. Anyway, I used two stock cubes. I usually fill up a measuring jug with boiling water and keep topping it up with remaining stock. Admittedly, the stock gets weaker over time, but it works fine. I think I used perhaps 2 pints. Really with risotto, it’s guess work. You just have to keep adding water until the rice is cooked and creamy.

I suppose I should do the method rather than just talking about parts of the recipe. So firstly I fried some mushrooms in butter (you can use oil — butter just works better). Transfer the mushrooms from the pan and put on a plate. Then add some more butter, quite a generous amount. Fry a whole onion and some garlic. 2/3 cloves is a good amount. Then add the rice and coat with the butter and onions. Then add the stock. Keep adding some until it is cooked. I usually drown it at the beginning, and then add less and less. Some people do it in equal measures. See what works best for you. I added a large glass of wine in during this just to give it more flavour. You can add some if you want. You don’t have to. I used a white wine. When the wine is nearly cooked, add the asparagus. Cut each spear into inch thick pieces. I work on about one and a half per person, maybe less if you are having meat on top. See what works best. Then add the mushrooms and some seasoning. Keep adding water so the rice doesn’t stick to the pan. When serving, the rice can’t be too wet, but rather have a sort of creamy look to it.

If you are using chicken, then cook it separately, then add it to the mixture when you add the asparagus. I cooked chicken separately and took my portion before adding it to the mixture.

My Twenty-Fourth Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Four

I came home for the weekend, and being a Friday night, we decided to get takeaway. I have never eaten takeaway so much in a while. I think before the other day, I was a good couple of months since I last had one. This week I seem to have had like two!

The other day, my friend was telling me that often Chinese is a good way to go for a veggie. I noticed with Indian, the veggie options tend to be the sauce with vegetables, rather than the meat. Saying that, most veggie meals are based on dishes with a meat substitute. So we went for a Chinese, opting for a mushroom chow mein. I love chicken chow mein, so I thought that having a mushroom version might not be so different from my usual order.

Admittedly, takeaway never looks good in a photo, but still.

Don’t get me wrong, the dish was good, but I still love a chicken chow mein.

But I did manage to stay away from the prawn crackers. Sadly they weren’t veggie friendly.

My Twenty-Third Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Three

Sorry for the complete lack in posts over the last couple of days.

So on Thursday I went out for a meal with my dance friends for the committee handover and a sort of celebration / any excuse for a meal out and a party. We went to a restaurant in town called Copa. To be honest the place had a lovely atmosphere, but the staff were sort of lacking, other that that the food was good and reasonable, but the company – fabulous.

One problem with the place was that there was hardly any veggie options. Two I think. Which in my book is appalling. As a meat eater I never take much notice of the veggie options on the menu, or how many of them there are. There was loads of fish dishes, so if you are pescatarian, then you’d have no problem. Being a vegetarian, my choice was either mushroom risotto or a black bean and jalapeno burger. The choice was great. Oh, and there was a hummus starter.

Seriously?

Anyway, I went for the burger. I was slightly apprehensive as I’m not such a fan of spicy food, but I thought that this was something that I would never choose if I was a meat eater, so why not try it.

I was pleasantly surprised with my choice. It was sort of like an samosa in a burger (yes, that does sound odd) but it was actually really nice. The green on the top was guacamole which I absolutely adore. I think it is one of my favourite things. I was always slightly weary of avacado. I always thought that it was just a weird texture, but as I have grown up, I have become more accepting of foods and open to trying new food. Most of the time I actually rather like it.

My Twenty-Second Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-Two

Today I ventured into the world of veggie sandwiches. Once again, it was falafel which I had to have. I don’t particularly like cheese so that’s out of the question. And egg is a big no no if you are in a confine space.

I sort of resent buying sandwiches because they are so expensive! But I splashed £3 on this. Yes. £3.

It’s a ‘falafel wrap’ – so that is falafel served with a mixed salad, homemade hummus and onion relish.

I’d have a chicken sandwich any day. According to my veggie friend, veggie sandwiches are a bit hit or miss. This one was a bit of a miss. I’ve grown to accept falafel, but this however was just too dry and not overly great. The mixed salad on the other hand was acceptable. It looks appetising though.

Dinner wise was nothing overly exciting. Other than asparagus, which I still have to try and learn how to cook the best way. Any suggestions? I steamed then grilled tonights. Wasn’t great. I do like asparagus in things, but on it’s own — somewhat lacking.

Tonight’s delights was a spinach and mushroom bake, carrots, tomatoes and asparagus. Colourful? I think so!

 

My Twenty-First Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty-One

Today I ate ratatouille. I don’t like courgette. So perhaps this was a bad idea.

I put the ratatouille on a bed of spinach to give myself another portion of my five a day. To be fair, having a plate of vegetables in front of you, isn’t entirely appetising, but I’ll admit. I liked it. I actually ate the courgette and like it. I think I have turned a corner.

I put my hand up. I bought the ratatouille, rather than made it. To be honest, as I am only cooking for myself, I couldn’t be bothered with the faff of making it. I’m sure it’s super easy to make and I would like to make it one day. I think as well I would eat this when I go back to eating meat and fish. I think it would be lovely with a slice of fish or even with either grilled chicken or beef.

I didn’t pay a lot for the ratatouille. Maybe £1 tops. Which I know is a little bit dodgy. But it was actually okay and delicious. For a meal of costing maybe £1.5o max, this was a super cheap, super healthy, super tasty meal. I must have had at least four of my five a day just on that one plate, and I felt really good after eating all the veg. I’m not a fan of veg at all, but I feel that because of having to eat veggie food, I have become much more accepting of them.

 

 

My Twentieth Day Of Being A Veggie

Day Twenty

I spent my whole day on campus doing work, so when I came home I just wanted something super quick, so I just heated up a Chilli Con Carne (without the carne but rather Quorn).

Basically I just made this with a jar of Bolognese sauce, a tin of Kidney Beans and some Quorn mince. You just have to cook the mince for a couple of mins until it is cooked, then add the jar of sauce and the tin of beans and simmer for a while. Then ta-da you are done. Super cheap, super tasty student meal.

I used Bolognese sauce just because I had jar of sauce in my cupboard, but you can use actual Chilli Con Carne sauce. To be honest there isn’t much difference. I think the Chilli Con Carne already has kidney beans in it and I think it is slightly spicier, but with a Bolognese sauce, you can just add more spice if you want. Also to make a Spaghetti Bolognese then you just don’t add kidney beans. Simple. You can get 4 portions out of a jar of sauce, so if you want, you can split it in two, and there you have two different dishes. Cheap as chips, and pluses are super good for you. I think as a whole, we don’t cook with enough pulses in our diet. Pulses are a high source of fibre and protein, and super healthy. I know I don’t cook enough with pulses, but since becoming veggie, I have tried to increase the levels in my diet.