I just got an email from “Tyler” and it came at just the right time, a perfect early Xmas present!! Lake Tai will be opening in January at 1958 Kirschner Road in Kelowna. More details to come as I get them!
Posts Tagged vegetarian
While most people take their summer vacation in the summer months, I just got back from mine. It was spent in Great Britain; with a large amount of time in Scotland (where My Guy is from). To say I fell in love with the land would be an understatement. It was everything I imagined it would be, everything my mind pictured over all the years of reading books about the area…it was all so much larger than life. I was enveloped in history and culture- something our nation, and continent for that matter, simply is too young to have. Just a simple drive in the country meant passing castle ruins, ancient stone walls and historical monuments such as the one dedicated to William Wallace.
Alongside the beautiful country were of course, the beautiful people. I was lucky enough to meet and hang out with several of My Guys treasured and dearest friends from when he was younger. I met some fantastic individuals that I’m looking forward to learning more about over the years to come. It was a time of self discovery, learning, acceptance and love. I had an amazing time and it was with a somewhat heavy heart we boarded the place at Gatwick to come “home.”
But now to answer the question on everyone’s mind: What is the food like? Is it true the Brits deep fry EVERYTHING? I don’t know about that personally because I didn’t have alot of deep fried things regularly, but did ingest a helluva lot of carbs and processed food. Much more than I would normally! I didn’t have as much fresh veggies as I do here at home, but that was probably just because there was a fair amount of ‘eating out’. Supermarkets however, don’t have the abundance or array of produce that North American chains offer; and display it in plastic crates. From what I saw and tasted though, the quality and freshness was not lacking! I think it comes down to differences in packaging and displaying…
We had a disastrous introduction to Quorn that some of my readers may already know about. I don’t care if I NEVER see this product again. It was nasty. Pure nasty. I feel a bit of sorrow for UK Newbie Vegetarians who may try this product thinking it’s their only choice and be totally and completely turned off. One of the local grocer chains, Morrisons, offered up their own version of some veggie delights such as “Chicken Kiev” that was incredibly delicious. My Guy and I tried several of their entrees for vegetarians and were quite impressed. Way to go Morrisons!
A major food highlight was a trip to Hendersons of Edinburgh- Vegetarian Restaurant and Arts Venue. My Guy had told me how he used to have lunches there and was always amazed with the selection and quality available to Vegetarians. I had read through the website before our trip so I was familiar with the history and how much the business had grown over the years. I was thrilled to see a thriving family business amongst so many chain-type eateries pumping out the same crap day after day. Hendersons did NOT disappoint in the slightest. We ate there 2 times and both were absolutely delicious and not overpriced! I found the counter help friendly and didn’t mind my endless questions about the items offered. All in all it was an experience and one I recommend highly to anyone, vegetarian or omni, travelling to Edinburgh to try out!
Now to end this post I want to mention a little something I fell in love with, called a Chip Buttie. It’s far from healthy, it’s loaded with calories and fat and it’s sinfully delectable. Since I don’t eat fish, there isn’t much I can have at the local fish ‘n chip shops…but My Guy introduced me to the almighty Chip Buttie and I haven’t been the same since. The magic though, is in the Scottish Morning Roll…I have to admit I didn’t enjoy the English ones so much…
The Almighty Chip Buttie (ok yes it's a glorified french-fry sandwich but really its so much more!)
The Vegetarian Butcher
Sep 18
When I first saw this story, Vegetarian Butcher Makes a Killing, I had formed an opinion BEFORE I even read the article. I scoffed. What did vegetarian butcher mean? I thought it was a ridiculous title…but nevertheless my interest was obviously piqued. I found the website but unfortunately my Dutch is rusty. Bottom line with this story is the amount of Dutch citizens who have decreased their meat consumption: 75% of people no longer eat meat on a daily basis. The Vegetarian Butcher is a chain of shops selling ONLY vegetable and grain based mock “meats” and they have 30 so far in the country. I would LOVE to see this in person but alas, Holland is not on our vacation itinerary this year…or the next…but the Dutch certainly know how to do things right, don’t they?
So I have lots to talk about tonight! It’s been a fairly eventful week in the world of ideas and blogging and “stuff”. I can’t promise my thoughts and rambles will interest EVERYONE out there but one can hope I manage to snag a few new readers…
A little birdie (OK a co-worker…) told me the price of Genuine Health Greens + has gone up in price- significantly! We already pay $59.99 a tub here in Vancouver and if you’re lucky you can find it on sale somewhere for maybe $5 cheaper. My co-worker told me she paid up to $10 more recently! I haven’t had to purchase a new tub yet but I will have to soon, and can I afford to fork out almost $70 for my Greens? I honestly don’t know but it isn’t looking all that possible right now. I’ll be cutting the amount I use in half in hopes I can stretch the container and still have the benefits I’ve come to love from the product. I find it helps my tummy dramatically and if I lose this little bit of peace for my guts, I’m not sure what I’ll do.
The regular readers to this blog know I rave on and on about the PC Blue Label Worlds Best Meatless products…and other meat subs that use gardein. I’ve always been able to buy these products at Superstore here on the West Coast since they are Presidents Choice items…until recently. It started out innocently enough: we couldn’t find the Worlds Best Meatless Meatballs ANYWHERE. I thought, ‘OK they are popular, they’re just out of stock…’ and I held on to this belief for a month or so while I ran around the city checking out No Frills and Superstore for the balls. I could never find them and eventually the label disappeared from the freezer shelf where it had always been….it was replaced with Angus Beef Meatballs. Two rows of them! Why?? Why would Presidents Choice do this? These meatballs are a superior product. I know meat-eaters who love them! We have spaghetti and meatball night in our house that is now ruined and has become Taco Tuesday much to Moops chagrin…tacos sometimes just don’t cut it. I’m wondering if the Worlds Best Meatless Burger will be next? I love being a Vegetarian but too often we get these cool new products, they grab and hook us in…and then the product disappears…like the stuffed “chicken” breasts from Schneider’s. Remember those fellow Veggies?
I’ve got a bone to pick with the PC people and I’m looking for ways to get hold of Galen Weston Jr so I can REALLY vent how I feel! I could go on because there is ANOTHER product we can’t find….*sigh* It’s just simply gone from Superstore. The Meatless Beef Strips. But alas, I’ll leave this for now until I speak to Mr. Weston. Inquiring Veggie minds (and those who simply want to eat more healthy) want to know…stay tuned.
My dear friend M has been experimenting with spaghetti squash. To be specific, she is looking to use it as a traditional wheat spaghetti substitute due to gastrointestinal issues. She has tried the oven and microwave methods and says it always comes out crunchy. It seems like it’s a really sore spot with M, because she wants her dishes to turn out, but wants a spaghetti like texture. I personally have zero experience with this squash; it’s always freaked me out to be honest. I think I will expand my horizons however and experiment with this…I found some amazing recipes online today. I also found this informative article about how to best prepare the squash…it certainly looks appealing! And easy. I like that.
I’m still plagued by a stalker of YEARS ago. I know that person is reading this very post, because I can see all the various places they access my website from in the city they live in. As each new one appears, I flag it and block the access thinking surely they will get the hint. Sadly, their life must be so empty (and lonely) that to dwell on the past and re-live the hurt and anguish they put me through, is the only way to get some sort of satisfaction each day. I was really bothered at first because I’d been left alone for years and knew that once I did put a blog and website up, that I would become vulnerable in a sense…but now I feel sadness for this person. I haven’t forgiven and don’t know that I ever will…and I haven’t forgotten either because my life WAS hell during that time. I would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart if I could just be left alone by this person and nothing would bring me more peace than to know they had moved on…I certainly did and with thanks.
Always go with your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, someone seems too possessive…too weird…go with your gut. I wish I had.
I’m in a better place obviously now and LOVE the people in my life. With all my heart.
“Sing as if nobody can hear you…live like there is no tomorrow.”
Seitan Sunday
Apr 3
The seitan is simmering. I have no idea what to expect. I was going to document the whole thing with pictures and provide a step-by-step guide on making it, and tips and tricks…but thought I better actually wait to see if this recipe and this method actually turns out! It’s cooking now, and I won’t lie to you, it looks like beef! I’m a little put off by that; but it’s due to the soy sauce in the recipe. I may omit it, or substitute something else for next batch because I would prefer something a little lighter in colour. Even though I’m vegetarian it’s hard to look at the dark seitan and not see “beef” whereas if I had a lighter colored piece, I would look at it and see “chicken”.
But regardless of the actual COLOUR, I need to wait and see if this is edible first. This is my 3rd attempt at making seitan- the other 2 were well over 3 years ago and I never thought I would try again. I just think with the rising grocery costs, and the often too-expensive veg specialty products we rely on, this may be the next best thing for us.
Just checked in on the seitan and I literally gasped, and called out to Moops “It looks like boiled beef!” She didn’t believe me and was adamant it couldn’t look like beef….so she came and took a look. Her words, “Eww we’re having beef for dinner??!!” I thought I was going to lose her and she might not want to try the finished product so I had to remind her how much she loves gardein’s Beefless Beef tips! Disaster averted. (Pretty sure I have never used the word “beef” so many times in one paragraph IN MY LIFE.)
Simmering gently...no boiling!
The seitan after 1.5 hours; seconds to go from being turned off and allowed to cool down in the broth (I tasted it and it’s got that dreaded RUBBERY texture! This is exactly what happened before. Grrr) I will have to be as patient as possible and wait….until it’s finally ready. I’ll admit, I’ve nibbled a few elastic-y pieces…and the taste is good at least….
So the seitan is cooling in the pot and I stole another piece…I *think* the rubbery texture is disappearing and the actual taste is great! I think that is all to do with how well you flavour the broth since that is what the seitan will ‘soak up’ as it cooks. I sauteed onion, garlic and ginger and then used a Veggie broth, adding some sage, bay leaves, oregano and black pepper to the mix. It was a dark, intensely flavourful broth; definitely not one you would want to use alone in a soup- I made it extra flavourful for the sole purpose of cooking seitan.
1.5 hours, almost done!
Well the finished product is….drum roll please….TASTY…if not a tad rubbery….but tasty! Consensus from Moops? “DELICIOUS!” I fried it up quickly in a pan to brown the seitan.
More to come as we experiment with seitan over the next few days…and we still haven’t gotten My Guy’s verdict! Stay tuned!
Crispy, tasty goodness on a plate...
For dinner the other night, My Guy cooked us up some Gardein Dijon Chick’n Breasts. He found them at Superstore and thought it would make a satisfying meal; something different we could ‘sink our teeth into’. Upon opening the package I was amazed at how much like a chicken breast this product actually resembled! My Guy and I agree that as Veggies, we’re not looking for a substitute for meat necessarily, but rather something substantial we can dig into and that would provide a little variety to our meal plan. The package offers up a few ways to cook them and we opted to pan fry with a smidgen of olive oil for flavour. They come with a tasty sauce and My Guy cooked up some basmati rice and broccoli to round out the meal…THE VERDICT? Delicious. Very hearty and filling for one, but also just damned tasty all around. My taste-buds were singing! I would definitely eat these again and more of the Gardein products. The only negative in this whole thing? Price. A package of 2 breasts cost My Guy $5.49 plus taxes. That’s expensive compared to the All-Mighty-Tofu. 
**COMING SOON: REVIEW OF THE PETE’S TOFU TO GO BY SUNRISE SOYA FOODS. GINGER SESAME FLAVOUR!**
I’m not sure about this cleanse. I’m not experiencing any ‘miracles’ or even really *anything* to be honest. I realize it’s meant to be a gradual thing that happens to your body, slowly eliminating toxins and such…but I’m on Day 25. I really only experience relief if I drink the Kleri tea the night before…the longer I steep, the better the result. I feel as if the fiber powder I drink in the morning is just that- fiber….like say Metamucil or another brand name stir-into-juice type fiber. Sure I’ve read all the reviews- both positive and negative and have to wonder about the positive reviews. I’m honestly starting to feel like they are just a tad hyped up…but is this just the cynic in me?
I don’t feel like I have more energy AT ALL. In fact I feel I’m sleeping more poorly, I have more cramping and don’t feel like I’m any more “regular” than I was before I started this program. I feel like I’m literally dragging my ass. The folks at Dr. Natura have been nothing but nice to deal with though; telling me to be patient, each body reacts differently to the Colonix program.While I do appreciate that, I can’t help but wonder why I’m not seeing the results that so many others are? I know, be patient, right? Right. Gotcha.
I am pleased I didn’t spend money on this because I think any program you start like this, you should put some serious thought and research into. I did look into this company, and the product before I started, and felt confident the product was 100% natural and my doctor agreed it couldn’t hurt…it may not help, but probably couldn’t hurt…I do wish in my research however I hadn’t stumbled upon some of the vile pics Colonix users posted – OF THEIR STOOL! – because I think that’s just going a tad too far. I can’t get the images out of my head and frankly, it kind of grosses me out. Pushing that aside though, I wanted to be honest in my reviews of this program because I have readers asking me my thoughts.
It is Day 25 of what is a 90 day program I believe. I don’t feel rejuvenated, I don’t feel miraculous and I’m not super-regular…I’m being patient.
That’s all I have to say tonight 
Namaste All.
So My Guy made this soup last week…or was it 2 weeks ago now? Regardless of when it was, it was freaking delish! Even 7-year old Moops gobbled it up and proclaimed, after nodding vigorously, it was EXCELLENT. My 2 cents? Make it the day before you plan on eating it so the flavors, particularly the roasted garlic, have time to mellow and blend. Oh yeah the recipe was taken from an amazing book called ‘A Beautiful Bowl of Soup: The Best Vegetarian Recipes” by Paulette Mitchell.
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (with toasted walnuts) –> we used pecans….
1 butternut squash, quartered lengthwise and seeded
1 large yellow onion (prefer the sweet ones)
2 carrots, halved horizontally
Olive oil for brushing over the veggies
1 whole garlic bulb
3 cups Vegetable stock
1 tsp curry powder
1/4 cup dry sherry (we had to omit this due to fact we had NONE!)
1 tbsp packed light brown sugar
pepper to taste
2 tsps minced fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup milk or half and half (we cut the calories and used milk)
salt to taste
How to prepare:
-Preheat Oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with foil
-Place squash segments skin side up, onion and carrots on foil. Brush all surfaces with olive oil.
-Remove papery skin from garlic bulb, trim stem, cut 1/4inch of bulb to expose the cloves – but leave them intact- brush with oil and wrap in foil. Place alongside the veggies.
-Roast in oven for about 40 minutes or until VERY tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
-Squeeze the garlic cloves out of the bulb and scrape the flesh from the squash.
-Add equal amounts of roasted vegs/garlic and stock to blender and puree until smooth (this may take several batches to get right consistency. Of course use a food processor if you have….we don’t)
-Heat 1 tbsp of oil in saucepan and add curry powder; stir for about 30 seconds. Pour pureed soup into the pan and stir in any remaining stock, sherry (if you use), brown sugar, pepper, oregano and cinnamon. Cover and simmer, stirring every once in awhile for about 10-15 minutes.
-Add the milk and stir until heated through. (may need to use hand processor at this point if you want smoother! We did….)
-Garnish with walnuts. The actual recipe calls for a garnish with creme fraiche but we’re saving the calories…
Let this sit overnight and holy man IT IS GOOOOOOD.
Enjoy….
Here's one guy who deserves HIS label!
I get this all the time…I ask servers in restaurants if they have any vegetarian specials (usually after they spend 2 minutes telling me about the fantastic steak deal that’s on…) and they point to the menu and say, “Of course! We have chicken and fish and…” At this point they usually stop in mid-sentence because I’m banging my head against the table muttering something like, “Vegetarians do not eat fish or chicken! Vegetarians do not eat fish or chicken!” I look up from the table to see the innocent, wide-eyed look of a deer caught in the headlights. The poor souls haven’t a clue.
I don’t eat fish or chicken. I do however partake in the occasional dairy product and I say ‘occasionally’ because to do so more, hurts my tummy. Alot. I don’t call myself a Vegan because I eat eggs, and I eat cheese (sure one could say Lacto-Ovo)…a Vegan eats NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHATSOEVER. Being a Vegan is a very strict practice and it’s one I tried to stick to, but alas, I didn’t make it. I’m happy with my choices now…I’m just not happy with all these silly labels floating around out there.
If you are eating LESS meat than you used to, fabulous. I’m ecstatic for you that you’ve made that decision, but do you really need to call yourself a Flexitarian of all things? So this would mean practicing Catholics, who have long since abstained from eating meat on Fridays, are Flexitarians too? Hmmm. Opens up a whole other chapter doesn’t it? I love that people are practicing eating less meat, but does there have to be a name for it?
I have even heard this gem thrown around: West Coast Vegetarian (they eat fish). Call me crazy but in my dictionary, that type of person is usually referred to as a Pescatarian. I’m not sure if it’s cool to have a label to identify what you eat or if people think maybe we Vegetarians are lonely and need the company?
I’m usually not this rigid….but lately this one has been really, really bugging me. I’m trying to relax about it…in the meantime, go see what all the fuss is about over Meatless Mondays and see if you can incorporate it into YOUR lifestyle.
But for heavens sake, don’t make up some loony label for it!
Mario Does Veg
Aug 14
I have to admit I was a little surprised to read celeb chef Mario Batali was in the process of writing a vegetarian cookbook. I absolutely love watching the Food Network but often had to change the channel if too much meat was being flung around. Now while Mario did introduce me to a side of Italian eating I hadn’t seen before, I just couldn’t handle the odd cuts of meat (cheek, tail etc). I realize they are delicacies and all that, and I’m not one to push my beliefs on anyone….HOWEVER…I chose to not watch. An article in the New York Daily News reads he has confirmed he is writing it and also that he has cut down his meat consumption to five days a week. I don’t care what a person cuts their meat intake to, just the fact they are cutting it makes all the difference. It tells me they are aware, they are willing to make a change…and who knows, five days may go to three and so on and so on….
Little steps…
So yay I say to Mario for penning a vegetarian book! Stay tuned for the info.
30-Something Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian. Kind of BoHo. Tofu Eating. Animal Rights Supporter. Previous Fat Kid. Sarcastic. Red Wine Drinker. In Love w/ My Guy.
