Veg in progress

I'm the new kid on the block mentioned in the "Lounge" thread.

I'm looking forward to reading through all the posts as I make the switch to veg.

So glad someone sent you a star! Have fun reading through our old messages!!

Yay for the new veggie!! :woohoo::yourock::bounce:

:hi:

Enjoy the recipe thread. Lots of good ideas there.

Mexican and Italian foods are easy to prepare. I substitute fake ground beef in tacos or spaghetti sauce (fake meatballs too). I also make lots of Mexican dishes with black beans. They are :9 (and cheap!).

:hi:

I will share with you the single absolute best thing I've discovered since this group got started. It is a "cheeze" recipe from the poster named Veganistan, and I get more addicted to this stuff every time I make it. (Giving up cheese was the very hardest part of going veg for me to do.)

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Veganistan says:

1 red pepper, roasted, skinned and seeded. ( I did not skin mine and I included about 1/3 of the seeds )

1 1/2 cups roasted cashews ( mine were unsalted and raw )

1 7 oz. can jalapeno peppers, drained ( I used dehydrated jalapenos from my garden last summer, about half a 1/4 cup dry. )

3/4 cup water ( I used the juice from some stewed tomato's I will be putting in soup tomorrow, plus some of the tomatoes and veggies from the can )

2/3 cup nutritional yeast flakes ( HEY! I stuck to this! *the crowd stands and cheers* )

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice ( I forgot this )

1 1/2 Tbs. Soy sauce

1 1/2 Tbs. Tahini ( didn't have any )


I chilled my leftovers today and spread on a pita with a Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie pattie and chopped tomatoes, onion and lettuce for lunch. - Believe it may have been the best sandwich I've yet had in my life.

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ken says:
all the ingredients get put in a blender and blended until smooth and creamy. I get my red peppers already roasted and in a jar at the local whole foods type store, which is where I also get tahini, and nutritional yeast flakes. Tahini is a sesame paste, similar to peanut butter in texture. More water makes the recipe thinner, less water makes it thicker. Another poster, Crispyqgirl uses (I think the same or nearly so) recipe and adds tofu to make a ricotta replacement for lasagna.

I've been meat-free this week. Doing great. Haven't missed it. I know that visiting this forum regularly helps. Also, reading the LBN on BSE/Mad cow helps, as does reading FDA recalls on stuff. There's great support here as everyone here is trying to make the world a better place, a wee bit at a time.

I've haven't gone hungry this week. I've even felt "full" most of the time (I guess it's gas :) ). And I've lost a little over a pound.

Hi, new kid. Hope you like the neighborhood. No bullies in this one. There's a good amount of info in our many, many threads.

Above all else, don't get discouraged, and don't listen to anyone that tells you how much you're "giving up" by going veg. You're not giving anything up, rather, you're expanding your horizons.

Good luck, and check in often and tell us of your progress!

:applause:

I'm rather new here myself (coming up on a year), and this group has been an invaluable resource.

Don't worry if you're not perfect at first. It can take a while to change your habits and find alternatives. Just pat yourself on the back every day for what you're doing right.

:toast:

:hi: and Welcome ... glad you are joining us! :bounce:

:hi: and enjoy the journey. You'll find lots of support and good info in this group. Not to mention delicious food ideas :-).

:yourock:

I went veg three weeks ago. :hi: And welcome to DU.