Good Morning (although I think it will be afternoon by the time I get this posted for your perusal),
It is an icy Saturday morning here in Montreal and environ. I am sitting here in my quiet, warm, comfy house with my cup of French Press coffee and whipped almond milk (check out the picture in yesterday’s post LOL!).
My son and his girlfriend are trying to get home from their Xmas surfing (him) and yoga (her) vacation in the Barbados. They were scheduled to arrive at Dorval late last nite, but are stuck in Toronto at the moment. I just had an e-mail saying they were deplaning (is that how one spells it?) for a later 2PM flight. Apparently Dorval is still closed because of the freezing rain. I am imagining that all of this is more tiring and frustrating than my car stuck in the snow bank escapade. Remember the yellow shovel and kindly neighbour story?
SO, MY NON VEGAN FOOD PAST
bacon, ham, sausage
lamb
milk, hamburger, roast beef, hot dogs
eggs, chicken
Like so many youngsters of my generation (baby-boomers), I grew up in a household where food, albeit lovingly prepared food, was non human animal based. We ate all the usual suspects, dairy, eggs, bacon roast beef (read cow), even a real cow tongue once, if you can imagine that (I was horrified and could not stop staring at it sitting in a bowl in the middle of the table).
Now I must say that even back then I was not all that keen on eating animal products. I did not like bacon, cheese, milk and eggs, as well as most aquatic animals. My two brothers (again, bless their hearts) told me that if I did not drink milk (animal secretions), my toes would turn black and fall off. That did not happen and that is not why I have funny feet (thank goodness).
I don’t remember feeling sorry for the non human animals who were unwillingly giving their lives for our food and other “needs”, but I do remember once feeling very sad when my father shot, killed and proudly brought home a hare
for my mother to cook and serve for dinner. I could not eat any of it.
In my own home, with my own family, I followed the same paradigm, although I feel that I used fruits and vegetables much more than my mother did. We did have the regulars in my childhood home.
There were carrots, peas, potatoes, corn, spinach and lettuce (iceberg, though, not so good), The proverbial fruit bowl was filled with apples, citrus, bananas ,grapes, blueberries from the bog on my father’s farm and peaches and strawberries which arrived ever summer season by truck from Southern Ontario. My Grandma Pardo would send them from her family farm there. It was such a treat.
This is a veganized version of what I would typically prepare for my family.
Last nite’s supper!There are veggies, rice (what we used to call a starch) and a protein (sausage-this is a vegan variety). I would also make some casseroles or one pot meals that would get a loud seal of approval when I served them-Shepherd’s Pie, Beef Stew, Chile Con Carne and Macaroni. One of the main ingredients in all of these was cow.
So, as you know, things have changed! We still eat vegan meals that look like the one above, but more often than not, we eat meals that look like this.
Spanish Chickpea Stew-page 113
Braised Mushrooms and Black Beans over Baked Sweet Potato (have to find the source-will update when I do-Sorry! senior moment) Ah-Ha!, I think this is it. Forks Over Knives, page 129
My husband’s Sunday nite work of art: Black Bean, Rice and Mango Stuffed Squash– 1000 Vegan Recipes by Robin Robertson, page 344. It was very yummy!!And there you have it- a snippet of my vegan journey, with more to come.
VEGAN GRAMMIE ANNIE’S VIEW
Most of what we have learned about food comes by way of traditions experienced and enjoyed in the family home, as well as from advertising and promotion emanating from the giant we call the food industry.
The morale of the story is that we can and should reflect on whether or not these learned traditions are the best choice for all beings on this planet. We can learn, adopt and enjoy new traditions-kinder traditions. Think about it!
Until next time,
May all beings be happy and free.
Anne
MY NON VEGAN FOOD PAST