Vegetarian Chatter

Hi guys. Sorry I haven't popped in in a while. Think I am missing some posts but not sure I want to read them. I get enough vego rudeness from the vege forum I frequent sometimes (but not often now)
There probably are some frustrating myths that go around about vege diets but I think if we want people to keep their minds open we can address them in the right way.

We moved from Brisbane to Rocky - and sooo miss the Magic Wok - Are you telling me it has closed down? Nooooo! There was a nice little place in the valley - can't remember the name. It made the best fried 'chicken' but it was only open funny times.

Now that I live in the beef capital of Aus I keep seeing all of the cattle trucks coming into town. Makes me cringe as I see them all look out of the truck. I have done quite a bit of study on animal transportation and I didn't realise before how stressful that in itself is.

Has anyone tried any lamyong products? I have heard they're good but haven't gotten to any myself. I think I will go to the asian supermarket today to have a look as I am having major cravings for some yummy asian vege food. See you all later!

Surprised, bean tacos are great, no bloating carbs and protein in the beans AND yummy. Also tofu stirfry, little carbs (you can have it with rice though and you can change the flavour ie regular garlic, onion, garlic, soy, honey, chilli etc or you could make it more thai with green or red curry paste and coconut milk.... If you still feel like carbs you could add some sweet potato to a yummy stew with mixed beans in it, carrot & parsnip chunks and make the sauce with crushed tomatos... I love to put in 1/2 a packet of taco seasoning into mine. All of our visitors eat vego and if they don't like it they can eat before they come over, it wont hurt them not to eat meat for one meal... Or we can socialise with them at a meal out at a restaurant :p

Brontide... I'm with Snugglybean... I must have missed something???? I don't see any name calling on this thread and krysalyss I am not sure about the rudness you are getting at either??? Perhaps you can both explain?

I can't see original posts - I can only references to (i.e. where posts have had to be deleted). So I am not making any personal comments but only generalised ones based on what has happened with previous BB threads and the vego forum I go to where vegetarian issues are discussed and things get heated. I just don't want it to happen here because I want some where on BB I can go to talk vego IYKWIM.

Now back to food (he he - can you tell I am on a diet?)
I know what you mean about bloating. I have so much less bloating now as a vego. Having said that I do a lot more farts!

Cherished1, you certainly didn't miss anything. As you are well aware a member chose to delete her posts which were made in a spirit of helpfulness and friendliness after you gave her bad attitude. As for name calling - where I come from claiming to be 'above meat eating boofheads' is regarded as name calling. Put simply one has to give respect to get respect.
I think that we can leave it there and move forwards now.

And can I also say that when this thread was requested I was under the impression it was a thread to discuss vegetarianism not to put down those that do eat meat, had I know this I would have thought twice. So I ask that this thread remain peaceful and minus the derogative remarks towards those that have a different lifestyle to you.

Keeping in mind there are some people who eat vegan/vegetarian on occasion and meat on occasion too, and do not need to feel excluded.

Hi Brontie... I certainly did not think that any of my communication to AngelPunks was rude I would have used a head banging on a wall rather than a smily face and a thumbs up if I was not being nice to her. Regarding the meat eating boofheads comment which I made last week: I made that in a vegetarian chatter thread to be read by vegetarians and I certainly did not think that the 'context' I used it in would have offended anyone reading it in this thread, that context being that my husband is beyond the regular meat eating boofhead attitude of many males who grunt "you have to eat meat to be a real man" around a BBQ.

I don't think this is the place for me anymore. Belly Belly has been a wonderful support for me whilst I lost my 2 babies but this is it for me. I am really upset that my communication has been taken this way. Best wishes to all of you.

We expect that BB members should show tact at all times. This means that you need to keep in mind that the vegetarian threads may be read by omnivores, that breastfeeding threads may be read by formula feeding mums, that large family threads may be read by only child families and so on. The context does not excuse rudeness and lack of tact.

:doh: Did not want the thread to go this way!

As a leveller - there are plenty of vegetarian boofheads out there too.

My peeve of this week?
The "twisties and ice cream vegetarian"
Common especially in teenagers, this is someone who hasn't really thought about nutrition, and is taking on vegetarianism as a fashion statement or fad diet, rather than a healthy lifestyle. Because, when you think about it, a twisties and ice cream diet is vegetarian, but definitely not healthy. I can't stand the assumption that a vegetarian diet is automatically a healthy one (conversely, I also can't stand the assumption that a vegetarian diet is automatically an unhealthy one) I dislike that these people give me and other nutrition-conscious vegos a bad name.

[/vent]

Hey Krys - on an unrelated note - have you seen the facebook group "I used to live in Rocky, but I'm OK now" All my Rocky-native friends are in it, gave me a good laugh.

I know what you mean about cattle transport. In a way I wish I could look them in their big brown eyes and say "Not my fault, dude"

:

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Hey Krys - on an unrelated note - have you seen the facebook group "I used to live in Rocky, but I'm OK now" All my Rocky-native friends are in it, gave me a good laugh.

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Ha ha ha! That is very funny.

Wow how frustrating... I joined another veg web site earlier on in the week but was stoked when I found this thread as sooo many people just turn it into a big debate and thinking BB would be different its frustrating to read this (ok tbh i skipped most of the drama)...
Can we all re-read Snugglybeans original post at the start?!

Krysallyss- I havnt tried any of the lamyong products, actually havnt even heard of them. What are they?? And where is Magicwok?? I hate seeing animals stuck in trucks and especially the cattle train it is so awful. I was reading another thread about buying free-range chickens and how its good they had a good life(non-veg thread) and it made me sad I just wish no creatures were born just for us to kill them.. ARGH! Also I think you might be meaning kuan Yin in the valley who does fake chicken? I ended up keeping one of their business cards in my wallet as I was forever rocking up there and it was closed :doh:

SnugglyBean- You are an inspiration to all us unheallthy vegetarians out there!! I do eat quite healthy in comparison to some people, but I know I could definately eat healthier! I am guilty of stealing a handfull of chips if DP has any :redface:
Any more tasty recipies? Whats cooking tonight?? Im thinking brown rice with lentil and vegies... I have a bunch of zucchinis and eggplant that needs to be eaten in the fridge.

Cherished- Come back! :)
Hope everyone is well :)

Yeah, Kwan Yin keep whacky hours. White Lotus in Melbourne is the same - we never got to say a proper goodbye when we left as they were closed for our last two weeks!
Green Gourmet is in Newtown, Sydney, for whoever asked.

Peach - I am *SO* not healthy or inspirational. My halo falls off frequently! I love VegeChips, and Leda do a good vegan Tim Tam and Gingernut bikkie - very handy with morning sickness!

Dinner tonight? Baked beans (out of a can) on toast. :lol: Dh won't be home, and I've been finding it hard to maintain any effort in the kitch :redface:

But, I do have tasty recipes everywhere! If I had zucchini and eggplant, I would dice them, lightly fry with olive oil and seeded mustard, splash of white wine and heaps of cracked black pepper. Serve over polenta. (Top with cheese and bake if you do cheese)

Great thread, if you can ignore the great debate :)

I have been vegetarian for about 5 years now. I first become vego because I was spending about half an hour every day in the meat section of the supermarket, trying to decide which meat to have for dinner, because they all looked so gross and I didn't really want to put any of them in my mouth. Then one day I thought - Hey! I don't live with my dictator parents anymore! I can eat what I want! I don't have to eat meat if I don't want to! So I stopped. I've been saving time and money ever since :)

To me, the thought of eating body parts is disgusting. I would no sooner eat poop than I would eat some previously living animals thigh, and I do see myself as the normal one and the people who eat meat and/or poop as being a little crazy. Come on! It's veins and muscles and tendons... yuck!

My DH unfortunately is a meat eater, but since I'm the fussy one and he doesn't care about food at all, I decide what's for dinner each night. There's rarely room for meat in the equation - he usually has it maybe twice a week and he's happy with that. I would like to convert him and I'm thinking I could use the upcoming baby as an excuse.

I have decided that our children will be vegetarians until they are old enough to make their own educated decision about it. I have been a bit worried about how a kid would go growing up vego when all the other kids eat meat, but this thread has put my mind at ease! Ally I like your post about how you bake vegan patty cakes for the preschool freezer - I didn't know they would allow such things, what a perfect solution!

I love the Vegie Delights range - and so does DH! They've got nothing on the Quorn selection in the UK though, I wish we had those!

Hi Vintrar! It's interesting what you say about eating body parts - I'm not so concerned about flesh, but cannot stand the thought of eating dairy - that is a cow's bodily fluid! Yuck! That's my weird little thing. Some people don't like peas.... :D
I love Vegie Delights too - I ate them even before I was vego, they were so good when I was living alone. I've just rediscovered the bacon - I don't know if it's got better, or if I just have changed my palate, but I love it. Especially in things, like a carbonara.
One time, my brother and his friends stayed and left behind a tin of apricot nectar and some apricot halves. I don't usually do tinned fruit, so wasn't sure what to do with them. So I had a go at apricot chickpeas, and they were SO good!
Moroccan Apricot Chickpeas
2 cups chickpeas, soaked and drained
1 onion, chopped
2 red capsicums, coarsely chopped
1 tin apricot nectar
1 cup apricot halves
2 cups stock
Moroccan spices to taste (cumin seed, coriander seed, ginger, cassia/cinnamon)

Put all those things in a casserole or slow cooker, for 1-2 hours or equivalent.
Sprinkle with fresh coriander, serve with couscous or brown rice, through which you can mix sultanas, olive oil, sumac, salt and pepper. Yum scrum.

Hi guys! Tonight we had vietnamese spring rolls. They were sooooo yummy. We fry up some Blue lotus tofu nuggets (sweet chilli flavour) and make up a sauce of kecap manis, lime juice, sweet chilli sauce, dash of sugar, and bit of water. Add some baby spinach, grated carrot, chopped herbs, bean sprouts etc. Roll it up in some vietnamese spring roll wrapper and eat eat eat! I love this dish. It is so easy and messy and yummy.

If you want to try an alternative to the vege delights then try the Frys range. You can get them in most supermarkets (eg. woolies) but they are in the frozen section. They make good burger patties, sausages, sausage rolls, shepards pies, schnitzel etc. Definitely have a try.

I am lucky in that DH is the cook and he is pretty healthy minded. We have a lot of simple dishes eg. pasta, curries, that are full of vegies and lentils etc.

We have DS as a vegetarian. We did get a dietician to give us advice on his diet when he started solids to cover all of our bases (she is vegan and has raised 3 kids vegan) but I admit I give him a multi-vitamin because I just want to be really sure.

OMG - Fry's sausage rolls - best hangover cure EVER! We usually have some schnitzels in the freezer too.

Has anyone had the Blue Lotus smoked tofu? Yummmm.... haven't seen it in Qld, but my local soopermarket in Melbies must have had a lot of vegan shoppers, there were great products there. Fried sliced of smoked tofu on a pureed vegetable soup (esp cauliflower, carrot and lentil) oh, yeah!

I haven't tried the smoked one. This was our first Blue lotus tofu/ Usually we just buy the plain one and marinate it ourselves. I know you can buy liquid smoke though which is marinade and you can use it on tofu, mushrooms etc.

Does anyone use malt extract (like malt for milkshakes), I was looking at it in the shops today and it is high in lots of B vitamins. Might try it out.

Peaches - lamyong you can get from chinese supermarkets. They make mockmeat products. Haven't had them but keen to try. I have tried some awesome mock fish and chicken before and have cravings Magic Wok is an sunnybank. But have just heard they are closing. :( They were awesome - chinese vegetarian food.

Huo Fo is near Magic Wok and similar - but no super friendly bearded dude! Kevvie Rudd hasn't responded to my letter yet (he usually does, or at least someone from his office)
I use liquid smoke a lot, especially in baked beans, or my Caribbean Beans (recipe to follow) Green split peas go really well with it too, they just match the smoky flavour so well. I did a pasta sauce with them last night. Lately I've been putting it in beetroot dip too.

Caribbean Blackeye Beans
Black eye beans
sliced onion
diced sweet potato
juice of 1 lime
2 tbsp brown sugar
6 chopped tomatoes (or a can)
stock
liquid smoke (2-5 drops, optional)
2 chopped long chillies (optional)

(I haven't added quantities, because I vary them every time I make it. Just make sure the liquid comes to the top of all the other ingredients, it always works) Dump the lot in the slow cooker, and away you go. Really really good with polenta.