For my fourth day of veganism I made a variation of sweet potato black bean hash. I found it in the Moosewood Cookbook (amaaaazzziiiinnnggggg recipes – all either vegan or vegetarian), and didn’t quite have every ingredient so I improvised a little.
I have been noticing the distinct psychological adjustment that comes with eating mainly one dish meals. As a meat eater, I could use salmon or chicken or some kind of meat as the main part of the meal, and then have side dishes like vegetables and salad and bread with it. I have noticed that many of the vegan recipes that appeal to me are kind of everything all mixed in one. I’ve been liking the idea of different kinds of soups and stews, stir-frys and casseroles, and plating something that is only one dish can be a challenge. I have been attempting to add side dishes by experimenting with vegetables prepared in different ways, fruits, vegan friendly bread, and of course salads. Ultimately, since this is primarily a psychological hurdle, I would like to be able to just get over it. I have been having fun experimenting with different styles of cooking though!
Last night, to surmount this problem, I made Kale. I washed and destemmed the leaves, sauteed them with garlic and olive oil or a few minutes, then poured some balsamic on them and put a lid over the pan for about 8 minutes. I sprinkled on a little sea salt and it ended up being a spicy, hearty side dish that went really well with the soft and sweet yams I put in my sweet potato hash (told you I improvised).
Since I have been animal product free, I have already just 5 days later started to feel so good. I have had a seriously finicky stomach for about 6 years now, and for the past week, I haven’t had any serious stomach problems at all. I have had this sense of buoyancy in my body that I haven’t had in a long time. Part of me suspects this may really change my eating habits – for more than thirty days.
Comfortably yours,
C
January 20, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Sounds good! I’ve been thinking about getting that cook book for a while.
Welcome to veganism. Hope you stay a while.
January 24, 2012 at 5:11 am
It’s a great cookbook! The only criticism I have is that the recipes typically do have a lot of steps and a ton of ingredients. I’m really not the most amazing cook in the world, so I sometimes find it a touch overwhelming. I’ve never disliked any of the finished products though! So yummy!
January 23, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Hi Claire,
I’ve also had stomach problems for as long as I can remember, but let’s say about 6 years (most likely thanks to UBC’s drinking habits :)). When I tried to eat completely vegan, my stomach problems also improved 10 fold which is part of the reason that I’m incorporating “veganism” into my life more permanently.
I’m not sure if they have Magic Oven in Seattle but they do a pretty good delivery pizza, although I see you’ve already found options for the golden food that is pizza.
What started me on the journey was Jonathan Safran Foer’s Eating Animals which is definitely worth a read, given your challenge. As a result, I only buy animal products from the farmers market and ensure that I have investigate the farm and all other aspects prior to purchasing their good.
Looking forward to reading more!
Best of luck,
Katerina
January 24, 2012 at 5:05 am
Even the healthier food options these days seem to processed, I really think that’s what bothers my stomach more than anything! I started getting really awful stomach aches my first year of university – I think it was the caf food, although I’m sure the drinking didn’t help much either. Anyway I’m glad you’re feeling better on a more vegan diet. I definitely already feel so much better, and I think I look healthier too.
Thanks for reading!