Tofu-phobia

What is it about tofu that intimidates people? And why do many people assume that tofu is all vegans and vegetarians eat? True, it is a very versatile protein, and yes, we vegs eat more (probably) than most omnivores do, but it isn't always the center of our culinary and dietary universe. Beans have protein too, remember.

Having said that, I suspect most people believe the only way of eating tofu is in its bland white form, cubed, and diced into a soup or a stir-fry. And I understand when people recoil at the words "bean curd" on Chinese take-out menus (why CAN'T they say tofu, anyway? Tofu sounds much gentler and more approachable than the word curd. Would you want to eat anything with the first four letters of the word curdle in it?)

Frankly, just eating plain tofu as is would be the same as eating flour with a spoon. Why would you do this? Tofu (like flour) is the foundation on which you build a meal. And the beauty of tofu is, it soaks up all the flavours you pour into a recipe. I tell my hubby when we order Thai food that if you love it spicy, tofu is the best bet over any meat product because of its sponge-like nature to take in every drop of the sauce. (If I get to choose the last meal I eat in this life, it will be the crispy tofu with sweet basil leaves entree at one of my favorite Thai restaurants--sorry, Mom! )

I confess I have not perfected the art of cooking with tofu myself. Often I will just pan-sear tofu slices in oil then add soy sauce and let it glaze and make a tofu sandwich. I have used it in smoothies and recently I have been making tofu spinach lasagna that is out of this world. Who knew tofu (with some added ingredients) could replace ricotta cheese so well? Even my husband, a devout tofu-phobe, was astounded to learn the lasagna he ate and loved was filled with bean curd--er, tofu.

If I am to be totally honest, I must admit that even I, a vegetarian for over 5 years, vegan for several months, still find myself a little intimidated by this magical white block of protein. I have made dishes that did not turn out so well--doesn't grilled tofu steaks with pomegranate sauce sound great? I thought so, but it was blah! I never blame the tofu, though--it is usually my lack of skill to blame. Did I drain the tofu enough? Did I use the right firmness? Did I let the tofu marinate long enough? (I have failed at this one many a time, including the pomegranate recipe above, but I blame that on chronic impatience and hunger.)

I guess what I am trying to say today is PLEASE don't give up on tofu! Keep cooking with it, experimenting with it. Sooner or later you will find a recipe and a technique that will stick and you will use it over and over again. Don't let tofu-phobia keep you from enjoying delicious and nutritious meals, be they at home or at restaurants.

The Hoppy Vegan

My Bunny Valentine

This month Ruby, my white red-eyed rex rabbit, turns 8 years old. She was the bunny who started it all for me and to whom I credit not only my respect for ALL creatures big and small but for my vegan lifestyle. There is no question that a cat or dog never would have raised my consciousness as much as this sweet rabbit has--after all, we don't eat cats and dogs in America. Having a companion animal that others see as an entree changes your view on a lot of things--had my husband not brought her home impulsively from that fair in Virginia eight years ago, I would probably still be eating animals today. And let's not forget the other six rabbits who share and have shared our lives since adopting Ruby--I credit Ruby for saving their lives as well.

All that aside, Ruby was the rabbit who taught me all things rabbit. I had known NOTHING about rabbits till she showed up, and she had to put up with my anxiety as I learned all about her charmingly sweet and sensitive species. The first time she flopped over on her side in our living room, I panicked and called the vet's office--is she sick? Depressed? Suicidal? WHAT IS SHE DOING? Turns out she was just being happy--stretching out, content with her surroundings. Her back feet stretched out flat, her whole body pressed against the floor.

People who don't see rabbits as loving pets don't know rabbits. Ruby is to this day a very affectionate rabbit--as I learned over the years, not all rabbits groom their human companions, and she does it often and often very ardently. (I get nose nudges from my other rabbits--Ruby is the only one who licks.) She is also still, even at eight, very agile. She will jump up on me on the floor no matter how I am lying down. She is part mountain goat, I swear. And while she no longer speeds around the house as she did when we first got her, looking like a white bullet blurring across our living room, she still has her binky moments. She is very happy with her mate of almost 8 years, Cocoa, a brown and white velveteen lop rabbit who appears to worship the ground she hops on.

It is so hard to me to imagine my life without these love buns or the others who eventually came to live with us -- Woodstock, Cinnamon, Ghirardelli, Willow, and God bless her sweet soul, Polly who left us too soon for the Bridge two years ago. For all the joy infused in my life, for the newfound awareness I have of the natural world around me, for opening my eyes to the plight and delight of all animals we share this planet with, I give great thanks and hugs to a white rabbit with ruby eyes.

Happy Valentine's Day, Ruby. May I be blessed with many more years of your great influence and presence.

The Hoppy Vegan

February is Adopt a Rescue Rabbit Month

Woodstock, the rabbit we "fostered" almost 7 years ago

Rabbits are not gerbils!

I realize that title is not very profound, but it does require stating for many people who mindlessly adopt rabbits without doing any research about what living with rabbits entails. I know people who had rabbits as children who complain now that "my rabbit never did anything." As we enter February, which is Adopt-A-Rescue-Rabbit month, it is critical to understand why rabbits are not just pretty animals to look at and are not there for us simply to gape at and watch and be entertained by.

First of all, gerbils do not, generally live a long life. Rabbits are a 12 year commitment who need more than a little wheel to keep them stimulated.

Second, rabbits are social creatures, which means they need similar companionship with another rabbit (spayed and neutered, please!) or they need your undivided attention for SOME part of your day. This means playing with them, stroking them, providing them with toys (yes, rabbits do play and if they get bored, kiss your furniture goodbye! Assuming of course that you do the right thing and let your rabbits have at least 3 hours to roam around outside the cage you provide them).

Rabbits also need you to learn their normal behaviors because you need to be able to detect when something is wrong. Rabbits are prey animals and generally don't like to let predators know when they are ill; and when they are ill, be it teeth issues, GI stasis, or other common rabbit problems, time is of the essence. Rabbits can die easily if their condition is not detected and treated in time. Knowing how your rabbit eats (and yes, poops!) or behaves is critical to your ability to tell when they are ailing.

Finally, to those who are dismayed at the complexity of a rabbit's behavior as opposed to that of a gerbil, I have to ask, just why are you adopting--or more likely, buying : ( -- an animal, if you have no intention of sharing your life with him or her? Is this animal only to entertain your child as a plaything or toy? WRONG answer if you say yes! If that is the case, might I suggest a stuffed animal instead? More importantly, PLEASE do your research before bringing any animal into your house. I strongly urge you to visit http://www.rabbitwise.org/

Life After Cheese

So you wanna be vegan but you just can't kick the cheese habit? I understand. Been there. Done that. Cheese is a very hard habit to kick--check out Dr. Neal Bernard and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine for the physiological reasons why cheese is addictive (www.pcrm.org). MY reason is, it just tastes so darn good! Especially with wine, or the gooey kind on pizza. And as someone from an Italian-American home, cheese was practically part of the family--ricotta cheese, parmasean cheese sprinkled on pasta, cannoli and other assorted cream-filled desserts from our local Italian bakery. Was it hard to give it up? You bet. Just two weeks ago, tt was almost torture being back in Massachusetts, socializing with friends, a box of mini-cannoli and eclairs sitting right before me at the table (I luckily had my Mexican chocolate snickerdoodles to satisfy my sweet tooth.) Yet I was able to resist. Why? So many reasons too long to get into here. It is enough for you just to watch the attached video. Had I not taken the veg pledge in September, this film would have done it for me. Bless Mercy for Animals for their fine work. (I promise you--there is life after cheese! Becoming a vegan is a fantastic voyage. Come and join me!)

And the truth shall set you free.
http://www.mercyforanimals.org/dairy/

The Joy of Freedom

While I am a proud, flag-waving American conservative vegan (yes, we do exist), the freedom I wish to talk about in today's blog concerns a matter near and dear to every vegan's heart and that is, the freedom of choice on restaurant menus.

When I first contemplated going vegan, the first depressing thought I had was, I would never be able to go out for dinner again. Or at least I didn't think it would be worth the effort. I am not one to make fusses at the table. "Yes, waitress, could I have the portobello steak sandwich but hold the steak, mayonaise, and oh could you be sure to cook it on a grill that has not been used for meat?" That is not me and never will be me. So what is a shy vegan to do? Obvious answer: only go to vegan restaurants. Problem: They are a rare breed, especially in my part of the world and my husband, an omnivore, would not be thrilled at such dietary restrictions (Welcome to my world, dear.)

While visiting family in Massachusetts this month, I had the rare joy of going to an all vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Watertown. The Red Lentil was an oasis for me. I did not have to settle for the one (usually bland) item on the menu that had no dairy, eggs or meat in it. I had OODLES of choices, and the sheer variety provoked such happiness that the food could have tasted like moldy cardboard and I still would have found the experience to be well worth it. Did I want the three bean chili or the vegan caesar salad? A tempeh reuben sandwich or the tuscan portobello sandwich? The spiced lentil nut patties sounded yummy too. Oh, decisions, decisions! What a sweet joy to be able to ask the waitress to give me a few extra minutes to decide on a vegan meal! Omnivores can never appreciate the joy of such freedom, the world has always been their oyster, so to speak, when it comes to dining out.

Still, this occasion is all too rare. I keep hoping that more restaurants will become more conscious of vegan diets and will provide more options on their menus. As chefs like Tal Ronnen (THE CONSCIOUS COOK) have proven, vegan meals are as delicious as any other, and provide pleasure to the consumer. Who wants to spend money on an evening out and have to settle for a garden salad and limp pasta primavera? Just give us a little freedom with our food options. That is all we vegans ask.

Happy New Year

Willow demands that you have a happy 2010 or else!