As you all know, I'm vegetarian. Many people assume that being vegetarian is boring because it's limiting. But I assure you it is not. I eat a wide variety of salads, soups, and entrées.
Even from a very young age, I knew that once I got out on my own and could choose my food, I would no longer eat meat. In the 50s and 60s, families traditionally had meat and two vegetables for dinner. For lunch, a sandwich consisted of lunch meat, cheese, and either mustard or mayo on Wonder Classic White Bread. Sunday breakfast was always eggs, bacon, scrapple, fried sausage, and toast.
As you can see, meat was a HUGE eatery when I was growing up. And yet, it never appealed to me. Never. But as a kid, you ate what was prepared for you.
Protein -
Meat is not the only way to get your daily dose of protein. You can get it from other things, such as legumes, nuts and seeds, tofu, cheese, quinoa, and Greek yogurt.
I truly love veggies. It's as if they were ideally created for me because my body loves them too.
Today, I would like to share a few amusing puns. Most of them I found online, and one I created myself.
Enjoy...
Veggie Puns -
I don't get it. Why would they carrot all?
Damn! Looks like another guy beet me to it.
Peas, just kale me now.
I’ll let you know if any turnip!
Results romaine to be seen.
Do you have a restroom? I gotta take a leek...
I was going to share a vegetable joke, but it's too corny...
I conclude this post by sharing a salad I made a few days ago. I took everything I had in my fridge (cabbage, sweet potato, carrots, avocado, kale, sugarbee apple, orange bell pepper, sliced raw almonds, feta cheese) and tossed them into a large salad bowl, topping it with a Thai Style Peanut Dressing. I also took a portion of the salad and created a wrap with garlic hummus...
Yup...
Have a veggie good week, everyone! 💕
Please feel free to share your favorite vegetable(s)
*You will find a wide variety of delicious vegetarian recipes at Evergreen Kitchen
Ron it's funny, I am not technically "vegetarian" because I do eat meat occasionally, but primarily vegetables. And if I do eat meat, it's usually a thick, well-made burger on a bun with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and some ketchup.
ReplyDeleteAs far as vegetables - I love sweet potatoes, cut into thick slices and baked in the oven with olive oil, salt, and fresh rosemary. Slice zucchini, sprinkle salt, baked in the oven. Simple but so juicy.
That salad and wrap you made look so good! Isn't feta the best? It's my favorite cheese. I put it on everything!
Do you eat seafood?
"Peas, just kale me now" -- LOL!
Ron, I had to laugh when you talked about the 50s and 60s and the amount of meat we ate as kids. I can't believe you mentioned scapple because I always hated that stuff, but my parents loved it. YUCK! And yes.....Wonder Classic white bread!!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I do eat meat, but not nearly as much as we used to. I'll have turkey during the holidays, and sometimes, in the summer, barbeque ribs. But we're both not fans of poultry.
We eat a lot of vegetables. Some of our favorites:
Steamed broccoli (or steamed vegetables in general). I also love roasted peppers, especially red and orange.
Beets. We love beets. Eat them raw. Eat them roasted. My favorite is in a feta and spinach salad.
And speaking of spinach, we usually make salads with spinach or arugula.
We both chuckled reading the puns. And I've got to try that Thai peanut dressing. It looks like something I would really enjoy. Is it real spicy?
Fun post, Ron! Will check out Evergreen Kitchen sometime this week. I'm always looking for new recipes.
Have a great week! xoxo
Good evening, Daniel!
ReplyDeleteOMG, when I DID eat meat, do you know what was my favorite thing to eat? A nice, thick, well-made burger, I kid you not! When I was in Japan for two months one summer, I lived in Kobe, which is famous for its beef. The best burger I ever had was there. Heavenly! That was in 1994. And that was the last time I ever ate any meat.
"I love sweet potatoes, cut into thick slices and baked in the oven with olive oil, salt, and fresh rosemary."
You said the magic word - SWEET POTATOES - I love those things, and will eat them at least once a week. I toss them (chopped) in my soup or sometimes I combined them with some steamed broccoli. And me too, I always sprinkle them with freshly chopped rosemary. I will also use fresh thyme. LOVE herbs!
No, I do not eat seafood, or fish of any kind.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your faves, my friend! Have a fabulous week!
X
Helloooooooo there, Elaine!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it something how much MEAT we ate as kids in the 50s and 60s? It was mainly my father, he was OBSESSED with all kinds of meat. He especially love HAM (which I can't stand). We ate that A LOT. Also, pork chops. That's another one I never cared for. And liver - yuck! We had meat every single night of the week, except on Good Fridays, we had fish. You know us Catholics LOL!
Your list of favorite veggies is YUMMY. Orange bell peppers are my favorites. Love broccoli, and also broccolini. Beets as well. I tossed them on salads. Isn't arugula fabulous? I love how it tastes peppery.
You will LOVE that dressing. And no, it's not spicy at all. In fact, I asked one of the employees before I bought it if it was, and she said no. And she was right. I buy one bottle every week. Love that stuff!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Elaine! You'll find lots of diverse and tasty recipes on that website/blog. It's my favorite site.
Have a faaaaaaabulous week!
X
Aren't SugarBee apples delicious, Ron? Not only the taste, but the texture. I used to eat Pink Lady's until I discovered SugarBee's. I love to dip them in natural peanut butter as a snack.
ReplyDeleteI'm vegetarian too. I'm also vegan. Are you?
Some of my favorite veggie are asparagus, green beans, and avocado. Bok choy as well. I toss Bok choy in my stir-fry dishes. I like it better than broccoli.
Love the veggie puns! I'm going to share this post with a close friend of mine who is also vegetarian. She'll get a kick out of it.
Good evening, Abby!
ReplyDeleteYes, they certainly are! And I only just discovered them about two months ago at Trader Joe's. And since then, I haven't gone back to what I used to eat, Fuji apples. You're right, both the sweet taste and the texture is perfection! Love to dip them into peanut butter as well!
No, I have never tried vegan. I love cheese too much. I also enjoy Greek yogurt with granola.
Ooooooo.... you mentioned asparagus! I love that too! Last summer I made pasta with asparagus and it was so good. If you only knew how much I love avocado, you would die. I eat one every single day. Sometimes TWO. I just recently started using Bok choy and love it. I made a soup this winter, and instead of using spinach, I tried Bok choy and liked it better. It's also very nutritional.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your faves, Abby! Have a wonderful week!
X
Ron, those puns are so CUTE!!!! I'm curious, which one did you create? Your post is timely because my bestie and I were talking about food over the weekend and shared that we both were thinking of going vegetarian because we don't really eat that much meat anymore. It's been a gradual thing for both of us. I do enjoy seafood, but I'm losing interest in beef, chicken, and pork.
ReplyDeleteHow long have you been vegetarian? And did you just stop eating meat, or was it gradual?
One of my favorite vegetables is one that I HATED as a kid, Brussel sprouts. But over the past five years, I've fallen in love with them. I will sometimes cut them in half, dust them with paprika and salt and then toss them into the oven. And being half Latino and half Italian, I love make fried eggplant and drizzle them with tomato sauce. My mother taught me that.
I eat quinoa too. It's a good source of protein and not fattening. I like to mix that with black beans.
This post got me all hungry, Ron! I will check out the link you left for us tonight. It may inspire me to become total vegetarian!
Have a delicious week! xo
Hola, Denise!
ReplyDeleteI created: Do you have a restroom? I gotta take a leek...LOL! I suddenly thought of that one day while shopping in Trader Joe's and purchased some leeks for a soup I was going to make that night. When I got up to the checkout area, as I handed the leeks to the guy ringing me up I said, "Do you have a restroom? I gotta take a leek!" - and he laughed.
I've been a FULL vegetarian since 1994. Before that, I barely ever consumed meat.
Funny you mentioned Brussel sprouts because I hated them as a kid too. However, I now love them. I think our tastes change as we age.
"And being half Latino and half Italian, I love make fried eggplant and drizzle them with tomato sauce. My mother taught me that."
That's sounds absolutely delicious! When I was living in NY, my partner at that time would take me to visit his parents on Long Island, and his mother (who was an incredible cook) made those. Heavenly!
You're right, quinoa is an excellent source of protein. I eat that a lot.
Yes, do check out the website/blog, there are some awesome recipes she offers.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Denise! Wishing you a delicious week too!
X
Oh brother, I love herbs too! I use them with so many recipes. Thyme is so good, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends who I went to college with doesn't eat seafood either. I think seafood is one of those things that you either LIKE or DON'T like. I love shellfish the most.
I bet that Kobe beef was incredible!
I think you're spot on about that. You either love seafood or you don't. My father used to fish a lot when we lived in Florida and would catch fresh seafood, come home, clean it, and then make dinner that night.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was. The beef tasted sweet, which was odd to me. At first I thought it was bad, but then someone told me that quality beef is supposed to taste sweet.
Ron, although I am not officially vegetarian, I eat so many veggies. One of my favorites is roasted cauliflower and broccoli. I also enjoy chili peppers, mushrooms, cucumber, and zucchini. I'm a potato freak as well. God, I love potatoes! And spinach. In a pan, I throw in some olive oil and garlic at the same time and let them heat up together. Once the garlic is good to go, I throw in lots of spinach, cover and reduce heat for one minute. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteThe salad you made looks so fresh and delicious. I also enjoy making wraps. I sometimes use garbanzo beans or black beans inside my wraps.
I was going to ask you the same question, but someone asked first -- Do you have a restroom? I gotta take a leek... -- priceless, Ron!
I tried tofu a few times, but it made me very gassy. LOL!
Ron, some of my favorite vegetables are carrots, snap peas, scallions, and napa cabbage. I love broccoli, but I have to eat it steamed, can't do raw. I also love any and all lentils.
ReplyDeleteI can't even remember the last time I ate meat. So, I guess I am vegitarian. Not a fan of seafood either.
Hey, that Thai Style Peanut Dressing looks like something I would love. Next time I'm in TJ's, I will look for it. Is it on an aisle, or in the cold section with the produce?
I enjoy nuts and seeds. My favorites are cashews, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
Funny puns, Ron!
Morning, Robert!
ReplyDeleteDon't you love cauliflower and broccoli? I sometimes get the prepackage of the combo they sell at Trader Joe's. Although, I prefer to get them at Mom's Organic Market because I feel like they're fresher. I love Trader Joe's, but you have to carefully inspect their pre-packed produce before buying. Many times I've picked up a bag and found the produce soggy and old.
I feel the same when it comes to potatoes! I primarily eat sweet potatoes, but I also love Yukon Gold, Red, and Japanese Sweet Potatoes.
I will have to try your spinach recipe, it's sound delicious!
And speaking of garbanzo beans, I always have cans on-hand because I like to put them in so many recipes.
"I tried tofu a few times, but it made me very gassy. LOL!"
OMG, me too! I read somewhere that with many men, soy makes them gassy. Which is why I don't eat it often. However, I do like using it in some of my stir-fry recipes.
Thanks a bunch for stopping by, my friend! Hope you're having a fantastic week!
X
Hey there, Candice!
ReplyDeleteOMG, can I just tell you how much I love NAPA cabbage? It's truly my very, very, very, favorite cabbage! Over the weekend, I made a delicious soup with napa cabbage. And I put a TON of it in the pot. I prefer napa to other cabbages because it cooks faster and I like its mellow texture.
" I also love any and all lentils."
I am a lentil FREAK! I get a bag of them at Mom's Organic Market that contains three different lentils. I watched a documentary about "Blue Zones" and they said that lentils were the one thing that each zone eats a lot of. So healthy!
That Thai Style Peanut Dressing you will find in the refrigerated produce section at Trader Joe's. I think it's like $3.99. LOVE it!
Cashews are my favorite nut. LOVE those things. I just wish I could find them cheaper because they are one of the more expensive nuts, but so worth it.
Thanks a lot for stopping by, Candice! Have a great day and week!
X
Ron, I do eat meat and seafood, but I also eat a great deal of vegetables. I have a passion for Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food, which consists of lots of veggies.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever had tabbouleh? I can make a feast with just tabbouleh, falafel, and hummus. I like to make wraps with pita bread.
Do you have Goldie in your city? Excellent food!
My other favorite veggies are avocado, asparagus, fennel, bell peppers, and Roma tomato. I also love olives - black, green, and kalamata.
Enjoyed the puns! I gotta take a leek. lol!
Clair, you and I are so alike because I adore Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food.
ReplyDeleteYes, of course, I love tabbouleh! Falafel and hummus as well. Trader Joe's sells a very good tabbouleh salad. And it's very reasonably priced. I usually purchase two every time I shop.
"I also love olives - black, green, and kalamata."
To DIE for! I could eat olives until I explode!
And yes, we do have Goldie in Philly. In fact, there is one only a block away from where I live. I love the way it smells when you walk in. And the one by my apartment is so clean and well-managed.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your veggie passion, my friend! I am so with you!
Have a great day and week!
X
Ron, I've tried the tabbouleh salad at Trader Joe's and agree with you. It's very good AND the price is excellent, considering how expensive food is. Isn't Goldie awesome? I eat there at least once or twice a week whenever I go out for lunch at work.
ReplyDeleteI hated meat as a kid, but only discovered as an adult that it was because my mother overcooked everything. I’m okay with it now, but probably would eat less if I were single. I’m totally with you on the veggies! I love them because of the varieties and versatility. My lifelong favorite is the sweet potato, but I really HATE cutting up raw ones. I try to buy the skinnier ones, but they are still hard for me to cut through. But actually, I consider them more of a starch than a vegetable. For just eating raw, I love the mini red peppers. So sweet and tasty! You might remember that I eat raw veggies for breakfast everyday. Usually, peppers, cauliflower, and radish. For cooked veggie, I love roasted broccoli.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your puns. Although I’ve had them when eating out, I’ve never bought a leek to cook with. Do you use them? I’ve also not bought turnips. I guess I just never have recipes that call for those two items.
Your salad looks deeelicious, Ron! What a great way to use cabbage! I hope you have a beautiful week! XO
Ron, I enjoyed your post -- and your salad and wraps look yummy. As you'll recall, last year I was diagnosed with IBS (even though I'd known for decades earlier that that was what I had!). As a result, I have to be very careful what I put into my body. I have to be very careful how much I eat and what my mood is when I'm eating, too.
ReplyDeleteIt's not too much of a hardship, really. I'm adjusting to it nicely, and it's a blessing not to be in physical discomfort (or strapped to the toilet!!)
That said, I'm learning to like veggies. As a kid, I really didn't care for them much. Still, I don't think I could ever be a vegetarian -- I love a good, thick burger too much! Nor could I be vegan -- I can't fathom life without cheese!
Enjoyable post, my friend. Have a fabulous week! XX
Hey there, Debbie!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And yes, I most certainly do remember last year when you were diagnosed with IBS. I've known people thoughout my life who also had IBS and it can be very challenging when it comes to what you can and cannot eat. I'm sure you've got to be very careful by seeing what works and what doesn't work as far as your intake and how your body responds. Glad you finally figured out what it was.
Yes, in as much as I love veggies, I do know that some people don't care for them. Either that or they eat veggies occasionally .
You mentioned a burger. You know, that's the one thing I DID like when I still ate meat. There is nothing quite like a really good quality burger.
OMG, there is no way I could be vegan. I ADORE cheese and could never give it up. To me, cheese is my religion. Ha!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you and the Monk are feeling better!
(((((((((((((((((((((( YOU & THE MONK ))))))))))))))))))
Have a fab week!
X
"I hated meat as a kid, but only discovered as an adult that it was because my mother overcooked everything. I’m okay with it now, but probably would eat less if I were single."
ReplyDeleteIsn't it something how influenced we are by what our childhood was like? And like you, as an adult, I did occasionally eat meat and enjoyed it. But it gradually and eventually faded from my life. I can tell from listening to my body that meat is not for me.
" My lifelong favorite is the sweet potato, but I really HATE cutting up raw ones."
It's so ironic you said that because a few nights ago I made a soup, which I added a sweet potato and OMG...it was such a B***CH to cut. I thought I was going to have to rent a chainsaw to cut that damn thing! As much as I love sweet potatoes, they are not easy to cut.
"You might remember that I eat raw veggies for breakfast everyday. Usually, peppers, cauliflower, and radish. For cooked veggie, I love roasted broccoli."
Yes, that's right...I DO remember you mentioning that! That's AWESOME! Don't you love roasted broccoli? And do you know what I've been getting into lately? Broccolini! I sometimes toss it into my pasta dishes!
And yes, I do use leeks. I discovered a soup recipe that suggested using it. They are very similar to the taste of an onion, but much milder. I thought they were delicious! And turmips? No. But I really do want to try them, just to see if I like them.
And speaking of salads, I just made myself one to eat after I finish this comment. And again, I made a wrap with it as well.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your veggie faves, my friend. At least I know that YOU and I enjoy healthy food. Oh, and walking. Lol!
Have a beautiful week too!
X
Oh, friend, I love this post! My dad loved puns, so this made me so happy.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend has been a vegetarian for five years now, and she feels amazing. I love meat so much, but I think I could try it once I'm an empty nester and can focus less on meal planning. The salad you shared sounds so good—I’m definitely going to make it! The only thing I’ll omit is the feta, but you already know that. 🤣
Another wonderful post, my friend. Thank you for sharing! 😘💜
Greetings, Kari!
ReplyDeleteAw... thank you! And I'm so happy it reminded you of your dad, who loved puns!
For me, my body never cared for meat. In fact, I could actually hear my body saying, "No...not for you." But it wasn't until I was out on my own did I actually go vegetarian. And I mean this when I say it, I LOVE veggies soooooooooooo much. It actually makes me happy to eat them. LOL!
Yes, I know you're not a fan of feta. That's totally okay, you can swap that out for any cheese you do like. I alter recipes constantly. Therefore, any cheese to your liking will do.
Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaaaabulous week!
X
Not until they put a Goldie in my neighborhood, did I even know what type of cuisine they offered. But when I read the menu, I KNEW I was going to love it!
ReplyDeleteRon, I'm what you would call a pescatarian because I do eat fish as well as vegetables. I'm not the slightest bit interested in beef, chicken, pork, duck, etc.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite veggies are bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, peas, Persian cucumbers, and raw spinach.
And you mentioned legumes. My favorites are lentils and chickpeas.
I eat a lot of rice and quinoa. And I'm a big fan of nuts (all kinds). Feta cheese in a staple in my fridge. I put it on everything. Do you enjoy artichokes? They're one of my favorites too.
Enjoyable post, Ron! Loved the puns.
Gooood morning, Barbara!
ReplyDeleteA guy I work with refers to himself as a "pescatarian" as well because he primarily eats veggies, but also enjoys fish.
I love bean sprouts and alfalfa sprouts too!!! I get mine at Mom's Organic Market because they're fresh. I like to sprinkle sprouts on my salads and also throw them into my stir-fry. LOVE them!
BIG fan of lentils. Right now I'm using red lentils, but I enjoy them all. I especially like black lentils, but they are hard to find.
Yes, absolutely...I totally enjoy artichokes. Last month I made a soup and used artichokes. First time I ever tried that, and found that I really enjoyed it.
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your faves, my friend! Happy Wednesday!
X
P.S. In case you're interested, here is the recipe I used. I substituted the chicken stock for vegetable, and (obviously) left out the chicken and substituted chickpeas. It was DEEEEELICIOUS! I also took a banquette, sliced it, smeared hummus on it, and dipped it into the soup.
ReplyDeleteRon, thank you so much for sharing the artichoke soup recipe link. It looks delicious! Can't wait to try it this weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, my friend! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHelloooooooooo there, Mary!
ReplyDeleteNo worries my friend, you're not late, you're right on time!
I had a friend in Florida who was EXTREMELY sensitive to peanuts. In fact, when he and I flew to Japan for the summer to perform in a musical, he instructed me on how to give him an injection just in case he ate something with peanuts in it. THAT'S how allergic he was.
Me too, I try to eat as much organic as possible. I get most of my veggies from Mom's Organic Market in Philly. LOVE that place!
"but loveeee potatoes, cauliflower, kale, carrot, corn, etc."
LOVE all of those as well! I do eat a lot of beans, however, lentils (which I love more than my own life) mess with my stomach as well.
Hope you're having a fabulous week!
X
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