Veganism

[tater]

I love a good salad, but "raw" foods mean that opportunities to "cook" anything the least bit complex are rare (since they don't cook anything).

BTW, I think getting 1 in 100 vegan meals to even taste "decent" would be optimistic.

Vegetarian meals, OTOH, are an entirely different story.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by tater

I love a good salad, but "raw" foods mean that opportunities to "cook" anything the least bit complex are rare (since they don't cook anything).

That you're right. I can never stand any vegetables that have been exposed to heat in any way except maybe light steaming. I love a good salad with some tomatoes, fresh lettuce, olives, spring onions and red redish.... but once you boil them it looks and tastes like something you took from a compost

And about the: it's a choice. Yes it is, no one has the right to tell them they shouldnt do it. But it works both ways and the vegans are outright abnoxius about trying to impose their views on us carnivores

[ETR3(SS)]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

[tater]

I cook veggies almost exclusively with dry heat. Roasting does wonders. Drives off water, heats, and concentrates flavors.

Perhaps tossed with olive oil, and some salt. Simple, and good.

I guarantee my roasted broccoli is better tasting than ANY vegan broccoli preparation on earth (which apparently would be serving it raw with maybe something else raw on top).

Vegan spices? Lesse, they don't cook anything—vegans eat RAW food, right? Most spices require cooking to release flavors. Many Indian spices, for example actually taste BAD when un cooked. A few seconds in hot oil... awesome.

Veganism is crazy, IMO. I've never met a vegan who wasn't more than a little nutty. It's their CHOICE, but it is none the less true that virtually all I've met are kooks. BTW, how many strict carnivores have you met? Think they'd be nuts, too? How about people that only eat meat, and only eat it RAW. That would be the meat-eating version of a vegan. If the one idea is insane, so is the other.

[tater]

My bad, not all vegan do the only raw food thing.

So those that cook (the majority) are not entirely crazy. Still, the number that can actually cook well are few and far between.

We went to a dinner with Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential, Cook's Tour, etc) and after his talk he went around the room and sat at each table for a while (was not a huge gathering) and chatted. My wife asked him what the worst meal he'd ever had was. For TV shows he'd eaten some horrible stuff that makes you sick to think about. His answer? A vegan pot-luck in Berkeley. Worst meal on earth, and they knew they were serving a chef who disdains vegetarian food, so they did their very best to convert him.

[the_tyrant]

there is actually good vegetarian food
stuff like this:



with modern advance in chemistry it is completely possible to create "meat" out of materials derived from plants (like protean powder)

[Takeda Shingen]

I enjoy being a vegetarian; the diet does yield numerous health benefits, not the least of which has been my very healthy weight. You can cook all kinds of things that will make a vegan fat, and if someone is doing it, they might as well just eat the meat, because the effects on their body will be the same.

And no, I don't think that it is dumb. I regularly prepare and serve meat dishes for my guests if I know that they prefer it. I am not offended by having meat-based entrees waved under my nose, nor by the posting of cheeseburgers and what-not on the internet. I do find the objections of those that decry what I choose and do not choose to put in my body to be somewhat amusing, as I do not care if you choose to eat bacon three meals a day.

EDIT: Of course, all that being said, I also like Bourbon, Scotch and cigars (although I do not smoke them in the house now that I have children), so I suppose that we all pick our poison.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by gimpy117

veganism is silly.

cows make milk all by them selves

chickens lay eggs just for fun

We have made them to do. Naturally they wouldn't.

Anyhow, I am not Vegan, and never were, I was Vegetarian for ten years some longer time ago. Back then it was okay to not have meat or fish, but cheese, eggs and milk I ate.

If that lady's vegan food does not taste, then she simply doe snot know how to cook well. My Mom can cook with Tofu and wheat and grain, and she can do it very excellently, producing copies of meat by using grians only that are as delicious as the real thing.

But one needs to have a lot of background knowedge about food and nurtirtion, else it backfires oin your health - you can make a lot wrong there. It is also more expensive, and it takes you much more time in the kitchen.

I personally came to realise that occasionally I like to have some meat or fishg. But I do not have it even just once per week, but only maybe 2 or 3 times per month. I consume a lot of grains instead, Tofu, pasta, and milk, eggs, butter, cheese etc. So I am no Vegetarian anymore, but a very low rate consumer of meat.

What I run away from in panic, yelling, is Sushi. Cold, glibbery, often salty. Brrrr. My trainer and personal mentor was Japanese, and quite traditional a bit. I did not make him happy with that dislike of mine.

[Platapus]

I gave up beef about a year ago. My doctor is very happy. My LDL went from 200+ to 64 at my last exam.

One thing that is weird about beef is that if you stop eating it for a while, if you ever do, it tastes kinda funny and not in a good way.

I don't care the hell what other people eat so long as they enjoy it. I can't stand sad eaters and sad drinkers

That's my philosophy.

Anyone know where that quote came from? I bet Sailor Steve knows.

No pressure there Steve.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by ERPP8

Vegetarianism is dumb,
The animals are ALREADY dead, you eating or not eating meat only keeps it on the shelf for maybe another hour.

Why are the animals already dead?
Because there is a demand for meat.
Would they raise and slaughter animals if there was no demand?
Certainly not.
How do you reduce demand?
By becoming vegetarian.

That is probably the most basic rule of the market: no demand = no offer, or at least no offer that will remain for long. The shelves would be bare of meat within weeks if no one would buy it. So to say turning vegetarian is dumb because the meat is there is, well...

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I gave up beef about a year ago. My doctor is very happy. My LDL went from 200+ to 64 at my last exam.

Congratulations! That's quite a drop.

[STEED]

For every person turns vegan the poor Americans have to eat more meat.

[mookiemookie]

Much like Tak, What diet someone else chooses to follow doesn't bother me in the least. I don't feel the need to critique it or pass judgement on it. I should really try cutting back on the meat....I've started limiting my red meat intake and replacing it as much as possible with white meat chicken or turkey.

That being said, I did get a kick out of this:

[GoldenRivet]

All i can say, personally speaking... i have finally perfected my steak grilling as of about 6 years ago.

I have specific spices, seasonings and sauces etc that i use exclusively to create my steak and i take a lot of pride in getting it right.

I grill it with a diamond pattern when i have the time, and i try to make it look as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste.

grilling a steak is one of my favorite past times... i love standing by that grill with a cold beer in my hand listening to that sizzle and hiss while engaged in good conversation with my wife or a good friend.

the only thing better is sitting at the table with friends and family and enjoying - and watching them enjoy - a tender, juicy steak.

any man ought to be able to tell you - grilling a steak is a matter of pride, its an art form all its own, and your recipe is something you dont easily share with anyone.

i like vegetables, dont get me wrong.

but there is a HUGE difference between a vegetarian and a vegan.

i can eat salad

i cannot eat vegan - everything they cook is just an amalgamation of stuff that aint supposed to mix and when it comes out of the oven they call it lasagna.

but brother, i have had lasagna... but that soupy, flavorless, odorless concoction is NOT lasagna. know what i mean?

when i enjoy a good meal i do so with all my senses... i hear it cooking, i smell it cooking, i sense the change in odor as you add various ingredients, i see what it looks like on the plate, whether or not it LOOKS appetizing, i judge every aspect and dissect every flavor... im the type of food oriented person who wants to feel like the sight, scent and taste of my food is making love to my senses

and if that were the case... vegan food... is just a lousy partner.

Well, as more people go veggy?
The cost of a steak should drop for me!
Happy Times!

Actually? We raise our own Beef so cost is not much of a factor.
They are natural fed with no injections and such.
We have 3 right now. Named Breakfest, Lunch, and Dinner!

At 53 (in a few days) I STILL can wear the same sizes I did in 1976!
160 LBS at 5' 10"
I also out work most of the Guys younger then me by a long shot.
(I can still lift a 350 Chevy engine into the back of a Pickup by myself)

I believe it's not what you eat, it's your life style that matters.
If your on your butt all day?
You ain't burning off the stuff you consume.

My rule is:
If it don't eat me first?
It's most likely a meal.