Going Vegetarian

"You're a vegetarian?!? What do you eat?" I hear this time and time again. A lot of people are incapable of envisioning a meal devoid of dead animals. It's fairly simple. Don't add meat to recipes, and be sure to check the labels on packaged food. Avoid anything with meat or stock in it.

Originally from Iowa, I grew up eating meat. Even though I was raised in a meat and potatoes family, I decided to stop eating meat in 1994 about the time my husband and I became engaged. My husband-to-be followed a vegetarian diet thanks to his former college roommate. Meat always turned him off even as a child so going full on vegetarian wasn't a difficult choice.

Once it looked like we were in it for the long haul, I asked him if it bothered him that I ate meat. He was honest telling me that watching people eat meat and smelling it cook turned his stomach, but he was not going to ask me to stop. That was up to me. Well, I really loved this guy, and I decided to give the vegetarian lifestyle a try. As it turns out, I've never regretted my decision, and our son and daughter are also vegetarians.

We really enjoy home cooked meals in our home. Rarely are we served a dish in a restaurant that's better than what what's prepared in our own kitchen. Friends and family appreciate the food we prepare, too. Our refrigerator door holds hot sauce bottles in various heats and every variety so it definitely gets a little hot and spicy at times.

I began this blog so I can share some of my family's favorite dishes. Most require little preparation and contain fresh ingredients and/or common staples. I hope this inspires you to get into your own kitchen and do some experimentation. Remember, if you're a die-hard carnivore you can always add or substitute meat in most recipes.