More vegetarian myths and madness

When I asked you to share the silliest hogwash people have ever said to you when they find out you're vegetarian, I never expected the onslaught of madness that dozens of readers have responded with! It's a crazy world out there when it comes to perceptions of vegetarians! Here's a few recent highlights, or, if you prefer, you can also read them all.

Guest reader BCH wrote in with some unwelcome career advice they've received:

I was told by a couple of my coworkers that I wouldn't be able to get ahead at work because people "need to eat meat to sustain their levels of aggression." I've been retired for a few years and still believe that going vegetarian was the best thing I ever did for the state of my health, both physical and mental.

Going vegetarian will ruin your career? Madness! And funny, it was the best thing in the world for mine, personally! Here's a bizarre one - attempt at suicide via vegetarianism? Wow. From reader Donji, who went vegetarian in the 1970s:

Shortly before I married him, my husband-to-be stopped eating meat. I was badly frightened, believing we needed meat to survive and that he would die. I didn't want to live without him, so I became a vegetarian too. Four years after we married, I was pregnant with our first and only child. I never felt better or happier. And throughout my child's early school years, she was at the very top of her class - super smart and creative as well as gorgeous!

Glad you survived to tell the tale of meatless living in the 70s! Suicide by vegetarianism? Hilarious! Here's another funny one. Simone wrote in to share her favorite snappy comeback:

A 'friend' invited my husband and I for dinner and cooked a meat stew. When my husband reminded her I don't eat meat, she said I can just pick out the meat and eat the veggies (this happens so often it is unbelievable). My husband (always fighting for my vegetarian rights) responded, "That's like telling someone you don't eat cats and them telling you, you can just eat around it."

I'm more of a dog person, but I think I'll still use it! Got your own story of bizarre things people tell you about being vegetarian? Tell us about it and publicly shame these people in front of all of us on the net!

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Vegan Christmas Fruit Cake

I know fruit cake always gets a bad reputation - but I LOVE the stuff and look forward to eating it every Christmas! Why not make your own vegan fruit cake to share with friends and neighbors this holiday season? This vegan fruit cake recipe is simple and easy to prepare, and is courtesy of Ener-G Foods.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp egg replacer
• 4 tbsp water
• 1/4 cup vegan margarine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 6 ounces candied fruit mix
• 1 1/4 cup water or orange juice
• 1 3/5 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp allspice

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Briefly whip the Egg Replacer in 4 tablespoons water until fluffy.

Place vegan margarine, sugar, dried fruit, whipped Egg Replacer and 1-1/4 cup water (or orange juice) in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and allow cooling for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and allspice together. Mix in boiled mixture and transfer to a greased loaf tin or a greased 8inch diameter cake tin.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in tin.

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Spinach and Beet Salad

Spinach salad is probably one of the healthiest and most nutritious foods you can reward your body with. Add simmered beets and a quick lemon Dijon dressing, and you've got a wholesome, low-fat vegetarian and vegan spinach salad to enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 4 beets
• water for steaming
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp cider vinegar
• 2 tsp honey or agave nectar
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped dill
• 1 large bunch of spinach
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Slice beets into coins and steam over boiling water for 15 to 20 minutes, or until soft.

In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon, lemon juice, vinegar, honey or agave nectar syrup and dill until smooth.

Gently toss together the beets, dressing and spinach to combine well. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper if desired.

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Chilled tomato soup

A simple cold tomato soup similar to a Spanish gazpacho and perfect for lunch when it's hot out. Prepare it in advance and keep it chilled to bring to work the next day. Made with fresh tomatoes and basil, this is a simple, understated soup with little added flavor, so be sure to use the freshest and best-quality tomatoes you can find.

Like simple vegetarian soups? Here's a few of the most popular vegetarian soups.

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Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipe

Planning your meatless Thanksgiving dinner menu? Scroll through this huge collection of vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving recipes, with links to main dish dinner ideas, Thanksgiving vegetable dishes, vegan Thanksgiving desserts, Tofurky help and more for the perfect holiday dinner.

1. Vegetarian and Vegan Stuffing Recipes

Stuffing is probably my favorite vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner dish. I love the way all the fresh herbs smell while cooking. Who needs to wait for a special occasion such as Christmas or Thanksgiving to cook up some vegetarian stuffing? A perfect vegetarian stuffing recipe can be used over and over again. Scroll through classic vegetarian and vegan Thanksgiving stuffing recipes, along with some contemporary recipes for stuffing with cranberries, cornbread stuffing and more. Pictured: Vegetarian Stuffing with Whole Wheat Bread
Link: Vegetarian Stuffing Recipes

2. Vegetable Side Dishes

Round out your dinner menu (and your plate!) with some creative vegetarian and vegan side dishes. Scroll through dozens of recipes for vegan mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegan green bean casserole and more classic Thanksgiving vegetable and side dish recipes. Pictured: Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole
Link: Thanksgiving Side Dishes

3. Vegetarian Gravy Recipes

Making a meatless vegetarian gravy is more of an art than an exact science, as timing, stirring and heat are everything, so you'll want to add more or less liquid as needed. Just like with regular gravy, however, your vegetarian gravy will thicken slightly as it cools. Most vegetarian gravy recipes are made from a vegetable broth base instead of pan drippings or animal fat, and many recipes add extra flavor by using mushrooms, fresh herbs, or other flavor enhancers such as miso or nutritional yeast.
Link: Vegetarian Gravy Recipes

4. Breads, Muffins and Biscuits

Cornbreads, vegan muffins, breakfast breads and plenty of biscuits and dinner rolls to accent your Thanksgiving meal. Choose at least one for a small gathering, and two or three for a larger crowd. Try these blueberry corn muffins (pictured), or browse through the entire collection of gluten-free breads, vegan breads and more.
Link: Thanksgiving breads, muffins and biscuits

5. Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner Entrees

Some vegetarians like to have a centerpiece at the table similar to a turkey, such as a Tofurky, another mock turkey, or a homemade tofu turkey or loaf. Other vegetarians are happy with a non-traditional entree, and you'll find plenty of ideas here. A wild rice and cranberry pilaf or a stuffed acorn squash (pictured) makes a flavorful fall-themed entree.
Link: Vegetarian Thanksgiving Main Dishes

6. Tofurky Recipes

Glam up your Thanksgiving Tofurky with some of these recipes for Tofurky glazes, marinades, homemade tofu turkey recipes, and of course, a trendy recipe for deep-fried Tofurky. Also, scroll through some recipe ideas for what to do with any leftover Tofurky.
Link: Vegetarian Tofurky Recipes

7. Guide to Vegetarian Turkey substitutes

Tofurky's not the only player in town anymore! Several brands of vegetarian and vegan meatless turkey substitues have hit the market over the past few holiday seasons, and this guide will introduce you to the best of them. can't decide which to try? Have one for Thanksgiving, one for Christmas and try a third for Easter!
Link: Seven vegetarian turkey substitutes

8. Vegetarian Thanksgiving Soups

As an alternative or accompaniment to a Tofurky or a homemade vegetarian turkey, try one of these Thanksgiving soup ideas for dinner. Eating soup as a Thanksgiving entree means you have plenty of room left for stuffing, potatoes, and pumpkin pie! Or, if you're new to cooking vegetarian food, soup is an easy and stress-free choice. Try some of these colorful and easy vegetarian Thanksgiving soup ideas. Pictured: Butternut Squash Soup with Apples
Link: Vegetarian Thanksgiving Soups

9. Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

Sure everyone expects pumpkin pie or apple pie at Thanksgiving, but you could also serve up a pumpkin cheesecake, a chocolate pumpkin pie, or a vegan pumpkin spice cake! If you're just looking for a vegan apple pie or a vegan pumpkin pie recipe, you'll find that here too, though. All of these Thanksgiving dessert recipes are vegetarian, and most are vegan and low-fat as well. Pictured: Sugar-free Pumpkin Pie
Link: Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes

10. Pumpkin Recipes

Put some pumpkin on your table this Thanksgiving! If you're not cooking a Tofurky or other mock roast, a vegetarian pumpkin dish can be a great entree. Or, serve some vegetarian pumpkin soup, cook up a side of vegan pumpkin bread, or make a batch of pumpkin muffins for a Thanksgiving or day-after (Black Friday!) breakfast. Pictured: Vegan Pumpkin Scones
Link: Vegetarian Pumpkin Recipes

11. Gluten-free Thanksgiving Recipes

Unfortunately, many traditional Thanksgiving dishes contain gluten, so if you're on a gluten-free, wheat-free vegetarian diet, you may need to prepare in advance to make sure you have plenty of foods for your Thanksgiving dinner. Gluten-free vegetarians can still enjoy plenty of delicious meatless fall foods. Scroll through my collection of gluten-free vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner recipes for menu ideas. Many of these recipes are vegan as well.Pictured: Maple-Glazed Roasted Root Vegetables
Link: Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Recipes

12. More vegetarian Thanksgiving tips

If you're a well-meaning host expecting vegetarians or even vegans at your Thanksgiving celebration but you aren't too sure how to accommodate them, read on for some tested advice. Also, if you're a vegetarian who wants to be a polite and well-fed guest, check out my tips, accumulated over 19 years of eating a turkey-less Thanksgiving! Vegetarians, vegans and omnivores alike can share a peaceful and abundant Thanksgiving table. After all, what table isn't big enough for both a turkey and a Tofurky?
Link: More Thanksgiving Tips

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Barbecued Stuffed Acorn Squash

Use six simple ingredients to make a hearty vegetarian and vegan main dish on the grill - stuffed acorn squash. Stuffed squash is a great vegetarian entree, whether it's grilled or not.

Barbecued Stuffed Acorn Squash recipe courtesy of Bush'sR Beans.

Ingredients:

• 3 acorn squash
• 1 28 ounce can vegetarian baked beans
• 4 tbsp barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 4 tbsp dark brown sugar
• 2 tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 cup hickory or other wood chips, soaked in water for 1 hour then drained

Preparation:

Cut each squash in half widthwise. Slice 1/4 inch off the rounded end of each half so the squash sits upright without wobbling. Scrape out the seeds with a spoon and discard.

Mix baked beans, barbecue sauce, maple syrup and brown sugar in small mixing bowl. Divide mixture evenly among squash halves and top each half with 1/2 tablespoon butter. (The squash can be prepared several hours ahead to this stage and refrigerated.)

Set up charcoal or gas grill for indirect grilling and preheat to medium. Arrange the squash halves on the grill away from the heat. Cook until squash is tender (the sides will feel soft when squeezed) and the filling is browned and bubbling for about 1 hour. Remove squash from grill and serve immediately.

If using a gas grill place wood chips in smoker box or smoker pouch under the grill grate directly over the burner. Run grill on high until smoking then reduce heat to medium. If using a charcoal grill preheat to medium. Toss wood chips on coals prior to grilling.

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Low-fat Coffee Cake Recipe

This low-fat and vegan coffee cake uses applesauce for moisture and a healthy amount of spices for flavor. Perfect for a weekend vegan brunch.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup vegan margarine
• 2 cups applesauce
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cups wheat bran flakes or oat bran
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease the bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan.

In a large saucepan, heat the vegan margarine and applesauce together until margarine is melted. Remove from heat.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix until well combined, then pour into baking pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Enjoy!

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