Written by admin on March 30th, 2009
I'm trying to get into vegetarian cooking and while there are a lot of sites and books out there, I'm really looking for a good general primer (either online or offline) recommended by some vegetarians out there.
Go to VegWeb http://www.vegweb.com
They have a lot of good recipes for vegetarians, vegans, and raw vegans — all sorts of recipes — and they have good how-to articles.
It is a very good place to start.
There is also a book called Vegetarian Cooking for Dummies which you can get on amazon.com which has information, how-to's, and easy recipes
There is also
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian, which also has information, how-to's, and easy recipes
There are lots of other sites and books, but these are easy ways to get started
Written by admin on March 29th, 2009
Sometimes being a vegetarian seems no fun at all, especially on the weekend barbeque where everyone else is enjoying grilled sticks and many other grilled delicacies. But no more, before this weekend get yourself a new vegetarian cook book full of vegetarian recipes and enjoy as others are doing. Vegetarian cook books are a great way to enjoy vegetarian dishes which you never know existed.
Vegetarian cook books are in general helpful for beginners who want to experiment with the vegetarian culinary but never know how to start with that. Now get mouth watering vegetarian dishes right out of your kitchen and set the mood of parties and weekends.
Before starting to purchase a vegetarian cook book understand what suits your taste buds as there are lot many vegetarian recipes which you could ever imagine. If beginner it is always better to start with the simple recipes than experimenting much with the culinary. The best way out is to understand your taste first and shortlist a few recipe cook books. It helps a lot to read the reviews and excerpts of such recipe cook books to make a choice.
To start with your vegetarian cook book recipe experience we will share on recipe with the courtesy of cookbookclub.net.
Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe
Lasagna Noodles
10 ounce Pk frozen chopped Broccoli
14 1/2 ounce Can Tomatoes
15 ounce Can Tomato Sauce
1 cup Chopped Celery
1 cup Chopped Onion
1 cup Chopped Grn/Sweet Red Pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil crushed *
Bay leaves
Clove garlic minnced
Beaten Egg
2 cup Lo-fat Ricotta or Cottage Ch
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
* or substitute 1/2 t dried Oregano for 1/2 t of the dried Basil Cook noodles and broccoli separately according to their package directions; drain well. Set aside.
For sauce, cut up canned tomatoes. In a large saucepan stir together undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, celery, green or sweet red pepper, basil, bay leaves, and garlic. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncover, 20-25 minutes or till sauce is thick, stirring occasionally.
Remove bay leaves.
Meanwhile, in a bowl stir together egg, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and 1/4 t pepper. Stir in broccoli. Spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce in a 13×9x2″ baking dish. Top with half the noodles, half of the broccoli mixture, and half of the remaining sauce.
Repeat layers, ending with the sauce.
Bake, uncovered, in a 350 deg F oven for 25 minutes; sprinkle with Mozzarella.
Bake 5 minutes more or till heated through. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Dhiraj
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Written by admin on March 28th, 2009
I used to enjoy meatballs with sauce and pasta. But now that I am vegetarian, can anyone of you recommend good, tasty vegetarian substitutes to use instead of meatballs? Thanks in advance!
Thanks for all the great answers so far! I must clarify, though, that I don't get soy meatballs where I live. (Besides, do soy meatballs taste good? If so, which brand?) So, I'd prefer a meat substitute that's readily available.
I am a former chef and eat alot of vegetarian meals becauce of my medical condition, and I have found TVP ( Textured Vegetable Protein) is a good meat like substitute.
I chop my onions and add them with my olive oil in a hot pan, brown them and then add a cup of TVP and let that toast for 5-10 minutes, then add my tomato products and dried herbs, slow cook it for 30 minutes and season it, sometimes I add fresh basil at the end for zip.
You can make a bolognese sauce, with celery, carrots and made the same way, by adding soya milk or a bit of evaporated. One thing is it will give a subtle meat like mouth feel, but is bit more headier, but will not spoil due to the meat in most sauces is the problem. I use it in chili, stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls and even mexican dishes like tacos and burritos.
Written by admin on March 26th, 2009
When I told my doctor I'm a vegetarian, he said it's fine, but that should eat fish once a week just to get some extra minerals and vitamins. He said especially since heart disease and osteoporosis run in my family, I should eat fish for the phosphorus and the omega fatty acids. I know I'm being difficult, but I don't want to give up my ethics. How can I replace fish?
Thanks!
Fish has Omega 3, which you can take in form of Flax seed oil.
There isn't anything else in fish that you can't also get in a balanced vegetarian diet.
Written by admin on March 26th, 2009
In this modern world, there are more and more food-related health problems. That is why, many people are turning towards having more vegetables on their dinner tables.
In fact, many have switch from meat-eating diets to vegetarian diets. There are many people stating that they are plant-eaters, but in actual fact there is not really a single vegetarian diet. Why is that so? I will share more as you read this article.
What are the 4 basic types of vegetarian diets?
#1 Food from plants mainly vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, grains and nuts is sometimes called a total vegetarian or vegan diet to many
#2 Another type of vegetarian diets includes not only plant foods, but also cheese and other dairy products. This is called lacto-vegetarian diet.
#3 You will be surprised people whom are consuming eggs are calling themselves vegetarian. They are having ovo-lactovegetarian or lacto-ovovegetarian diet.
#4 There are people who are called semi-vegetarian. These people don’t eat red meat, but include fish and chicken in their diet.
Are they really healthy?
In fact, the majority of vegetarian diets are low in animal products, which are lower in cholesterol, total fat and saturated fat compared to normal diets.
According to medical studies, vegetarians have a lower risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure and some types of cancer, as compares to people who are meat-eaters.
These type of vege-eating habits can be very healthy if carefully planned so that they include all the necessary nutrients in reasonable amounts. However, they can also be too high in calories or lack some important nutritional substances.
What about vegetarian vitamins?
If you’re a plant-eater, you can assure that you have more than enough nutrients in your body by taking the following organic vitamins:
#1 Where to get proteins?
You don’t necessarily have to eat animal products to ensure the correct amount of proteins in your body. Proteins can be found in plants too. However, make sure that your diet is varied and contains enough calories for your daily energy needs.
You can also depend on a good organic vitamin supplement. Vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds are also rich in amino-acids. However, you don’t have to combine all these foods in one meal. Soy is also just as good in proteins as animal stuffs. You can take all the necessary amount of proteins just from soy.
#2 Where are the iron?
Vegetarians run a higher risk of having iron deficiencies, as the main sources of iron are liver, read meat and egg yolk. However, iron is also found in spinach, dried beans, dried fruits and brewer’s east. A vegetarian supplement can also help increase the iron level in your body.
#3 What about vitamin B12?
Animal products are the only natural source for this vitamin. Therefore, vegans need to take a vegetarian vitamin supplement to prevent vitamin B12 deficiencies. However, a little amounts of vitamin B12 can also be found in fortified cereals, nutritional yeast, soy beverages and other foods.
#4 Is vitamin D good?
Vegetarians have to use vegetarian supplement intakes to ensure a proper vitamin D level in their body, especially if they don’t get enough sunlight.
#5 Where to find calcium in vegetables?
Medical studies have shown that vegetarian diets usually lead to the absorption and retaining of more calcium. Calcium is found in vegetable greens, such as kale, spinach and broccoli, legumes and soy.
#6 Zinc?
Zinc is an essential substance for ensuring development and growth. Grains, legumes, nuts and shellfish are great sources of zinc. If you take an organic vitamin supplement, make sure that it doesn’t contain over 15-18 mg of zinc. Such supplement with 50 mg of zinc may decrease the level of HDL cholesterol, which is good for the human body.
Although vegetarian diets are generally healthier than non-vegetarian ones, taking a good vegetarian vitamin supplement may help keep your body healthy. So, take action right now to improve your health even further.
Without a proper understanding of using and getting quality vegetarian vitamin supplements to treat many chronic diseases, there will not be much disease free lifestyle to craving for.
Applying this effective tips as being highlighted here, together with an thorough understanding of vitamin supplements is important so that you enjoy your life once again.
anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/know-where-to-get-quality-vegetarian-vitamin-supplement-facts-132232.html
Written by admin on March 24th, 2009
I am attending a family dinner at a Benihana restaurant after Christmas. As a vegetarian, I am looking through their menu to see what sort of vegetarian options they have. Google results say that they have some sort of "secret" entree that is veggie-friendly, but I obviously don't see it on their online menu. Apparently, it is called "Vegetarian Saishoku" but if anyone can clarify that this is true? Just wondering if I should eat beforehand!
I got stuck going to Benihana for lunch a couple of weeks ago. They do have a veggie entree and (at least this was the case with our cook) they do the veggies first before they start with the meat, so the grill is clean. They start cooking them in oil, but then they slap in a big wad of butter towards the end of the cooking. If you're vegan, be prepared to ask them not to. I don't remember what it was called, but you couldn't miss it on the menu. They will also serve you white rice. It's not the most creative or satisfying meal I ever had, but it was a fairly nice selection of veggies, so it could have been a lot worse. The problem with Benihana is that, because they cook at the table, you have to watch them cooking the meat and you walk out of there smelling of it.
Written by admin on March 23rd, 2009
Folks unfamiliar with vegetarianism think of vegetarians as people who are missing out on tasty and nutritious foods. Some of the more enlightened people know that many vegetarians rely on discount vitamins to help supplement essential nutrients for their bodies. To the vast majority, however, vegetarians are all as pacifists who are unable to choose or enjoy tasty and nutritious foods.
The truth is that vegetarians come in as many different shapes and forms as there are diets. This means there are so many varied forms of vegetarian diet that it would make any one contemplating vegetarianism go nuts. Nuts do form an important portion of a vegetarian diet, but the point is there is much more dichotomy to a vegetarian diet than meets the eye. There are those vegetarians who consider milk and milk products as acceptable and then there are those that do not. There are those that consider eggs as an acceptable part of a vegetarian diet and others that do not. The diversity is mind-boggling. However, all vegetarians should consider discount vitamin supplements as an essential part of vegetarianism.
In some ancient cultures vegetarianism arose due to economic, religious or social issues. In South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent, vegetarianism is based on religious traditions and economic reasons. The centuries of vegetarianism in that part of the world has produced a wide variety of herbs, spices and vegetable extracts that are now commonly used in western cultures. Recent studies have shown that the old-world ingredients such as garlic, turmeric, ginseng, capsaicin, psyllium, cayenne, fenugreek, various oils, nuts, etc. have great positive dietary benefits. In western cultures, vegetarianism is embraced more as a healthy alternative to weight-loss or weight-control diets. Whatever the reason behind one being a vegetarian, it is absolutely essential that proper nutrients be included in one’s diet.
Many animal products are main sources of key nutrients like vitamin-B12 and other essential vitamins. Any diet that avoids animal sources of such nutrients must find alternative sources to incorporate these into the diet. A common source for such nutrients is fortified cereal. However, the high sugar levels in cereals make fortified cereal an unattractive alternative. The sugar content in a typical American diet is extra-ordinarily high and is a leading cause of many diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, etc. These diseases in turn lead to other life threatening conditions, especially as we grow older.
The average life-span in the United States and other developed nations has been steadily increasing. As we age, more and more of us are facing many diseases that come with age. Everyone knows that prevention is better than the cure. As a result, following a well-balanced diet cannot be stressed enough. A good diet is like stopping smoking. Just as it is never too late to stop smoking, it is never too late to start following a balanced diet. Obviously, the earlier one starts in one’s life in maintaining a healthy diet, the better the long lasting results. Children’s vitamins have now become the norm rather than the exception. Pre-teens and teens find vitamins as an accepted form of daily nutrition. Who has not heard the phrase, “Have you taken your vitamins today?” Young adults, middle-aged people and even those in their sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties are now beginning to understand the importance of adding discount vitamins and dietary supplements to their diets.
Vegetarians are especially at risk at being deficient in vitamins and important nutrients. The vegetarian is likely to avoid all animal products including eggs, milk, yogurt, fish, fish oils, meat, poultry, etc., which are the main sources of important nutrients. The only alternative source for such nutrients for the vegetarian is discount vitamins and dietary supplements.
To help vegetarians develop a healthy diet and include key nutrients in their diets, some online discount vitamin dealers are providing in depth information and a wide range of vitamins and diet supplements. Even as diets come and go, the importance of incorporating discount vitamins and supplements to a vegetarian diet must be a constant. In a fad filled society, where a brand new diet is introduced almost every week to the public as the latest fix-it-all to health and weight issues, a good diet is one regimen that is here to stay.
Most people do not have the time to keep up with the latest health news and developments. To assist, online discount vitamin dealers offer detailed articles and latest health news to keep the public abreast of key trends and happenings. Articles range from the latest bills in Congress that may affect the sales and distribution of vitamins to the latest research on organic vitamins and foods. For those interested in further information on the vitamins and supplements they are taking, additional articles are available as well. The recent developments of combining bottled water with infused vitamins are a hot topic. The FDA’s classification of various forms of water based on its origin; such as spring water, purified water and mineral water are also addressed on these sites.
In matters of diet, health and wellness, one must bear in mind that it takes time to see noticeable changes. It is no different when one is trying to see noticeable changes due to intake of vitamins and supplements. There are no overnight cures or instant healing. Diet is a lifestyle. It is a habit, something one does without thinking. Good diet is a habit. It is a matter of life-style and something that has become a part of one’s daily life. Long lasting lifestyle changes take time to develop. Ours is an instant gratification society where getting people to stick to a diet with discipline is a challenge. Results of a diet take time to become clearly noticeable. The advantage of incorporating discount vitamins and supplements into one’s diet is that it does not require any drastic changes. It is just a matter of taking the vitamins as a matter of daily routine.
As the ranks of vegetarians grow, so does the need for information about a proper well-balanced diet. Many celebrities who practice a vegetarian diet like Olympian Edwin Moses, tennis great Martina Navratilova, actors Orlando Bloom, Brad Pitt, actress Naomi Watts, music stars Shania Twain, Prince, Paul McCartney, etc., all take vitamin supplements. To maintain one’s vegetarian life-style and yet at the same time follow a good diet, discount vitamins and supplements are an absolutely critical part of the diet. In most instances, a vegetarian is a vegetarian for one reason, which is to achieve the goal of a healthy and long life. With such a goal in mind, it would only make perfect sense to ensure that no essential nutrients are missing in one’s diet.
Freelance Writer
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/the-vegetarian-diet-important-nutrients-and-supplementation-for-the–96413.html
Written by admin on March 22nd, 2009
My sister is going away to school this fall and I'd like to make her a cookbook of some simple, but good vegetarian meals she can make in her dorm room. Problem is I'm not a vegetarian so I'm not much help…I appreciate any suggestions!
Beans and rice, beans and cheese in tortilla,
Make sure all of those recipes have protien.
Tofu is not an easy thing to cook in the micro 
Beans will give energy and fiber!
also potatoes are very good for you…and versatile
An easy to clean crock pot or rice steamer is an idea.
As a snack, I love V-8 juice heated up as a soup, (for like 1-2 mins) with a little pepper or spice, and then tortilla chips or brown rice tossed in it as a filler. If she does not eat enough protein she will literally feel starved and reach for the junk! All veggie teens do! They can't find any quick food. Veggie teens eat twice as much to feel full. Protein satisfies like nothing else.
One more thing that I am passionate about (as a life long veggie), is B-12! Make sure she takes a b-12 supplement (at least two hours away from eating milk to absorb it) everyday! Important vitamin for veggie people to stay in the game. Also Omega 3 fatty acids , and a high quality multi vitamin.
Written by admin on March 20th, 2009
I'm trying to become a vegetarian. I know there is something in some cheeses that makes them non-vegetarian. I know that rennet is bad.
If it says "enzymes" is that also bad? Where do enzymes come from?
Do most restaurants use non-vegetarian cheese? For example, a cheese and broccoli baked potato from Arby's - would a vegetarian eat that?
Cheese is not vegetarian or vegan. You can make a cheese substitue from soy, pimentos or other foods that are not dairy or meat based.
Cheese is produced from putrified milk products, there fore it is dairy not vegetarian. Enzymes can be good or bad, depending on where they originated and what form they currently are in. Enzymes in cheese can cause gas and bloating….the putrified dairy product.
Imitation cheese food may be what you are asking about.
Most restaurants use american cheese which is still dairy.
Written by admin on March 20th, 2009
There are many ideas that we have with regards to getting a good healthy body. One of these ideas will be the foods that we regularly eat. This means that you may want to consider cutting out a large portion of fats from your cooking. Indulging in vegetarian cooking will help you to start this change with a boost to your health.
You will find there are many interesting and tasty ways to cook your vegetarian meals. The best ways to find this information is by looking at the different vegetarian recipes that you can find from various countries.
These recipes that you will be able to look for can be accessed in cookery books. These cookery books can be online ones as well as your traditional cook books. In the more modern cook books you will find information that pertains to the nutritional value that you can get from eating different vegetables.
While you will need to have a more sensible approach to eating, you should consider the way that you cook your foods as well. This means that if you want to retain some of the nutrition in the vegetables that you eat then you will need to investigate the benefits of vegetarian cooking.
The main aspect to vegetarian cooking is the way that your meals taste and provide you with nutritious energy. The force behind this way of cooking really boils down to the products that are used to provide you with a good meal. For instance you will find that most of the meals that you can eat in a vegetarian meal are not smothered in artery clogging rich creams and dressings.
You will also find that the oils that are used in vegetarian cooking are ones that will help with retaining the nutrition of your different vegetables. In general these oils will be ones like olive oil and sunflower oil. Even these oils are used sparingly so that the goodness of the foods is allowed to come out.
There are also meat substitutes like soy meat that you can eat in place of meats every so often. To learn more about these sorts of meatless meats you can look for the information on the internet. The main thing that you need to remember when you are looking at the numerous ways of vegetarian cooking is that you are cooking this way for a healthier life.
Due to this reasoning you should start your vegetarian cooking by using foods that you like as the main part of your meals. Reducing meats, fats and sweets by using vegetarian cooking and a sensible diet will all help you to build a lifestyle that will promote more activity in your life.
Muna wa Wanjiru
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/the-benefits-of-indulging-in-vegetarian-cooking-can-not-be-overlooked-309098.html