Animal Crackers.........

One of my coworkers saw me snacking on some animal crackers and asked me if Its OK for a vegetarian to eat animal crackers...... LOL,

Been awhile since I had a chance to post again, Working 60 hours a week, sleeping 5 hours a day and getting about an hour workout in each day. Plus all the cooking me and my wife have been doing.

We went to a company outing yesterday and I maintained my vegetarian diet as best I could I did eat some beans and I am not sure if they had any pork fat in them? I did not see any but it was probably used in the cooking process. I did not eat any meat I just waited till I got home and had some chili my wife made.

Because of our busy schedules we do use some of the Morning Star and Veggie fresh products. I try and keep them to a small part of my diet but it's tough to maintain without using some prepared foods. This week we used the Morning Star hot and spice sausage in a pasta sauce. I am making BBQ meatball's tomorrow with the Veggie Fresh.

This week we have a ratatouille, eggplant parmigiana, chili, bbq meatballs, and spaghetti sauce for whatever pasta we want.

Even with all this food we still have not tried seitan or tofu I am going to try them at some point but have not done it yet.

So still eating well and staying full. Probably eating too much! its been a tough week lots of hours working and not enough working out. At least not for me.

I'm not sure why but it just amazes me at the responses I get when I tell someone I'm a vegetarian now. Remember I'm no little guy. Still hitting the scale at 240lbs. I did drop a couple pounds then it came back to haunt me... So back to my original though of people's responses. I either get oh the hell with that I like meat too much or a stare of amazement and a comment like "well you still eat chicken or fish right!" NO! its still meat! LOL. Or I get someone saying "I'm a Vegetarian" in a flamboyant fashion" Just like everything with me I really don't care what people think if they don't like it too damn bad.

Its Sunday morning I just got home a little while ago from work and I am trying a new recipe. of course it uses lentils which take 45 minutes too cook. I will update on how they come out later.

here is the recipe I am making

INGREDIENTS

• • 1 c dry lentils, well rinsed
  • 2 1/2 c water
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 medium carrot, diced
  • 1/2 t pepper
  • 1 t soy sauce, optional
  • 3/4 c rolled oats, finely ground
  • 3/4 c bread crumbs

---

Drag groups or instructions to sort

INSTRUCTIONS

• 1. Place the lentils, water, and salt in saucepan, bring to a boil, lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes, until water is nearly gone and lentils are very soft, with splitting skins.
  2. Sauté the onion and carrot in oil until soft, about 5 minutes.
  3. Mix the lentils, onions, carrots, pepper, and optional soy sauce in the large bowl, then mix in the ground oats and bread crumbs.
  4. While still warm, form the lentil mixture into patties, which can now be frozen, refrigerated (for up to 5 days), or cooked immediately.
  5. Cooking (2 possibilities):
  6. In a frying pan, heat a bit of oil, place a burger on top, and fry until brown, 1-2 minutes. Repeat on other side and serve.
  7. In a 400º oven, bake the burgers on a greased baking sheet until light brown, about 15 minutes.

4th week

Going into week 4 now and still maintaining the Vegetarian lifestyle. Yesterday July 4th we went to a friends house as we do every 4th of July. We have a cookout and go to the fireworks. The only difference this year was that I'm a Vegetarian and no one else that goes is. Since we have been doing this for 10 years now and these are really close friends I brought some veggie burgers and had those for my lunch.

However I did cheat on my diet!! Not the vegetarian side but my calories went through the roof since I snacked on chips, cookies, and desert which was a slice of cheesecake and a slice of Boston creme pie. Luckily for me I did a 19.5 mile bike ride followed by a 2.25 mile run before going to the cookout.

Today I tried a portabella mushroom burger that I marinated in soy sauce. It was ok but not my favorite. What I did enjoy later this afternoon was I had some leftover eggplant that I breaded and baked. I turned it into an eggplant sandwich on a deli slim bread and a dab of BBQ sauce.

We also made a 15 bean pasta salad and a ziti bake with summer veggies. As well as more eggplant parm, corn chowder and a vegetable minestrone soup. To back up a bit Sunday I made a Sheppard pie using TVP as the "MEAT" replacement and we all ate it! My fridge is full of food cooked and prepped and we just take what we want each night.

Don't get me wrong the prep is a bit more than eating deli meats and regular meats but I feel good, My workouts are getting back to normal with the exception of the recent spike in humidity that is tearing me apart.

Sheppard Pie with TVP recipe.

2.5 cups water

2 cups TVP

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp EVOO

1 Can of corn (or fresh, or frozen)

BBQ sauce (optional)

Spices to taste

Potato's (sweet or regular)

1/2 stick butter (Promise), milk, salt and pepper for potato

Peel, cut up and boil potato I did not count but probably used a lb or so. Mash with beater and add salt pepper, butter and milk till smooth

I used a large skillet and heated up the water on medium, add oil and soy sauce, stir in the TVP and let it reconstitute continually stirring, once most of the water was absorbed I added the can corn (drained). I let it cook on medium for another 2 or 3 minutes. I added spices like italian,cayenne, onion, garlic.

Once TVP is cooked place in the bottom of a casserole dish, Then smooth out, I added some BBQ sauce at this point. place spoonfulls of mashed potato on top and smooth out with a scraper or other smooth cooking utensile large spoon etc...

Bake at 350 till top starts to turn light brown on the edges. serve warm and enjoy!!

July 1st is here

edited to add tomorrow is the start of the TDF, I'm pretty psyched!!!!

So going into week 3 with no real issues, still working on new recipes and meals for the whole family. My workouts have been pretty strong so far. I feel good my weight is staying the same for now and hoping to nudge it down some more as the weeks go on. I really thought this was going to be a lot harder than it is. it does take more time in the kitchen but that's ok. My only real problems have been having the time to prepare food ahead of time for work. We've been managing so far by doing most of our cooking on our days off and making enough of each meal to last a few days. this weekend we are making a baked ziti with summer vegetables, corn chowder, eggplant parmesan, and a meatless Sheppard's pie.

Sunday is our long run day or its supposed to be! Monday the 4th I am hoping to get an early morning bike ride in before going to a friends house for a cookout and 4th of July fireworks. I am planning on bringing some food for the cookout as well to keep from eating burgers and dogs.

So far this week me and Tami have logged 12 correction 15 miles running and I've biked 38 miles. If my shoulder would recover I can get back into the weight room soon too.

For any other runners or endurance athletes reading this invest in "the stick" from running warehouse or perform better dot com and use it twice a day on sore muscles! seems to help a lot with recovery.

Thanks for reading.