h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I wouldn't mind cooking for hours, as long as I get to eat what I cook. Yum.

You are cordially invited to come and cook Christmas dinner for my family and we'll even let you eat some! (That's two vegan meals and one free range turkey for the carnivores plus veggies of course!)

Like I said I enjoy cooking when I get to eat what I cook. Cooking vegan meals that I wouldn't eat would not be fun. Personally I like meat in my food, and in large quantities. Well at least a small amount.

I also failed to mention that there are only a few things that I can cook well, Christmas dinner _not_ being one of them. If however you enjoy spaghetti bolognese at Christmas then I would love to come down and cook that. But yet again I would not be willing to do a veggie version.

That's alright, you're still welcome and we'll let you off. John usually cooks Christmas dinner (I get the clearing up) as I'd probably ruin his free range turkey and if he over cooks it, I can go into smug mode! A couple of years back, he put my nut roast under the turkey and when I took it out of the oven, it was floating in turkey fat!!!! The dogs ended up eating it!

I cook a mean vegan spaghetti bolognaise by the way...it's one of Mair's favourites. In the past, meat eating friends haven't realised it wasn't meat.

I once went to a restaraunt with a friend that we did not realize was veggie only. There was a (mock) chicken salad on the menu which my friend ordered -- not catching that word "mock". When someone asked whether the chile had meat we were informed of the vegetarian nature of the restaraunt... my friend maintains it was the best chicken salad he ever had...

It just adds to my argument that we don't really need to eat meat although I'm not the type to impose my views on other people as John will eat anything that moves (I've had to warn him off the kids before now!). It's amazing what can be done with a bit of tofu or t.v.p.

t.v.p.?

Textured vegetable protein - (soya mince/chunks etc)... very handy stuff as it just rehydrates.

Oh really? Then why do all the vegetarians I know look pale? Not meaning to be offensive of course, it's just the lack of iron in the diet does have some effect on the body. I for one do not like nuts. I'll eat some vegetables and fruit, but the selection is limited. Vegetarianism would remove most nutrients from my diet. Humans are naturally omnivores and I fully intend to stay that way.

As an aside, has anyone actually worked out what the point is of having low fat food? Some things are alright, but they went a bit far with cheese and pringles.

My point is that I have the ability to make the moral decision not to eat meat and as all these wonderful alternatives are available, I really don't need meat (haven't eaten the stuff for nearly 20 years now and Mair has been raised a vegan and is 5'5" and a size 7 shoe and far from ill). However, if other people, choose to eat meat, then that's their decision (my hubbie and son do) but it's the cruelty in farming/rearing methods that I really object to. Maybe the "veggies" you know are aware of the damage the sun can do to their skin (ie: skin cancer)! I know, I've had it and am banned from sunbathing (sob!).

With cheese and pringles I'm guessing the point is that they thought they could sell it. To us Americans mostly, I'd bet. Some people will buy anything if it's low fat... then gorge on it and gain weight. or should that be ?

They market those awful Pringle things here too with a most irritating series of adverts which had the desired effect on my autistic son so I had to buy him some which he then decided he didn't like! The dogs ended up eating them.

The low fat stuff is marketed here too but most people tend not to notice all the other nasties added to "enhance" the product (i.e. gelatine to yogurt, sugar and lots of luverly "E" numbers).

Yeesh... you remind me so much of Monsy... Veganism (?) is very big up here in Vermont... while I don't eat meat, I cannot stay away from dairy products... I am super lactose-tolerant... in fact, I'm almost dependant on the stuff- goes to show you (brought up on a farm). Have you ever tried Tempah? I love the stuff!

Who or what is this "Monsy"? (Please excuse my ignorance!)

Dairy products were one of the most difficult things for me to give up and it must have been the third attempt when I found a soya milk that was enjoyable before I managed! I used to eat loads of cheese and drink gallons of really cold milk although now on the occasions I accidentally drink my husband's dairy milk or get some cheese on my fingers, I find it horrid. I do still find myself wishing that my home made soya yogurt tasted as good as my husband's shop-bought organic dairy yogurt.

Yes, tempeh is good although I live quite a distance from a supplier and so I have to settle for firm tofu.

Ah... grow my own... I love it... you can use it like spaghetti, or you can chop it in blocks, fry it up... mmm

Monsy is a friend of mine... just do a search for Monsy aka Monshari

I've done the search. Very interesting and thank you. I have to log off now as it is time to roll up my sleeves, prepare for battle and put my wee beasties to bed! (Aren't you good making your own tempeh! I'm useless at things like that - lack of motivation I think.)

I've done the search. Very interesting and thank you. I have to log off now as it is time to roll up my sleeves, prepare for battle and put my wee beasties to bed! (Aren't you good making your own tempeh! I'm useless at things like that - lack of motivation I think.)

Whoops

keep her away from MTV or else she will be learning tricks she don't need to know yet.

Having trouble with pre-teen daughters? Send to me, I'll straiten her out...Reeeeally nice.
Actually, its not like that. God have mercy on you. If I had a daughter, i'd lock her up and never let her see the light of day, or the moon ethier. Just because I know. I know this world isn't safe for are children as i've been on both sides of the fence.
But, then, what are the civil minded to do? Abandon to worry and become alcaholic? It produces a real challenge, parenthood.
I'm young in my early 20's. I met my wife when we were both pre-teens. We promiced to be with each other always, to be married, have kids what not. Her mom didn't like the idea and took her away to the bible belt where she got jammed by the local rednecks and got pregnat anyways. I waited faithfully for her to turn 18 where we got married. She had the biggest baby boy i've ever seen who drinks 100$ of formula a week.
But I have an ulser now, I have blood in my waiste, I can't eat or sleep. To think that I am raising a child in this horribly wicked world and with the salary I make. I do drink, much to the annoyance of my wife, but never out of control. After work, I would come home sit in the corner and drink till I fell asleep. I'm not violent, I'm pretty strong minded. (the other thing is my wife isn't mentally all there being a fetal alcahol sindrom child, can't read, can't work, can't remember what we spoke about yesterday) I love her to death.
But she wanted me to stop drinking,(i never get staggering drunk and stay well in control) But she was right, i don't really need it. Eventually her mom came and took her away. I don't drink no more, maybe on saterday nights.

My whole point is, lots of luck, your going to need it.