About
Welcome to my blog! After years of thinking about it and making some rather half-assed efforts, I’ve decided to go full-fledged vegetarian. On this blog, I will be posting pictures and recipes of the vegetarian fare I eat every day. The food will be a mix of my own recipes and recipes taken from various cookbooks and websites.
The time seems right for a change– I’m newly married, and my husband (who will be making guest posts now and then!) and I recently moved to a small town in central Pennsylvania, where we are both teaching English at a local university. Although my husband does not plan on going full-fledged vegetarian, he will still be eating vegetarian dinners (I’m the cook in the house!), and is eager to explore more vegetarian cuisine.
I’ve thought about going vegetarian for a long time, and have slowly been reducing the meat in my diet for the past few years. I can’t even remember the last time I had red meat. Movies like Food, Inc and Earthlings (which I have only been able to watch the TRAILER for!) prompted me to consider even more seriously the notion of going vegetarian. In the past, I was reluctant to call myself a “vegetarian,” despite the low amount of meat in my diet. I couldn’t let go of the “meat safety net”…the just-in-case-I-want-a-turkey-sandwich approach.
Still, as I thought more and more about it, this approach seemed wishy-washy. I wanted to make a more committed effort, and that meant accepting the fact that there WOULD be times when a turkey sandwich (or salmon, or gumbo, or sushi) would sound llike heaven on a plate, and that I would have to say no. I realized that, to reap the full benefits of vegetarianism, I would have to make sacrifices.
And sacrifices are never easy!! To help me stay on track, I’ve created this blog. My hope is that it will serve to make me more accountable to my new commitment, while making awesome food and having fun with it. I’ve always loved to cook, but I know that limiting myself to vegetarian cuisine will serve as a challenge. This blog will serve as a food diary of my culinary highs and lows (of which I’m sure there will be many).
People always ask vegetarians, “But what do you eat?” (I know, because I’ve asked many vegetarians that very question!) My hope is that this blog will answer that question.
Karla said,
November 18, 2009 @ 2:32 pm
Hey! I just found your blog from Carrots N Cake. I recently became a vegetarian and started a blog too! (foodologie.wordpress.com)
I’ll definitely keep reading your blog. Looks great!
Anna said,
November 18, 2009 @ 2:47 pm
Thanks Karla!! I’m adding your blog to my blog roll
Gelareh @ Orange Truffle said,
November 22, 2009 @ 5:05 am
Hi there!
I am also a rookie vegetarian (9 months now). I love my new lifestyle and enjoy all of my meatless meals. My husband, like your husband is not a vegetarian but he does eat vegetarian meals with me some nights. Check out my blog for some recipes and I will be checking yours
Anna said,
November 22, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
Gelareh,
Thanks for stopping by! I’ll definitely be checking out your blog!
Emily Plank said,
November 23, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
Okay, so I have a few thoughts as an *experienced* vegetarian! (ha!!) 6 1/2 years, and raising two vegetarian babies has forced me to do a lot of reading and recipe searching. First, ethnic foods are so much more vegetarian friendly, and don’t rely so much on meat substitutes. Our favs…Indian, Ethiopian, and Mexican (of course). Second, dry beans are much more cost effective then canned, but they require too much time and planning for me. I buy them in bulk, cook an enormous pot on one day, and then freeze them cooked. They don’t work well in dry dishes, but they are great in soups and stews this way. Then I buy cans for almost everything else! My favorite grain – Quinoa…because it is a complete protein just the way it is. A quick veggie stir fry on quinoa gives you everything you need without having to throw in cubes of tofu or scrambled eggs. (which is also good, sometimes).
I’m excited to see what you come up with! I love cooking, too, and am always looking out for new good recipes. Tonight, I’m trying…http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/7574?section=. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Anna said,
November 23, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
Hey Emily!! I’m so excited that you’ll be reading the blog! As a vegetarian veteran, I’ll be grateful for any recipes, helpful hints, and advice that you can throw my way! That bean idea is a good idea– Ryan and I have been talking about how we want to start making more beans from dried ones, but you’re right– they take so much more time! We make a lot of soups and stews, so freezing them like that would work well for us.
Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Anna said,
November 23, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
I just realized that my comment made it sound like I am the vegetarian veteran, which I obviously am NOT
That would be you!
Karin said,
November 25, 2009 @ 2:51 pm
I’m so glad that you commented on my blog
Your blog looks so lovely! Congratulations on going vegetarian. I’ve been a veggie for 8 years and don’t really miss a thing but sometimes it’s hard when there are not that many vegetarian options (like on holiday in Japan.. where there was lots of fish..). However, I think that a vegetarian lifestyle is quite easy to maintain. Can’t wait to continue reading!
inmytummy said,
November 30, 2009 @ 3:23 am
Looking forward to reading about your adventures. I’m not a vegetarian, but don’t eat much meat in general so I definitely will be interested in hearing what you make.
Anna said,
November 30, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Lee!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) said,
November 30, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
Hey Anna,
Thanks for the comment on my blog! I love your blog name
Can’t wait to see some cool veggie recipes!
Anna said,
November 30, 2009 @ 6:36 pm
Thanks Allie!!
sweettater said,
November 30, 2009 @ 11:58 pm
hey anna!
thanks for stopping by sweet tater! i get so excited when i “meet” new people via blog… i actually didn’t go to cofc. i’m a furman girl myself, but i love charleston. such a neat place.
looking forward to keeping up with you!
Anna said,
December 1, 2009 @ 12:42 am
Hey Katie,
I viisited Furman when I was looking at schools– it has SUCH a pretty campus!
Thanks for visiting the blog!
lpskins said,
December 6, 2009 @ 9:59 pm
Hey Anna,
Food, Inc forever changed my life. I was mostly veg before that but watching the movie really hit home. I had to leave during some parts–mostly involving the cute pigs and cows. Earthlings–Oh.My.God. Like you, I couldn’t even get through the trailer. Thanks for coming over to my bloggie blog–it’s too much fun meeting new peeps with similar interests. What an awesome community.
Anna said,
December 7, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
Hey Lindsay,
Thanks for visiting my blog! When we saw Food, Inc., as soon as the lights turned back on in the theater, I turned to my husband and said, “We need to go vegetarian.” It was a few months before I really decided to officially, but that was definitely a huge turning point.
I look forward to following your blog!!
Tina said,
December 8, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
Very cool! I’m definitely adding you to my blogroll.
I want to do that next year (I’m doing TEFL in my gap year).
And I love the fact that you’re teaching English
Can’t wait to read about your veggie adventures and if you ever want some fruity/vegetably (excuse my poor english, miss
) – just drop by my blog – guaranteed veggie fare 
x
Anna said,
December 9, 2009 @ 1:24 am
Hi Tina,
Thanks for stopping by my blog, and for your sweet comment! I’ll definitely be checking out your blog as well!
That’s great that you’ll be doing TEFL– I have a few friends who went that route, and they really enjoy it!
Anna said,
December 9, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
Hey Tina,
What is the name of your blog? It’s not linked in your name!
lisaou11 said,
December 8, 2009 @ 10:06 pm
Im not sure that I could ever go veg or that I’d even want to, but my grandmother has been a vegitarean for about 1/2 of her life so I do know its a great way to live! i’ll be following along.
Anna said,
December 9, 2009 @ 1:22 am
Thanks Lisa!
Katie said,
December 15, 2009 @ 9:40 pm
You won the ZEVIA giveaway.
Please send me your mailing address to – katie DOT lau AT comcast DOT net
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/2009/12/mia-photo-update-new-contest-happy.html
savoringsarah said,
December 16, 2009 @ 2:13 pm
Love your blog! So glad you found me, so that I could find you! will definitely be an add to my blogroll
Kelly said,
December 24, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
Great blog…I am glad you found mine and now I have found yours!
A day of firsts, and shop till you drop! « Effect A Change said,
December 27, 2009 @ 1:45 am
[...] for seven beautiful bloggie award winners – Chelsea , Brandi, Allie, Erin, Karla, Anna, and newly discovered bloggie Lynne over at “The Actor’s Diet”, what a neat [...]
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad said,
January 5, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
do you have an email address? i want to ask you a question by email.
Anna said,
January 5, 2010 @ 9:06 pm
Hey Lily,
You can e-mail me at alw20@psu.edu. Look forward to hearing from you!
eaternotarunner said,
January 19, 2010 @ 10:27 pm
Love the idea for the blog! Can’t wait to read more
Jean said,
January 20, 2010 @ 12:13 am
Hi Anna!
So glad I found your blog – I just recently created my own: http://www.bellabelezajean.blogspot.com in an attempt to become more accountable to my mostly vegetarian, whole food philosophy.
I look forward to trying out some of your recipes and hopefully sharing tips & strategies in the months to come!
Best wishes, Jean.
finnyfinds said,
January 24, 2010 @ 4:56 am
Hi Anna,
I’m enjoying your blog! I’ve been a vegetarian for 7.5-ish years and at this point I don’t even think about meat anymore. It mainly grosses me out. But it took a really long time to get to that point.
Sounds like your hubby is lucky to have a cook as good as you!
Alison
Running on Faith said,
January 31, 2010 @ 5:15 am
I, too, am vegetarian and made this change after slowly weeding off meat until my senior year of college! I LOVE hearing what other vegetarians make for dinner because even though I am veg, I still ask the question “What do other vegetarians eat?!” I look forward to reading your blog!
Kris said,
February 13, 2010 @ 3:34 pm
Hi Anna!
Just wanted to say how much I love your blog. While I still eat eggs and some fish, I’ve also gradually been moving away from meat in my diet. I have some great vegetarian and vegan cookbooks listed under the “My Bookshelf” tab on my blog, if you’re interested.
I’ll definitely be back!
~Kris
http://www.oatmealontherocks.wordpress.com
musingsofthegranolagirl said,
February 16, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
I enjoyed reading your story!
As a vegetarian for 6 ish years I get asked what I eat all the time, for some reason meat-eaters find it hard to wrap their fingers around a meat-less diet!
I’m always up for trying new wholesome food so I’ll be following along for some veg recipes!!
Kelly said,
February 24, 2010 @ 6:50 pm
Wow, that’s surprising that they said that, mainly because my experience was totally the opposite. There was so much more pressure at my college. It might been just my school though
I’m sure in theory they accepted us as we were, but the pressure of being surrounded by good looking skinny people all the time gets to you. I’m glad to hear its not like that everywhere though.
Sarah said,
March 4, 2010 @ 7:24 pm
Anna,
I can totally identify with your story as it is very similar to my own! I am a recent newlywed as well as a recent vegetarian. I am loving all of the recipes that you have on your blog! Where did you find your spiralizer at? I have been looking all over to find one.
Sarah
rebekah said,
March 9, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
hey girl!
congrats on your new lifesyle. i just pretty much made the same one – to go mostly vegan. i’d say i could go all the way, but susssssssshiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!
looking forward to keep reading!
- rebekah