For myself (often involving tofu)

I didn’t mean to be so hard, by adopting this vegan lifestyle. I didn’t mean to be the one who made it impossible to go to certain restaurants (my thought- our restaurants could do well by making their menus more inclusive, what that’s a post for another day), or who awkwardly stands around during holiday parties when there is nothing on the table that I can eat. I always feel like I’m the one who is the problem- but I also don’t feel like this is that hard. It really isn’t hard!!! But at the sake of seeming preachy, I stay quiet and do my awkward hovering. Blending in, fading into the walls…that sort of thing.

I should write more about the process of becoming plant-based and vegan, but the cliffsnotes version is that- 1) I starting experimenting with cooking vegetarian and vegan dishes out of cookbooks one snowy winter when I was stuck inside with my babies, 2) Through this process I began really tasting the food I was eating and realizing how much more flavorful these meals were than meat dishes (with meat, you chew for 5 seconds and the flavor instantly leaves), 3) I started also experiencing SOOO much more energy than I’d ever felt before, and 4) because I was enjoying everything and feeling the physical benefit, I decided to take the plant-based certificate program through eCornell one summer. What I learned through that course solidified my veganism- in fact I use the date on that certificate as my vegan anniversary. I learned how food policy in the United States is so entwined with systemic racism and in the clutches of lobbists (don’t get me started). I learned about the environmental impact of animal agriculture. And I learned more about how veganism that is aligned with compassion. The day that I learned about the dairy industry and what those mama cows endure, I stopped eating all dairy in an instant.

(okay, so this list was a bit more comprehensive that I was planning. lol. It’s hard to tone it down when I talk about this lifestyle!)

At the holidays, there is so much that I want to enjoy. As I wrote recently, I just could not get to the majority of my treats this year, and so I have made the decision to chip away at this list over the winter, as the mood hits me. Sort of as a, “I’ve got you, my lovebug!”

For one quick visit we took this Christmas, I just felt like I needed some comforting. I didn’t want to be the one fading into the walls and yet, in the environment where I had come from, this is how I felt (plus you know, that whole, I’m wrapping up my job! business that I keep writing about left me feeling a smidge more fragile this year). One our drive home, I made the decision to make us something with tofu for dinner. For me, tofu is the ultimate self-care. It ticks all the boxes, no matter how we prepare it. When someone tells me that they don’t like tofu, I BRISTLE. And then I tell myself to calm the F down (lol).

This was the dish that I selected, and we happened to have everything in our fridge (and it needed to be eaten! I’m looking at you, red bell pepper that is days away from spoiling), and it’s from a cookbook I have not included here yet.

We have had this cookbook for a full year and it’s actually a really good one. But before I get into that, can we laugh about the title? I understand that it means that the recipes are PRACTICAL, as in, accessible, easy to make. But also- practically vegan- is like, “yeah, this is almost all vegan, aside from the chicken broth I used.” “Vegan pasta with turkey meatballs! It’s practically vegan!”

Thankfully- this cookbook fits the former description above. And I will say that these recipes ARE really easy to make. They don’t include obscure ingredients, no weird spice you’ve never heard of. It’s be a good collection of recipes for someone who is wanting to try vegan recipes for the first time. My kids have accepted the majority of these recipes as well. It is not an SOS (salt oil sugar)-free book, but as a stepping stone experience towards eating more plant-based, this is a decent one to try for sure.

This is the dish I made during that evening over Christmas week- Sesame noodle veggie stir-fry (p. 146). It was soooo good and hit the spot. My kids gobbled it up too.