One bump in the road, though, was when I became a vegetarian a few years ago. Not a vegan but definitely a vegetarian, as I don't eat any meat, poultry or fish, and all in all I'm "Pretty... darn... Veggie"!
I thought I'd be leaving behind so many of the things I loved to eat. Surprisingly though, I've found ways to make substitutions and have come up with veggie variations that are so close to the mark, many times it's hard to tell the difference.
Not ALL of your favorites have to fall by the wayside when you "go veggie" and it's great for Meatless Monday. In fact, not many at all − it just depends on the dish! "Home-Style," or international, it's easy! And the sworn "meat eaters" in the family? It'll be pretty hard to tell the difference in the recipes I come up with... because not everything is as it seems!
Just take a look at the following meatless miracles − for SURE they're not what they seem. They're all vegetarian and can be prepared kosher!
Chicken Gyro, Sausage and Peppers, Chopped Liver and Shepherd's Pie
My recipes are written in such a way that you can "tweak" the ingredients as you like. Some suggested kosher, vegetarian brand names for the "meats" are listed below. These "meats" are available in well-stocked supermarkets, Whole Foods, and other stores that cater to "healthy," "vegetarian," or "vegan" clientele.
• Morningstar Farms Griller Crumbles for Ground "Beef"
• Tofurky Italian Style "Sausage" or Lightlife Italian Style Smart "Sausage"
• Lightlife Smart Cutlets for "Chicken"
About the Author
It all started when friends and family urged Mindy Johnson to share her food ideas and recipes online. She is now founder/editor of PrettyVeggie.com, a presence on Twitter, and in the works for Public Television – "Pretty Veggie," a vegetarian cooking and travel show. Her 1st stop--Israel!. She is currently seeking funding for this new venture. And in her own words: "Any corporate sponsors out there?"