Any vegetarians? - I need help

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote: DH's aunt from London is coming to visit in a few weeks and she just emailed me to inform me that she is strict vegetarian. DH eats meat at EVERY meal, so I haven't a clue as to what to cook for her. We eat tofu and veggies sometimes, but I can't make her stir-fry every night. Here I was planning all these great meals for her like prime rib roast and roasted chicken, but change of plans! Glad she told me now before I went to Whole Foods and spent a fortune on good meat! Anyhow, I need some advice on what to make. Any good recipes? She says she eats eggs and dairy (cheese products). But I must tell you, DH's family is very particular about what they eat. Must be high quality, gourmet type foods. And it always has to be a HUGE production at every meal...sit down, several plates, tea in-between meals, etc. Sighhhhhhhhhh....

Oh did I also mention that she is a retired pediatrician!?? Can you tell I'm a bit nervous about this visit?

coasterqueen replied: So she's not Vegan, correct? Since she can eat dairy and eggs...ok....what about some type of veggie pasta meal? Like a Vegetable Pasta Rotollo or Vegetable Curry? What about Gazpacho, isn't that vegetarian per se? I know my Vegan friend eats lots of tofu stuff, tofu burgers, tofu meatloaf, tofu turkey, etc.

I'm not much help, here. I know. Sorry.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
No that is a huge help. Gazpacho is a good idea. Any type of soup would be good, like maybe carrot. I have a recipe for that. I'll probably make a pasta dish one night since that's pretty simple. Maybe some portabello mushroom type dish. But now what do I do about DH?? He literally "thinks" he needs meat at every meal! Big protein guy!

coasterqueen replied:
Make him go make his own food. J/K. I guess along with whatever you fix for everyone else fix him a slab of meat of some kind. Like if you made a vegetarian lasagna add an italian sausage on the side just for him. With soup, give him some sort of little filet or sandwich... I think you almost have to fix him some meat side dish or tell him he's gonna have to eat what you serve OR else he can fix dinner himself. It is his aunt, right?

C&K*s Mommie replied: I would not think that your aunt would want to put anyone out by disallowing them to enjoy the things that they normally do. It may be extra work, but maybe have a small dish just for him that includes some sort of meat, he can still include the vegatarian meals if he chooses, but he will still be able to fulfill his desire for protein.

cameragirl21 replied: I am a very strict vegetarian. And the pasta thing is a GREAT idea. We vegetarians typically love bread, pasta, and anything fattening, lol. What works for someone like myself is salad and pasta, or something to that effect.
Here is my suggestion--go to whole foods and buy some single meal pasta dishes at their deli or whatever you call that place where they sell hot foods. Store some in the freezer or fridge if they can last that long and serve her her own meal that you don't have to cook, just heat up and then make a big salad for everyone. That way DH gets his meat and salad, the aunt gets her vegetarian meal and salad and you didn't have to cook for her but she doesn't have to know that.
Whole Foods sells awesome veggie lasagna and other pasta dishes, as well as rice dishes and stir fries and things like that.
Take care,
Jennifer

Cece00 replied: If I was a guest in someone's home, I would not want them to put themselves out for me. I would think you could make normal foods, just without meats...tell your husband to suck it up, or help make dinner, as its HIS aunt who is coming to visit.

We are soooooo far from vegetarians so I have no idea for recipes for you...sorry!

kit_kats_mom replied: Bean dishes are good. Letil soup over rice, baked lentils, black beans and rice. Veggie lasagne. Veggie Pizza. Cheese & veggie omlettes. Grilled marinated portabellos with cheese served with cous cous and a salad.

luvmykids replied: I think you should ask DH what he thinks, but I like the ideas you've gotten so far. I have a yummy lentil dish that is super easy, and last night we had gnocci for the first time that was incredible. My neighbor made it but I found out you can buy it, they're like little dumplings.

kit_kats_mom replied: also there is that TVP, textured vegetable protein. You can find it in the produce section near the tofu and boca makes a frozen version that I'm partial to. It's near the boca burgers...theirs may not be called TVP but it's the same thing, fake ground beef. If I'm making something that calls for ground beef, I'll often substitute that for the meat. It should be something very flavorful though since the "meat" tastes really bland, it's the exact texture though. I've made chili with it and it's great in Burritos/tacos. You really can't tell that it's not beef....my DH can't.

kit_kats_mom replied: oh and since she eats eggs there is always soup and quiche.

Jamison'smama replied: Eggplant Parmigiana, oh, I have a great corn chowder recipe---well, I have a link to a great corn chowder recipe....

Mimi's Cafe Recipes

It's the Cafe Corn Chowder at the bottom...yummmmy. Hearty enough for a meal with a great bread and salad.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
OMGosh, I could totally be a vegetarian, but hubby would have a fit if I never cooked his red meat ever again. I could live on bread and pasta!!!

Why not ask her to bring some of her favortie recipes or ask her for some over the phone?

TheOaf66 replied:
that's right I would

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Does she eat seafood?

You could have salmon, or filet of something, tuna casserole, a shrimp dish, or shrimp and veggie kebabs on the barbecue or grill (brushed with garlic butter...to die for)

Here's a couple great ones:

cook rotini pasta, mix with cream of mushroom soup, add frozen peas and carrots... voila. Instant primavera. Add a sprig of parsly for a nice troublesome look.

jambalaya - mix some rice, soya sauce, worcestershire sauce, chili powder, celeri, onions, mushrooms and shrimp together...adjust to taste... then cook some italian sausage on the side, slice and add on top of your and dh's dish

eggs benedict: poach 2 eggs (crack open into boiling water), thaw and heat some frozen spinach, slice and toast an english muffin. Put the muffin on the plate, layer some heated spinach, put the poached egg on top, I like to put cheese sauce on top - but you can put hollandaise sauce, which is basically some milk, flour and an egg - stirred quickly and constantly over low heat until thickened... very good restaurant quality breakfast food. I've had it in restaurants several times.

Individual omelettes: Cut a bunch of diferent veggies and put in bowls or whatever... add a bowl of ham and sausage for you, dhj and the kids... you crack open 2 or 3 eggs into a ziploc baggie... (everyone has their own baggie) add the veggies you want...add meat you want... add cheese if you want... close all the baggies... put them in a pot of boiling water... when the eggs are cooked...you just have to open the baggie and you slide out the omelette onto the plate... really neat to do, and personalzed with no fuss.

stuffed shells: thaw some frozen spinach, cook some rice. In big bowl - mix cooked rice, spinach, add some cottage cheese, regular shredded cheese, cooked veggies if you want (like onion, celeri, mushrooms, whatever...) You can add italian sausage to about half the mix... stuff mix into the cooked big pasta shells, put in baking dish, add canned spaghetti sauce over it, bake until done... half the dish has meat, the other half doesn't... I like to grill some zucchini with this, with a little virgin olive oil.

lobster is always a favorite.

Bean sprouts are excellent. If you don't want to buy them... do a search on the internet to how to sprout your own... they're tasty, and have up to 30x more nutrients than dry beans. I know my kids love eating them because they "grow" them "themselves"

A good addition to stir fries are sliced grapes (sliced in half) and slivered almonds. They're good to have on hand too, as protein.

Good luck... and it is HIS aunt, he should be more accomodating.

PrairieMom replied: how strict is she? I know that you can find animal products in a lot of things you wouldn't expect, like sardines in hiens 57 sauce and some breads have added calcium. ( ground up animal bones)