Calling Vegetarians

I think I agree with the principle on the whole.
But I can see where an op is coming from sometimes.

I myself would like to start a thread about some possible difficult Christian questions. But I know it will be derailed[for want of a better word], by non Christians. Not in a nasty way, but is like asking for help on say a difficult knitting stitch, but non knitters will offer opinions.
I would not be too bothered, but it is enough to put me off starting the thread for the time being.

I know there is not some handy corner, difficult or controversial topics can be discussed on here.
I am just musing out loud really.

I 'invaded' the thread because, although I am not a vegetarian, I do eat some meatless meals, I have fed vegetarians (family and friends) and am interested in any tips and recipes. I had a book called 365 Vegetarian Recipes when I was cooking for DD but gave it to a friend who decided not to eat meat or fish.

I look at lots of threads that may not relate exactly to me or my lifestyle because they could be interesting and I could learn something new.

Galen my brain was starting to hurt thinking about recipes for you so I think ffin's suggestions are brilliant.

There have been some superb, if very heated, discussions on religion and matters spiritual in the past. Not something in which I have joined very much, but some passionate and often very philosophical debates, which were interesting to read and thought provoking.

You join an open forum, you take your chances. It is not a closed church, thank heavens. Simple.

Yep, I shant be posting!

I'd be interested in a thread on difficult Christian questions but going on past experienced it would soon become a debate between people who believe and those who do not hesitate to say it's all rubbish.

As for eating food one finds distasteful in order to be polite, thank God I wasn't brought up like that. Even if I had been I think I would have rethought the situation by now.

Anyway, it's a disserve to one's hosts not to let them know beforehand if there are some foods which aren't palatable.

As a host, I would hate to think my guests were struggling to eat the food I had provided.

ffin that's great thanks. Think I'll skip the soup course though, the thought of the one and three year olds with soup, beggars belief!

Marmite the regulation about meat eating was removed in 1964 - fifty years ago.

Very funny Catholics you know. Did you dig them up? [grin\

I do sometimes cook e.g., rice and dal, which is all veg. - what I want to know from you veggie ladies, is how you see the focus of a dish, which for me would be the meat of course. That's the thing I can't get my fat head round! We omnivores tend to see vegetables as accompaniments.

Oh and BTW the term Jewess is unacceptable. Even worse than doctoress.

That was to Nonu

I'm doctoressa in italian I believe?

Not all of us Feetkebaum. We occasionally eat game and very occasionally, red meat, and even then, the meat is not the focus.

It's much easier to look at the great vegetarian cuisines of the world than try to adapt a Northern European diet.

For example, all the risottos, pasta meals, dishes which use filo, puff or shortcrust pastry, South Indian meals and many others based on a combination of sympathetic vegetables and pulses.

Hugh Fearnly Whitingstall wrote an excellent book on this theme with heaps of ideas.

But this isn't Italy.

River Cottage 200 inspired vegetable meals - H F W 2011

But I'll be there on Thursday! Got to get into practice!

Galen I thought you were Contessa in Italy

People become vegetarian for many reasons - I wonder why it still causes such ill feeling when it is now quite common. It never seems to fail to raise a heated discussion.

Feetle I know what you mean about the focus of a dish, and to me, it's the protein element. I think that's what omnivores perhaps struggle with - that in some vegetarian dishes, the protein isn't very obvious or plentiful.
But now we are being told that most of us eat a lot more protein than we need anyway.

Back to the OP if Gagagran is still looking perhaps not!!

Unless you have already planned your meal for NY and your DGD is still eating fish, then you could make a sumptuous meal with fish as the main course. I remember years ago visiting my DN and she had made a wondrous fish pie - several different types of fish and prawns in a delicious sauce encased in a filo pastry casing. It was the size of a very large dinner plate and rose magnificently about 12" - rather like a huge dome.
(can't find a recipe, sorry)
Your DD says not to build the meal around DGD, but everyone may be fed up with turkey anyway.

I did think of fish rose but I'm more of a meat eater than a fish fan so am doing a roast meat - might be lamb (DD's favourite) or pork or a 3-bird roast. That is still to be firmed up.

I have decided though - having ascertained today that DGD does not like mushrooms - that I am going to do the filo pastry baked goats cheese pielet for her. The recipe I have is for a pie but I shall make a small version and call it a pielet. She would live on cheeses so I think that will please her.

I am very grateful to everyone for triggering my thought processes and amazed that my original simple request has lead to such a long and interesting thread. That;s the wonder of GN - it wanders off all over but is never dull! Cheers all!

Cheers, hope the meal goes well!

Talking about accepting food that was offered, John Wesley would not eat meat in anyone's house that he visited. He thought that it was best to accept the food that would be cheapest, so if he was bread and meat were put on the table, he would eat the bread and leave the meat for the host family. He lived by a rule of self-denial. He fasted two days a week and often lived on just bread and milk.

"Can she have wafer thin ham, Barbara??"

Quote from the Royle Family.

I love that quote, mrsmop.