Saturday, July 12, 2008

[JessFinds] Food and Art

I am surprised by the forms of push-back we have received on the new that we have spent a whole 48 hours a vegetarians. Apparently this is a hot button issue for some folks! I never gave it that much thought. I just want to eat well, lower my carbon footprint and take a stance against cruel treatment of animals. If more people ate meat and veggies locally it would not be a big issue - but the meat and dairy industry in America is nasty. I mean, gag on your food nasty. A lot of people are fine with not knowing. I was fine with not knowing. But once you find out, there is really no going back. I can't give that to my kids. 

I suppose everyone has to take issue with something though. There are people who will think I am nasty for eating fish, eggs and some dairy products. 

Today was a fantastic Saturday. I went to the farmer's market this morning and it was truly the first time I felt like I "live" here. We had not been out of our car for more than 2 minutes when someone was calling my daughter's name and someone was calling out my name. We ran in to a bunch of Miss Crab's friends from preschool. All the kids ran around the field playing tag while we busied ourselves with the food stalls. It was great. I bought some yellow and green zucchini, some Swiss chard, a bunch of beets and a bunch of the sweetest looking petite carrots. 

Then, when Preacher was done with his morning wedding, we went to the art festival in our former town. It is sad that The Gourmet closed down and the family market is gone too. But, the festival was fantastic. We went through it quickly so we could get Preacher back for Saturday night services. 

It is odd that the day I felt home for the first time is the same day I visited our old home. 

Swiss Chard Couscous

1 box whole grain pine nut couscous, prepared 
1 large bunch Swiss Chard, ribs removed and sliced in to 1 inch strips
2 cans of garbanzo (cece) beans
1 cup fresh / frozen sweet peas
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
2T EVOO
1/2+ teas. minced garlic
1/4 + teas red pepper flakes
Salt & Pepper to taste

Heat the EVOO and garlic over med-low heat until garlic softens. Add Swiss Chard, stir and cover for 5 min. Remove lid, stir and add in garbanzo beans, peas, almonds, raisins and red pepper flakes. Heat through. When chard is fully reduced and tender, remove from heat and add fluffed couscous. Salt and pepper to taste. 

4 comments:

Sarah K. said...

People are giving you a hard, time, really? We're not vegetarians, but I totally get the reasoning for it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Jack Bishop's "A Year in the Vegetarian Kitchen". They are really easy meals to cook, and YUMMY. My favorite part is that the cookbook is arranged seasonally, so that you can go to the farmer's market and cook with fresh food. Mmmm.

Anonymous said...

No push back here, just surprise. I try to make at least 2 meat (as in ALL sorts of flesh) free meals a week but it's hard to get Jesse to go along with that. He really is of Midwestern stock -- and of course heart disease runs in the family. Hmm...wonder why.

I had to do the soy thing when Patrick was first nursing. More power to you...I hated that stuff.

Like I said, there's still lobster.......

Anonymous said...

Also, do tell what piece (or pieces) of information you read/saw/heard that made you aware of the yuckiness of the meat industry. I am sincerely interested. And, what about things like free range grass-fed beef? There is a decent amount of that around here. I wouldn't think it would have the environmental impact of the large corn-fed industrial operations but maybe I am wrong.

Anonymous said...

I know you didn't just say "EVOO"...

I'm sure this is a lotta propaganda, but here's a series of videos called "Meet your Meat", kinda hard to watch, but they have one for Chicken, Cow, Duck, etc.

*mandy*