The V Word...

... Vegetarian. It is amazing how visceral and different each person's reaction can be to that word. I never thought it was I big deal until Jim and I decided to leave meat behind.

We have been vegetarians for a few years now, but before that I could probably have held my own in a hot dog eating contest and had a hot and heavy love affair with Ray's Hell Burger. Diablo Burger with pepper jack cheese and extra jalapenos? YES PLEASE!

Jim and I were meat free for a few months when our friends finally found out. We were out at dinner ordering food, and this is how the conversation went between the six of us:

• F1: I think it would be best to split two pizzas. The Black and Blue with steak is great. I also like the carnivore.
• F2: I really had my heart set on prosciutto and and pineapple pizza.
• Me: You guys go ahead I think Jim and I are going to get the veggie.
• F3: (jokingly) Why would you guys do that; what are you vegetarians now?
• Jim: Actually, we stopped eating meat months ago, I'm surprised it hasn't come up yet.
• F1-4: Awkward silence.
• F1-4: Extended awkward silence.
• F1-4: Continue extended awkward silence.
• F4: Are either of you sick or dying?

The last line maybe mildly exaggerated, but it sums up the general tone and implications for the rest of the conversation during dinner. Jim and I did get our own pizza, and for some reason our friendships were forever changed. Maybe it was because I could no longer hose a filet mignon with the best of them or maybe it was because I would never again make my famous queso with sausage. The world may never know, but while Jim and my vegetarian coming out opened us up to quite a bit of ridicule among some (see www.vegansarevil.com for more evidence) we found a safe haven in our extremely vegetarian friendly neighborhood. Our Chinese delivery even offers everything on the menu with vegetarian alternatives.

People always talk about their dislike of obnoxiously preachy vegetarians, and I completely agree with their assessment of anyone who preaches about the superiority of their dietary choices. Meat is delicious, and if you want to eat it mazal tov. I don't want someone up in my plate about what I'm eating, so I won't get up in your's. However, if you feel the need to defend your dietary decisions by ridiculing mine, I will politely tell you where you can stuff your turkey.

I love food and the hardest part about becoming the V word was learning to cook healthy meals that were still delicious. Periodically, I'm going to try to post a new recipe that I have discovered during this journey. This week it's cold where I'm at, so here is my recipe for roasted garlic soup:

• 1 potato
• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 red bell pepper
• 4-5 garlic bulbs
• 1 onion
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 1 sprig fresh thyme (remove and discard the stems but keep the leaves)
• 1 sprig fresh sage  (remove and discard the stems but keep the leaves)

Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Chop the first to ingredients and place them in a metal roasting pan and toss with 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil. Cut the pepper in half and remove the seeds and pit. Clear a space in the roasting pan and for the pepper halves and place them with the outside skin facing up, and set the pan aside. Take the four garlic bulbs and cut off the top quarter of the garlic so that the roots remain on bottom an the tops of the cloves are visible. Divide the remaining olive oil evenly and sprinkle it on the tops of the exposed cloves. Wrap each garlic bulb in foil and place them and the roasting pan in the oven for 40 minutes. When there is only 20 minutes left pour the vegetable broth in a medium sauce pan on the stove and heat on high until it starts to boil. Cut the onion in half remove the skin and roots and add to the boiling broth. Once the potato, cauliflower, bell pepper, and garlic are done set the garlic aside, and place all the other ingredients in a food processor or blender. Unwrap the garlic from the foil one bulb at a time carefully squeeze the bulb from the bottom until the roasted garlic begins to come out of the top. Note: They are hot be careful. Place the roasted garlic that come out in the blender and discard the rest. Turn on the food processor or blender and combine until smooth or at desired consistency. Serve immediately.