jana: day 4 and still alive

Well. I had myself some tasty "vegan goodness in a burger!" last night and it was quite, er...tasty. It was no burger. The psychology of faux meat is interesting. How do you approach it? I don't walk around with a chunk of styrofoam calling it a "faux space shuttle." If you want a shuttle you build a shuttle. The very term "faux meat" implies that it is supposed to resemble meat in taste and texture. I found that my vegan burger didn't really replicate a hamburger at all, aside from it's patty-shaped goodness. It was more like an...oat lump. Or something. I know that sounds gross but really, it was spiced well and I *like* the texture of that sort of thing anyway. I like oaty cookies and seedy bread (and I do mean with seeds, not back alley drug dealer bread). So it wasn't a hamburger replacement, but I don't really want one at this point in time. I have, however, been told by my Vegan Army (TM) friends that there are vegan BBQ riblets around. I am intrigued.

So the first four days have been pretty good! I have spent more time focusing on what I CAN eat versus what I can't, for the most part. I have photos, but someone left her camera at work so those will have to come tomorrow. Last night I mixed the vegan burger in with some brown rice and veggies for a stir fry. Tonight I had rice noodles with tofu and lime. I froze the tofu when I was gone over Christmas, and it had a decidedly spongier texture this time. Not in a bad way, really. I will never really figure out tofu, but I can pan sear it well enough that it tastes good to me. Also I just like saying "pan sear."

My hardest challenge came on Tuesday when a bunch of 4-H kids came to my office and we baked cookies for the troops. I was surrounded by mountains of snickerdoodles. Usually this would be a good thing...not so when you're on Day Two of the Vegan Challenge. Four messy, flour-covered hours later I emerged a little worn out but still true to the pact.

Dessert starved, I immediately went home and invented Jana Heaven. Here's the recipe:

One wheat tortilla
One banana
Peanut Butter (natural organic)
4 small pieces of vegan dark chocolate

I'm not going to tell you how to assemble it. I would hope, dear readers, that you can figure that out. (It's a spin off on Beth's creation of a PB/Chocolate Burrito in college. That was hysterical). Nuking it in the microwave for a bit seals the deal.

I still have not tried to eat out. That prospect scares me! How's it hanging, Jamie?

-- Jana

Faux space shuttle