Welcome!!

So, since I'm gong to try doing this "30-days of _________" thing, it was recommended I have one blog for the whole kit-n-caboodle. So, here it is! I'll try the wonders of tagging to keep them all straight. I may even transfer all my biking and vegetarian-ing posts on here!

Enjoy! Tommorrow starts "30 Days of Creativity!"

The Last Day!

...Halloween candy is vegetarian!!

Looking back on the month... Not too much was different. I had some challenges when going out to eat, and eating at other folks' homes. I had a lot of "what?" and "why?"

I had some... "but chicken is okay, right?" and "but you still eat fish."

And the best one: "You can just eat around the meat."

I don't know how my health was impacted (but I did have some blood tests done toward the end, so we'll see if anything has changed) but I do know it was easier to keep my weight even in spite of not biking every day.

I would do it again! ...But I'm glad I can choose to do it.

For Your Consideration...

Bike, I want you to know that I keep you in mind in so many facets of my life.

For example, when I bought my new car I found one where you can RIDE INSIDE.

Yeah, that's right.

No more rain. No more road-spray.

You, and me, in air-conditioned comfort.

I might even let you pick the radio station.

My new favorite...

...and I'm sad to think that vegetarians hear this all the time...

"Just eat around the meat!"

Disappointment!

Yeah, my day was so perfectly timed out... Work, stay late for a meeting, then off to REI for my cold-weather biking class.

...except the class was NOT 7-8, as I had recorded in my calendar -- but instead 6-7:30!!

I was uber-disappointed.

I'm not concerned that my season of biking is over (though after the weather of late I was feeling doubtful)... But I would have liked to know what I was (potentially) getting into.

...Perhaps I'll get a second chance!

Seriously, Applebees?

Not a single one of your entrees is meat free?

Even the salads?

And your cheese quesadilla has bacon?

Oh, Applebees... You are such a disappointment.

Reunited...

...and it feels so good! Had a great ride today... Just around the lake and the neighborhood. The sunlight is so unbearably short now (pesky job) so I felt a bit rushed... But the whistle of the wind through my helmet was awesome.

I've got a cold weather biking class coming up next week... It's at least a start to see how hard-core I'm willing to be this winter.

Did we break up?

I assure you, we're still an item.

I know you lose count of the times I walk past you... not looking or acknowledging you in any way. Being silent as though I don't want anything to do with you. I haven't checked your tire pressure, or taken you for a spin around the block.

...but I still love you. And now that life has decided to take a little break, I think we can work on our relationship again. In fact, it sounds like tomorrow is summer's final farewell, and I think we deserve a little ride.

Just you and me.

Missing the Meats?

Not really.

In fact, this week I have been suspiciously unmolested by meats.

It helps that I've been working at the crack of dawn, and then been at rehearsal until really late... no opportunity for meat to sneak into my life. Just my bag lunches and bag dinners.

I've also had a gross cold all week, and nothing really tastes right, you know?

I'm looking forward to my final week of vegetarianism... I'm going to really comb the recipe archives for something special!

Week Three!

The weather is (finally) getting a little cooler, so I threw together veggie chili for lunch this week. I was so tired and wiped out after being out of town all weekend, and then dealing with crazy stuff for the theatre... But it was so nice to take the time to slice-n-dice veggies and making something delicious.

Plus I'm in charge of all my food this week, so temptation should be at a minimum!

So few?

So tonight I was at the fancy-pants President's Dinner for Homecoming... I thought to myself, "oh, no! I wasn't vegetarian when I RSVP'd for this event... I hopeI can get a veggie entree!" (Of course, If I wasn't able to, I could just eat around the chicken.

It turned out it wasn't a problem... But I did overhear our waitstaff telling another member of the table (who IS vegetarian) that only FOUR people had asked for the veggie entree.

Four.

I swear there were at least 450 people in the room. What is that - 1%? (I guess that would be 4.5 people... But I'd probably be the .5, eh?)

And just when I thought I was home free... TURTLE cream pie for dessert! Can I even eat that?!

I did. :)

A Blast from the Past

I'm back on campus for my 10-year college reunion. When I registered, I didn't know I was going to be 'playing vegetarian' at the time. Oddly though, none of the registration info requested my response for food preferences... In any case, one of the coolest things I got to do for the first time in a decade was eat lunch at Big Creek Market. It's an organic, co-op-y place that also serves homemade soup and bread. It opened my sophomore year, and I ate a lot of tasty food there over the years. Today I had some super-tasty vegetable soup and the most delicious (warm!) bread I swear I've ever had.

I also picked up some adorable items prime for the upcoming gift-giving season.

Soon I'll be going to one of the local bars... (Which is something I've never done. Not even 10 years ago.) ButI'll be armed with a granola bar or two, in case the snacks are on the meaty side. :)

Bikes Everywhere!

So I'm back to the ol' college campus for my 10-year reunion. Now, my college is not large. Also, it's on top of a hill. (The top of the chapel is the highest point in the county!). Now, when I was a student, I'm sure there were bikes on campus. It's inevitable, right? And maybe I'm more attentive now with my new-found love of biking... But seriosuly, folks. Whaddya need bike on campus for? I walked 'all the way downtown' this afternoon and it took all of 5 minutes.

There are a TON.

AND a lot of kids with headphones on, not talking to anyone. What's the world coming to?

Oh, the carnage!!

(Is it still considered carnage if there's no meat?)

Anyway, a belated celebratory birthday dinner tonight at the Tavern Grill in Blaine (sister, brother, or near cousin to the Tavern on France in Edina.) They are famous for their "build your own" options (salad, pizza, burger, and bloody mary.) I'm usually a pizza girl, but wanted to try something new... unfortunately most of their standard fare off the menu is meaty. So, build-your-own-burger it is! They have two veggie options -- a veggie patty they make themselves, or a portabello mushroom. I was feeling adventurous, but not huge-mushroom adventurous, so I opted for the veggie patty. I could visually identify black beans and corn, without looking too closely... but then the whole thing fell apart. Literally. Hence, the carnage.

Hmmm. Perkins.

Ended up at Perkins for a celebratory birthday brunch this morning.

If you're not into breakfast stuff, Perkins is not the most veggie-friendly place. Aside from pie, of course.

The shame was, for dinner I went to Bad Waitress in Minneapolis, and all I really wanted was their seasonal pancake selection: Apple Crisp!! I opted for a very tasty veggie sandwich instead, and my dining companion got the pumpkin pancakes - which are divine - and let me steal a few bites.

I'll be returning for the Apple Crisp pancakes. Oh, yes.

Grrrrr...

Today was beautiful.

Gorgeous.

(Okay, a little on the warm side for October, I admit.)

I wanted to go for a ride SO BAD... But my schedule was just way too packed. I mean, I had a great time with all my stuff but... I missed the zoom and wind.

I love lettuce!

Or at least I'd better...

Dining at other peoples' homes is a challenge! (Especially when they don't know in advance you've spontaneously decided to be a vegetarian for a month.) You don't know what you're in for, and you don't want people to feel bad!

Today I ate a lot of lettuce.

Chafe much?

So I can't be sure if it is chafing.

It seems unlikely that I would experience that joy now, as opposed to sometime during my 30 straight days of biking.

But it is a mite uncomfortable.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled program...

There was a time when I would feel silly driving to the mall to use a coupon. The time, the gas, etc. etc.. Strangely, when I'm riding my bike to the mall to use a coupon - it felt fine! And how great to use it as an excuse.

10 miles today.. To the mall, to Stitch & Bitch, and home again!

Veggie Curry!

...may have given me horrible indigestion. Or food poisoning.

I'm not sure, but I'm kind of wary to eat it again - I spent much of the day feeling like someone was stabbing me in the stomach.

Teh fun!

I may try again...but not until I don't have to go to work super early. :)

Back In The Saddle!

I am feeling so blessed that we're having such beautiful weather. I did take the past couple days off, but the sight of my bike sitting in my dining room day after day grew too much to resist! Today's ride was a pretty low-key jaunt to the library, where I leafed through all the 2009 back issues of Bicycling magazine. I think I may have found a bike to consider buying... But not until next season.

Right now I'm really on the fence about winter biking... Do I go for it? Will it be worth investing in the extra gear to discover I don"t really want to do it at all? Should I put that money toward a trainer instead, and bike my little heart out in my basement all winter?

These are difficult choices... besides, winter offers so many new and fun activities. I'd really like to try snowshoeing, or get back into cross country skiing... And there's always shoveling. Great card workout there.

Here's hoping the snow stays away for a while 'til I figure this out.

Monday, Monday...

The veggie version of Betty Crocker's Hamburger Stroganoff was acceptable. Not as awesome as I remember, but that could be time coloring the memory. I was going to try out a new veggie curry recipe tonight, but first I have to track down red curry paste. (I've only ever used curry powder before, and my local market didn't have any. I'll have to do some treasure hunting!)

My next challenge will be my Wednesday night Stitch and Bitch. Do I eat beforehand? Do I bring food?

This is challenging.

The First Temptation!

I was feeling pretty good about this challenge, 'cause I don't cook a lot with meat anyway. My friend and I were talking, and she asked what might be a 'deal breaker'... What meat-based food would I do anything to eat? I thought my mom's pork chops, probably... But what I didn't think of was: Hamburger Stroganoff!! I love it, and of course it's what my mom is making for dinner tonight.

Not that I have to eat at my folks' house, but I'm certainly not above a free meal.

So, this will be my first test! Can I re-create my beloved Betty Crocker Hamburger Stroganoff recipe in vegetarian form?

We shall see...

No Soup for You!

Veggie Day Two!

Today I ran into my first Veggie hurdle... I was stopping at a cute soup and salad place for lunch. When I left my house to run my 5k race this morning, it was 41 degrees. 41! And though the race had passed, and the temp had moved up to a balmy mid-50's or so... soup sounded wonderful. So I jumped in line, grabbed a lemon bar (Yum. Not meaty.) and built a tasty veggie sammo on wheat. Then the soups... Chicken Pot Pie, German Sausage, or Clam Chowder.

Vegetarian Fail.

Ah, well. The sandwich was yummy, and drowning my sorrows in a lemon bar was perfectly satisfying.

Vegetarian FAIL!

Welcome to October... Also known as Vegetarian Awareness Month!

So, in celebration, I've decided to pledge to be Vegetarian for the month.

Today was day one.

Because I have a near and dear friend who is a vegetarian, I've had some help in making this decision and also sticking to it. Yesterday she asked me, 'what about gelatin?" I was pretty sure it wouldn't be a big issue. I probably wouldn't even run into any gelatin-y foods. Wrong.

Starbursts have gelatin! So do marshmallows... But that was a little more obvious, and I blame my newbie status on that error.

So. Not bad. My first day and I screw it up (potentially.) I guess I've decided that gelatin is okay, but I'll try to be more conscious of it going forward.

As for today's nummy veggie foods: Said friend and I went to the Herkimer in Minneapolis to enjoy a veggie entree and FREE dessert! (In celebration of World Vegetarian Day.). I had a fabulous veggie sandwich on foccacia, and a pumpkin bread pudding. Yummo.