Meatless Week on The Cookbook Chronicles
Roasted tomato and basil soup, with rosemary croutons
(recipe in The Newlywed Kitchen)
Today I decided I would go meatless for a week.
Go ahead.
Done laughing? That’s OK–my friends reacted the same way.
“Do you know that pork isn’t a spice?” “Duck doesn’t count as a garnish!” Yes, they have real faith in me. 
The truth is, I eat a lot of meat. Everyone I know in real life, knows this. My food editor at Seattle Magazine recently asked me if I’d like to take the pork section on an upcoming food issue, because she knows how much I like to eat it. (I think my response was: “Hell yes!“) Even though I started participating in Meatless Mondays pretty regularly after watching Food Inc. earlier this year, I still probably consume at least twice as much meat as my husband on a day-to-day basis. (Not my fault. Why must animals be so tasty?)
The truth is, a diet such as mine is taxing the planet. Going vegetarian for a week isn’t going to be easy–in fact, I expect it to be truly challenging. But that just means there’s a greater sense of accomplishment when it’s over.
During the week of Monday, May 24th-Sunday, May 30th, you can expect to find one easy vegetarian recipe a day on this blog. (Another perk of doing this experiment: trying new veggie recipes!) I’ll be taking you to the local farmer’s market–I am lucky enough to be living a mere block away from the Queen Anne Farmer’s Market. I might even try cooking tempeh for the first time.
(A sidenote, I’ve always wondered why we don’t hear people wax poetic about vegetables in the same way they do about meat. Why does the mere mention of bacon cause so many of us to slide off our seats? Are vegetarians in general just simply more restrained in their food-love, or is it something else? I am curious to see if I can come up with a vegetarian food experience on par with bacon during Meatless Week. Sounds impossible? Perhaps! I guess we’ll find out together.)
If you’re a blogger who’d like to join me for Meatless Week, please let me know. I will try to link to everyone participating on the first Meatless Week post on May 24th.
(And if you have any vegetarian recipes, or thoughts about Meatless Week, I’d like to hear from you too!)
Posted: May 16th, 2010 under Uncategorized.
Tags: meatfree, meatless, meatless week, vegetarian
Comments
Pingback from Foodista Blog – Avocado Toast for Meatless Monday
Time May 16, 2010 at 11:22 PM
[...] Meatless Monday and in certain circles, it’s also Meatless Week, but if you are new to the idea of sans “meat and two veg,” you maybe into the idea of [...]
Comment from Britt
Time May 17, 2010 at 4:29 AM
I eat vegetarian most of the time now, so while it won’t necessarily be a challenge for me, you’ve absolutely got my support!
Have you seen any bits from the Jose Andres 60 Minutes interview (see here: http://tinyurl.com/3y84754)? The jist: meat is overrated.
Excited to discuss these ideas and more during Meatless Week–great idea, Lorna!
Comment from Amy I.
Time May 17, 2010 at 6:48 AM
Hi Lorna, I’ve been thinking about doing this for a long time, just needed an extra little push. Count me in!
Comment from Kelley
Time May 17, 2010 at 6:57 AM
I am sure you will eat lots of tasty things during your meatless week!! I have been vegetarian for years (15+) and haven’t looked back. Some non-veg friends have tried this dish and loved it!
http://cookbookcooks.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/thai-noodles-from-our-favourite-toronto-restaurant/
Good luck and I am looking forward to reading your posts
Comment from Tina
Time May 17, 2010 at 7:18 AM
I don’t have time at the moment to plan a whole meatless week for my family but I can definitely begin with Meatless Monday.
Comment from Lisa
Time May 17, 2010 at 8:38 AM
We went veg for 2 weeks last summer for a magazine article. It unfortunately coincided with a trip to Portland, which made it even more challenging as EVERY restaurant there seems to serve 7 varieties of pork. But it ended up being easier than expected. It definitely helps if it’s spring or summer so there are plenty of vegetable options. Here’s a post about some of the non-meat burgers we made: http://hipsterinmylatte.com/2009/07/02/fourth-of-july-time-for-a-burger/. Good luck!
Comment from Dana
Time May 17, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Hi Lorna. Good for you! And yes, vegetarians can get just as excited about food as carnivores. I hope to meet you at the Twitter party celebrating your cookbook (which will be at my house). You can take a peek at some of the cookbooks and food that make me feel passionately about vegetables (and grains, and beans, and soy, and fruit.)
Comment from lorna
Time May 17, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Oohh these recipes all look fantastic! Thanks for the links. =)
Dana: Can’t wait!
Comment from stephanie
Time May 18, 2010 at 9:19 AM
Will you limit your egg and dairy to make this a fair trial? Otherwise, all those flans, omelets, souffles, and cheesy casseroles will make it far too easy.
A great place to start is with relishes – chutneys, salsas, that sort of thing. A ton of flavor. You can eat out very well too.
Comment from lorna
Time May 18, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Stephanie: I think most vegetarians eat dairy and eggs, so I will be indulging as well. But I don’t plan on making too many cheesy casseroles. The goal is to learn how to make better vegetarian meals–things out of my comfort zone–and I’ll still to that.
Comment from Lori
Time May 19, 2010 at 9:16 AM
Hi Lorna, I am new to your blog but thought I’d chime in on some vegetarian recipes. Here is one of my faves, http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/2007/01/28/chola-chana-masala/
Manjula’s recipes are all indian vegetarian. I haven’t eaten vegetarian all week but I try to eat on vegetarian meal a day. I admire you for taking on the challenge of a meatless week! :O)
Comment from Brooke
Time May 22, 2010 at 9:07 PM
I am in! vegetables are my favorite food, so this should be fun!
Comment from Klary
Time May 22, 2010 at 9:39 PM
Lorna, I love tempeh. If you marinate it in something smoky like chipotle puree, or something sweet and spicy (sweet soy sauce and sambal) and then fry it, or smoke it and then fry it, it´s really delicious. See here http://klarykoopmans.blogspot.com/2009/08/smoked-tempeh-with-vengeance.html
and here
http://klarykoopmans.blogspot.com/2009/08/go-ahead-smoke-your-tempeh.html
Comment from Sarah – Celiac in the City
Time May 23, 2010 at 5:07 AM
I’m in. Gluten free and meatless will make for an interesting week. Great idea. Happy to be part of it. Will be blogging about it too!
Pingback from Kicking off “Meatless Week” – May 24-30 « Amateur Gourmand
Time May 23, 2010 at 7:37 AM
[...] I do, however, want to eat healthier and incorporate more seasonal veggies into my diet. I saw this blog post by Lorna Yee (Seattle Magazine columnist and author of Newlywed Kitchen) and became inspired to also [...]
Comment from Jackie Baisa
Time May 23, 2010 at 10:04 AM
Alright, I’m in. 
Thanks for taking the helm and inspiring us (as always). Looking forward to your blogs. Good luck on your challenge!
Comment from NancyFeasts
Time May 23, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Lorna, after seeing you at the Kim Ricketts event, I am inspired to participate. I’m big on wine pairings, so I will consider it a challenge to also find great pairings for vegetarian food. A friend of mine grills her veggies in her BBQ. My favorite is smoked tomatoes (great with Cab Sauv BTW). If you don’t wax poetic about veggies after that, it just may never happen!
Comment from lorna
Time May 23, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Yay…really excited to learning more about the wine pairings, Nancy!
Thanks so much for participating everyone! Feel free to continue posting your blog and I will continue linking them in Meatless Week posts on The Cookbook Chronicles throughout the week. =)
Pingback from Pizza, Gluten-Free — Celiac Teen Celiac Teen
Time May 23, 2010 at 7:57 PM
[...] be better than others ;D ). Speaking of Meatless, this is the beginning of Lorna Yee’s meatless week, which I am joining in for! Lately, I’ve been eating a lot less meat anyways, but I thought [...]
Comment from Lauren
Time May 23, 2010 at 8:33 PM
I forgot to mention it here, but I’m definitely in Lorna I think this is going to be a wonderful week!
Pingback from A Meatless Week for a Mega Meat Eater – Kim O’Donnel – Licking Your Chops – True/Slant
Time May 23, 2010 at 9:20 PM
[...] seven days, beginning today, and share the ups and downs of her meatless adventures on her blog, The Cookbook Chronicles. Lorna Yee. Photo: Lara [...]
Comment from KarmaFree Cooking
Time May 23, 2010 at 10:16 PM
I am happy you’re taking on this experiment. I am vegetarian and I try to teach my non-veg friends that going veggie a few times a week is a good idea not only for the environment, but for your health too…
check out my blog if you need any recipe inspiration… Just Google Karma Free Cooking
Comment from Maybelles mom
Time May 24, 2010 at 3:27 AM
Hey, our eating has gotten a little off our more meatless ways. This a great excuse to go back to that. Maybelles mom @feedingmaybelle
Comment from Beth
Time May 24, 2010 at 10:11 AM
Go Lorna!! I’m am so glad you are doing this. I know you will come up with some great recipes.
Comment from Johanna GGG
Time May 25, 2010 at 5:19 AM
actually I am surprised to hear you say that people wax lyrical about meat and not vegetables – as a vegetarian, in my world I only hear people wax lyrical about vegetables and not about meat – hope you find some good meatless experiences.
I came here via your interview on Kim O’Donnell and noticed you said you were in training and looking for nutritious food. One of my favourite foods is a nut roast – my mum makes lots of roast dinners with roast meat surrounded by roast veg – I often take a nut roast to dinner there and eat it with the roast veg – it is superb – I have lots of info about nut roasts here http://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/2008/03/neb-at-nut-roast-invitation.html and probably one of my simplest is here http://gggiraffe.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-christmas-nutloaf.html .
I am well aware that not everyone loves vegetarian food like I do but I love the idea of people like you who love your meat just having some good vegetarian alternatives. Good luck with your meatless week – I have lots of other vegetarian recipes on my blog that I could recommend but I always feel nut roast is the one that has really made life easier for me being vegetarian.
Comment from Klary
Time May 16, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Lorna, I´m in! I may not eat as much meat as you;) but going completely vegetarian for a week will be an interesting experiment for me too. And I´ll blog about.