Making Gravy - A Few Cheats for a Meatless Holiday

I first became a vegetarian in the fall, right before the holidays. They were rough. I wasn't prepared, I didn't have anyone to lean on and help through those rough adjustments. Out of respect for my family (and probably the belief that it was just a temporary phase), I was asked not to tell anyone in the family at Thanksgiving that I had become a vegetarian. It was my dirty little secret (they were told by Christmas, but that was full of it's own issues). It took a few years to get into the groove and create the traditions I now have. There were things I really missed the first few years, at the holidays and other times. Gravy was high on that holiday, mashed potato list. I had to find easy adjustments for lone vegetarian to survive the holidays without giving up the mashed potato happiness. I found a few.

The internet is teaming with vegetarian gravy recipes, some better than others. I found a few quick tricks of my own along the way.

1. Lipton onion-mushroom dry soup mix. (The dry onion soup mix would work similarly.)The instructions are actually right one the box, which makes this perfect for sharing with meat-eaters or VegHeads alike. It's something my omnivore brothers have been willing (on occasion) to even eat. (It's easy to see how other dry soup mixes can be used.)  I often saute up fresh diced mushrooms in the butter or oil before adding flour and liquid for an easy, hearty adaption. I also sometimes use a seasoned flour instead of plain flour. I'm not afraid experiment to make things my own. Use nuts, or add nutritional yeast to give add to the richness is using a oil base instead of  butter or margarine.

2. Ready made products. I can't find them locally year-round, but around holiday time they start appearing on shelves.  It depends on where you live, where you shop, and if you are willing to shop online. It may not taste like mom made, but it can do in a pinch and you can always adapt and will most likely have to adjust seasonings to taste.

I recently picked up some new vegan gravy option to try (I love being able to order things online I have trouble finding nearby). Bring on the taste tests.

3. White gravy (or white sauce). So, this isn't really an original recipe, but it's a quick fix. The basic recipe, that can be adapted as needed, is 2 T. melted butter or fat (or vegan margarine) with 2 T flour (or seasoned flour), seasonings of choice (depending on taste, I suggest onion powder, salt & pepper, garlic powder, parsley, and/or nutritional yeast), to 2 cups milk or unsweetened milk substitute. Sautéing up fresh or dried mushrooms and/or diced onions can make a heartier gravy. Use veggie crumbles to make a sausage or hamburger-like gravy. Use brother instead of milk or milk substitute. Do whatever makes you happy.

Homemade is great, but not everyone has the time or space or willingness to make it. It's okay to not make everything from scratch.

6 Annoying Things I've Heard this Week

Look, Ma! Straight from the grill and no meat!

Whether you are vegan or vegetarian, you have heard some of the funniest, stupidest, and sometimes baffling comments from meat eaters. Here is a list of some of the annoying things I've heard this week about being vegetarian.


1. This is just some fad diet. I've been vegetarian about 15 years, but sure, keep telling yourself it's just a phase or just a fad diet. What's the lifespan of a fad anyway? For some people vegetarianism might be a fad, but vegetarianism as itself, is not a fad. It has been around a long, long time dating back to Einstein and even Pythagoras. Most people vegetarian or semi-vegetarian populations are actually increasing as it is becoming a more visible segment of the population.

2. What do you eat anyway? Grass, of course. I eat a lot of the same things as everyone else with one big exception, my meals not full of meat. Has it caused me to get more creative with my cooking? Sometimes. Has it made me more adventurous with food? Absolutely. Do I often go hungry? Rarely, but there are functions and restaurants that leave few choices or the family Christmas everything, including the bread was filled or covering in meat... bacon and sausage were treated like a condiment. In general though, I am definitely not in starvation mode.

3. It's just not a meal without meat. Yes, it is. I've been doing it for over a decade and I am not alone. I do eat meat substitutes, but I don't base my diet on them either.

4. Of course, it's vegetarian - it only has chicken in it. (It chicken broth or any other meat broth or lard.) This is an oldie, but a not so goodie. This is also how I've gotten sick a couple times... chicken broth in mashed potatoes, lard something else... I've actually heard this at restaurants.

5. Can't you just pick the meat off (or pick it out)? I have heard this for years and it never seems to be less frustrating. No, I am not eating the pizza I picked the pepperoni off of. No, I am not picking the meat out of the pasta either. It has still be cooked together. It still has the grease and the juices, which can still make me sick and are not vegetarian.

6. Don't you miss meat? No. There are social aspects that were easier when I ate meat, but otherwise, I don't miss it.