It's only -19°C today. Practically balmy weather after yesterday's -27. I've been trying to find a hot breakfast that won't trigger my gag reflex and was feeling sorry for myself as I produced pot after pot of uninspired sludge.
Then fellow writer, Michelle Rafter, wrote with a real head-scratcher and put everything into perspective. I was just trying to feed myself breakfast. She's feeding a family of five dinner.
While some textures make me gag, milk will make her daughter sick.
So, my breakfast question goes on the back burner, where it will congeal to an inedible lump of starch, and Michelle's supper gets your full attention.
She writes:
What can I make for dinner for a family of five where one person is a vegetarian and lactose intolerant? My 20-year-old daughter stopped eating meat at college this year and hasn't done dairy for a year or so due to allergies. My husband and I are pretty adventurous eaters but our boys, 15 and 8, aren't, especially the younger one. Any suggestions for entrees everyone would enjoy?
Thanks,
Michelle
Despite a 15-year flirtation with vegetarianism, I always relied on dairy. Seems Michelle's daughter doesn't have this luxury. Any suggestions?
Photo © mandj98. Published under a Creative Commons License.
![[Get Copyright Permissions]](http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif){kind=small}
Click here for copyright permissions!
7 comments:
Lactose-intolerance is not a milk allergy, just in case there might be confusion there. There are enzymes one can buy for lac. intolerance, and though they're $15–20 per bottle of 100 pills, I find I can get by with half a pill for most meals, and I buy lactose-free milk (tastes a little sweeter!).
As for vegetarianism, one could look to other cultures for inspiration—breakfast doesn't have to be cold cereal and sausages or bacon.
Re. porridge—DON'T STIR! Unless you need a pot of wallpaper paste.
Todd H.
My son, not a vegetarian or lactose intolerant, loves miso soup with tofu for breakfast. Honest.
Wow, that's a tough one. I cook plenty of vegetarian meals, but like Charmian, I rely on cheese more than I'd care to admit. And my kids definitely consider cheese one of the major food groups.
I'd recommend a classic Asian stir-fry. Have the kids pick out the vegetables they like best, and that way you can customize it for everyone. I find a sprinkling of toasted cashews and a drizzling of sesame oil makes any stir-fry especially tasty. Serve it over brown rice or soba noodles. Simple, quick, healthy, veg-friendly and lactose-free.
I agree with Cheryl about the stir fry. I also like to throw chunks of pineapple in to add some sweetness.
I also have a fantastic vegetarian recipe that is very easy to make. It has rice and kidney beans and corn and salsa and chili powder, and a few other things, and you basically thrown them all in a skillet and boil off the water. I'd be happy to send it to you if you wanted to post it.
I was just reviewing my cookbook called "On the Road to Vegetarian Cooking" by Anne Lukin and can recommend a couple of dishes I've tried. 1. three bean chili no meat but very hardy. 2. Morroccan Couscous, a nice mixture of vegetables that are tasty with the couscous as the protein. The book was published in 1991, so I don't know if it's still in print, but it does have some fabulous non dairy ideas that everyone can enjoy.
Katharine
I have a suggestion. If Michelle will go over to my blog and look at this post - it's called Cabbage Patch Stew - http://tastingspoons.com/archives/159
It can be made with vegetable protein chunks, or prepare some ground beef or ground turkey on the side and those who eat meat, add it in. This happens to be a really favorite soup/stew in my family. It's a kind of vegetable mixture with kidney beans, celery, tomatoes, mushrooms if you want, corn if you want, and it's topped with mashed potatoes in the bowl. Just make the potatoes with soy or rice milk instead of dairy. It's seasoned with some chili powder and ground cumin. If made in moderation, am sure young kids would like it. Hope this helps.
Katharine and Carolyn, great suggestions. I was tempted to point Michelle towards Indian food, but figured it might be too exotic. These sound like more family-friendly ideas.
Post a Comment