PASSIONATE RATIONS

New Year’s Day:  A time for renewal and the contemplation of self-betterment.

I always make at least one resolution.  To achieve your dreams, after all, you have to define them. It’s an exercise in goal-setting, which means I apply my goal-getting rules: (1) be specific; (2) write it down; (3) check in with yourself once in awhile to assess status.  Though I won’t profess a 100% success rate, I find that those steps often lead to advancement, or at least satisfy the OCD (obsessive-compulsive demon) in me.

This year I resolve to make the leap to vegetarianism.  This will require finding satisfactory substitutes for BBQ (egad!), sushi (double egad!), and holiday turkey–the three meat-oriented dishes I will most miss.  Luckily, sushi already has some suitable vegetarian counterparts.  And Googling “vegetarian BBQ” brings up some promising results (despite my skepticism that pulled pork is irreplaceable and, quite possibly, the route to heaven).  But, turkey?

Well, if you have suggestions or recipes, please comment.

In the meantime, I’m going to kick off a regular status report so you can all follow along.  I’ll post any particularly good recipes I may stumble across.  That takes care of the “writing it down” and “checking status” parts.  And now I have you to embarrass me into compliance or goad me back to meat-eating.

I won’t go into my reasons for my decision, except to say that my dog and I had a long, philosophical discussion. And there was that NY Times article on elephants that kind of kicked me over the edge.  Not that I’ve ever eaten an elephant, but the connection seemed clear.  Anyway, everyone has their own choices to make.

Is there such a thing as a “Hometown Vegetarian?”  I love to travel and, when I do, sampling the local fare is a big part of the adventure and essential to discerning local culture.  A travel exception to the vegetarian rule?  Ah, the paroxysms of guilt.  I can feel them already.

STATUS, VEGETARIAN ADVENTURE, DAY ONE:  So far, so good.  Today’s menu has, thus far, consisted of:  cornbread stuffing; butternut squash lightly dusted with salt, pepper, and freshly grated parmesan; two Dr. Peppers, and two thin slices of marzipan stollen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!  May all of your gastronomic goals come within your grasp this year.