Portland, Oregon: We survived Vegan Month and only dined out three times. For lunch. Twice at Chipotle and once at Cafe Yumm! Standing in line to order your food can't really be called "dining", but I was happy to not have to cook, even if only for three lunches. Y'all know I love to cook, but 29 nights in a row was a stretch, even for me. Fasting on Yom Kippur was a joy, for more reasons than the usual. I'm sure there is a something in the Torah about coveting cheese.
Traditionally, before the fast we have matzo ball soup. My Matzo Balls involve egg and, though I am sure there are countless vegan versions to explore, I was not willing to test these waters. This year I served a salad, and roasted vegetables over a bed of pretty saffron rice.
Butternut squash, zucchini and red peppers - toasted pine nut garnishAfter fasting on Yom Kippur, we broke the fast and broke/ended Vegan Month with our traditional break-fast meal of bagels, cream cheese and lox.
The Oregon Ducks beat Cal Berkeley in Eugene, 45-24, even with losing their starting quarterback, the back-up quarterback - defaulting to the red-shirting-no-more quarterback - and their fabulous running back to injuries.
Eating less meat and dairy is always a good thing and we will continue our mostly-vegetarian diet. It is better for our health and better for the planet and better for the animals. One month of no meat/dairy (and one day of fasting) cost me seven pounds. Or lost me. Or lost the seven pounds I probably picked up weinerschnitzeling my way through Europe during August?And finally, it was pizza night. Pizza with mozzarella cheese night.
Served with a salad of romaine, arugula, avocado in vinegar and oil, topped with Lars Own Crispy Onions. The pizza had red sauce, shredded mozzarella and the rest of the sliced olives from the salad Friday. I made the crust myownself in the bread machine.
Tomorrow we are going to a restaurant that has waiters and cloth napkins.Until my next update, I remain, your cheesy correspondent.