My parents must have suspected when I was growing up. There was something different about me. The thing is, I didn’t have a word for it. I was in high school before I ever heard the term, and it was usually a punch line in these parts. I didn’t want it to be true. It would make life more difficult. People would judge me. I’d need to consider how I would raise my children. How I’d handle holiday dinners. But by January 1, 2006, I could no longer deny what I’d known in my heart of a long time. I am a vegetarian.
It was often an awkward conversation on first dates. But the right guy could look past it. Little did I know that right guy would be a hunter and fisherman. Venison invaded my freezer. My children’s breath is ripe with jerky. But he accepts my soy burger on the grill, respectfully turning it with a clean spatula. And that’s what counts.
Our secret to success has often been dishes that you can easily top or toss with a grilled chicken breast or stir in some ground beef as you plate. But occasionally we stumble upon “mock” meals that aren’t made with a soy product (he’s far too much of a man’s man to enjoy even the best chickenless nuggets). I confess, another part of our family dinner arrangement includes my concession to add fish to my diet after our wedding. And though I often consider cutting it back out, that middle ground is at the heart of this mock pulled pork sandwich. It’s just our favorite BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s) and a few cans of tuna fish heated up on the stove. If you didn’t know better, you may swear it’s the real thing.
My daughter is a vegetarian and the rest of us are meat eaters, so I understand the challenge of making a meal that can go both ways. It made things so much easier once she decided to eat fish. On the other hand, there are a lot of things I would never have cooked if it hadn’t been for her.
So glad to hear your family is able to make it work too! Thanks for reading.
NO WAY???? Tuna with Barbecue sauce? That’s amazing! My mouth is wide open with amazement. I have got to try that. Loved the post – true that vegetarians in certain areas of the country are looked at with suspicion. I remember the first time I made a vegetarian lasagna for a meat – lover from North Dakota. Half way through the meal he said “There’s something different about this lasagna – it’s really good but there’s something different” I said “Well maybe it’s because it has spinach instead of meat ” and he almost fell out of his chair.
Thank Marilyn! I love that you served it without an “FYI”! I have to confess, my husband saw the BBQ tuna idea on The Today Show. I hope you like it as much as we do!