Do you like veggies by themselves? Book suggestions also wanted please. (grilled, mushrooms)

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by TabulaRasa

There aren't a lot of vegetables I don't love on their own.

Me neither!!!

I love Green Beans,Corn,ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

[Debsi]

Vegetables Every Day, by Jack Bishop.

[CSD610]

Originally Posted by ormari

Want to know how to cook vegetables? It makes sense to seek the advice of vegetarians!

There is a cookbook by vegetarian* chef Deborah Madison entitled Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. In it, she introduces the reader to a great many vegetables, discusses ways in which they can be used, and presents recipes revolving around those vegetables. It is an excellent cookbook for meat eater and vegetarian alike. It's for Everyone.

*note, I believe that Deborah Madison herself is not actually a vegetarian, but is a chef who has focused her career on vegetarian cooking.

Absolutely, there is no way on the planet that a meat eater would have even a remote clue how to cook vegetables simply because they eat "meat". <gasp> Who would ever think something so simple could be done without the enlightenment, instruction and supervision of a "Vegetarian"..........

[ormari]

Originally Posted by CSD610

Absolutely, there is no way on the planet that a meat eater would have even a remote clue how to cook vegetables simply because they eat "meat". <gasp> Who would ever think something so simple could be done without the enlightenment, instruction and supervision of a "Vegetarian"..........

Why, is that sarcasm?

That's neither what I said nor what I meant. You know it. I know it. Most of the readers here know it.

Thanks for your eye opening, helpful post. I'm out.

[Old Guard]

Originally Posted by ormari

Impressive contribution to the thread.

Yeah, I get your sarcasm.

That's neither what I said nor what I meant. You know it. I know it. Most of the readers here know it.

Thanks for your eye opening post.

It is a valid point though. I do not think vegetarians know how to cook vegetables better. As a matter of fact I think they limit themselves artificially by not using a lot of ingredients. Like Roasted Squash With Pancetta and Sage, Roasted Cabbage with Bacon or Green Beans with Bacon.

I like to eat good food, not make a political statement.

Also a lot of vegetarians seem to have an unnatural fixation with meat:

[cat1116]

Originally Posted by momtothree

I am not a huge fan of most veggies by itself. I often have to put herbs or seasoning on them to make them tasty to me. Only "veggies" l like plain would probably be spinach, collard greens other leafy greens. Both raw or steamed/sauteed. I do serve a steamed veggie with most meals but will pick at it or just eat a little. Hubby on the other hand can have a plate of just steamed veggies and be happy.

Lately I have been more concerned with eating more veggies so I am starting to add carrots and celery to everything. I even added diced carrots to the taco meat this week and the fam loved it. So now I am on a kick where I buy a bunch of random veggies, dice them and throw them in various dishes. It's especially successful in my Korean or Japanese dishes. I have tried the celery root, rutabaga, jicama and others I can't think of the names now.

So do you like them by themselves or try to incorporate them in something? Anyone can recommend a site or book on what each veggie is good for? I want to learn more about them as well.

There are times when I think I could just eat a sizzling platter of fajitas - without the chicken, beef and/or shrimp. I like the red/green and yellow peppers, sliced onion, maybe some garlic, and possibly zucchini.

I can mix that up and grab some crunchy tacos, add the fresh lettuce, spinach, fresh salsa and wee bit of sour creme.

[GiGi603]

Originally Posted by momtothree

So do you like them by themselves or try to incorporate them in something?

Any which way. I love my vegetables!

[Natsku]

I generally prefer veggies by themselves. I don't like them cooked into sauces and stews and whatnot (apart from soup, I always stick a bunch of veggies in soup and just blend it altogether). I like veggies steamed or raw (raw peas fresh from the pod are one of my favourite summer snacks) so nearly every dinner has half a plate of plain steamed veggies on it.

Corn on the cob needs butter though.

[Old Guard]

I used to think that corn on the cob needs butter and salt, and still like butter on it, but now I like it without butter and even will eat it raw now.

[ormari]

Originally Posted by Old Guard

It is a valid point though. I do not think vegetarians know how to cook vegetables better. As a matter of fact I think they limit themselves artificially by not using a lot of ingredients. Like Roasted Squash With Pancetta and Sage, Roasted Cabbage with Bacon or Green Beans with Bacon.

I like to eat good food, not make a political statement.

Also a lot of vegetarians seem to have an unnatural fixation with meat:

Another one? This isn't the place to debate vegetarianism. To argue the merits and faults of vegetarianism certainly isn't why I posted. Who said anything about politics?

The OP wanted ways to cook vegetables. Vegetarians spend a lot of time cooking vegetables and a great many of them have come up with interesting, delicious, healthful ways to prepare them. I never said they are the only ones who know how to cook vegetables. They just happen to possess and express a lot of creativity in the way they prepare vegetables. Your photo of the meat substitutes, an example of the extreme ways in which they tweak vegetable ingredients into a wide variety of surprising forms, proves my point. Necessity is the mother of invention. Get it?

I did laugh at your pun about 'unnatural'. Though I have to say I find nothing particularly natural about putting any meat or non meat product into a casing of any kind. We could even argue about the entire process of food preparation itself being unnatural. But is that the OP's interest here?