Why aren't you eating meat now?

Stopped liking it. Very suddenly it started tasting "dead".

It still smells wonderful and the flavor is a clear and fond memory. But when I take a bite the "mmmmm" is quickly squelched by "gee, this is dead."

(Oh, and somewhere around here, I've got a stack of a bunch of vegetarian South Beach recipes. Want them?)

Oh gosh yes!

Man, we had such an awesome meal last night, I was just finding myself reflecting upon it dreamily, so I thought I would share. We poached the other side of the cod that Tom filleted on Sunday and then made yummy cod cakes with parsley and garlic scapes and homemade tartar sauce. My contribution to the meal was a slow braised kale with caramelized onions, thick slice farm bacon, and whole garlic cloves. It was so good- the braising liquid reduced down so that it was like a velvety sauce.

After dinner, had some of Tom's homemade brandied pear and caramel pecan ice cream. Yum!

We still have some formed but unfried cod cakes left over- Tom vacuum sealed them and put them in the fridge till we worked out what to do with them. Do you think they would freeze OK or not? they have the bread crumb/saltine crumb/egg binder thing going on. If not, we will cook them off tonight and have in sandwiches or something.

IME, fish cakes freeze pretty well.

I wish this were true in my experience but it is not. Losing weight without meat as a staple is proving very difficult even if I eliminate all sugar, minimize cheese, have lots of produce, and only eat whole grains.

This is my experience too. I just don't seem to process grains or simple carbs very well. My first clue to this was dropping weight really suddenly when I had to give up wheat because of migraines, a few years ago. I'd even been replacing the wheat with some rice products too - although I lose much more if I give up *all* the grains and starch. (I still eat lots of veg and some fruit, as cutting out carbs completely leaves you with no fiber and isn't a good idea.)

Hee! Jessica, you're awesome. Also, did you get the email I sent you last night?

So, I can be there for dinner, like tomorrow?

I think that the vacuum sealing should be fine, they do that for frozen crabcakes, so it should work.

Do you think they would freeze OK or not? they have the bread crumb/saltine crumb/egg binder thing going on.

In my experience that would freeze fine. But the only thing that really gets effed up to me is potatoes so I might not be the highest standard here.

Also, did you get the email I sent you last night?

Yes, thanks for that! Which reminds me, I need to print stuff out.

Btw, reading the food discussion with interest, just not feeling like I have a lot to contribute. Oh! except to say thank you to Tep for the butternut squash enchilada recipe! I've made the vegan version twice to great acclaim. Yum!