Jolinda's Vegetarian Food Blog

Who knew? Apparently, Sandra Oh, better known as Dr. Christina Yang on the television show Grey's Anatomy is not only vegan, she's also been getting her Grey's castmates to eat vegan food as well! She recently took a few of her friends and fellow actors to a vegan restaurant in Hollywood, where Patrick Dempsey (aka Dr. Shepherd aka "McDreamy") enjoyed some vegan chocolate cake, and Ellen Pompeo has been back several times to pick up more vegan delights! Now I really can't wait for the season premiere!

Link: Sandra Oh is converting the Grey's cast to veganism

Photo by Vince Bucci / Getty Images

Can you taste the difference between real meat and a vegetarian mock meat substitute? Apparently, according to a new study published in the Journal for Consumer Research, most people can't! In the study, performed by social anthropologists from three different universities, participants rated food items, including vegetarian mock meat substitutes, better when they thought they were eating the real thing.

The researchers report that although many people claim that they eat meat rather than a vegetarian substitute because they prefer the taste:

Our results challenge that claim. Participants who ate the vegetarian alternative did not rate the taste and aroma less favorably than those who ate the beef product. Instead, what influenced taste evaluation was what they thought they had eaten.

It seems that when it comes to taste, our perceptions and expectations shape our experience more than the actual food we eat. I'm not quite sure that this is a major scientific breakthrough, but at least the next time someone tells you they eat meat for the taste, you can confidently tell them that it really is all in their head!

News link: Give meatless rolls and cheap cola a chance
Journal link: The Interactive Effect of Cultural Symbols and Human Values on Taste Evaluation

I’ve really enjoyed reading the Omnivore’s Hundred food list that’s been circulating the internet, so I couldn’t resist putting together my own version – 100 Vegetarian Foods to try at some point in your life.

I selected foods, dishes and ingredients that have such a strong and unique flavor or cultural significance that they really stand out in the food world. I included exotic fruits and regional dishes, some of which are incredibly rare outside of their homeland, as well as a few standard vegetarian favorites, and some dishes with a small but dedicated "cult following". I’m not particularly a gourmand, so I’m sure I’ve selected some foods that would have true foodies snorting their noses in superiority. So, with reverence to the food blogger who created the list, and in agreement with several of the original list items, here’s my Vegetarian Hundred.

What would you add to this list? How many have you had? The Vegetarian 100 has an added twist, so no one can possibly have had all 100, but if anyone has had 99 of them, I salute you! I’ve had 85.

Just for fun, if you have a blog too, copy and paste the list, then bold the one’s you’ve tried and link to your blog in the comments section below. Have fun!

1. Fresh young coconut
2. Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves)
3. Truffle oil
4. Pomelo
5. Kalamata olives
6. Saffron
7. Inari sushi
8. Huckleberries
9. Cashew nut butter
10. Vegetarian black pudding
11. Vegetarian turducken
12. Indian barfi
13. Mangosteen

    Read more...

If you've never tried couscous before, think of it like little tiny pasta noodles. Like pasta and whole grains, it doesn't taste like much on it's own, but will go great with a variety of sauces, spices and flavorings. One cup of cooked couscous has just 176 calories, zero fat, and also provides 6 grams of protein. Although couscous is traditionally steamed, most grocery stores carry instant couscous which can be prepared in just a few minutes. Or, try preparing your couscous in a crockpot or a rice steamer for a quick and convenient meal. Here are some vegetarian and vegan couscous recipes to try:

• Couscous with Lemon and Mint (pictured above)
• Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Couscous (pictured left)
• Couscous and Chickpea Salad
• Hot Couscous Breakfast Cereal
• Couscous with Spinach and Feta Cheese
• Moroccan Couscous with Sweet Potatoes

See also: How to Cook Couscous

If you have diabetes and want to regulate your blood glucose levels naturally, the way to do it is to try a low-fat and vegan diet based on a healthy combination of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes (beans and lentils). Diabetes educator Caroline Trapp, who gave a presentation on vegan diets recently at the annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators recommends committing to a 100% low-fat and vegan diet for a 3 week trial period - and no cheating! If you're looking for some help, here are some fat-free and vegan recipes and, if you're thinking of making the switch to a low-fat and vegan diet to help improve your diabetes symptoms, here are some tips to help you go vegetarian or vegan.

News Link: Diabetes Health: Going vegan might be easier than you think
See also: More information about vegetarian diets and diabetes

When I first went vegan (in the days before soy cheese was readily available!) I was incredibly skeptical about trying out a cheeseless pizza, but when I finally did, I discovered it was actually pretty good! Even without the cheese (and the fat and cholesterol!), you still have plenty of Italian spices and yummy toppings so the cheese is hardly missed. Of course, these days, you can walk into any health food store and buy a frozen vegan pizza, and many local pizzerias also offer vegan cheese.

Whether you're vegetarian, vegan or not, have fun getting creative with some vegetarian pizza recipes! These vegetarian pizza recipes are anything but traditional, but they will fulfill all those cravings for a rich, filling, and nostalgic meal.

• Vegetarian Pesto and Feta Cheese Pizza (pictured)
• Cheeseless Pizza with Hummus Recipe
• Quick and Easy Vegan Pizza Bagels
• Bean and Pineapple Vegetarian Pizza
• French Bread Pizza with Goat Cheese
• More Vegetarian Pizza Recipes

Whether you suffer from wheat sensitivities, celiac disease, or you just want to reduce the refined grains in your diet, there's a number of reasons to try cooking vegetarian and gluten-free. Although many gluten-free recipes require special ingredients, these vegetarian gluten-free recipes are simple dishes you can try for lunch or dinner any time. Here are some easy gluten-free and vegetarian recipes:

• Cold Asian Rice Salad
• Mushroom Veggie Burgers
• Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Simple Gluten-free Swiss Chard and Rice Pilaf
• Lentil and Veggie Casserole Bake
• Vegetarian Gluten-Free Spaghetti Sauce
• More Vegetarian Gluten-free Recipes

VegNews Magazine is once again sponsoring their annual Veggie Awards to honor the best all-vegetarian business, restaurants, products and more.

This year, I'm thrilled to see that there are so many newcomers to the scene! The expansion of vegetarian businesses can only mean one thing - a growing market of vegetarians! So let's all give ourselves a pat on the back for being a part of this wonderful trend, and take a moment to vote for your favorites.

There's categories for your favorite vegan cookie, non-dairy ice cream, and even your favorite vegan dog food! Oh, and if you need a good reason to vote, there's lots of great all-veg prizes to be won.

Vote in the 2008 Veggie Awards

Need a filling meal but can't bare to turn on the stove or the oven? Try some of these no-cook vegetarian entrees. About.com's Guide for Busy Cooks has a great tip - pick up a side order of steamed rice from your local Chinese take-out restaurant and use it for the rice dishes, or you can use leftover rice for the rice dishes as well. Creating meals in your crockpot or rice steamer is another great way to keep your kitchen cool on hot days.

• Bean and Cheese Lettuce Wraps (pictured)
• Tex-Mex Wrapped Burritos
• Feta and Squash Summer Veggie Wraps
• Feta Cheese and Rice Salad
• No-Cook Vegetarian Pizza Recipe

Whether it's due to global warming or not, there's no doubt that it's hot out there this summer! A heat wave outdoors means you probably won't want to create wave in the kitchen by heating up the oven. Keep cool and keep the oven off with these vegetarian and vegan no-bake treats.

No-Bake Summer Fruit Pie When it's too hot outside to turn on the oven, this easy and sweet fruit pie with fresh peaches and berries is perfect. Serve chilled and top with whipped cream, if desired.
Cool Whip and Yogurt Pie (pictured) You can "whip" together this easy Cool Whip pie in five minutes and it lasts for several days in the freezer.
Graham Cracker No-Bake Cookies Ok, so maybe it's "cheating" just a little bit to make cookies from pre-made graham crackers, but once you see how quick (and how yummy!) these vegan graham cracker no-bake cookies are, you won't mind "cheating" at all!
Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bakes Though you don't need an oven to make these easy vegan no-bake cookies, you do need to melt the chocolate, either over low heat on the stove or in the microwave.