What's been consumed lately

So I'm experimenting with cutting out red meat and swine. I'm not going out of my way either to consume animal products. I don't want to label myself anything at this point, but I would like to try this indefinitely. I hope it's not a killjoy to those of you who really appreciate a good steak, pork loin, side of bacon, filet mingon, juicy burger with blue cheese and red onion...OH GOD I'm not sure how long this will last, but here's what I've been making lately...


Cous cous burger (cous cous cooked then blended with egg, flour, salt, oyster sauce and black pepper cooked on the pan.)


Here's a funny casserole of some hybrid nature - Started out like a Spanish tortilla, then evolved into...well... started to sautee some eggplant, garlic, tomatoes and then some feta cheese in a separate pan. In the first pan were the cut potatoes, onions in olive oil on low heat until the potatoes got soft. Then I soaked the potatoes in a couple of eggs, not unlike tortilla Espanola...but here's the switch. The eggplant, tomato, garlic and feta mix got folded into the potato onion, egg mix and then it all got placed in this casserole and cooked for about 20 minutes in the oven. Talk about an orgy of flavor. Delicious. My palate is still in culinary post coital bliss.


If you can get passed the lump of bean paste in the foreground of the plate then you're halfway there. Melissa if you're reading this - does it remind you of anything? Anyway this dish is bulgur prepared in a tomato-tikka masala broth, spinach with onions, garlic and that delicious feta, and a red bean paste. The sauce drizzled onto the plate is Spanish olive oil, honey, balsamic and oyster sauce.


Here are some nachos I made with my own habenero salsa and guacamole, cheddar cheese and tiger shrimp. Mmm yummy! And ugh, filling!

There you have it! If I go off the meatless wagon I'll let you know. It's almost Hanukkah, which means in the place where I am - I will be the only one celebrating as this is the land without Hanukkah. There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas, and there won't be dreidels in the homes of my neighbors, BUT there will be plenty-O swine on their tables. I picked a perfect time to avoid meat.

Lots of Latkes to ya and happy Hanukkah. I hope to have a video made before the 8 days are over, but regardless, I'll be re-posting my Latkes Love from last year.