Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Tofu on My Mind

Wow. Another blog. Who would have thought? This one is dedicated to my new life as a meat eater. Early this year, after a little over a decade of serious digestive issues, I was given the news that I had parasites and a bacterial overgrowth in my small bowel. I was given a strict diet to follow that does not allow grains, beans, soy or many nuts. It recommended that I eat meat and cooked vegetables and not much else. I didn't follow the diet for awhile because it pissed me off. I like to talk to animals, not eat them. I like/love beans and tofu was my go-to food. I love love(d) tofu. But tofu wasn't helping my body - and somewhere along the way I developed yet another effin' food sensitivity - this time to soy! So I eventually buckled down and started eating fish and then chicken and I've had 5 pieces bacon in the last 6 days. Hello world. My name is Charla and I am a meat eater.
I have lived my adult life a vegetarian and felt competent in the kitchen. I had a complicated diet with multiple food sensitivities, but I persevered and learned how to cook for my body. I did it once. I can do it again. But I'm just so scared of meat. So, to face my fear of the unknown and bloody foods, I am going to read a lot and I am going to cook a lot. I want to learn all about meat. I want to know about different cuts and how to cook it. I want to eat good food and feel well. I took a trip to the library, and I have a lot of reading to do. The book at the top of my list is "The Complete Meat Cookbook: A Juicy Authoritative Guide to Selecting, Seasoning, and Cooking Today's Beef, Pork, Lamb, and Veal". Wow. I'm reluctantly excited.