Fussy DH declared himself vegie - uh oh...

[siiiiiiiiigh]

After the horse meat debacle, he's no longer content to eat the "happy meat" we've been munching on.

Fair enough, am happy to eat more vegie, brill...

except:
he's "allergic" to fish (except salmon, trout and tinned tuna)
he's "not keen" on pasta/rice/baked potatoes/pulses/beans of any sort bar Heinz baked
He believes couscous to be Stuff Of The Devil.

So, whilst I'm delighted to support him, and, seeing as how it's me that does most of the cooking, and despite the evidence above that I should LTB want him to be around for a long time- a life of cheese isn't going to keep him fit and healthy.

So far, lots of very hearty soups, stews and a (bit water) vegie curry. I can cook, like batch cooking especially. Got a slow cooker and a giant oven.

Ideas very welcome.

He HAS agreed to do some cooking - so this afternoon he's going to prepare falafel.

I'm not sure whether he realises that he loathes chickpeas, am just keeping quiet and looking forward to my dinner.

I don't have many suggestions, other than i don't expect it will be an issue for very long

Get the River Cottage "Veg every day" recipe book by Hugh Fearnely-Whittingstall, loads of lovely recipes there.

Does he eat eggs?

Linda McCartney pies are lush

Bubble and squeak with cheese or a fried egg?

Dh has a friend who's veggie, but doesn't eat vegetables. Although it does seem to me that he is ill a lot!

mikkii that is A Very Good Point...

Thanks for the recommendation, Old Lady, I've got that on order from the library. Seems it's a popular one...

And, yep, he eats eggs. But, is "bored" of omelettes. Bubble and squeak's a good one. And, it supports my campaign for quails in the bottom of an aviary...huzzah!

Pies - I make one with Quorn mince, onions, carrots etc (I do it in the slowcooker) then stick pastry on the top and bung in the oven

Look on the current puff pastry thread for my super easy feta and vege one

Tarts - like pies! Part cook a sheet of pricked puff pastry, cover it with a mixture of cream cheese, pesto and finely chopped baby spinach, top with fried mushrooms or asparagus or sliced tomatoes or whatever and sprinkle with cheese then bake

Sweet potato, chickpea and spinach curry (if he can force the chickpeas down)

Veggie sausage casserole

Veggie lasagne (nicer than pasta shapes)

Roast dinner with nut cutlets instead of meat, or with a Yorkshire pudding filled with roasted onions and mushrooms

He is going to struggle longer term if he doesn't like beans and pulses!
The meat substitute products are very good if he wants to not eat meat but at same time not introduce new textures.
The chicken style pieces and soya mince are pretty good alternatives.
Agree the Linda Mc country pies are a good freezer back stop.

Could you try to slip in some pulses/ beans into your meals and convince him of the wonder of pulses (i'm a big fan)...something like this Lentil Lasagne might be a good place to start.

I know. He's a lovely man, but, you know, he is, well, a man.

He's labouring under the illusion that vegie food is "healthy". Which, it is, if you have variety...

I've chucked lentils into the mince to make it go a bit further for years, he's never noticed or complained.

Lentil lasagne - looks great.

Thanks guys, am glad I posted... mind you, tonight he's munching away on pea and ham soup and chicken stir fry "these don't count, it's using up leftovers, and it's mostly veg anyway"

siiiiiiiiiiigh

I've recently gone semi veggie too. Have got this cooking at the moment www.greenkitchenstories.com/beet-bourguignon/ tastes okay so far. Quite beetrooty....
If he likes salmon why not try salmon laksa or miso salmon?
Sri Lankan fish curry - I simmer the sauce on slow cooker for a few hours then add fish at the last minute. Serve with naan or flatbread if he doesn't like rice.
Second the HFW book - lots in there.

oh he is a nobber

LTB

this is yummy

Nehru, I know. But, he's MY nobber.

Thanks to the powers of the relationships board on here, I am sticking with him. Meanwhile.

ask him to menu plan for a week

then sit back

Thanks, Titan. another one sorted - basically, I'll just feed the nobber whatever you lot declare to be yum.

Massive fans of the HFW veg everyday book, especially as we are keen veg growers.

We're not vege though, have three evening meals of seven which are vege, and some other nights I have fish if DH is out or eating a spicy curry. I find DH gets vair grumpy without meat and DD cannot have dairy or soya so I feel her protein can suffer if we completely remove meat from our diets.

I enjoy cooking vege food though. The flavours can be amazing and the smell as well.

Jamie Oliver's baked orecchiette with tomatoes is lovely.

Tell us what he used to eat happily and it will be easier to suggest things he might like instead. Being a vegetarian doesn't need to be a hassle and you don't have to eat beans and lentils.

Ignore all the stuff he isn't "keen" on, or is "allergic" too, and cook it anyway. If he complains, beam and say "oh good, more for me".

Or, tell him he needs to do all the cooking for the first month of being veggie, while he gets the hang of cooking nutritious food that he likes. And then he can teach you, and you'll take over.

How lovely! You husband has volunteered to do all the cooking from now on! Lucky you!

Another discovery I recently had re tofu:

take a block of tofu, wrap it in kitchen roll and a tea towel

put a heavy cook book on top for about an hour

take it out and slice then marinade for another hour or more in soy sauce and lime/lemon/or a splash of vinegar

then fry in a pan and use instead of meat in stir fries, soups etc.

the tofu firms up during the first part so it can absorb the marinade and then doesn't fall apart when you cook. And isn't all wobbly. It's nice - honest!

This sounds like a veggie low-carb diet, which is perfectly healthy and what I eat myself.
I typically have fruit and cheese for breakfast, a salad for lunch and something quorn based for dinner. I feel better eating like this than I have for a long time. I've stopped eating pasta, bread, potatoes and rice.
It's not that hard.
I'm making eggs baked in tomatoes for dinner tomorrow. They look lush!

Oh, try Chinese supermarkets for tofu. Good stuff and cheaper than anywhere I've found.

Chinese supermarkets also good for different types of vegetables, pak choi etc usually cheaper than normal supermarkets. And buy a load of lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves which you can put in the freezer and add to lovely veggie curries and laksas.

Quorn mince is considerably nicer than the supermarket own brands, but the supermarket pies are nice - Morrisons caramalised onion & something is good as a easy freezer dinner. Linda MacCartney stuff is tasty too.

You haven't mentioned if you've gone strict veggie - are you still sneaking in the occasional bacon sandwich?