XV. 8. Cooking Class

['Ilima Stern]

Cooking Class

Castle Medical Center in Kailua
is run by Seventh Day Adventists.
The cooking class I attended today
was taught by an associate
who carries being a vegetarian
even further, she’s a vegan.

I tasted a delicious nut spread
made with unsalted macadamia nuts
spread over very dry crackers.

A tasty sunset salad was made
with yellow and purple sweet potatoes,
black beans, romaine lettuce, dried
figs, ripe papaya, and sliced plums.

A Parisian pasta sauce consisting of
Roma tomatoes, red bell pepper,
lots and lots of fresh basil, water,
and olive oil was served over
whole wheat spirals (rotini).

A crunchy, sweet lace cookie
made with sesame seeds, tahini,
turbinado sugar, wheat flour,
and egg replacer (yes!) was
speared to a strawberry half,
stuck in a pineapple triangle.

All the food was presented and
served beautifully. I came away
with a new appreciation of what
it means to be a vegetarian
and with a new determination—
not going to be vegan. Too much work!

[lilgriffin57]

Hi Ilima,

Sounds like a pretty cool class. I wouldn't have trouble being a vegetarian. My problem is that at times I would negate the whole healthy thing by craving sweet things and fruit just doesn't cut it for me. Oh well.

-debralee

[dancuddy]

Ilima, I just stopped in this morning to see what everybody has been writing. The problem with your poem is that it makes you hungry. You can't read this poem, unless you are sated by just eating, and not get hungry. The dishes are probably very healthy though.

[allenitz]

well done, 'ilima. and i agree with you on the vegan thing - not because it's too much trouble only, also because it really sounds boring. as i said in my poem yesterday, i like pigs, but i like bacon better.

allen

[connied]

Sounds like a work of art---my opinion-- a little now and then could make a nice change to an otherwise predictable menu--have you ever eaten lunch at the hospital bistro---its pretty good and nice size portions too!

[AJFolkart]

I was there too, and came to the same conclusion. Veganism isn't for me. Partly because it is a lot of work and partly because I would always be having illicit cravings - cheese, milk, ice cream, a hamburger with everything, and, even once in a while, a hot dog. Nope, nice place to visit, but . . .

You described this beautifully, 'Ilima. The cookie was too sweet. Good thing it was small.

Alice

[ststearns]

i am a vegetarian, and this menu would be a lot of work for anyone !