Great Vegan Adventure: Day 7

I think Parmesan is crack. Yes, that crack.

Yesterday Pep and I went for yet another appointment at the eye doc's to check in on our ojos del diablo...devil eyes. I'm getting better, but he's in the midst of this malady that's been going around. What a pain!

Anyway, we have these Maggiano's gift cards and decided to use them because they expire in April. So, we were trying to think of what we could get that's vegan and came up with the crispy zucchini strips, eggplant Parmesan without the hunk of Parmesan on the top and a spinach salad without the Gorgonzola cheese and bacon...the best part of the salad in my opinion...but I digress.

We analyzed the eggplant based on the fact that we'd had it before and decided just to take the cheese off the top. Hey, we're not hardcore so we're not that concerned with dairy or meat touching our other food. So, we take off the cheese and open the crispy zucchini box and see that it has Parmesan cheese sprinkled on the top! Argh! Well, we do our best to brush it off but I'm quite sure some slipped into our mouths...detected or otherwise.

We're hungry by the time we get home and decide to sit down in front of the TV, as we always tend to do but that's another blog entry, and have dinner.

Man...it was good! But, a little too good. I'm sorry, but I'm of the mind that vegan food isn't supposed to taste quite that good!

I'm convinced that the breading has Parmesan in it! Pep doesn't agree but I'm pretty sure we inadvertently broke our vegan vow!

So I stuff more into my face just to make sure...but I'm not entirely convinced so I analyze some more mouthfuls of eggplant Parmesan! Not sure yet...must try some more...

"Nope" I declare with mouth full..."it's got cheese in it!"

By this time, of course, it's pretty much devoured.

"Well," says Pep, " I don't think it does...but we just won't order it again...just in case."

Great. I've already violated not only Lent, but my vegan vow!

Burning in hell might be on the agenda for the future, but in the words of Scarlet O'Hara...I'll think about that tomorrow.

Was it worth it? Honestly? Um...kinda...

But we've redeemed ourselves today! We had the best lunch! And it was so simple!

Garden burger topped with roasted red pepper (So easy to roast on the grill, even in winter!)
Hummus
Brown rice with parsnips, onion and cilantro (Made by my Mexican mother-in-law, who likes a challenge)
Homemade salsa (Made by my Mexican father-in-law and it's always good)

I gotta tell ya, I did not miss meat! It was really great! And Pep is getting kinda used to me making him breakfast and lunch since he's been working from home. (The eye malady is very contagious) He's going to have withdrawal when he goes back.

Tonight should be interesting...my mother-in-law is going to attempt vegetarian pozole. Regular pozole is made with pork stock, chunks of pork with hominy and a chile puree and lots of garlic. It's an amazing pork stew basically. It's one of my favorite things that my mother-in-law makes so this should be interesting. I actually found a couple of recipes for veggie pozole but it will be interesting to see how she makes it. I'll keep you posted.

Tomorrow, I tackle the TV.. literally?

Cheers!