She's Baaaaack!

Hi.

So, as you noticed, I stopped blogging. The reason is simple. I always envisioned this as a 6 month long project. And after 6 months, I just got tired of doing it. On one hand, I had conquered all of the major foods I wanted to, and it was getting more and more difficult to find weird things to eat (eg. vegan baklava, floral flavored foods, etc.). Then, I got distracted with a couple of other challenges / events. I spent a few months eating almost no processed foods (which is very healthy... and also, makes it nearly impossible to eat the remaining foods I needed to eat). I spent 6 weeks on an exercise challenge, in which I went to 30 Cardio Barre classes (which was 5 classes per week.... you should see my muscular legs!). I went to Australia! And yes, I took advantage of that to eat Vegemite, which I am happy to report is both vegan and quite tasty!!! So, that's what has happened to me lately.

My husband discovered that he liked Vegemite too! He thought he hated it, but he was wrong. We were both so happy!

Even though I didn't conquer EVERYTHING I set out to, mostly due to lack of availability, this project was a complete success, and my life is better for doing it. Mostly, it's a relief to have the mindset of I Like Everything Now, which has come in handy again and again. Guys, I'm NOT PICKY AT ALL anymore! If it's vegan, I'll accept it. Obviously, I still have preferences, as everyone does, but I can't think of a single vegan thing I would refuse if offered it. My husband is thrilled with the progress he made as well. It's funny, because 98% of people we told about this project looked at us like we were insane, assuming that there were some things people just don't like, no matter what.... and why would you try to like things you hate, when it is so much easier to avoid them? So, yeah, most people didn't get it. Oh well, we know it worked and we know we are better off for it! And we also know that when someone claims they hate a certain food, it's because they are close-minded and never really tried to embrace it, out of sheer habit or stubbornness.  ;-)

I'm just going to ask you one last time... please open your heart and stop insisting you don't like some foods and there is no way to change it!

Although I am very proud of everything I learned to like, there are several foods and drinks that really stand out as being shocking success stories. I mean, I love beer now! Which is CRAZY! I drink beer more than any other alcohol now, maybe about 4 beers per week. I like all kinds, the whole wide range. Even though I was hoping to be able to tolerate beer, I honestly didn't except to love it the way that I do! And when I'm not drinking beer, do you know what cocktail I drink about 80% of the time now? Get this: Gin & Tonic! It is now my Go To cocktail. Never would have believed I would crave them so much!!! And really, how on Earth did I live so long without sauerkraut? Or radishes? Or Everything bagels? Or hot dogs with mustard and relish?!? These have become some of my favorite foods, and a year ago, I hated them all. Or at least I thought I did!!!!

So, I consider this project to be, more or less, complete, but I am going to go through the rest of my life with an open heart, an open mind and an open mouth! If I come across any exciting new foods, I will certainly mention them on this blog..... because this blog is going to continue.... but with a new theme for 2013....

The Gal Who Cooked Everything Vegan

It's no secret that I've been a cooking fiend for the past 15 years or so. I cook for about an hour, pretty much every day of my life. And I almost never repeat recipes, so I have an incredibly large repertoire of things I know how to cook. But there are so many things I still find daunting.... I think they will be too difficult, too frustrating, too weird, or quite often, too caloric.

Like every other woman in my age bracket, I recently got on Pinterest. After I understood how it works (I was admittedly baffled by it at first) and figured out how to find 8554 ridiculous new vegan recipes every day, I got hooked on it. I cook at least a couple of new recipes from Pinterest each week. But there is an even more common occurrence that happens to me when browsing through the recipes. I see something that looks delicious, and I want it with my whole soul, but I instantly think, "But I'll never make that!" In fact, I have an entire board in Pinterest dedicated to Vegan Things I Want That I Will Never Make (and please go and follow it if you are on Pinterest. I find some crazy, beautiful recipes I post on there!). But I finally stopped to think, "Well, why won't I ever make these things?!? What is stopping me but my own fear and laziness?!?"

So, this is my 2013 plan. At least once a month, maybe more if I get really inspired, I'm going to make one of the recipes from my VTIWTIWNM board. And I'll write about the adventures here. And I hope to help inspire people to get outside of their cooking comfort zone and try to make some new and crazy things!

1st one is coming very soon..... stay tuned!!!