Vent.. people who cook "veg" food for me

ArcticFox

I have been a vegetarian most of my life, and I don't see it as a big deal, I am very flexible and I always find something to eat (like if I'm eating at a restaurant or someone's house).

Since I had my baby, this one family friend is always cooking me food.  She is super excited because she is making me vegetarian food.

Problem is, she doesn't get "regular" food recipes off Food Network or whatnot, she gets these crazy recipes.  And I can't stand the stuff.  Some examples - "lasagna" which is basically a bunch of veggies cut up and layered with panko crumbs, and the tiniest sprinkle of cheese.  It is like slop consistency and it is watery and tasteless (no seasoning).

Then she made mac n cheese with tofu (again, unseasoned), and some weird "enchiladas" which were flour tortillas layered with beans and tofu (again, no seasoning).

Tonight she is bringing me vegan soup, and I am dreading it.  She made me soup before and it was zucchini and orzo sitting in barely any broth, and it was like a slimy, tasteless glop.

I hate to be ungrateful, but I don't understand why people think vegetarians eat bland food... and I don't know how to politely say I don't want it either..

CarrieB.

can you give her some suggestions of things you do like? usually when i have vegetarian friends over i do something easy like pizza and just don't put meat on one of the pizzas.

SuperGreen

Ugh that is a tricky situation!  You don't want to seem ungrateful, but you don't want her to continue expending the effort to eat food you don't like either.  Personally, I would start sending her recipes once and awhile.  Maybe copy her on (what appears to be) an e-mail to a vegetarian friend to start.  You can say stuff like, "I love all the spices in this recipe!" or "This dish has so much flavor because of X,Y, and Z spices!" Hopefully your friend will get the hint.

ChelsiLynn

SuperGreen:

Ugh that is a tricky situation!  You don't want to seem ungrateful, but you don't want her to continue expending the effort to eat food you don't like either.  Personally, I would start sending her recipes once and awhile.  Maybe copy her on (what appears to be) an e-mail to a vegetarian friend to start.  You can say stuff like, "I love all the spices in this recipe!" or "This dish has so much flavor because of X,Y, and Z spices!" Hopefully your friend will get the hint.

I would do this.  My sis is a vegetarian so I make sure I clear what I would like to fix before having her over for dinner.  I also make sure I try it (if I can) during the cooking process so I can make sure its not too bland.  Then I keep veggie burgers/chik patties etc. on hand in case it turns out to be an epic fail.  Then again she's my sister so I wouldn't be horribly offended if she told me it sucked...

heliocentric

Maybe she's just an overall bad cook and it has nothing to do with making vegetarian food. I at least give her credit for trying different things. While I would certainly never complain, I get sick of portabello mushroom dishes. It often seems that's the only kind of veggie dish people can come up with.

CurbsideProphet

heliocentric:

Maybe she's just an overall bad cook and it has nothing to do with making vegetarian food.

This is a good point. Do you know someone who has tasted her other cooking?

I am also a bit confused on why you would need to put tofu into mac and cheese. I would think a lot of mac and cheese recipes would be vegetarian to begin with and would not need changing.

I would not know what to say, sorry.  I hope you figure something out.