seitan:

a meat substitute

made from vital wheat

gluten flour.


When I first started on this vegan path
substitutes were the furthest
thing from my mind.
I remember trying
fake hot dogs
once...
some things just shouldn't or can't be
imitated...

a hot dog is one of those things.

Then bad memories
would remind me
that I really didn't miss 'em that much...
finding a hair in one (gag as I type)
a cockroach in a bun (eeew)
gristle encounters.
I will stop right there before I
make myself puke.

But I have journeyed down this road
for almost a year now
and I have found myself longing for
hearty winter meals like
stew
pot roast with roasted veggies
pepperoni.

Tofu can only take you so far.

Then I heard about
seitan.
I started gathering some info on my own
and through Heather's guidance
at Whole Food Kitchen
found
Post Punk Kitchen.

When I saw a recipe for that stew
I had been dreaming about...
well,
it was love at first sight.

Hard to figure out how to pronounce
but a breeze to make.

Mix simple ingredients together.

Form into 5 inch sausage links.

Wrap in foil and

steam for 40 minutes.

The unveiling.

It smells like Italian sausage.
It looks like Italian sausage.
It slices like Italian sausage.

Tonight it will be joined

with some carrots

and potatoes 

and celery

and a savory sauce

to create a good old-fashioned

stew...
where the taste will be decided.

Thank you Post Punk Kitchen

for satisfying my craving

and for making me

believe

that I never have to say

goodbye

to the things I love.