Tolerance Soup

I confess, I am an information pack rat. I read constantly, peruse the internet 24/7, always on the lookout for information to horde away for the future. I subscribe to several food related Google Searches to find information for this website as well.

I recently came across two interesting articles and their comments which I would like to share with you. The first is Professing Green While Blogging Veal Recipes
it was posted on a the Supervegan Blog site and is written about Mark Bittman, who is the Food Editor and food blog writer for The New York Times, and noted cookbook author.

Now, other than owning some of his cookbooks, I know nothing about Mark Bittman, but reading the article and hearing the comments for some reason, really bothered me. The sum and substance of the article is a complaint that Bittmann, while writing vegetarian cookbooks, recently gave out a recipe for Roman Veal. Now Bittman also has other cookbooks published which are not vegetarian in nature, nor has he ever professed to be a vegetarian. So, if the man wants to write about veal, or give a veal recipe, why can't he.

The comments in response to the post were vicious:

"Well, Bittman may know the benefits of Veganism but his bread and butter definitely comes from carnivore cuisine. It's sad though, but it's all business to him.."

"Ugh, I can't stand Mark Bittman sometimes. I remember once he was on Martha Stewart Radio talking about his "vegetarian" brussels sprouts, but then admitted they are much better with bacon!"

"It makes one wonder whether Bittman, like so many others, contradicts himself just to make money."

Why can't Mark Bittman publish what he wants? He is a food writer, he is not a professed vegetarian, there are people in the world who eat veal and enjoy it ( I being one of them), and more importantly, why is his opinion less valuable than those who are on the vegetarian blog.

I would never presume to tell them to eat meat. We are only responsible for ourselves in this world. Imagine a host or hostesses nightmare when having a party today, his or her guests may include, a vegan, a carnivore, some one with a peanut allergy, someone who keeps Kosher, someone of Muslim descent, a lactose intolerant guest and a guest that is gluten free...
What do you do? What do you serve? I certainly wouldn't serve a loin of pork, maybe make some type of vegetarian casserole like an eggplant parmigiana, but how do you satisfy everyone. I would make the most sincere effort to meet the needs of my guests, but as a guest, you also have to make some concessions as well.

My feeling is, if your dietary restrictions are so restricted or restrictive, bring your own food, but come for the people and the fun, and enjoy yourself!
It should be all about the celebration, being together, and the people...

I never understood why people feel that their way is the only right way...if you want to be a vegetarian, go for it, if you like meat, that's okay too, if you are a Democrat vote the way you want to, if you a a Republican, feel free to do the same, or if you want to vote for the other party, go ahead and do that too. The last time I checked, this was a free country and we were entititled to make our own choices within reason. Why do we all feel the need to tell someone else how they should live (in case my children are reading this, this does not apply to you, lol).

Seriously, I am concerned how the anonymity of the internet has given permission for people to bash and be cruel to others. I read posts about people that make me cringe. Maybe we all need to take a step back in time and remember the adage our parents, and even some of us were brought us with, "if you have nothing nice to say about someone, say nothing," back into vogue.

The next person on the food chain I expected to be tarred and feather is Nick Malgieri, the author of many, many cookbooks, on baking and desserts, for having the audacity to mention the words weiner schnitzel in an article he wrote...image that, people eat weiner schnitzel!

So dear friends, in the coming year, let's try to lighten up a bit, maybe go back to some of those old fashion values, be nicer to our fellow man, stop turning President elect Obama into the Messiah, and hoping that he is successdful in making some changes in the country, but let's not expect a miracle, and if he doesn't effect the change everyone thinks his administration can accomplish, there is always the old fall back to blame George W. Bush, he takes it on the cuff for everything anyway!

Perhaps, being more tolerant would be a good New Years Resolution for all of us. With that in mind here is my recipe for today...

Here's my recipe for today:

Tolerance Soup:

5 cups of human kindness
6 cups of forgiveness
3 cups of I Love You
8 cups of I'm Sorry
3 cups of think before opening mouth and inserting food
3 cups of maybe the things I say may hurt someones feeling
(make a bouquet garni of jealousy, vindictiveness, pettiness, vanity)

Mix everything together in a pot, about simmering for 30 minutes, toss out the bouquet garni, and let the rest of the ingredients meld together. Serve a very generous and liberal seving to those around you.

May all of you have a very Happy, Healthy, 2009...may your blessings be many and your sad moments few!!!

PS: I now have a new appreciation for food stylists!