Unlikely Vegetarian Eating plants and living to tell about it

The reality check of my fantastic Boston apartment comes in the form of my 35 square foot kitchen. For all the charms of living in the city, I am very aware of what I give up to live here when I’m trying to roll out bread dough on my coffee table or when I turn around to stir a pot, only to knock an entire can of tomato sauce off the counter. Welcome to the urban life.

The fridge is euro-sized and the sink is also smaller than your usual sink. Some well-placed Ikea shelves provide storage and a place to dry the dishes. Spice racks nailed to the walls. And extra storage on a shelf in the living room…So if you’re waiting to start cooking until you get that second oven, you’ll find no sympathy here. And check out what this couple in Germany did with a 36 square foot kitchen. Amazing.

Why cook in a tiny kitchen with a 1′ x 1′ counter, when a dishwasher is nothing but a pipe dream? First, I enjoy it. After a stressful day at work, I love turning on the radio and sautéing away. Maybe it’s in my blood. On a more ideological front, cooking lets me be sure of what is in my food. No high-fructose corn syrup. No hidden preservatives lurking around. No chicken stock pretending to be vegetarian. Few processed ingredients. I like being in control of what I eat. Not to mention it’s generally healthier and cheaper. And I get to support local farmers more than if I eat at restaurants. And that’s just naming a few reasons…

I am off to the Midwest for the weekend and am a tiny bit nervous about the vegetarian options, or lack thereof. Wish me luck! Since I haven’t posted in a few weeks, here’s a few shots of food I’ve eaten recently. 1) A fabulous Memorial Day Brunch at my friend Jess’s – ginger waffles, egg strata, fruit, and mimosas. 2) Beets and Greens courtesy of A Basic Foodie’s recipe. 3) Yellow Rice and Black Beans from Vegetarian Suppers.