Help! My Spouse is a Carnivore!

[jennieingram]

I know that this suggestion may not help everyone, but I'll offer it as I've found it helpful lately.  While I do eat meat sometimes, I don't really like touching raw meat.  Especially chicken.  Just grosses me out.  So I've started buying vegan meat alternatives, like tofurkey sausages.  I tried to get DH to eat some, but though he tried, he wasn't impressed.  I did realize however, that cutting up and browning some fully-cooked sausage for him didn't bother me too much.  He *loves* andouille, and I don't.  So I cut up a tofurkey sausage for me, brown it in a pan, then put his in the same pan next.  He gets to have meat, and I don't have to touch anything slimy.

[LimeRiot]

What, gals? These guys can't cook meat? You're kidding, right? Stick a pile of chicken thighs or pork chops in the crockpot, add a little liquid/flavoring, turn it on and go. Use slow cooker bags so you don't have a huge mess to clean up. Drag out the grill for him on alternate nights - I know few men who don't love to start a fire and cook meat on it.

My hubby does cook for himself sometimes. He definitely enjoys putting meat on the fire and grunting about it . I don't think anyone is suggesting that our spouses would starve if we don't cook for them.

I just think there is something special about really sharing a meal together and enjoying the same foods. Also, feeding my hubby food that satisfies him and makes him happy, makes me happy too! It's one of the ways that I love and support him so I like hearing about recipes and other ideas for creating meals that veggies and meaters both like .

I made falafels recently and my husband LOVED them. He's even asked for me to make them again. I baked the little patties instead of frying them so it was a relatively healthy meal. I'm definitely adding this to my recipe book.

[jennieingram]

Mmm.... I love falafel....

[LimeRiot]

Me too!! So flavorful and filling!

This is the recipe I used... http://allrecipes.com/recipe/seans-falafel-and-cucumber-sauce/detail.aspx

Instead of making 8 largish patties I made a bunch of smaller ones. I baked them in a 400 degree oven for about 10 min on each side. I used non fat yogurt and light mayo for the cucumber sauce and it was still delicious!

[SunflowerSmiles]

I love falafel too!  I've got to try your recipe Lime. I've a recipe I've used in my healthy eating cookbook that I really liked but this one sounds better.
 
I find my husband really likes what I cook, if it's without meat, when it's super flavor packed and has lots of texture and staying power.  So that's my mission this year.
 
CraftyChef, my husband won't eat most meat second day unless I put it in something like a pasta dish or casserole, so if I make something in the crockpot it usually gets wasted. I just don't like meat and trying to use it up in a dish, I just don't like it. He typically wants meat for dinner time meals but it has to be cooked fresh or put in something, even that he's picky about. He gets take out if I don't cook. Even with a BBQ..unless it's summer and he can sit out there with a beer. 

 
I'm kind of a freak about salmonella and cross contamination so anytime I cook chicken I'm constantly washing everything and over cooking it. I rarely eat red meat. I'm talking once or twice a year or when we go out for a hamburger every once in awhile. I'm just tired of meat, I usually ruin it and it really ruins my cooking experience that I really really enjoy sooooo

NEW Year and NEW eating Habits!!!  Although, I will say the baked chicken I picked up at the grocery store for the football game was really really good. 

GO HAWKS!!!!!

[Abbeeroad]

I made a mushroom goulash the other night that the meat-lover loved!

Here's the recipe I used: http://www.pafbcounties.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:mushroom-goulash&catid=35:county-farm-bureau-list&Itemid=72

I'm going to try that falafel recipe. We have a terrible track record with that dish in my house. Thanks!

[AugustBell]

I'm so glad to find this thread! I was a vegan in my early twenties, but quit because I got tired of it and my DH was still wanting meat all the time. Six years later I'm a lot bigger than I was back then and just overall feeling "blah". So I recently made the decision to return to the vegan lifestyle. So far it's going wonderfully. Things are different now. While my DH still loves his meat, he is much more open to eating mostly vegan meals with me. We are both in much worse physical condition than we were when we first got married. So I'm really trying to work hard to make things that he (and my 2 year old) will eat and enjoy. My son doesn't really care for meat, so he's easy. I made sloppy lentils and they were delicious. DH went back for seconds. I cheated and used Manwich, but I won't be doing that in the future. I found some yummy looking recipes for oil free homemade versions.

Anyways, I wanted to share what I made the other night. The ingredients cost $5 or less and made a lot. I put two big handfuls of fresh spinach into a skillet and cooked until the wilted. Then I added two cans of the Garlic, Basil, and Oregano seasoned diced tomatoes, juice and all into the pan along with a can of rinsed and drained black beans. Meanwhile I boiled a pot of whole wheat penne. Anyways, I cooked the sauce for about 30 minutes on low after it boiled, and ladled it over the pasta. It didn't need any other seasoning whatsoever, and was delicious! I took some for lunch today and it was just as good reheated.

[Abbeeroad]

I'm here to report that the falafel recipe LimeRiot provided was a huge hit in this house tonight!! Thanks so much for contributing to my first falafel success!

I did fry it, because hubby loves it crispy, and will pretty much eat anything as long as I fry it first, but it was delicious. We put it in a pita with lettuce and tomato and a ranch/hot sauce mixture. Veggie BIL and meat-loving hubby BOTH said it was amazing.

I really think the trick to this recipe is that the chickpeas are smashed rather than put in the food processor. I've always had my falafel fall apart, but not this time!! Thanks again for sharing, Lime!

[mrraawwr]

When reading this, my first reaction is "why can't they cook themselves?". I think families should just accept what the cook makes (I did the same while living at home!). If someone desperately craves mea I think they should cook it themselves. However, I do understand the need for good meat substitutes, even though i highly doubt that anybody can't live without meat due to lack of proteins - there are a lot of good examples of MMA fighters that are vegan and such.

My BF isn't vegetarian, I am. We've found that replacing ground meat with red lentils works excellent! For lasagne, tacos, bolognese etc. Also, just making lentil-burgers are simple, not too fast but make a large batch and throw 'em in the freezer! For new years eve and christmas i made hazelnut-balls (LOL) instead of meatballs. The hazelnuts give the balls a "meaty" flavour.

[LimeRiot]

Abbeeroad - I'm so glad you had success with that recipe! It's definitely become a favorite in our house too. I roll the balls in panko before smooshing them into patties and baking. That gives them a little extra crisp but probably not as good as frying them.

mrraawwr - I'm a little old fashioned but I enjoy cooking for my hubby and while he's capable of feeding himself and does cook now and then, I like to prepare meals for him . Every family is different though and it's just about finding what works best, I suppose.

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been using more lentils recently. I made lentil sloppy joes and plan to do lentil tacos this week.