Scrapping the Deen Project.

I got the book. I should have browsed it before ordering it, but at least it cost next to nothing. Holy shit. This woman really can't cook, and just buries it under Ritz crackers and cups of butter. There is no way I could put that many containers of Tofutti and Earth Balance through any of that. The PCRM was right; I thought they meant worst as in it's lack of nutrition, but seriously, folks. This chick makes my arch-nemesis Sandra Lee look like Julia-freaking-Child. Here's a gem from Main Courses:

Cheeseburger Meat Loaf and Sauce

2 lbs ground cow
2 tsp House Seasoning (salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Fancy!)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, chopped (the veggies stop there)
1 cup grated cheddar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup sour cream
1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
1 tsp Lawry's Seasoned salt
8-10 slices of white bread.

Now, for the sauce:
One 10 3/4-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 soup-can measure of milk
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar

I imagined subbing Gimme Lean for the cow, vegan versions of Worcestershire, cheese, and sour cream, and it still sounded like something I'd find splattered on the sidewalk on a Saturday morning walk to work.

I'm keeping the book, though. It will remind me why I'm vegan, and will make for good drunken conversations. I can make trashy American food without her help, and have it be delicious.

Back to the drawing board. There must be a "good" omni book out there I could rewrite. Right?

Seriously? March already?

I've been feeling very unmotivated lately. I'm trying to find a new job, which requires getting up before 1:00pm, but what I really need is a project. I was so motivated and full of energy during VeganMoFo, and I need that back. I decided to take on a Julie & Julia type project, but not something like making everything in Robin Robertson's new book (1000 Vegan Recipes). Instead, I am going to buy Paula Deen's Kitchen Classics



(used of course), and veganize every recipe in it.

Two things you should know about this book: 1. It's actually two cookbooks (The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook and The Lady & Sons, Too!) so it's over 400 pages. That's a lot of recipes to make in one year. Yep, one year. 2. The Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine called it the worst cookbook of all time in terms of nutritional value. The whole thing is dripping in butter and cream. I'll try to make everything without using nearly as much in vegan substitutes. Earth Balance is expensive, yo!

When will I start this? As soon as I get the book and make a big trip to the store. I have no idea yet what I'm getting into.