Anyone else excited about the upcoming fast?

[eoe]

Even if it is just a short one I am still excited.

[cobweb]

Even if it is just a short one I am still excited.

Can you explain? I noticed on the calendar that most of the next two weeks are fast days.

I've not been fasting since I was told that was something I should speak to a priest about first, but I still want to know what is going on. :)

[choirfiend]

It is the Ss. Peter and Paul fast. It is a series of fasting days that prepares us for the Feast day of Ss. Peter and Paul, which is on June 29. We spent this last week "fast-free" to prepare us for the upcoming fast.

We sure do like to prepare!!!

[Monica, child of God]

Now that I am in school I am finding it impossible to fast or be vegan (a seperate, non-Orthodox related issue). I just don't have the time to soak beans (even by quick soak), marinate tofu, chop veggies, etc. Forget about meal planning :( And I can work hungry at a job but I can't seem to study, attend class or take exams hungry. It really sucks.

I need to figure this out. Are there any students who deal with this?

M.

[choirfiend]

Cook big batches and freeze ahead of time?

Get canned beans. Get pre-marinated tofu.

Cook a stock-pot sized amount of chili or something, then cooka big pot of rice and throw it in the fridge. More inventive cooking can happen, but you've also got the emergency supply for when you're starving.

[eoe]

I eat soybeans. I buy them "IFF" Individually flash frozen at the grocery store it takes about 5 minutes to boil them. Half a cup of those with some flatbread and hummus with a few jalapeno stuffed olives and I am ready to roll. I have also been tempted to try "foul mudamas" which from my understanding is like hummus but with fava beans and has a lemon flavor.

Canned beans might be an option? I am no expert on beas at all (I dislike them all except for like 3 kinds) but the canned chickpeas do not seem to be uber horrid if prepared properly. I have also seen baby limas and other beans IFF as well.

[choirfiend]

Are your soybeans in pod or out of pod?

They sell them in pod in the Asian section, and they come as part of a mixed veggie bag with broccoli and parisian carrots (I love this mix!!!) but I wish I could find them de-podded and by themselves, because who wants to pay for the pod when you're paying for a lb of soybeans?

[eoe]

Out of pod. I like them both ways but it takes a long time to make a meal of them in the pod. Great for a snack but as a main part of a meal I like them shelled. They sell them in medium sized bags in the frozen food department. At Whole Foods (fru fru grocery store) They sell them in extra large bulk bags.

[choirfiend]

bah, I'm jealous. Maybe I should make a visit to the actual asian market around here and see if they sell them shelled. Even Wegmans (which is very yuppy) doesn't sell them shelled.

[Dewi Sant]

I'm looking forward to the fast.

You are allowed fish aren't you? That is what I see on the goarch calendar.

Mmmmmm, barbecued fish!

[Monica, child of God]

Canned beans are okay but I still need to do something to them that usually requires chopping veggies (for say chili or cuban black beans) and cooking time. And I don't like a lot of fake meats. Premarinated tofu is great but only one option and sorta expensive.

A couple days ago I went to the asian super market and got noodles and this awesome kim-chee spiced tofu. It was great :) But I can't really afford premade foods all the time. I am a "from scratch" kinda girl.

Oh well. Summer school will be over mid July. Over the month break I'll just have to cook up a storm and freeze it. I wasn't prepared for how much time college would take along with family stuff.

M.

[choirfiend]

It isn't too hard to throw tofu in a bowl and let it sit overnight to marinate, is it?

Frozen chopped veggies is the answer. I put onion, green pepper, and carrots in my chili at the very least, and I know all of these come pre-chopped if I want them. Stirfrys and casseroles can be great and quick, too. You can even put the casserole together at night, and there's ALL SORTS of new receipes coming out for crockpot cooking. I dont like the "fake" meats either, really.

[choirfiend]

Ooh, maybe you can get your hubby involved, too. It's summertime. Men love the grill. Find your busiest night and make that HIS night to BBQ whatever meats his little heart desires. Then you've got one night of cooking for him taken care of, and he gets to do the manly cooking thing, and that can be spagetti night for you!

[kamikat]

As I look through my journal, I see that the last time I had a major crisis of faith was right before Lent. Now, I'm begining to think that maybe it's triggered by my fear of the fast, like I'm trying to talk myself into having an excuse to not follow the fast. hmmm
As for foods, since the rest of the family doesn't fast, I generally just eat the sides of whatever I'm cooking for them. I'm allergic to wheat and soy, so I don't eat meat replacements. During Lent, most of my meals were a steamed veggie and rice or baked potato with some margrine. For a meal on the go, peanubutter sandwhich and some fruit. I'm not sure what I'll do this week, though. My mother-in-law is coming tomorrow. She's been on the Atkins diet for years and is convinced that a single bite of white rice will kill ya and is very vocal about it.

kamikat

[zhilan]

Now that I am in school I am finding it impossible to fast or be vegan (a seperate, non-Orthodox related issue). I just don't have the time to soak beans (even by quick soak), marinate tofu, chop veggies, etc. Forget about meal planning :( And I can work hungry at a job but I can't seem to study, attend class or take exams hungry. It really sucks.

I need to figure this out. Are there any students who deal with this?

M.

I know what you mean. It is hard. Especially the dairy part. One thing I found that is -great- for fasting times is Indian food. I'm really lucky becuase right near my university there is an excellent vegetarian Indian restaurant and store. Since India is a nation of vegetarians they have come up with a wonderful cusiene of tasty vegetarian food (and they bread doesn't have eggs in it!). If you can find an Indian store where you live, Indian food is somethig that is vegetarian (usually vegan unless you get something with cheese) and it's super easy. It comes both frozen or in ready to eat packages. All you have to do is put it in a bowl and pop it into the microwave for 2 mintues and your set. I dont know where you live so it might be harder to find, but if you can find some I find that makes keeping the fasts SO much easier.

[choirfiend]

It's JUST food. Eating what you have no desire to eat, in the case of many people who have situations that make it near impossible to do the traditional fast, may be just as much as fast as fasting, if it continues it's purpose of humility and drawing closer to God as the source of True Food and Drink. I know that being forced to eat what you dont want to eat with a smiling face is pretty humbling. Do what you can in the situation you are in. WHAT you eat ends up meaning less than HOW you eat and WHY you eat, imo.

[buzuxi02]

mcdonalds

[Theophorus]

...with a few jalapeno stuffed olives...

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to eoe again.




I need this fast about now. It's perfect timing.

[eoe]

As I look through my journal, I see that the last time I had a major crisis of faith was right before Lent. Now, I'm begining to think that maybe it's triggered by my fear of the fast, like I'm trying to talk myself into having an excuse to not follow the fast. hmmm

The demons can also sense when something is going to be good for you and will attack you to prevent it. Thank God that he has shown you this.

As for foods, since the rest of the family doesn't fast, I generally just eat the sides of whatever I'm cooking for them. I'm allergic to wheat and soy, so I don't eat meat replacements. During Lent, most of my meals were a steamed veggie and rice or baked potato with some margrine. For a meal on the go, peanubutter sandwhich and some fruit.
That all sounds quite healthy and reasonable.

I'm not sure what I'll do this week, though. My mother-in-law is coming tomorrow. She's been on the Atkins diet for years and is convinced that a single bite of white rice will kill ya and is very vocal about it.
eep!