Last year, there was much discussion about going meatless or cutting back on the amount of meat served during Lent.
We heard from readers that many of you use Lent as a time to get more vegetables into your diet. Are you marking Lent this year? If so, are you changing what you cook? Let us know how we can help with recipes, store reviews and Open Threads.
Whatever the Catholic Church preaches, i tend to do the exact opposite, so I'll be eating more meat for Lent
I'm with Luigi!
I am not changing my eating habits for Lent. But I would love some more easy lunch time vegetable recipes. Maybe things that could prepared the night before and just assembled in the morning. There's only so many carrot sticks a girl can eat.
Also, some easy vegitarian sandwich suggestions would be great. Right now I am cycling between red peper and cream cheese, peanut butter, and egg salad. I would love a couple other choices.
I travel so much for work that I can't go entirely meatless for lent--but it would be nice to have more vegtable based MEALS. So often, on friday during lent, I turn to the same salmon recipe, or to a pasta dish.
We try to have seafood dinners 2-3 nights a week as well as one meatless dinner a week, and we're not changing that during lent. It amuses me that I probably eat less meat now than when I was growing up in my Catholic household!
Though completely non-religious, I thought I'd give up sausages and cured meats (my beloved spicy salamis) for Lent, just to see if I could do it.
I've never understood why completely non-religious/non-Christian/never-go-to-church types take on lenten fasting.
For some reason it's always rubbed me the wrong way (and I'm not trying to get into some flaming war on this thread and I'm non-Christian, too FWIW).
Not meant to be a criticism, but I've always found it odd for a non religious person to take on an observance that's supposed to examine one's relationship (through sacrifice and meditation upon your sacrifice) to Christ/God.
If you're trying to get more veg in your diet...the best time is May/June when farmer markets start to reopen!!!!
As a Christian, but non-Catholic, I don't cut back on meat, but I do try to make a personal sacrifice during the Lenten season. It often ends up being a food sacrifice since I love to eat! This year I'm off of fried foods... I'm already craving tempura. mmmm.
JenPDX,
Also not to get into a Christian/non-Christian flame war....but I will explain my Lent exercise (the first time I've tried it) simply as a test of discipline/willpower. It just happens to be timed with Lent because the timing was right and the length of time involved seemed right.
I do understand that Lent is a period of time with profound religious meaning, not unlike Ramadan for Muslims. Now I feel horrible about having defiled this religious observance (especially a Catholic one, a religion/denomination I hold in the highest regard).
MoM - No harm no foul. I don't feel like you (or my other nonreligious friends who observe lent) have defiled anything.
it's sort of a weird secularization of LENT - that fascinates me. except LENT is not the kind of event that lends itself to hallmark cards or elaborate store displays. nonetheless...it happens every year..discussion of LENT more as a food ritual and not a Christian observance. i guess i'm fascinated by this cultural quirk in general.
Forgive the ravings of a person with a bad head cold and isn't getting enough oxygen, and is friggin bored at home...this post isn't aimed at anyone. and probably missed its mark, too.
I am a very strict Roman Catholic who ADORES Lent, Apartment Therapy, and showing the love of Christ to everyone :)
That being said, I abstain from meat on Fridays year-round (keeping up the pre-Vatican II tradition, as my "Friday" act of sacrifice as recommended by the Magisterium). During Lent, I do a light fast on Fridays. I can't fast the correct way (health issues), so I just do breakfast, soup for lunch, veggies as snacks throughout the day, and only water to drink. One of my favorite soups to make--water with vegetable stock, muchrooms, potatoes, leeks, onions, garlic, and peas. It sounds bland, but I just let it simmer for a while and it's this really nice broth. I also think that no one can improve upon Campbell's Chunky Clam Chowder, so I also eat a lot of that during these 40 days!
I think the important thing to remember about the Lenten sacrifice isn't as much the "no meat" rule, but to sacrifice something (food, chocolate, alcohol, TV, etc) is a constant reminder to appreciate life, your loved ones, and the sacrifice that Christ gave for all of us. I completely respect those who do not choose to believe in the teachings of the Catholic Church and am so glad AT brought up this topic!
i'm with michelle de montreal--i am not catholic, but i like to take the opportunity to see what i can do without, because i am really conscious of my place on the planet and what i consume. i could do it anytime of the year, but lent seems to be a time when you can find more moral support. in college a protestant friend would always fast with me on yom kippur, not as an act of devotion, but to support me and because she was grateful that she never had to go hungry in her life. i thought it was a nice gesture, and i think that's partly why i've become interested in making my own lent.
i'm not sure if i could give up chocolate or alcohol, but i'm working on meat. i do pretty well except for pancetta and meat stocks (although i'm finding some mushroom stocks are okay, maybe i just need to get used to them). but i just can't find good subsitutes for bacon.
My mom had a great idea for Lent this year: She's going to limit her grocery budget to $35 a week, with the goal of using up the mountain of esoteric ingredients she has stockpiled in her house. Sort of the 40-day pantry challenge! I think it's brilliant. I know anyone reading this has enough preserved lemons and baccala and quince paste and aburage to take them into the next century, and half of it's going to get thrown out if you don't eat it soon. Am I right?
I think if you grow up Catholic, giving up something for Lent just has a cozy, fun, home-with-the-homefolks feeling to it, even if you're no longer an observant Catholic.
I am a native of New Orleans, a city with a very large, very old Catholic community. During Lent here, restaurants advertise their "Lenten specials" or "Lenten celebrations" in newspapers and magazines. As this is south Louisiana, meatless Fridays typically mean devouring some of the most delicious seafood you'll ever find! Do other cities have similar practices?