The Accidental Vegetarian

“If it doesn’t have meat in it, it’s not a meal.” That’s Frank’s motto. It’s tricky because I have lots of good meatless recipes. Like tonight, for instance, I want to make Weight Watchers Mac N Cheese. It’s got cheese, tomatoes and pasta—plenty of substance. But I’m already defrosting chicken because I know it’s gotta have meat. Spinach enchiladas turn into chicken and spinach enchiladas. Black bean quesadillas become beef and black bean quesadillas. Veggie pizza must be shrimp and veggie pizza. (Shrimp counts in Frank’s book.)

Yesterday, Frank made a Trader Joe’s chili lime chicken burger for lunch. (Have you had those, btw? I heard about them from neighbors and had to get them. Very good. I recommend. But most of you don’t have TJs. So sad.)

He put it in a tortilla and I asked him to give me a bite. “That is so good!” I said. “It tastes even better then when I had it last weekend. What did you do differently?”

“I put these Fritos in it,” he said. (Plug for Frito Lay product: Tim McGraw’s Spicy Jalepeno Fritos. I think they’re only here for a limited time so better grab ‘em while you can.)

“That must be it,” I said and requested another bite.

But then I saw the empty box on the counter. It didn’t say Trader Joe’s chili lime chicken burgers. Nope. It said Morningstar Farms veggie burgers.

“Frank! You didn’t eat a chicken burger. You ate a VEGGIE burger!” I said.

“WHAT?” He was horrified as he read the box: “100% vegetarian? Made with organic soy? Yuck!”

“But you LIKED it!” I told him.

That was the last of our veggie burgers but I suspect now that he’s had a taste of it, he might start requesting them (or “accidentally” eating mine).