OK, I'm concerned about the lack of posts on Veg. & Vegan! Let's make a concerted effort to amp things up. Ideas? Post in this thread, if so!

[IndyGirl]

Some of my ideas include:
Best ever vegan baking recipes (one thread for summer, one thread for winter)
Best vegetarian versions of typical italian meals containing meat (i.e., meatball copycats)
Best vegetarian meals featuring unusual vegetables, whatever that may mean for you

... some of these might seem a little lame, but I think all we need is a little discussion spurred on my some intriguing topics! let's get going! Who's with me?

[purpleshoes]

I'd be interested in a vegetarian version of the Cookbook of the Month. That thread always seems so much fun but I never participate since the books they choose are rarely vegetarian.

[Dave MP]

I've thought about this too, and it could be something we do eventually. In the meantime, hopefully you can participate in the new Dish of the Month on the Home Cooking Board. It's not always going to be vegetarian, but this month it's very vegetarian-friendly: Quinoa Salad.

Link: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/861003

Dave MP

[MplsM ary]

Might I suggest a Cookbook of the Season instead? We are fewer in number and frankly, a cookbook a month is just way too intense and focused for me (who has a jillion cookbooks (mostly omnoivore) but not a ton of time for participation).

Spring, Summer Fall, Winter?

Seasonal seems more manageable for our smaller group.

Just a thought.

[noya]

me, too indygirl. My posts here just don't seem to gain traction like they did on other boards

[herring]

Thanks IndyGirl, and I agree! I'll try to do less lurking and more posting.

[IndyGirl]

Welcome herring!!

[MplsM ary]

I have a topic but I am a little timid about posting it here - because I'm not sure if it belongs here or on the Special Diets board. So, here goes: low-carb vegetarian.

I tried going low carb a few months ago and it was as dull as dull can get. Part of the problem is l need one pack-able, non refrigerated (and importantly, not any chance at all of leaking or oozing and it must be compact) meal four days a week for school. I ended up eating cheese and celery with a few almonds. I love celery but I started to absolutely despise it.

[mvi]

Can you bring some sort of container, as long as it does not leak?

[MplsM ary]

Backpack room is tight and I can't risk my laptop on anything liquid, or anything that will sweat. I have tried using a separate bag but I tend to forget it after I leave my next class. It's annoying and expensive.

[IndyGirl]

I personally think it should go here, since so many low-carb diets are meat-focused. I'm sure there are people who can help you out... go for it!

[MplsM ary]

Started new thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/859757

[IndyGirl]

Great!

[mvi]

I'll chime in more often. I tend to not follow recipes unless I am baking, though, so won't be too helpful there.

[Dave MP]

I'm glad there's enthusiasm for this board, and I hope traffic and posts continue to increase. I think all of the thread ideas mentioned so far are great....so I think you should just start them. None of the ideas are lame at all!

It's always helpful to remember that all boards get more readers than posters, and the more things that get discussed, the more likely people are to see a discussion of interest and join in!

On a related note, we've made a change to the Chowhound dropdown at the top of every page: It now includes the Vegetarian & Vegan board. We're hoping that this might drive more people to this board, since it's still relatively new, and some users may not even know about it.

Thanks again, and looking forward to reading these threads,

Dave MP

[IndyGirl]

Thanks Dave!

I'm going to start a "What's for Dinner" thread as well. I just want this board to thrive!

[Peaches to Poutine]

I would like more people to chime in for good vegan/vegan-friendly restaurants for (insert city here). I know we're supposed to do that in the respective boards of the places we're going to, but sometimes that is met with outright hostility.

[choctastic]

A lot of the vegan/veg friendly posts are in the other boards. Should we be putting a link to them here? I had a vegan thread in the SF board that might be useful to people here.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/833445

[IndyGirl]

Hi Choctastic, yes, there is a set of topics near the bottom of the page that are supposed to contain links to area-focused threads.So if you see something, just post a link to it in that thread!

[choctastic]

I'm so sorry, but I'm stupid right now. So, in that thread, we just make a new post and put a link directing people to the Veg forum? Is that what you mean?

[Caitlin McGrath]

The idea is to put links to threads of interest in the regional forums in the dedicated regional threads on this board. I just added your SF thread to the "California Focused Vegetarian & Vegan discussion" thread here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/846898

[IndyGirl]

Thanks Caitlin!

[timpani_mimi]

I'm looking for a good but not too complicated recipe for a multiple-bean soup, preferably including lima beans. Something involving those dried bean mixes (13-bean soup pack from Red Mill, etc), for example.

Not very intriguing, but will this count?

[greygarious]

Those 13 and other mixed beans are a bad idea. The beans have varying cooking times, and they all lose their color anyway, leaving you with differing sizes and slightly differing shades of brown.

I like to use a few colors of beans to add to tossed salads. I soak a cup each of black, red, and white beans which are the same size, in separate 28oz tin cans that originally contained tomatoes. Then I set the cans on a rack in a pressure cooker, with a scant inch of water in the bottom. Each can has ample water covering the beans. Pressure cook for 8 minutes followed by a natural release. Drain the beans and add them to your otherwise-completed soup. As long as you don't continue cooking them for long, they'll retain their color.