DATE: 03/05/2007 09:52:38 / MOOD: other

Who said cheaters never prosper, anyway? It definitely wasn't me, because I think a little cheating here and there is good for both sanity and blood iron levels.

For those of you just joining me: I have given up all meat and seafood for the 40-plus days of Lent. I'm not doing it because I"m Catholic, (I'm not). I'm doing it because I'm curious to know whether fasting in this way really can make you more spiritual.

So far, my tendency is to say yes --- it makesyou more spiritually aware that you want to hunt, cook and eat woodland creatures. It makes the smell or roasting rotisserie chickens intoxicating. And it makes our dependence on meat painfully obvious. Less than a century ago, it used to be that meat was a luxury item; nowdays, it's seen as a staple.

Even my health-food eating, gym-going self is not immune, apparently. Why? Because I gave in, sold out and knuckled under. I cheated.

Now, the Catholics were wise about this whole fasting business, because they included some legal cheating.The rules are as follows: You fast on Fridays and forgo meat; but you can indulge on Sundays, because those are days of celebration and rejoicing. Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday.

Thus, I cheated on a Sunday.

Thank goodness for Sundays, because a little shrimp, a little fish, and a bowl of turkey chili made that meatless week and a half worth it ... and keeps me working toward more reflections.


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DATE: 02/22/2007 15:23:07 / MOOD: happy

This is the second day of Lent, and I am going strong ... despite the fact that I smell fried chicken everywhere I turn.

Fried chicken: My love, my bane, my deal-breaker.

For those that don't know yet: I have given up all meat, including seafood, for the 40+ days of Lent. I am doing it for the challenge and the rumored spirituality-enhancing properties of self-denial.

It's not so difficult so far, especially because I was a vegetarian for several years. But then again --- know what did my vegetarianism in?

Yep. Fried chicken. Couldn't stand the cravings anymore, so I ate a man-sized fried chicken dinner, which sent me to the hospital and also convinced me I'm not cut out to be a vegetarian.

Curse you, fried chicken! I can resist your deep-fried charms for six weeks, though.

In the meantime, I had tofu and garlic fried in olive oil for lunch -- what a wonderful smell. It was really good. I recommend it highly.


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DATE: 02/21/2007 10:40:18 / MOOD: other

For most of the country, it's the morning after: The morning after feasting, after gorging, after drinking, after carousing, after singing, after dancing, after a general sentiment of "Eat, Drink and Be Merry for Tomorrow We Die."

Today, after all, is the first day of Lent, and the first day after Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) parties across the country. In fact, the word for these celebrations -- carnival -- literally means "Good-bye to meat."

I had my own little carnival throughout the day yesterday, but it was severely underrated for a culinary circus; in fact, there was very little hedonism other than some ground beef, potato bits, and a pint of oatmeal stout from the Cellar (An Odessa wine shop).

I also had a Taco Tuesday plate at Rosa's, and ate those beef and chicken soft tacos for lunch, dinner and a snack. Wooooooo, exciting!

But enough about my own little spurt of indulgence before the big day.
What did you all do to celebrate the last day for 40 days you could eat meat, sweets, have alcohol, or do whatever it is you've given up for Lent?

If it's interesting, I'll publish it in my next blog. E-mail jedwards@mrt.com.


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DATE: 02/19/2007 12:55:11 / MOOD: happy

There's nothing like a little, good-old fashioned navel-gazing (i.e. philosophizing) mixed in with some Lent-picking.

Wednesday, Feb. 21 is Ash Wednesday --- the beginning of the introspective, self-sacrificing Lent season. It marks the 40 days (not including Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.

Most of you probably know that Lent is associated with self-denial and fasting, with the purpose of becoming more spiritual.

I have never observed Lent with a fast, out-of-the-ordinary donations to charity or overmuch prayer.

But this year, my editor Mary (Lifestyle editor at the MRT) and I have made a pact: We will not eat meat or poultry for the entire time. I've even sworn off seafood, too.

That's going to be *really* hard, considering I grew up on the east coast of Florida, chomping clams, shelling shrimp and shucking shellfish.

(Quick! Hide the scungili!)

Anyway, because Mary and I know we're not alone in observing, sacrificing (and probably, at some point, bemoaning our food cravings), I"ll post a blog here each Wednesday with the best Lenten recipes.

Feel free to try ours, or submit your own recipes to my e-mail: jedwards@mrt.com.

Wish us luck!

JennN Edwards

Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Midland Reporter-Telegram


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DATE: 02/09/2007 12:28:14 / MOOD: full of life

Hi everyone, and thank you for tuning in to my blog tonight. This is the first of many blogs I'll write (er, -shuffle, shuffle- I hope I'll write) and then link up with the Midland Reporter-Telegram Web site.Check out the weekly updates relating to live music, pop culture, travel, native religion and ethnic food -- and sometimes, all of those things at once.In fact, tune in to the same bat blog next week for a unique food article that features religion, history and culture, and maybe no food at all. (Well, it will feature no meat, anyway -- The Lent season is, after all, nearly upon us.) Again, thanks for tuning in. Feel free to e-mail, call or hand signal me with blog and article ideas, or even burning questions.Later, tators. Jennifer Edwards Assistant Lifestyle Editor Midland Reporter-Telegram jedwards@mrt.com

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