Happy Thanksgiving- or as my friend Andy likes to say: "Chestito Turkey-den" (You have to hear it in his non-Bulgarian accent to really enjoy it!) I hope you had a great holiday. I was more than excited to receive this fun picture from my family--thanks guys! It is nice to be missed.
Branch and I went to Budapest and enjoyed a few Thanksgiving staples such as: Mexican Food, Christmas Markets, and long walks across the Chain Bridge. Okay, these aren't really Thanksgiving or Hungarian traditions at all, but I guess in our world of newlywed bliss anything can be a new tradition!
Over the weekend, I read a book by my favorite author, Jonathan Safran Foer, and I have been thinking about it all week. It is called "Eating Animals," and I HIGHLY recommend that you put it on your Christmas list. It made me extremely proud to be a vegetarian-- which I have been now for almost 6 years! It also made me realize how much the environment is going to depend on people really evaluating their food in the next few years. We simply cannot continue being so irresponsible. The book also argues that all animals deserve a good life--why would I cruelly slaughter a chicken or kill a fish when I would never want Gringo to endure such a fate?
Finally, the book made Branch and me re-evaluate our pescetarian stance (which Branch had been reconsidering over the last few months anyway.) After thinking morally about the fish, the environment, and the nasty lice that infests fishery farms, we have decided to be strictly vegetarian. (There are other reasons, but Branch doesn't want me to preach...) In addition, I am posing a challenge that after the New Year we try being Vegan for one month. I really don't think that we could do it full time (I do love cheese!!), but I wonder what it would be like. This reminds me of my friend Erin, who is not vegan, but loves a good challenge. To date, she is still looking for someone who will enter the "5 foods contest" with her (you pick five foods and see how long you can go)...and as much as I love competition, I have decided that I would hate to be in one with her.
So to sum up, I hope you had a great thanksgiving--but next year, consider making a pumpkin the staple (and symbolic) dish at your table rather than the poor turkey!
You can get your copy of Eating Animals here:
Or learn more about this book at the official website.
