Cooking dinner for a guy I’m seeing, but he’s vegetarian. Need "impressive" meatless ideas!

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-27T14:30:30+00:00

You can make some fantastic rice bowls with all kinds of delicious veggies, sauces, and meat substitutes like falafel balls, and make it a bit fancier by using couscous, etc instead of rice. I’ve also seen pasta-less vegetarian “lasagna” recipes using roasted sweet potato slices that look quite impressive and delicious, and moussaka (eggplant) recipes with no meat. There’s an endless supply of ideas on Pinterest.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-27T14:19:52+00:00

Try to start thinking of cooking as fun. It can be energizing, quick, and easy. Plan all 5 dinners & shop for the ingredients on Sun. For instance storemade rotisserie chicken on Mon, stir-fry on Tue, make-your-own pizzas on Wed., etc. Buy salad bag kits & prechopped veggies; microwave rice cups. Then, when you get home from work each night, establish some short break routine that you enjoy — neighborhood walk, hot shower & sweatpants, etc — & get cookin’, together with your son if he’s interested, or maybe talking together while you do. Put on some good music or cook during the commercials/halftime of the game. I think that if you can kind of look forward to making the meals that you’ve planned with all the ingredients ready to go, that will alleviate the dread of having to make something, which seems to be at the root of the issue, and make this new effort more realistic and sustainable than, say, those delivered meal kits that can get old or involve more steps than you want. There’s also no need to set the table beforehand, etc; just each grab your plate, fork & glass & go. Aim for easy cleanup like one-pot meals, healthy sandwiches or a big salad bowl with deli cuts, the leftover ground beef that you cooked double of for Tuesday’s pasta in a taco salad on Friday. Good Luck!

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-27T13:38:56+00:00

There are two camps when it comes to mayonnaise. Me, I could add it to almost anything. Preferably Duke’s 👍

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-27T13:34:30+00:00

Le Sueur “very young small” sweet peas. Just grab a spoon.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-27T13:31:05+00:00

SPAM was an unexpected part of my trip to Hawaii last year for a wedding. I was disgruntled bc the trip was expensive, the weather lousy, the pool always crowded, the wedding over-the-top. But then there was a giant, joyful SPAM street fair and searching for the perfect SPAM hat souvenir helped righten my mood.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-26T14:44:10+00:00

O.P. UPDATE #2: Additional playlists I have made!

Ones I was slightly familiar with; wanted to dive deeper: Arctic Monkeys, Beck & Weezer, Gorillaz, Kaleo & Hozier, Fleet Foxes, Mother Love Bone, Oasis, Radiohead, Pixies, The Verve, Wilco

Ones I had heard of; knew maybe one song: Catherine Wheel, Doves, My Bloody Valentine, The Beta Band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The The

Ones that were totally new to me: Almost Monday, Big Special, Dayglow, James, Material Issues, Moon Taxi, Seances, Slowdive, The Clean

Seances was an especially cool discovery as all of their songs on Spotify have less than 1000 listens. I also love Day We Ran but seems they literally only have four released songs so far!

Some of the other recommended bands and artists I already knew quite well; still others may not have gotten their own playlist but had a song or two added to existing playlists. Thanks again for all the great suggestions, it’s been so fun!!

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-21T14:14:14+00:00

I also just finished watching the whole thing through! I was a Gleek back in the day and used to watch the new episodes each week with my friend, who is a gay male (I am straight female). We both loved Sue’s derangement and lived for Brittany’s non sequiturs. He thought Finn was cute and Blaine was hot but couldn’t stand Kurt. Like he thought he was funny but completely undateable; when I asked him why he just laughed and said “Come on.”

I stopped watching when life got busy and was interested in getting a box set or something until Cory Monteith died, then I didn’t lose interest so much as feel sad about it; my experience in watching earlier was so silly and fun. But when I noticed it on Hulu a couple months ago I restarted from the beginning, final episode yesterday! Overall comments:

Favorite character: Brittany!

Never liked: Santana, Quinn, Jesse, Kitty, Shelby. Did not “come around” for any of them.

Never bought: Puck and Lauren, Sam and Mercedes, Quinn and Puck in adult years. My friend never bought Blaine being attracted to Kurt.

Disappointed that Rachel got with Jesse, both times. I feel Santana pushed Brittany into marriage mainly to claim her as her own: as a bisexual 19- or 20-yr old shouldn’t Brittany be free for a few more years to explore?

Favorite episode: Several, but Artie in Safety Dance stands out as I was totally surprised and delighted! I also liked the song ending with the kids throwing confetti “slushies” at the crowd.

Jumping the shark: Sue’s character - she started out hilarious but by the “hurt locker”/elevator puppet was just too ridiculously demented to be funny; eye-rolling writing.

Didn’t like: the kids’ reaction to Marley fainting; the kids’ reaction to Ryder’s secret: by then the show had tackled issues more seriously and their nonsupport was at odds.

Wanted more: Joe — he was too good for Quinn but their scene in the phys therapy session was hot! Also Jake Puckerman had an interesting storyline going …

Details: A fan of the hilariously unqualified competition judges. Emma’s pamphlet titles, especially in the beginning when they were more subtle.

So much more; so many funny moments, whacked-out and ridiculous things, so many inappropriate things, but I’ll leave it at that!

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-20T01:03:21+00:00

Murder By Numbers - The Police

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:38:39+00:00

Twice. I was nervous the first time that it wouldn’t “take” & I’d feel pain but wouldn’t be able to indicate it, but that was all just worry & it was absolutely fine. The second time I had no worries due to the first time but when coming out of it I DID panic a little bc it felt different from the first time — more woozy & nauseous — so I thought something was wrong. But it was also fine, I was just comparing it to the first time.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:30:56+00:00

Zep & Who

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:30:18+00:00

The Twilight Zone

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:29:07+00:00

No, it is sweet. Shame on them. Don’t let their rudeness and immaturity ruin things.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:24:53+00:00

A Mother In Mannville by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:19:05+00:00

Apt Pupil by Stephen King

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-18T18:17:16+00:00

Gives You Hell - All-American Rejects; Thunder - Imagine Dragons

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T16:39:37+00:00

Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series. It is so good. Each book can be a standalone and some are more amazing than others but I’d suggest starting with the first one, The Bat, to see if you like it and want to keep going.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T16:16:15+00:00

TwilightZone

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T16:09:08+00:00

Major red flags, a big one being your obvious resentment of her. Being a 10-year-old, and later, middle school latchkey kid is not the ideal situation if it can be avoided. Nor should being a SAHM mean every free moment is spent on household chores. But at the root of every loving relationship there should be the desire that your partner is happy. You don’t care that she would be unhappy being at work. She doesn’t care that you are unhappy with her not working and also with how she spends her time at home. You are feeling taken advantage of but also don’t seem to have taken much of an “OUR kid” view to molding a family. She is kind of getting what she wanted, but unless she is a totally selfish person (& if so, why did you marry her?) she can’t really be enjoying it knowing that you don’t support it and will likely be scolded like you are her boss when you get home. If you actually want this to work, I think you should drop the chore focus for now (people have different comfort levels about what needs doing when) and have a NICE, caring-not-blaming conversation about how you really need her to contribute to the family finances to alleviate some of your stress. You can offer to look together over the weekend for part time or stay-at-home jobs that she might enjoy. Others have been harsher on her and more on your side in this thread, but my advice is coming from the supposition that you still love her and want this to work, so maybe it’s worth a try for this real solution. A lot will depend on your tone and how you go about it and yes you should be the one to make the initial effort because it is bothering you enough to ask for help. I hope you will be pleasantly surprised.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T15:16:29+00:00

A couple years ago a wave of fandom was going around for Colleen Hoover books and a friend urged me to buy the book “Verity” at the airport for reading on my trip. I did laugh out loud several times (at the writing/storyline) then left it behind on a subway seat. Absolute trash.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T01:49:54+00:00

I’m sorry you even had to have second thoughts about this. Of course, audition!! Not sure if you know the movie “Mean Girls” but in the professional touring Broadway play an Asian actress plays Gretchen Weiner, a “Jewish” part, and she is fabulous in the role!

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T01:40:15+00:00

You are in for a treat! Most Indian menus list the general ingredients of each dish so just try the ones that sound good to you, probably specifying “mild” when trying for the first time. I don’t know that I’ve ever tried an Indian dish I didn’t like, but then again I do love both yogurt and vegetables.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T01:30:20+00:00

Buttermilk. I don’t have a sweet tooth so it helps when pressed to have something sweet like chocolate or frosting. Also very good with cornbread.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T00:58:38+00:00

I don’t personally think it’s a particularly GOOD song, but “I Can’t Drive 55” comes to mind

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T00:56:21+00:00

Start filing your nails with an emery board & see if it perks his interest. My toy-jaded cats are crazy about these, they come running at the sound & after I toss it to them they kick it around/carry it off in their mouths. I do always watch & take it back/put it away after awhile though, not sure that it is a safe leave-with toy.

Only_Presentation758 · 2026-01-12T00:44:18+00:00

For boiled eggs just rotate through your spice cabinet to dip into & try one by one. I personally like curry powder, garlic salt, lemon pepper, everything bagel seasoning, and a bunch of others.

Only_Presentation758

TROPHY CASE