The Carnivore

I'm not really a meat and potatoes kind of girl. I never have been. Many years of my life I spent being a virtual vegan--no animal products at all. It was motivated by wanting to live a healthier life style but also about a conviction that we can solve world poverty if we just stop using so much land to raise cattle and instead use it to raise grains. At that time in my life I was putting in a lot of miles running and cycling and my body finally said, "Enough!" After a torn achilles, several torn hamstrings, and a serous come-to-Jesus-meeting by my physical therapist about needing more fats and proteins in my diet, I cast all noble thoughts of banishing world poverty aside, and I became a carnivore! Oh lovely meat, how I missed you so! Steak and potatoes, hot dogs with relish, chicken thighs with the fatty skin baked on! Quiches with sausage and breakfast burritos with chorizo and BLT's stacked high. Life as a carnivore was glorious.

After my plummeting fall off the wagon of vegetarianism and my rampage through the meat aisles at Whole Foods, the pendulum finally came to rest somewhere in the middle. I am now at peace with my meat-eating ways. I am no longer a vegetarian. But I also do not fill my plate daily with meat. But on occasion, not truly very often, I indulge. And when I indulge, I savor every last morsel.

So tonight, what's for dinner? Beef! My plate sits before me with a lovely grilled ribeye (Laura's lean, to pander to my healthy leanings), some slightly crispy roasted fingerling potatoes with olive oil, fresh dill, and sea salt, and a red leaf lettuce salad with red peppers, green onions, a sprinkle of goat cheese,  and anjou pear slices on top. Once again proving a balanced life is better! Better tasting, that is!

 Bon appetit!