becoming a vegetarian helped me quit smoking because i didn't believe i could quit smoking, a belief that was easier to readjust once i lost the cravings for meat
hardest for me becoming veggie was giving up gravy. friends of library had book sale found 'the vegetarian gourmet cookbook' by paul southey and this great recipe for brown sauce which i found more satisfying than the best gravy:

Brown Sauce

serves 4

calories per portion: 140 [590 kilojoules]

 protein 3.5 grams

prep + cook: 30 minutes


1 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons olive oil or sunflower oil
2 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
1-2 tablespoons wholewheat flour
1 1/4 cups brown vegetable stock
a pinch of dried thyme
bay leaf 1/4 cup red wine
1 teaspoon brewer's yeast 
salt 
freshly ground pepper

Fry the onion in the oil until golden brown; add the tomatoes and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until all the liquid has evaporated and they have started to brown. Sprinkle on the over the flour, stir it well, then pour on the stock and bring to a boil, stirring all the time  until the sauce thickens. Add the thyme, bay leaf, red wine and brewer's yeast and simmer the sauce for 20 minutes,stirring occasionally. Strain into clean pan, adjust the seasoning, reheat and serve.



the book has 4 more additions / variations to the brown sauce: mushroom sauce, paprika sauce, madeira sauce and piquant sauce



the recipes are really good, but the photographs of  the fresh produce, grains  and completed dinners set in elegant yet relaxed outdoor settings are worth the price of the book themselves. see for yourself !




http://www.iherb.com/Better-Than-Bouillon-Vegetarian-No-Chicken-Base-8-oz-227-g/31936?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&gclid=CKee5faZnrkCFcyY4AodqjUAKQ



http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0890096902/ref=tmm_hrd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&sr=&qid=