The Things That Divide Us
The culinary camps have become so balkanized that some factions consider interdietary dating taboo. ~The New York Times
It was encouraging to find that fasting restrictions were not as off-putting to the dietary isolationists (if we can call them that) as other reasons. Among the couples I have known, the woman’s dietary preferences have won out pretty much every time, especially when it is a case of ethically-inspired veganism. After lenten seasons, I have had enough quasi-veganism to last me a long time, so I always marvel at other Orthodox who are vegan or vegetarian year-round.
As someone who was all but vegetarian, became a regular meat eater via marriage, and later was chrismated in an Eastern church, I can say it is much easier to not eat meat year round than to avoid it at prescribed times. I’m assuming its the same for regular vegans. But even the most upright vegan can’t escape the no oil strict fasts, which force all to change their ways.
Last year Dreher (via Bittman, via some baker in New York) alerted me to a no oil no egg no knead bread recipe without which I’d starve during the Great Fast. It also happens to make just about the best bread you’ve ever had and even a kitchen illiterate (according to my wife, I contest the charge) such as myself can make it.