Re: good luck, but beware...
eXodus said:
as far as recipes and food options though you better not like flavor.
Oh, I disagree plenty on this point. There is a specific range of flavors you don't get as a vegan, it's true: the flavors of meat are pretty much unapproachable through vegetable sources.
However, if veganism inspires you to cook, it may inspire you to learn a whole repertoire of flavors that you won't encounter in down-home cooking. A lot of meat dishes rely on the meat as the primary source of flavor; in contrast, a lot of vegan dishes rely on fresh fruits and vegetables, aromatics (such as ginger, garlic, pepper, and onions), and herbs and spices for their flavors.
It's true that a good chef with access to meat has access to a broader flavor palette than a good chef without access to meat. However, in my experience, the average vegan meal has more complex flavors than the average meat-based meal.
eXodus, I'd be interested in your trying my tofu-kale recipe from the first page and then providing me your feedback. Here are the strong flavors that dish includes:
-Ginger
-Garlic
-Red peppers
-Toasted Sesame Oil
-Roast peanuts
-Tamari
And these are the mild flavors in the dish:
-Brown rice
-Tofu
-Olive Oil
-Kale (almost a strong flavor)
I'd say that flavorwise, it compares favorably to a steak-and-potatoes meal, and can hold its own against many a fancier meat dish.
Daniel