Vegan Practically

May was a tough month. Two days after Mother’s Day I lost my mum. Though she had some health issues, her passing was sudden and unexpected. We were making summer plans for July and thinking optimistically about what we might do for her 90th birthday at the end of this year. She and my dad had just moved into a condo because the house was no longer manageable for her from an accessibility perspective. She loved the condo so much, not once regretting the move.

My mother was a wonderful support for me and my projects. She subscribed to the blog and read all of my posts. Though not vegan herself, she has been a source of very many favourite recipes. Every time I visited she prepared old family favourites which she adapted to be vegan. And whenever there was a family occasion she brought Nora’s chocolate cake. Everyone loved it in that “you’d never know it’s vegan” way.

It’s my mother who introduced me to this Simple Vegan Pad Thai recipe that uses spiralized zucchini and rice noodles. I think we have made it on every visit since very shortly after I became vegan in 2011. First she would make it for me. Then over time I started making it for her. My Dad always did the spiralizing (and I suspect he will continue to do so once we can go back to eating it without crying).

She is also responsible for Firecracker Chickpea Meatballs. This recipe was actually my first experience with the Connoisseurs Veg, now one of my favourite vegan websites. Check out the website. Make the firecracker chickpea balls. Double the sauce.

My mother feasted on all-vegan Christmas dinners and ate vegan when we were together. She ate what I offered with great enthusiasm, and was not one to say “you’d never know it was vegan.” She valued good food and didn’t need to be surprised that it could be produced without animal products. I loved her for that and for so much more.

She was a dedicated reader of the blog. It is not easy to say good-bye to the people we love the most, and whose support helps to shape who we are. I can’t express how much I will miss her. I haven’t yet fully grasped the finality of her absence. I only got to make her Nora’s lasagna soup and fresh dinner rolls once.