Tomatoes and Struggles

I braved the Farmer's Market yesterday, and am I ever glad I did. I got some delicious, juicy, perfect organic beefsteak tomatoes that were everything summer is supposed to be. I always forget how delicious tomatoes are until I taste a perfect one! These are the kind of tomatoes you want to eat like an apple. I also scored some corn on the cob, Anaheim peppers, and some tomatillos.

look at those tomatoes!

I made a delicious vegan tomato tart and I loosely followed this recipe. I didn't use tofu for the cream filling. I made a cashew cheese, kind of like a cashew ricotta. It was my first time ever working with Phyllo dough. It felt good to try something new, and challange myself. Phyllo dough is extremely delicate, and I definitely broke a few layers, but it was easy to kind of make it all work. It seems like one of those things that practice will make perfect.

Before baking.

After baking!

I also didn't use any vegan butter between the layers, I just used some extra virgin olive oil very sparingly between the layers. I'm sure the more fat you use, the richer the dish, but I feel like it was plenty rich with the cashew cheese. I also got to use fresh picked by me basil from my newly acquired plant! This was really tasty, I really loved it. It was a great summertime dinner, and it's one of those dishes that's good warm, room temperature, and even cold.
I don't know what clicked in me, but I am all of a sudden so inspired in the kitchen. I guess I just had to push myself off the ledge.
I am still dealing with the dilemma of dealing with a non vegan at meal time. It's not just that he's a non vegan, it's also that he has the palate of a picky toddler who only will eat two things. I strongly feel that even if we were both vegan, or non vegan meal time would still be a struggle. He would rather eat top ramen than this tomato tart. Other than peas and carrots in his fried rice, and maybe some lettuce and tomato on a burger/sandwich, vegetables are not an option. Soup is out of the question. As in all soup. I've never met someone who flat out doesn't like soup. I could go on and on, but I think I've said enough  to make my point. I also struggle with the thoughtless way meat is eaten, with no appreciation for the fact that this was a life. It's  really hard to  bring it up, because it can easily escalate into an argument. I'm kind of coming to the conclusion that eating out or delivery/take-out is okay, and there are certain vegan meals I can cook that are okay, and other than that we eat separately. I imagine if you have kids you might be more used to this, but have you ever cooked something, and served it to someone, only to be able to sense how much they don't like it? As they sit there trying to take bites, and smile, not wince? It's painful, and I can't help it, I get offended. It's one of those lessons in not taking things personal, and I'm failing miserably. I've read blog posts, articles, and watched YouTube videos on vegan and non-vegan relationships. Some are for, some are against, and some seem to co exist beautifully, and others seem to struggle. I'm hoping to reach that point of beautiful compromise, and harmonious living. Actually, I'm hoping to create that one dish that makes all the light bulbs go off, and makes him go, why do I need meat, when I can eat like this! Until then, table for one please!
How do you deal with picky eaters, and meat eaters in your life?