Traditionally in the U.S., tofu was eaten by vegetarians as a protein substitute for meat. It was generally served plain, in large chunks completely devoid of flavor.

Just look in the produce section of your grocery store and you'll see an array of tofu products: plain or flavored tofu in a variety of textures, tofu burgers and sausages, even custard-like desserts.

I lived and breathed tofu and other soy products while developing the recipes for both books. Several years later, I am still cooking with it because I firmly believe in its health benefits and because it is cheap and so easy to add to any dish. At the age of 61, I feel and look great (so I'm told!), have good bone density, and enjoy general good health. Genes play a part, no doubt, but I can't help but give some credit to my soy-rich diet.

Vegetarians are cool. All I eat are vegetarians--except for the occasional mountain lion steak.

The soup is never eaten as hot as it was served.

We need a better way to talk about eating animals. We need a way that brings meat to the center of public discussion in the same way it is often at the center of our plates. This doesn't require that we pretend we are going to have a collective agreement. However strong our intuitions are about what's right for us personally and even about what's right for others, we all know in advance that our positions will clash with those of our neighbors. What do we do with that most inevitable reality? Drop the conversation, or find a way to reframe it?