| Vegetarian
cookbook from Great Love TV |
 |
Translated by Mike T. Lee
June 16, 2002
Chinese
Version
Healthy, environmentally conscientious,
compassionate, and delicious!
Born and raised in the Philippines, Yang Pi-fen
is a Tzu Chi volunteer who enjoys travel and fine dining. She
has been a vegetarian ever since she took refuge with Venerable
Master Cheng Yen four years ago. Now she creates meatless versions
of delicacies from all over the world and presents them to the
live audience of "Modern Vegetarians" on the Great
Love television channel.
With an academic background in art, she lets
her creativity flow with vegetables of the season. Since she
has been very well received by television viewers, the Still
Thoughts Cultural Publishing Company has gathered a collection
of her recipes into a cookbook called Modern Vegetarians-Western
Cuisine. The book is divided into five chapters: salads, pastry,
soups, entrees, and desserts.
Spare the animals
During the introduction and signing of Modern Vegetarians-Western
Cuisine on June 14, Yang would first ask her readers, "Are
you vegetarian?" If the readers were not vegetarian, she
would humorously write in the book, "Give them a break!
Spare them!" in reference to the animals. She would then
draw a small horned demon alongside the message, bringing smiles
to her readers.
Yang was a well-known culinary artist in her
native Philippines. She often appeared on television to share
her recipes and wrote articles for magazines and newspapers.
Specializing in Western delicacies and desserts, she was most
famous for her cakes.
A new beginning
Yang recalled her ways before she joined Tzu Chi and became
a vegetarian: "Whenever I had parties or feasts, I would
roast an entire cow. For a small gathering, I would cook a pig.
My menu for my guests included all flying fowls and crawling
creatures."
During a visit to Taiwan 1998, Yang and her
family became acquainted with Tzu Chi. It was then that she
took refuge with Venerable Master Cheng Yen. After enjoying
her first bowl of vegetarian noodles at the Abode of Still Thoughts,
she never ate meat again. Her friends and family were in awe.
A healthy way of living for all
Within the next four years, Yang's health improved significantly
as a vegetarian. "I used to catch colds frequently, and
I would cough for a month or two. Now, I rarely get sick anymore."
She attributes vegetarianism as a way to compassionately
take care of other living beings and ourselves. "When animals
are being killed, their bodies produce toxins triggered by their
intense terror. When we eat their meat, we also eat these toxins.
Therefore, by being vegetarian, not only do we avoid killing
other lives, we also save our own." She pointed out that
even her daughter has become a vegetarian.
How to get your copy of Modern Vegetarians
Yang's vegetarian recipes emphasize natural flavor. As a
result, the exotic dishes in this cookbook are simple, nutritious,
and easy to prepare. Without a doubt, the book will bring unique
and exquisite culinary experiences to everyone.
Modern Vegetarian-Western Cuisine
Available at all Tzu Chi branch offices and contact offices
Readers Service Hotline: (+886) 02-2776-0111 Extension 2103
