When I first became a vegetarian, I heavily relied on imitation meats, especially packaged veggie burgers, bac’un, and chick’un. I also relied heavily on egg and cheese because I didn’t want to waste away to the point where the autumn wind would blow me away.

I know now that my understanding of what I needed for my body to be healthy sans animal products was super limited. Thankfully throughout the years I have learned so much more about how to fulfill my body’s nutritional needs with whole foods. More on this topic coming in future posts.

That isn’t to say I don’t love to cook with easy to use, packaged ingredients sometimes. Especially when I have two hooligans running around the house whose mission it is to make sure I do not let them die. So, on those weeknights when I just don’t have the energy to make something fancy, but still want to FEEL fancy (coz after a long day of teaching I often look like the image below and I need to feel a little better about myself before I go into a downward spiral of self loathing and depression), I make something like this.

My husband thinks it’s great (and hopefully it distracts from my disheveled appearance) and the kids love it too! Well, one kid loved ALL of it, the little one just doesn’t get quinoa yet. But he loved the mock duck! And he WILL love quinoa one day too!

In China, you can check out Taobao for Mock Smoked Duck or Goose and in the USA you can use the canned mock duck found at Asian supermarkets if you can’t find frozen.

Orange Glazed Mock Duck

Quinoa with Sautéed Kale and Almonds