Going Vegan

So, it's been a little while since I last blogged - but the important thing is that I'm back at it.

I've been spending a lot of time scrounging the Internet for vegetarian and vegan recipes, it certainly has come with it's ups and downs. Not to mention experimenting with vegan foods, and racing to my local libraries to pick up vegan living books. Unfortunately, I've discovered that, unless you live in an urban area with veg-friendly grocery stores and restaurants - many of the recipe books aren't designed for you.

For instance, I recently read, "The Kind Diet". Filled with awesome information about how you can save the planet, and supposedly eat great while doing it. I say supposedly, because most of the ingredients listed in this book aren't available at your local Wal-Mart or Target (which is essentially, all that's available to me). Especially the "exotic" ingredients, umeboshi plums and tamari - just to name a few. Not to mention Alicia's commentary on people who have gluten intolerances, she claims that a true intolerance (such as Celiacs) is extremely uncommon (which is why the majority of her recipes INCLUDE a gluten-based product). In reality, Celiacs is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions in this country - and if not Celiacs, a large portion of our population has a minor gluten or dairy intolerance (not that dairy is an issue if you're going vegan). The other aspect that bothers me is the guilt issue. Yes, I'm talking about the animals being taken to slaughter. While it is true that the top of the totem pole at the USDA and FDA could really give two hoots about the condition of the animals we eat, and are ultimately "in bed" with the major processors of animal meats in this country, the veganism movement needs to back off.

Essentially, it's like trying to convert someone to your religion, by pointing out all of the issues another has. Are there abuses that go on in slaughterhouses? Yes, unequivocably yes. Are the animals we eat often mutilated during processing? Yes. Are the conditions they live in - on factory farms - horrific? YES! However, what few of these authors seem willing to accept is that true organic, free range farms are respectful of the animals they produce for food. When butchering and processing those animals - they are ended in the most humane ways possible. Supporting those farmers, in many cases, can support your local economy - which is an AWESOME thing to do. However, standing on your soapbox, ultimately leads people to rebel, nevermind if what you're doing is for their benefit (in my case, especially, I went vegan for health).

Back to my discovery of vegan foods; the wondrous thing about the vegan lifestyle is that a grocery store can quickly become a risk-taking experience. Starting in produce. Have you ever wandered through the produce department and wondered how to prepare certain vegetables? That's the brilliance of veganism. It presents opportunities to try something new - for instance, I had never eaten bok choy before. Thankfully, do to the wonders of Twitter and Pinterest, I had boundless suggestions on how to cook it! Which, is delicious sauteed in a stir fry.

I found myself with a cart overflowing, a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, having lived in California for a short while, I desired west coast vegetation. Especially horned kiwi melons, and lychee seeds - seriously, if you ever have the opportunity to eat them, do it. What disgusts me about grocery shopping now, outside of walking through the meat department (because my partner still eats animal proteins), is the cost. Why is it, in this country, that you can have a cart FULL of Hamburger Helper, Wonder bread, and fried, frozen foods for a minimal amount - but can't get out of the store under 100.00 when you're focusing on fruits and veggies?

Anyway, I'd like to talk to you about a few awesome vegan foods - that I found locally (in my case, meaning under an hour away from my home). Let's start with Earth Balance Buttery Spread - it's dairy free, vegan margarine-esque spread. And, AWESOME. I sometimes feel like the Paula Deen of vegans - I freakin' love butter. Not to mention, so many beautiful cooked foods often contain it. I'm very picky when it comes to substitutions, and I won't lie to you about them. If it makes me gag, or tastes like bad nuts, I'm going to say it. However, this buttery spread is phenomenal. Your tastebuds won't know the difference - I'm not joking.

Moving onto Follow Your Heart's "Veganaise", which smells identically to Hellman's original mayonaise. It's taste is much less potent than it's non-vegan counterpart - and is an excellent addition to potato salad, sandwiches, whatever. In fact, I have an awesome potato salad recipe that I plan on adding to a future blog post (with pictures!).

Daiya vegan cheeses have been recommended to me on different occasions, I have to say this - raw, out of the bag Daiya, tastes like tree nuts that have gone sour. That being said, cooked Daiya, whether on tacos, pasta, anything you would normally put shredded cheese in - is decent. It's not going to mirror the exact taste of cheddar (in my case), but for now, it's closest I'm getting to dairy cheese.

What about you? Do you have any awesome suggestions for vegan swaps? What about cookbooks, blogs, or websites? I'm open to trying new foods, my only restriction is that they have to be readily available at average grocery stores. No Asian sea vegetables, no exotic roots/herbs/plants. Don't get me wrong - I would love to try them, they simply aren't available.