Help me, vegans!

[thefourthvine]

Because of my baby's suspected dairy allergy, I have joined the ranks of the more-or-less vegan. (I can actually still eat eggs, but they aren't a huge part of my diet anyway.) And, see, I've been a vegetarian since I was ten. I know how to be a vegetarian! It doesn't require thought or effort! Whereas this veganism thing is very new and very, very hard.

Normally I'd just hit Google and research the shit out of this. But, well, I have a four-month-old baby. I don't have time to make out with Google the way I used to. So I am hoping to use the friends list shortcut - that there are vegans on my friends list who might have advice for me. Or, I guess, people on my friends list who aren't vegan but just love to Google.

Basically, here's what I need to know:

1. What are the basics of a vegan pantry? What are the special things that vegans keep around all the time, that make cooking or meals easier?
   
   
2. What are really good vegan products?
   
   
3. What are some good vegan recipes? Right now I'm relying much too heavily on fake meat, and that is not how I like to cook or eat. At least, not this much. I might as well be a carnivore! So - recipes? I especially need ones for balanced meals that are super-fast or that I can make in a crockpot. Suggestions of cookbooks featuring these things would also be very welcome.

Help? Please? Anyone? I will take links or comments or just supportive pats. I am experiencing involuntary dietary change and it's very scary!

Comments

[eleveninches.livejournal.com]

Here's a couple of my tried-and-true recipes:

Chickpea potato curry (http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/005108chickpea_potato_curry.php)
Lentil soup for people who thought they hated lentils (http://www.recipezaar.com/99564)
Bean burritos (http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2008/03/black-bean-burritos.html)
Roasted eggplant and tomato panino (http://veganyumyum.com/2007/01/roasted-eggplant-and-tomato-panino/) (I eat it with guacamole as a spread)

I eat a lot of curries (vegetables, chickpeas or lentils or tofu, curry powder, garlic, onions), hummus, corn tortilla chips, and pasta with red sauce and tons of veggies. Soy milk is a must; Silk and Soy Dream are the two I usually drink. Almond milk, if you can find it, is also great. I don't really eat a lot of fake meat products, mostly because I'm cheap and don't want to pay for them, but a lot of vegan recipes are full of lentils, nuts, beans, etc. You could also drink a glass of soy milk on the side if your meal needs more protein.

The only time being a vegan sucks is when you go out to eat, in which case I usually just order vegetarian and deal with the tummy ache later. :P