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

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Rattlecatcher told me your pediatrician story, and I just wanted to comment to say, "BTDT." My (now-17-year-old) son would not take a bottle for love nor money. It was kind of hilarious. Babies are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for being. *g*

We were vegetarian for much of my son's baby hood and the things I learned to keep on hand were TVP "granules" - reconstituted in water, they at least added chewy texture to chili - and different kinds of tofu, esp. extra firm, which can be chopped and sauteed, or marinated in soy sauce and chopped and sauteed for quick stir fries with zucchini/yellow squash, fresh tomatoes, and asparagus (or whatever other vegetables you fancy).