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

[indywind]

I'm sure someone has said these higher up thread if you didn't already know them, but why not be repetive be repetitive?

The main things that come from animal-based products that aren't so easily available in plant products are protein, and to a lesser degree, fat. (Yes, fat is good for you (natural fats in moderation), especially when you're having high calorie requirement due to breatsfeeding.) Some vitaminerals too, but if you eat a variety of plant food and/or take a supplement, no worries.

Soy is the only plant food which is a complete protein all by itself. Besides the famous tofu, you can use soymilk, soyogurt, soy flour, and TVP crumbs (just mix in anything stewy) to add protein to your life. Or actual soybeans, which you can cook like any other dried beans in crock-pot stews. Most soy products also have useful amount of fat.

Next easiest way to get complete protein is grains+beans. Ideally in the same meal, but just during the same day will do. Thus: stew continaing both beans and rice, or containing beans and accompanied by bread. Or bean burritos, or bean nachos, or baked beans & corn-on-cob, or succotash, or bean-based patty 'burgers', or crackers/pita/corn chips & hummus, or falafel pita, or cuban black beans & rice, or lentil curry & rice, or pozole w/ beans, or whatever you think of.

Nuts are a source of complete protein, but they have more fat. Eat them too, in moderation.

For quick or unsupervised, I am a big fan of one-dish meals based on beans and assorted other stuff served over rice. Possibilities are almost infinite and can be adjusted to whatever you happen to have handy, or like the taste of--exact recipes not needed if you have a little cooking fu.