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

[weirdnessmagnet.livejournal.com]

No real advice, sorry, but a lot of sympathy and faith in the f-list. For the f-list is wise and knows of such things.

[adjectivegirl.livejournal.com]

*swallows bit of pepperoni*

I'm not the person to ask about veganism, but good luck!

[sevenfists.livejournal.com]

My favorite vegan cookbook is Vegan With A Vengeance (http://www.theppk.com/veganwithavengeance.html) -- and if you poke around the website, there are some good recipes that aren't in the book. I've also found All Recipes (http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Everyday-Cooking/Vegetarian/Main.aspx) to be surprisingly helpful resource. Good luck!

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

vegsource.com is a great vegan resource. Start there!

(I am noting the irony of you going vegan as the result of breastfeeding and me going back to being a carnivore because of breastfeeding. Bodies are weird!)

Slow cooker recipes (http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/slow-cooker-recipes.php).

Another favorite, couscous burritos. (http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=5921.0)

[kouredios.livejournal.com]

It's not exactly what you asked for, but this link from kellymom might be useful: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/vegetarian.html

[monroe-nell.livejournal.com]

All I know is that you can apparently substitute bananas for eggs (one to one) for pancakes?

[j00j.livejournal.com]

I have referred a vegan friend (who is an avid and talented cook) to you-- hopefully she'll have a minute to drop by and share some info. Like you, I know how to be vegetarian and incidentally cook some vegan stuff, but I don't know all the ins and outs of veganness.

In the meantime, a few things I'm aware of:
the magical loaf studio (http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html) assists you in making a vegan dinner loaf with ingredients of your choice. It is fun and makes tasty loaves.

I haven't used this site much, but it looks good: http://www.theppk.com/recipes/

ditto this one http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/

You could also check out the vegan cooking lj community: http://community.livejournal.com/vegancooking

[heuradys.livejournal.com]

I'm not a vegan, but I've cut a lot of meat out of my diet while working on weight loss. This blog's been quite helpful: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/ and there is a RSS feed for it on LJ: http://syndicated.livejournal.com/fatfreeveganblg/profile It also has pretty pictures. *g*

[vsee.livejournal.com]

So, this isn't so practical, but I'm sure there are times you crave some dessert. I am not a vegan myself, or even a vegetarian at the moment, though I have been at different times. And yet, this is a treat that I come back to over and over. You can adjust the amount of chocolate and sweetner to your own taste, and it's got a big punch of protein.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse (http://vegetariancuisine.suite101.com/article.cfm/vegan_chocolate_mousse)

I got addicted to this because they make it at a grocery store deli where I live. They use brown rice syrup rather than maple syrup as their sweetner.

Sorry to hear of the allergy struggles with the kiddo. Hope that comes out OK for everyone. I've heard of young babies getting past a dairy allergy. *crosses fingers for all concerned*

[zillah975]

I have absolutely no idea, and I would fear sending you to links with questionable reliability, or with recommendations for dietary stuff that wouldn't be good for you or the baby. But could your doctor(s) refer you to a nutritionist who could help? I mean, if this is to deal with your baby's allergy, surely that would fall under necessary medical assistance. *hopes*

[leucocrystal]

Worth noting now, for future reference in the life of the earthling: the dairy allergy has a good chance of passing! I was really sensitive to dairy as a baby, apparently (I pretty much avoided anything dairy altogether until about kindergarten), and then suddenly... I was fine! I now probably consume more milk than three people do in one day, on average. Weird, yes, but you never know!

[rokeon.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend the Veganomicon (http://www.amazon.com/Veganomicon-Ultimate-Isa-Chandra-Moskowitz/dp/156924264X/)- fantastic recipes and one of the intro chapters is all about stocking the vegan pantry. (I would quote some of it here, but I don't have my copy with me right now.) vegancooking has lots of good recipes and info, including a cookbook rec post here. (http://community.livejournal.com/vegancooking/2713054.html)

[gritkitty.livejournal.com]

No help - actually, your post is helping me with my recently meat-free teen, but I'm cheering for you. Good luck! Your earthling's got a great mothership!

[obsessed1.livejournal.com]

I'm not parent, a veggie or a vegan, but this website (http://www.babyfit.com/) is a reliable source for nutrition and parenthood issues. I use the main company's website (sparkpeople.com) for general fitness and lifestyle help, and they really do hire people who know what they're doing. They have a couple of "mommyteams" (support group/mutual cheerleaders) for parents with baby allergies, it looks like, too. There's also a whole section for vegetarian recipes, complete with nutritional information.

From this article: (http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=574)

Try tofu, soymilk, soy cheese, and soy yogurt in recipes that call for dairy products. Crumbled tofu can take the place of ricotta cheese in lasagna. To make buttermilk, mix 1 cup soy milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Use soymilk when making cream sauces and mashed potatoes. Enjoy a thick, creamy fruit smoothie for breakfast or a snack. You can also blend the fruit with soft tofu, soymilk or juice.

When cooking for a vegan, read labels carefully. Not all soy-based products are devoid of milk derivatives (like casein, whey, etc). Some companies save you time by printing the word "Vegan" at the very beginning or end of the ingredients list. The same goes for vegetarians. Don't assume the can of vegetable soup is vegetarian-many dishes like this have beef, chicken, or fish-based broths.

I hope some of this helps?

[cereta.livejournal.com]

I can but offer supportive pats!

[celli]

I give you hugs and sympathy.

*does so*

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

No advice, but many pets for y'all. *also passes wine*

Not a vegan, just a vegetarian with occasional cheese issues

[omnia-mutantur.livejournal.com]

Veganomicon is a fun cookbook, as is Sarah Kramer's body of work. I've also had some luck with http://www.theppk.com/recipes/

Rice and beany sort of dishes or whole wheat pastas with peanut sauce are the first things that spring to mind as sort of easy and dairyless, but if you can give me hints as to what you like in your food (are you a tofu or a seitan kind of vegetarian? do you like chickpeas or lentils or those alarming mystery beans in the whole foods bulk bins? Do you need to be able to prepare in three minutes with the power of your mind alone or can you spend a little time in the kitchen) I could probably be more helpful.

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

My baby had the same thing, and I'm a vegetarian too! When she was first diagnosed, I was warned that soy and dairy allergies often go together, so I had to cut out soy too. Some whining here, with many suggestions in comments: http://rivkat.livejournal.com/162965.html?format=light

I ate a lot of hummus. Also hard-boiled eggs and homemade egg salad (recently it's become a lot easier to get soy-free mayonnaise, at least in my local supermarket), but if you don't like eggs that won't be much help. Once I could do soy, there was a lot more sushi, but even without soy veggie sushi is pretty good. Pasta with grilled vegetables in olive oil. Canned chickpeas, to make all kinds of chickpea salads. Black bean salad with cubed avocado, red pepper, corn, grilled onions, etc.

And side note: after a few months, I tried goat's milk, and she tolerated that fine--a fair number of kids with cow's milk intolerance can have goat's milk, though not the majority. I ate a lot of goat yogurt and goat cheese; they even make goat cheddar and mozzarella these days.

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

I've always liked The Lazy Vegan (http://home.earthlink.net/~kimcof/lazyvegan.htm), which includes a master shopping list (http://home.earthlink.net/~kimcof/mastershoplist.html) that might help you out.

I'm a lazy omnivore, but I do have some good vegan cookbooks and such around; I think most of them are less quick-food friendly than you will be needing, though.

[smittywing.livejournal.com]

I dated a vegan once! His webpage with recipes. (http://www.boutell.com/vegetarian/) I have not tried them all personally, but as a non-vegan, I ate everything he ever cooked for me and had no complaints. If you have any questions for him, just tell him I sent you - it's all cool. He read my slashfic and everything. ;)

Edited to fix html error.

[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

[marag.livejournal.com]

Remember that any product that is certified kosher pareve is guaranteed to be dairy-free, including things like casein and whey.

You can check if a product is pareve by looking for the symbol (commonly a U in a circle or a K in a star/circle/triangle/etc). If that symbol appears by itself, the product is pareve. If it has a D or says dairy, then, well, that's obvious. In a few rare cases, it might say meat, but you won't see many products like that in a regular grocery store.

(Oh, if it has a P, that does *not* necessarily mean its pareve, it means it's kosher for Passover.)

This website (http://www.kashrut.com/agencies/) shows all (or at least most) of the trademarked symbols that show a product is kosher. You won't ever see most of these, but they'll give you an idea what to look for.

There are a ton of products out there that are pareve. I know this, because I buy them all the time :) Once you start looking, you'll be surprised at how many products you can buy with confidence.

[eponis.livejournal.com]

Not a vegan, but I've cooked for them (or just cooked vegan for economic/environmental reasons) a fair amount. My big suggestion is to try to expand beyond American definitions of a meal (i.e. Big Slab of Protein). The fundamental problem is that it's hard to find vegan protein sources that are inherently as tasty as things like cheese. The solution is to explore the ways that other cultures have integrated their proteins with other fabulous flavors. Things like Indian dahl (lentil curry), North African chickpea stews, and Chinese tofu stirfries all have major sources of protein in them, and they're super-flavorful to make up for the protein.

Along those lines, legumes are great. Lentils (brown, red, etc.) and dried peas (green, yellow, etc.) are cheap and relatively quick to make. I can look up a couple of my lentil soup recipes, if you'd like. I also recently posted a vegan recipe for garbanzo bean-tomato "paella" (http://eponis.livejournal.com/371108.html) that I really enjoyed.

[chaya.livejournal.com]

*many many pats*

You are much with the clever. I have faith in your adaptive abilities.