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Need help transitioning dairy out of my diet.
Started
by Leighanne Gill
on April 13, 2010
I need some advice on eliminating dairy from my diet. I live in Wisconsin and love cheese. I haven't met a cheese I didn't like. Milk and eggs are no problem. I don't really care for them that much anyway but cheese....... I don't know if I can do it. I have a vegan friend who is from Wisconsin as well and stated there is no vegan cheese that tastes good. I'm hoping there is a newer product out there that maybe she hasn't tried. The cheeses I typically use are cream cheese, parmesan, sharp cheddar, and feta. Also I love making my own alfredo with heavy whipping cream, parmesan cheese and butter. I found earth balance's butter substitiute. Does anyone have a good substitute recipe for alfredo?
I can relate, I haven't had any issues cutting out milk or eggs but when it comes to cheese...thats a whole different story! I found a cheese that a really like by a brand called Lisanatti (lisanattifoods.com) It's made with an almond base. I have only tried the pepper-jack but I think it tastes great, even just to eat plain! For a cream cheese alternative I really like Tofutti...for me it took a little getting used to but put it on a whole wheat bagel and it's fantastic! 
I know this sounds weird, but for some reason i find mashed avocados or hummus as a good cheese substitute. I saw in the book the idea to mash avocados over a piece of toasted bread and top with sauerkraut and a sprinkle of paprika. Yummo! I just focused on finding other creamy nutty tasting things i loved rather than an actual fake cheese. However, I do have to say, Daiya is the best by far I've tried and I love that on vegan pizzas! As a treat tho, not for every day.
Good luck
I made a tasty alfredo by putting silken tofu, rice milk, nutritional yeast, Earth Balance, garlic and spices to taste in a blender and then simmering on a stovetop. Mine turned out great albeit a little more mild spice-wise, so be careful about going too heavy on salt. But it satisfied my creamy craving. I can't remember any measurements (I'm a pinch of this/that kind of cook, lol) but if you google vegan alfredo, I'm sure you can find some that are similar. Good luck, I know how hard it is to kick the cheese!
Thank goodness! What a relief to know I'm not the only one with a cheese addiction!! As you all said, milk and eggs are pretty easy but the cheese is tough....I never realized how much cheese I ate until I started preparing food without it!!
Jill B. that alfredo recipe sounds great and I can relate to the "creamy craving".
Suzy, I'll have to try substituting other things as you said...hummus, avacado....
I'll keep my fingers crossed for all of us. Thanks so much for the tips!!
Susan
Dr. Cow cheese for snacking and cream cheese!!!! Invite your vegan friend over for some and she will flip.
http://www.dr-cow.com/
I just checked the website and they have it here: Vegan Essentials, 1701 Pearl St. Waukesha
They also do overnight shipping, if you aren't close by.
For Grilled Cheese Creamy'ness... A friend told me of this, and my whole family LOVES it...
Mix one part Hummus to one part mashed canned black beans.. Then mix with Garlic salt, and any other seasoning you like.
Use Earthbalance butter for your bread, and then put a layer of your beany mix on the bread and make like you would grilled cheese. Its just as creamy and is sooo yummy!
For Everything cream cheese, we use Tofutti. I've made everything from Spinach Dip, to cream cheese frosting with that stuff.
And for Creamy Pastas which used to be my weakness, I have several....
If you need a ricotta'ish cheese consistency for things like Lasagna or Baked Ziti - just put a block of firm (drained) tofu in the blender or food processor, with a little lemon juice, garlic salt, parsley, basil, garlic clove, and agave nectar squirt. mash only till it is ricotta'ish. Then mix with your Spaghetti Sauce.
For Alfredo'ish Recipes, I have a Soaked Raw Cashew Recipe and one with White Navy Canned Beans...
Both are equally as good and require a blender or food processor. Of course the Raw one is better for you :-) Choose which would be your base, then add Garlic, Italian Seasoning, Lemon Juice, Agave Nectar (or other sweetner), little bit of onion... then mix mix mash mash...
You basically add all your favorite spices/seasonings, or leave it plain.
Hope that helps....
I had heard this too, but I made a pizza with 'follow your heart' mozzarella style soy cheese and it was so good. Nothing will ever have that addictive quality, but so many things are really good on their own. you guys aren't weird for feeling addicted to cheese. It is actually chemically addictive. it contains the highest levels of casomorphins which are like weaker morphine. the mother produces this in her milk to get her baby to bond and drink the milk. This is concentrated in cheese. The cravings subside after a while and their are a lot of things that can replace it, like all the suggestions people have given.
I was going to ask about ricotta chees and mozzarella as I am making a spinach lasange.
And here is was posted by Vegmom & Claire. THANKS!
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