The KInd Life Community Forum
Use this space to share stories, exchange ideas, ask questions, and contribute to our growing community!
Dairy the temptress, getting back on track
Started
by Bee
on January 21, 2013
I'm not trying to go vegan but I am trying to eat "kinder" for many reasons. I find I eat nearly no red meat but some fish and chicken. I feel I can get to a place were I won't 'want' those meats anymore - but it may be a while. But dairy, oh the good stuff: cheese, milk, butter! I have not been able to have much of it since my late teens, it will hurt my stomach. But giving it up has been very difficult. I'd love to know what yummy alternatives people have for some foods I will list. They are foods I frequent right now but would like to find a good dairy-free alternative to them.
Here are the foods I find lure me back
- cheese snack crackers
- cheese pizza
- mac & cheese
Those are my faves and I find them hard to get away from (I think they follow me! LOL) I think if I can find some yummy foods to replace those I will be on my way to a kinder manner of eating for my health.
Here is a recipe I use for mac n cheese. My biggest hurdles are also cheese pizza and mac n cheese. I made this recipe for my sisters and parents who aren't vegan and they completely loved it. My dad even went back for seconds. It's soooo delish. I hope you enjoy it :-) As for the pizza dilemma, I usually get pizza from Whole Foods at the pizza counter. They always have a vegan one made and it's such a great alternative.
A box of shells
1/4 c. Earth Balance butter substitute
3 tbsp. flour
1/8 tsp. dry mustard
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
2 cups soy or almond milk (I use almond)
2 cups of vegan cheese (I highly recommend using Daiya. It's really the only acceptable vegan cheese. I would do 1 c. chedder style and 1 c. pepperjack)
1 c. croutons (I usually toast 2 pieces of pumpernickle and 2 pieces of sourdough. It gives the best flavor)
Cook pasta, drain, set aside
Preheat oven to 350
In saucepan, melt Earth Balance, blend in flour, mustard, S&P
Cook until mixture is smooth and bubbly, then gradually add milk
Continue stirring until well blended
Gradually add in the cheese and keep stirring until melted (at this step, I usually add in 1/2 c. of nutritional yeast, which you can get in the bulk bins at Whole Foods. It gives a good nutty flavor)
Mix sauce with pasta in large glass cake pan. Sometimes I make two batches of the sauce if I find that I have more pasta than the first batch of sauce.
Top with croutons/chunks of toast
Bake for 25 minutes
Then become vegan :-)
Oh my gosh, thank you so much Meredith and Diana! That IS a simple recipe I know I can try at home for sure :) And I had no idea Whole Foods had a 'vegan' version of pizza, I will have to try that soon. And Diana, thank you for a yummy sounding dairy-free alternative to cheesy snack crackers. It's nice to hear from others on what they cook or try and what tastes good.
Also try Chef Chloe's recipe for vegan mac and cheese too! But definitely add sautéed onions and garlic.
Also try Chef Chloe's recipe for vegan mac and cheese too! But definitely add sautéed onions and garlic.
I understand cheese is my weakness any kind. I will be completely animal free for weeks/months at a time & then there she is CHEESE. Hope you find a subsitute you like.
Cheese was the hardest thing for us as well and we have slipped now and then.
I have a great recipe for a cheese free lasagna that uses cashews instead.
We haven't missed milk at all and are very happy with the various alternatives available.
As for butter Earth Balance whipped buttery spread tastes like butter even when used on popcorn.
There are great yogurt and ice cream alternatives our favs being coconut milk based.
Yes! Earth Balance is Awesome! The Rice Dream Pies satisfy my ice cream addiction. The almond & rice milks are not bad either. Good Luck!
9 Comments