Man is it hard to find true vegan cheese. It's kind of an oxymoron, right? Vegans and cheese, even fake cheese, just don't mix. You see, one thing I have learned over the past couple of yearss is that "vegetarian" and "vegan" don't mean the same thing on food labels. Please do not roll your eyes, I think this is a common misconception! I also thought anything labeled "soy" when it came to fake meat was OK too. I was WAY wrong. As a side note, I recently came across another blog that had some in depth research on soy. I plan to share their perspective in a future blog entry, stay tuned.
Milk protein and eggs are commonly found in many vegetarian foods. I was surprised to find both of these ingredients in some of the popular soy meat substitutes. When I read a food label I always glance first at the bottom section where the common food allergies are listed and then I scan the actual ingredients. Casein is a milk protein that shows up in foods, sometimes even when they say dairy free.
Lactose free is another term that simply helps people who are lactose intolerant continue to enjoy some of their favorite, more popular foods, like ice cream and...cheese.
I think of all the foods that I have eliminated from my diet, I miss cheese the most. I love almost all kinds of cheese except for bleu. And I don't like the dressing either. Cheese just pairs well as a snack, with sparkling water, as a grilled sandwich, on crackers, with wine. I'm having the Pavlov response just thinking about it.
So in my adventure to find a substitute to curb my cravings, I've tried several vegan cheeses. Anything that comes in block form has not at all been close to slicing a slab of real cheese. In most cases, the taste is horrifying and I've spit it out. Dramatic, yes. Shock to the taste buds in not a good way, absolutely yes.
Sometimes the pre-cut slices of cheese that look like the packaged Kraft & Borden slices have been satisfying but they don't melt right. In the toaster oven the edges curl upward and the cheese gets crispy rather than melting down and then there is also no taste left. So I've asked myself, what's the point? If I can't taste it, I don't need it.
I stumbled upon Diaya shredded cheeses, vegan. Insert happy happy happy dance! For the most part, they taste great, melt and mimic real cheese. My favorite is the pepper jack. Next would be the mozzarella, and finally the cheddar version. The mozzarella is perfect because I can still make my 2nd favorite missed food...pizza. It has a stronger taste so just a little bit of sprinkled over veggies is all I need. I've also made vegan versions of baked ziti and lasagna with it that has also gotten family approval. Bonus. The cheddar is so-so and I don't buy it often. When you love real cheddar and sharp cheddar cheeses as much as I do, it's really, really hard to replace. No fault to Diaya, I hope they continue to refine the taste. So, Diaya gets a big shout out from me. They are awesome, and I really enjoy their shredded cheeses.
It's just nice to have an option. A good option. Fall is just around the corner and I am soooo looking forward to a grilled "cheese" sandwich and soup on those chilly days!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Kale Chips
At 9:30 tonight I decided to make kale chips. Wasting food drives me insane and the bunches of kale I had in my fridge were starting to wilt. Worried that it wasn't going to last much longer I thought, eh, why not make some kale chips real quick and now at 10:12 p.m. I am sitting here, munching on my baked goods alongside a can of ice cold seltzer. Despite the time, I am thoroughly enjoying my late night snack.
What you need:
1 bunch of kale (I like the curly leaf kind)
A tablespoon or two of olive oil
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
A couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast (this is optional, but is vegan and gives the kale chips a cheesy taste. It is quite good)
What you do:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
I needed one large and one medium cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper. You can use foil too. I prefer parchment paper.
Tear the kale into 2 inch pieces. I like to do mine a little larger where possible. Toss the kale with the olive oil. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper, give it a good stir and then sprinkle in a little more. I do this for even coverage. Mix in the nutritional yeast and continue to gently stir or fold the kale until it looks evenly covered with olive oil.
Put the kale on the baking sheets in a single layer - you can butt the pieces right up to each other because they shrink while cooking. Make the sure the kale pieces are lying as flat as possible.
I bake mine on the 2nd rack from the bottom. Bake for 16 - 17 minutes or until crispy. The recipe I used as a guide said 30 - 35 minutes which would have been entirely too long. Be careful not to over cook the kale. It should be crispy but still green.
Well, it's 10:24 and the kale chips have been polished off. Good night!
What you need:
1 bunch of kale (I like the curly leaf kind)
A tablespoon or two of olive oil
Sea Salt
Fresh Ground Pepper
A couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast (this is optional, but is vegan and gives the kale chips a cheesy taste. It is quite good)
What you do:
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
I needed one large and one medium cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper. You can use foil too. I prefer parchment paper.
Tear the kale into 2 inch pieces. I like to do mine a little larger where possible. Toss the kale with the olive oil. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper, give it a good stir and then sprinkle in a little more. I do this for even coverage. Mix in the nutritional yeast and continue to gently stir or fold the kale until it looks evenly covered with olive oil.
Put the kale on the baking sheets in a single layer - you can butt the pieces right up to each other because they shrink while cooking. Make the sure the kale pieces are lying as flat as possible.
I bake mine on the 2nd rack from the bottom. Bake for 16 - 17 minutes or until crispy. The recipe I used as a guide said 30 - 35 minutes which would have been entirely too long. Be careful not to over cook the kale. It should be crispy but still green.
Well, it's 10:24 and the kale chips have been polished off. Good night!
Friday, May 10, 2013
Mother's Day Weekend
Happy Mother's Day!
Tori told me last night she wanted to be a mommy when she grew up, "Just like you, Mom." I told her that was a great goal to have, and the most important and rewarding job she could pick. I told her that was my favorite job of all and that I loved taking care of her and her brother. She smiled and proceeded to scamper out of the room to go potty. Yep, good talk.
This mother's day Russ is in Singapore on business. It won't be the day of sleeping in, meals cooked (or rather take-out picked up), everything-done-for-mom-isn't-she-great day that I expected (or was looking forward to) as a family. Instead, my best friend is coming in to town to watch Tori and Will while I go get a facial, maybe run an errand or two, and we get to hang out. I get to care for and enjoy the children as I would on any other Sunday and that's all OK with me. When I realized Russ was going to be away I was initially really bummed...mostly because of the sleeping in part! Then my friend offered to come and we created what will be a really nice day. Life is full and that is what counts.
On Sunday morning when Tori wakes me up I will tell her it's Mother's Day and we will talk about all the fun things we are going to do that day. Then we'll probably go get Will and fill him in on the plans, admire his ridiculously cute toothless smile, wake up my friend, get breakfast and see where the day takes us. Well, it's taking me for a facial, but beyond that, the world is ours. What more could a mom ask for?
Tori told me last night she wanted to be a mommy when she grew up, "Just like you, Mom." I told her that was a great goal to have, and the most important and rewarding job she could pick. I told her that was my favorite job of all and that I loved taking care of her and her brother. She smiled and proceeded to scamper out of the room to go potty. Yep, good talk.
This mother's day Russ is in Singapore on business. It won't be the day of sleeping in, meals cooked (or rather take-out picked up), everything-done-for-mom-isn't-she-great day that I expected (or was looking forward to) as a family. Instead, my best friend is coming in to town to watch Tori and Will while I go get a facial, maybe run an errand or two, and we get to hang out. I get to care for and enjoy the children as I would on any other Sunday and that's all OK with me. When I realized Russ was going to be away I was initially really bummed...mostly because of the sleeping in part! Then my friend offered to come and we created what will be a really nice day. Life is full and that is what counts.
On Sunday morning when Tori wakes me up I will tell her it's Mother's Day and we will talk about all the fun things we are going to do that day. Then we'll probably go get Will and fill him in on the plans, admire his ridiculously cute toothless smile, wake up my friend, get breakfast and see where the day takes us. Well, it's taking me for a facial, but beyond that, the world is ours. What more could a mom ask for?
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Separation Anxiety
As in...mommy separation anxiety.
I work from home and since the birth of Will we decided a nanny would work best for our family. Someone who could take Tori to pre-school and pick her up, take the children to the park and on other excursions, play dates, errands if I need something. The goal was to imitate as much as an "office" environment as possible for me with my return to work.
Obviously, there are some things that are different simply because I work in the same place my children are being cared for. Tori is very well aware where I am during the day...three steps away from her playroom. While she doesn't interrupt my day very often, it is easy for the both of us to want the occasional middle-of-the-day reassurance that we're here for one another in the form of a hug & kiss or verbal acknowledgment that all is right with the world. I also need food & water, bathroom breaks, time to pump. All of these activities require me to leave my confined space and cross paths with the kids and their nanny.
The nanny is great. She is very good with the children, gives them what they need, is receptive to ideas and is their playmate. The problem is, I am not great. It is admittedly very challenging for me to sit here and listen to their giggles, the funny things that are said throughout the day, the pitter patter of Tori running the halls, her cries when she falls and bumps herself, and Will's cries when he is uncomfortable. No doubt I know they are being well-cared for but sometimes I still think (selfishly) that only I could do it better. When Will cries and I here his nanny carrying him for a nap, I instantly think...no, he's hungry or he needs a diaper change, a change of scenery or he just wants to be held and walked around. The hard thing is though, I am not standing there watching, I am only listening so none of my ideas are necessarily right, they are all just instinctive feelings. My own role play of the actions I would take to turn those cries into a smile. It's ridiculous. I know his nanny is going through all of the motions to make him happy. Babies sometimes just have uncomfortable days. I know this because if I think back to my maternity leave, Will cried when he was with me too. Tori fell and bumped herself, had tantrums and your run-of-the-mill 3 year old behavior, just the same when I was home with her. We giggled, we danced, we played. The only difference now is, I am in here and they are out there...with someone else, and it is not me, their mom.
On the flip side, I'm not ready to be a stay at home mom. There are some aspects to working that I need for my sanity. Like getting dressed. Or at least, out of pajamas. Talking to adults, keeping my career going without having to worry about re-entering the work force in a few years. Regular showers, breaks to go to the gym and even a little make-up. Peace and quiet.
It's a catch 22 for me. It really is because I would (I think) easily give up everything I just mentioned if I could have the opportunity to be home with them. And I grapple with what the right answer is almost every day. Russ still needs a wife, a clean showered wife, who isn't overwhelmed when he comes home from a long day at work. And I know for centuries mothers have stayed home full time with their kids, many with more than 2 kids, and it isn't as dramatic as I am making it sound. But this entry isn't about everyone else. It's about me. And I can tell you when I was home full time, I might have been meeting the needs of the children but I wasn't meeting my own needs very well, let alone Russ'. The best thing I do for myself is leave work at 6 p.m. and truly leave it until both of the kids are in bed if I have to absolutely return emails or catch up from a busy day. It's only a couple of hours a day that I get with Tori and Will and some of that time is spent on feeding them, doing laundry, whatever. I try to involve Tori in everything so she is by my side helping me or just plain keeping me company.
This is still a new schedule for us and I hope it gets easier and that I can adapt better as time goes on. The real problem is there is no true separation for me. I do not get in my car and drive away or bring them to a daycare and wave good-bye. I have begun to tune certain things out, listen to music at my desk and limit the times I leave my office to times when they are napping so I am not interrupting the nanny's flow either. I have to imagine it is an unusual situation for her too, but she seems to be doing better with it than I am. My heart hurts sometimes and I have never had that feeling before. It is a true heaviness that I am struggling to shake off.
I know this blog is intended to be about wellness and the adventures of becoming a vegan. Sometimes I have found that in the quest for overall wellness, it's more than the tangible things in life that can be or need to be changed. I am writing this to help myself find the balance that I need to bring more happiness into my life. And right now, more happiness means wanting to spend more time with my children. So how do I do it? I'll have to put more thought into it and let you know what I come up with because right now, I don't have the answer.
I work from home and since the birth of Will we decided a nanny would work best for our family. Someone who could take Tori to pre-school and pick her up, take the children to the park and on other excursions, play dates, errands if I need something. The goal was to imitate as much as an "office" environment as possible for me with my return to work.
Obviously, there are some things that are different simply because I work in the same place my children are being cared for. Tori is very well aware where I am during the day...three steps away from her playroom. While she doesn't interrupt my day very often, it is easy for the both of us to want the occasional middle-of-the-day reassurance that we're here for one another in the form of a hug & kiss or verbal acknowledgment that all is right with the world. I also need food & water, bathroom breaks, time to pump. All of these activities require me to leave my confined space and cross paths with the kids and their nanny.
The nanny is great. She is very good with the children, gives them what they need, is receptive to ideas and is their playmate. The problem is, I am not great. It is admittedly very challenging for me to sit here and listen to their giggles, the funny things that are said throughout the day, the pitter patter of Tori running the halls, her cries when she falls and bumps herself, and Will's cries when he is uncomfortable. No doubt I know they are being well-cared for but sometimes I still think (selfishly) that only I could do it better. When Will cries and I here his nanny carrying him for a nap, I instantly think...no, he's hungry or he needs a diaper change, a change of scenery or he just wants to be held and walked around. The hard thing is though, I am not standing there watching, I am only listening so none of my ideas are necessarily right, they are all just instinctive feelings. My own role play of the actions I would take to turn those cries into a smile. It's ridiculous. I know his nanny is going through all of the motions to make him happy. Babies sometimes just have uncomfortable days. I know this because if I think back to my maternity leave, Will cried when he was with me too. Tori fell and bumped herself, had tantrums and your run-of-the-mill 3 year old behavior, just the same when I was home with her. We giggled, we danced, we played. The only difference now is, I am in here and they are out there...with someone else, and it is not me, their mom.
On the flip side, I'm not ready to be a stay at home mom. There are some aspects to working that I need for my sanity. Like getting dressed. Or at least, out of pajamas. Talking to adults, keeping my career going without having to worry about re-entering the work force in a few years. Regular showers, breaks to go to the gym and even a little make-up. Peace and quiet.
It's a catch 22 for me. It really is because I would (I think) easily give up everything I just mentioned if I could have the opportunity to be home with them. And I grapple with what the right answer is almost every day. Russ still needs a wife, a clean showered wife, who isn't overwhelmed when he comes home from a long day at work. And I know for centuries mothers have stayed home full time with their kids, many with more than 2 kids, and it isn't as dramatic as I am making it sound. But this entry isn't about everyone else. It's about me. And I can tell you when I was home full time, I might have been meeting the needs of the children but I wasn't meeting my own needs very well, let alone Russ'. The best thing I do for myself is leave work at 6 p.m. and truly leave it until both of the kids are in bed if I have to absolutely return emails or catch up from a busy day. It's only a couple of hours a day that I get with Tori and Will and some of that time is spent on feeding them, doing laundry, whatever. I try to involve Tori in everything so she is by my side helping me or just plain keeping me company.
This is still a new schedule for us and I hope it gets easier and that I can adapt better as time goes on. The real problem is there is no true separation for me. I do not get in my car and drive away or bring them to a daycare and wave good-bye. I have begun to tune certain things out, listen to music at my desk and limit the times I leave my office to times when they are napping so I am not interrupting the nanny's flow either. I have to imagine it is an unusual situation for her too, but she seems to be doing better with it than I am. My heart hurts sometimes and I have never had that feeling before. It is a true heaviness that I am struggling to shake off.
I know this blog is intended to be about wellness and the adventures of becoming a vegan. Sometimes I have found that in the quest for overall wellness, it's more than the tangible things in life that can be or need to be changed. I am writing this to help myself find the balance that I need to bring more happiness into my life. And right now, more happiness means wanting to spend more time with my children. So how do I do it? I'll have to put more thought into it and let you know what I come up with because right now, I don't have the answer.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
I am 37 today. And I haven't written a post for my blog since 2011. That is about to change. Big times, as my daughter Tori would say.
Since 2011 a lot has happened. The events that stand out to me at this moment are: I had a baby boy named Will this past January, a major exacerbation which left me with extremely limited use and weakness in my legs for the better part of 2 months last summer, I discovered I love to swim and am equally excited about continuing to swim for my cardio workouts and general peace of mind, Tori began pre-school (!) last fall, I took an amazing vacation with my husband to Jamaica all the way back in November 2011 and I am still proudly vegan-ish. The -ish part is for fun since I do eat fish and the occasional egg!
I have been thinking a lot lately about sitting down and picking the blog back up. Writing was a good way for me to reflect and sort my thoughts on the things happening in my life. Although it's a bit of tunnel vision since I am writing within my own world, maybe some of the things I share can help others. We'll see.
For now, happy birthday to me as I tip back a small glass of wine since I am still on the clock. A short break never hurt anyone, and neither did a glass of wine.
Wow, am I really 37? Don't answer that. Cheers!
Since 2011 a lot has happened. The events that stand out to me at this moment are: I had a baby boy named Will this past January, a major exacerbation which left me with extremely limited use and weakness in my legs for the better part of 2 months last summer, I discovered I love to swim and am equally excited about continuing to swim for my cardio workouts and general peace of mind, Tori began pre-school (!) last fall, I took an amazing vacation with my husband to Jamaica all the way back in November 2011 and I am still proudly vegan-ish. The -ish part is for fun since I do eat fish and the occasional egg!
I have been thinking a lot lately about sitting down and picking the blog back up. Writing was a good way for me to reflect and sort my thoughts on the things happening in my life. Although it's a bit of tunnel vision since I am writing within my own world, maybe some of the things I share can help others. We'll see.
For now, happy birthday to me as I tip back a small glass of wine since I am still on the clock. A short break never hurt anyone, and neither did a glass of wine.
Wow, am I really 37? Don't answer that. Cheers!
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