August 18, 2008

Doin' Some Research


So now that I have this nifty fridge I've been thinking about what the heck I'm gonna fill it with. I want things that will last so I can buy it all beforehand (with my parents ;) ) and hopefully not spend too much money on food while I'm down there. So I'm making a preliminary shopping list of vegan unperishables that I love now...hopefully I will be discovering more soon:
-tofu dogs!
-Morningstar brand links
-fake chicken strips
-bbq sauce
-veg mayo
-Amy's brand breakfast burritos
-Amy's vegetable pot pies

And I was excited to discover this site so I can keep eating junk food even when I'm vegan!! This is a list of 'accidentally vegan' food (mostly junk)(but also mostly delicious).

link http://www.peta.org/accidentallyVegan/


And then I researched some common animal ingredients masked by innocent sounding names. I need to get familiar with these names: 

gelatin
casein
rennet
whey
mayo
pasta (many have eggs)



One recipe (if i can call it that) I make often when I'm feeling uncreative, tired, or protein deprived is my tofu dog salad. I just now realized it's vegan and perfect for college:

2 chopped tofu dogs 1 tbs hot mustard 2 tbs dill relish
1 tbs vegan mayo
1/2 c pinto beans 1/2 c cooked spinach

mix it together and microwave for 40 seconds. simple, healthy, yummy, dorm friendly.

2 comments:

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

I always joke that I learned a new language when I went vegan! You will get used to the words eventually... and I love smart dogs and smart bacon... Yves is another great vegan faux-meat company.

When I was in law school (and like you, on a tight budget) I lived off stir-frys (frozen veggies in a bag rule) and bean dips... so my suggestion is to load up on refried beans and canned beans!

& lots of soup!!

ColorTheSky said...

Be really cautious with MorningStar brand. After reading like a billion labels I've found most of their products actually contain egg whites. Read the label on everything you buy. If you're into trying some awesome alternatives check out Tofutti Brand (they do cream cheese, ice cream sandwiches, and sour cream really well.) Soymage vegan parmesan is great with pasta (look for the small purple shaker), and try playing around with tempeh, tofu, and TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein). New Leaf Community market in Santa Cruz will have all these things and if you're looking for a job, it is an awesome company to work for.
Good luck! -Anna