Kick Those Cravings

So a friend of mine has recently decided to try being vegetarian! You can't see it, but I'm doing a happy dance behind the screen. And its not exactly graceful, but it is joyful. Anyway she has been making leaps and bounds in her health lately, and we've been seriously nerding out over some nutrition talk. Back when I started writing this blog, I asked her if she had any ideas for content matter. She came back with an idea about cravings. We all have them right? They can be potentially bad when you make a big change in your lifestyle like cutting out meat and/or eggs, milk, and cheese. I thought it was an idea worth discussing! So here goes my first advice piece.

 Besties in Whatever Weather 

Chicken:  If you live in the western world you have access to all kinds of faux meats including chicken. But be careful! Some brands like Quarn can contain egg. Make sure to always read the ingredients list. I usually cook my faux nuggets in the oven a little longer than the prescribed time to make them crispy. (I think it mimics the texture better this way, but to each his own).  If you want something 'mas economico' you can make fake chicken at home. I use carne de soya, which is basically soy meat, or TCP if you live in the states. (Textured Soy Protein.) I cook it in a little bit of veg stalk, or vegan chicken stalk, and then saute in a pan with olive oil and garlic to simmer for a while. After I like to make some fried rice with broccoli and onions and toss in the 'chicken.' It would also probably be good in pasta with a vegan white sauce.

Pan Fried Faux Chicken on Salad 

Steak: Now I was never a huge steak fan, but my family always was. My dad always had to cook my meat to very well done until there not even a hint of the animals blood left. Something about a bloody steak always freaked me out. But I understand that sometimes people might want something thick and  meaty like this! For those people I highly suggest portabella mushroom. Throw that sucker whole on a grill with just a small brush of olive oil, and in no time it will have a very steaky flavor and texture. I like mine on a toasted bun with sandwich fixins. Add some steak sauce and vegan cheese, and you basically have a steak melt! I've also made it in the oven before. Be careful not to cook it too long or the mushroom will pass the point of tenderness and get hard. You can also chop it up and saute it if you want a meaty stir-fry or pasta.

Grilled Portabella with Salad

Bacon: Like chicken, there are vegan versions of this comfort food. In appearance they resemble dog treats, but the favor is actually pretty on point. When I lived in the states I liked to fry mine extra crispy and crumble it over a spinach salad, or put in a sandwich with avocado. If you want a DIY version, I've heard that saitan can be made into some pretty convincing bacon strips when fried with the right flavors. I can't attest to this personally, but I have seen some pretty amaxing pictures and recipies online. Give it a google and let me know what you think!  Extra Tip: Put your veg bacon on your steak sandwich.  @.@

Cheese: Oh cheese... So I feel that I must admit to you guys that I am a born cheese lover, and cheese head from Wisconsin. Go pack go!

This is My Sexy Face ;) 

 Right now I'm currently toughing out the cheese cravings because I don't have access to the things I am about to suggest to you, but if you are lucky enough, I suggest trying every different food you can! If you live in a big city like Minneapolis, Chicago, or London you probably have access to vegan pizza in stores as well as restaurants. I know even in Duluth Minnesota there is a pizza place that offers TWO kinds of vegan cheese to top their pizzas as well as gluten free crust for my gluten free peeps. (Pizza Luce, and it is glorious) If you want to make your own pizza many grocery stores offer vegan cheese in many forms like slices, grated, and spreadable. I've never tried this, but I've heard that its pretty touch and go with different brands of vegan cheeses. Some are good, and some are blah. 

My personal favorite thing to substitute for cheese is Nutrtional Yeast. If you don't know what this is, its just what it sounds like. Its a yeast, which a distinctly cheesy flavor, and a texture kind of like dry parmasion. (It is also a complete form of protein, all 9 essential amenio acids!) I sprinkle this over pasta, and I'm usually good to go. Im not sure if normal grocery sores stock this, but you can get it in the bulk isle of your local co.op and it's pretty cheap. If you are feeling crafty, you can make homemade vegan cheese. The recipies usualy involve soaking cashews or white beans overnight, and having a nice blender. Ive seen some really clever recipies online, some that include nutritional yeast! Give it a google, and post pictures of the finished product! I'd love to see what you come up with.

Spaghetti with Nutritional Yeast

Milk: Pshh. Dont even get my started on this one. There are so many kinds of vegan milks that are amazing in cereals, smoothies, and just to drink. Your options are usually: Soy, Almond, Rice, Cashew, Hemp, Oat, and Coconut. And many of these come in chocolate options. Personally I really like almond and coconut. Extra Tip: Try heating up some chocolate almond milk like you would hot chocolate. Oh. My. LOOORD! yum.  ^.^

Eggs: Chickpea flour works really well for an egglike consistency. Mix it with some water and you can make omelets or scrambled eggs with all the veggies your heart desires. Plate it with some vegan bacon or sausage and you got yourself a pretend carnivorous breakfast.

Burgers: I saved my favorite for last. Veggie Burgers! I love veggie burgers. Personally I think they are better than their beef originals. There are so many different kinds, the options are almost endless! You can buy veggie burgers in stores, but personally I don't think it's worth it and they are pretty pricey. Once I started making my own veggie burgers I never went back to those weird, grey, boxed kinds. Veggie burgers are really easy to make, and so much cheaper when homemade. You can use, beans, lentils, potatoes, nuts seeds chopped veggies, and basically anything plant based. I can oversell how much variety a veggie burger can have! Its once of my favorite things to make, and I must admit I so enjoy the complements I get when I cook veggie burgers ;)

Curried Lentil & Spinach Burger (scroll down for recipe) 

Thanks for reading, now you know know just how many options you have whether you like to cook or not. Personally I love cooking, all the examples on here were created by yours truly! One of my greatest pleasures in life is when I get an omni to admit that vegan food can be delicious! So many people out there think that vegans only eat salad, and I hope to use this blog to bust that myth!  Vegan food is endless in variety, has all the flavors that the earth affords us, and frankly is better for your health anyway  ;) Scroll down for recipes I've already written, or use the search bar to find what you are looking for. I also highly encourage you to look on Youtube for how to cooking vids. If you have a craving I missed on here, please let me know in the comments! Stay tuned for Cravings Part 2: Science and shiz.

Quillabamba Market 

Check out my new Youtube channel: VeganWonderlust  Click This Link and Subscribe to My Channel!