Friday, May 22, 2009

What Do Sad Vegans Eat?

I think about this blog a lot. I think about all the posts I want to write but never have time to. There's a full-time job, a long commute, a boyfriend in another city, and, truthfully, Facebook. All of which have conspired to make me neglect what has been such a lovely outlet to have.

I've been sad, y'all. Sad about being lost and overwhelmed. I know I'll get through this patch. I've been through worse and, yes, like my grandmother and your grandma used to say, there are people starving somewhere so get over yourself. But sometimes it is hard to get over yourself. Sometimes I just want to wallow. Most times I am scared.

That's when I eat grilled cheese.

Oh, how I loved to melt all sorts of cheeses on all sorts of breads in my pre-vegan days. Nothing cheered me up more than melted cheddar on white bread or ooey gooey pizza. I haven't had those in a while. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss them every once in a blue moon (but not that much, cheesecrackheads). Especially pizza. It's not often that you can buy something so cheap and yummy that you can eat with one hand. Other than frozen Amy's pizza and the divine pizza I had at Bella Faccia Pizzeria in Portland, I've not eaten much pizza since going vegan.

Then I found my new favorite blog, Quarrygirl. That blog makes me want to go back to LA because the last time I was there, I was still eating dead animals and, though I spent the trip with vegans and ate at many vegan restaurants, I did not fully appreciate the food at the time. I just really wanted In and Out Burger (I think the vegans held me hostage). But Quarrygirl has done more than make me long for the sunny west coast. It's brought grilled cheese back into my life. See, there's this new cheese called Daiya and it is the fucking bomb. Teese was supposed to be the bomb and I enjoyed the pizza I made with it but it did not rock my world. Daiya rocks my world, makes it yummy in my tummy. And there's no soy (although I am not averse to that much maligned bean; as an aside, no one freaks out over chickpeas the way they do over soybeans. I'm just saying) or weird stuff. There's some cassava and coconut oil and vegan enzymes and other magical wonders and what you do is sprinkle some on some Earth Balanced bread and you make yourself a grilled cheese. It's melty, salty, CHEESY. It tastes like cheese. When you cut your grilled cheese in half, you will have strings of melted cheese galore. And I am still close enough to not being vegan to assure you that it does really taste amazing.

I have no pictures because I'm too greedy and sad to take a picture of this grilled cheese sandwich. I just need to eat. And I'm not linking to where you can buy it. Not because I hate you. I love you. It's just that, well, it's not been officially released so the vegan store that is selling it is shredding it themselves direct from the company. And if you order one bag, they are going to ship it to you in tons of styrofoam because it needs to be in a cooler. And I'm just not down with that. So, wait. It'll be out in stores soon enough.

8 comments:

BK said...

May I share a grilled "cheese" with you this weekend, LOML?

XOJPBKOX

Joselle said...

Yes.

Sky said...

Here's hoping the 'cheese' cheered you up a bit. Being sad is no fun, and I'm sending lots of happy thoughts your way.

Meanwhile, I think I may order some of this stuff as a birthday present to myself. I know I should wait until it's in stores, but everyone raving about it is killing me! Plus the website that sells it is also carrying the new Go Max Go candy bars. Nothing says happy birthday like grilled cheese and candy bars!!! :) Loveya.

laura! said...

I too have been sad and I too have found great comfort in a vegan grilled cheese using Daiya. I got it on pangea but the shipping plus cold packs = $$$. Can't wait until it's more widely available! I PRAY THAT IT IS SOON!

Hase said...

Hi Joselle and Brian, I have just discovered your wonderful blog and put its link on mine, if that's ok for you... my man and I also write a on a vegan blog together (but it's in German)!

Joselle said...

Sky, thanks. Brian loved the cheese too so I hope you enjoy it!

Laura, I know. The shipping is more than the cheese! I'm sad I won't get to try Daiya until it's in stores but then it will be so much easier to enjoy.

Hase, thanks for your kind words and for linking. Are you in Germany? If so, I'll be in touch for tips for when Brian and I eventually make it over there.

Anonymous said...

I was very excited when I read this post, because I miss cheese. I found this product at my local whole foods store and immediately bought a brick of it, without reading the ingredients first - I almost never do that.

Anyway, I got home and discovered that it contains casein, which is not only a milk derivative, but is the main reason that I don't eat dairy. It isn't good for you.

Joselle said...

Anonymous, Daiya cheese is not available in stores yet. Only one online retailer is carrying a version they bought directly from the manufacturer and shredding and shipping it themselves. Also, according to the ingredients list that came with the Daiya cheese I ordered, it does not contain casein. You must have bought another brand mistakenly--since you said you bought a "brick," I am sure we are not speaking of the same brand. Daiya only comes shredded. Rest assured I carefully check labels and would never recommend a product that isn't entirely vegan.