FOOD

TOFU

Tofu has become a staple item in my kitchen when I went vegan.  If someone is worried about not getting enough protein in their vegetarian diet then tofu is the way to go!

Tofu is bean curd which is not as disgusting as it sounds.  It is made from soybeans and has high protein and calcium count while being relatively low in calories.  There is soft or silken tofu which almost has the consistency of creme brulee; there is firm tofu which is firmer and is great for scrambles and mashing the tofu; and then there is extra firm tofu which is best used when you want to cube the tofu for a dish.

Tofu does not have much of a taste but has a great texture and will absorb any flavors it comes into contact with. It is great to put with spaghetti sauce to make a chunkier texture or can be added to pumpkin filling to make a delicious pumpkin pie.

Its many uses and versatility make it a must in vegan refrigerators everywhere

I consider vegenaise a special treat!! It is super fabulous and is amazing in sandwich's and wraps.  I never liked mayonnaise because it tasted "fatty" to me - but this has the same consistency and way more flavor - and of course it is way more healthy!

Follow Your Heart is the brand that makes my favorite sandwich spread.  They have many different brands of vegenaise as well as a wide variety of salad dressings, dairy alternatives, sauces and fake meats.  You will probably be paying a tad more for this brand but it is worth it! I live on a college budget so I do not get this all the time, but when I want to make a dish that includes it I go buy it and keep it in my fridge to use sparingly.

Tempeh is a delicious food for vegans.  There are many different kinds you can get that are plain that include three grain or soy or flaxseed.  Then they have some that come flavored like tempeh bacon or tempeh tofurky.  The kind that I recently bought at whole foods is the marinated tempeh sesame garlic.

It was delicious!! The marinate had so much flavor and I added it to an asian inspired dish with brown rice some veggies and shoyu sauce.  Some tempeh is made with a variety of grains while others (like this) are made with soy products so you get your protein with it!