hiya, newbie

[getupgetout]

Hi everyone!
I've been lurking around for a while.
I'm vegetarian, and in that transition phase to becoming vegan. I have to say it's one of the best choices I've made, and I feel so great mentally and physically. I have a few questions for all of you though. I'll cut because

Comments

[ameixa]

can't help you on much, but the only vegan cheese i've used is sheese, which i found disgusting on pasta - so maybe that won't help? it was great over things i'd put in the oven though... oh yeah, i also use dairy free parmazano by life free from, which i love on everything!

sorry can't help on much else - i'm in britain. and i stir fry everything, so i'm not that great with recipes, just chuck it all in!

good luck!

[lolcarcrash]

i dont have any "firmer" cheeses for you but a really good cheese sause is here:

http://theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=122

[lolcarcrash]

*sauce

sorry i'm still drunk from last night

[dreatastespie]

i wish i was still drunk from last night.

[lolcarcrash]

haha it was a very long night

[ilovemypitbull]

As far as Italian food goes, I prefer roasted pine nuts with salt to any fake cheese. Or almonds. Or walnuts. Plenty of old school Italians do this, so tell your mom that if she's resistant!

I live in central Austin, so I don't know Round Rock all that well. However, I will say that you never know with H-E-B. I've found some pretty interesting stuff there from time to time, depending on the location. Different H-E-B's tend to have different things, so look around at the ones near you. Also, the Austin Chinatown center on N. Lamar isn't too far from your end of town, so you could scout that out.

If you do go to Austin to shop occasionally, I highly recommend Wheatsville Co-op. They are really vegan friendly.

Oh yeah, since you live up north, you should check out Curry in a Hurry. They have awesome vegan Indian food (just ask what's vegan if you're not sure), but they are too far north for me to go to often.

Ask me any questions you have about being a vegan in the Austin area!

[getupgetout]

I will definately have to try out the nuts and pasta thing! So intrigued now, and I think my mom will be too!

The HEB by me does have a small corner devoted to organic/veg/vegan foods, but I have yet to find a produce section in HEB that compares to that of Whole Foods. I am so sad that they aren't doing the farmers market, but maybe it will start back up again in the spring. I have seen the Wheatsville Co-op though, I'll have to check it out.

And thank you so much for the restaurant suggestion! I'm so tired of being stuck with salads and the occassional soup when going out to eat. I will definately be going there soon! I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to be adding you as a friend. I've been searching all over for fellow Austin vegans!

[coffeecup37]

Hey, here a couple of links for stir-frys, over at vegancooking:

http://community.livejournal.com/vegancooking/tag/ethnic+food-chinese-stir+fry
http://community.livejournal.com/vegancooking/tag/stir-fry

Hope they can be a help. :)

[wannabealtruist]

Donna Klein's books Mediterranean Vegan kitchen and Vegan Italiano might come in handy for sharing traditional Italian style recipes with your family.

I love Cheezly Mozzarella-style (I think a website stocks it in the US, not sure which one though, sorry!), or just some nutritional yeast in place of parmesan.

[getupgetout]

I loooove cookbooks, I will definately be looking into those. Thanks so much!