Is it ok with you if I ask alot of questions?I feel like I ask to much but this is the only way I can really learn .Reading is a good learning tool and reserching ,but I like to talk to the real person's that live it.
Here's my question...............
I've read there is such a thing as vegetarian rennets for cheese makeing.Now here's the thing.I HATE VEGAN CHEESE.EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW YUCCCCCCCK! But I know I can make cheese with powdered milk,now that I have found out I can buy powdered soy milk and there are so meny recipes for cheese made with powdered soy milk I thought I'd give it a try.I don't know if it will work or not and thats where my question comes in or my questions...........
have you ever tried makeing cheese with soy milk posdered or wet? and have you ever used vegan rennet tablets?
This is the only problem I have had with being vegan.CHEESE.I am really craving good cheese.Mac and cheese.I have tried all differant kinds of vegan mac and cheese recipes,and bought alot of differant vegan cheese and I hated it all.
I feel like I did when I stopped smoking..........Lord is there a cheese anonamous?
I took my partners support dog to a class out of state and I got a greek salad and it had fetta on it and yes I ate it.I feel sooooooooooooooo guilty.But it was soooooooooo good.And I was sick the rest of the day after eatting it and I still feel guilty and its been a week.

Strict vegetarians generally will not eat cheese that has been cultured with animal rennet. Many people first limit themselves to eating non-rennet cheeses as a first step towards veganism. You don't have to feel "guilty" persay, about what you eat. Its all about what you want to do. If you want to be vegan, be vegan. If you want to do the best you can do towards veganism, and still eat the occasional feta cheese, thats fine too - just don't call yourself vegan (say vegetarian instead.)

Here is a link that lists rennet-free vegetarian cheeses (not soy cheeses) by brand, type, etc.

http://cheese.joyousliving.com/

You can also find out more by contacting a company to find out their cheese culture source. Some people will be confused at first, but others are extremely accomidating (for instance, the president of a local burrito chain called "the wrap" actually spent a week e-mailing with me about the cheeses in their burritos, and actually said that if their provider did not have vegetarian rennet for their cheeses, that they would try to find a new provider that did, to appeal to their vegetarian customers! I was so impressed by that. For those interested, their jack cheddar is in fact rennet free ;-) )

Good luck!

Jackie! Haven't heard from you in a while.
I'm afraid I know nothing about your vegetarian cheese-making questions. The only suggestion I have is what worked for me in regards to cheese.
I used to love cheese too. Like you, I tried every vegan cheese out there, I think, and found none of them acceptable. When I first tried Tofutti Cream Cheese, I actually gagged. :p
I finally just gave up, and went without for over a year; now I find I'm not craving the "real" stuff and a few of the fake brands are actually pretty good once in a while. (And oddly enough I LOVE Tofutti Cream Cheese now).
I think if you try the substitutes too "soon" after giving up cheese, they are going to taste really awful. You have to give your tastebuds time to adjust.
Fill your diet with lots of whole, natural foods, you'll be suprised how your tastes will change over time. I think we all crave certain things, (and if your partner isn't veg*an that makes it harder) but I think, given some time, a lot of those cravings do become less.

Good luck - and please don't feel guilty. You've come to the right place - lots of us have had moments where we've hit a bump or two on the road... but there's always people here to offer help and encouragement!!

Hi Jackie

I don't know anything about making vegan cheese either, but I agree with TofuNSprouts, if you go without the vegan substitutes for a while they start to taste a bit better (at least the cream cheese - still can't get my taste buds around the other types!!!).

What I find works is to eat something _similar_ when I get a cheesey craving. If you eat something fatty and salty it will sometimes knock that cheese monkey on the head.

Fatty and salty doesn't mean it has to be deep fried though! Good 'get rid of cheese cravings foods' for me are avocadoes, hummus, refried beans, baked potatoes with vegan butter and nutritional yeast.

Now I don't really miss regular cheddar cheese. I still miss some things like feta or 'fancy' cheeses, but meh, I deal with it!

I hope that is of some help, and if by any chance you do manage to make a great vegan cheese you will have to tell us all about it!

You could also try the Uncheese Cookbook, there are some recipes in there that are pretty cheesey - there are also recipes for 'block' cheeses, but I haven't tried any of those. They might be what you're after.

Good luck!

When I first tried Tofutti Cream Cheese, I actually gagged.


<<Mouth drops open in absolute horror>>

tofutti is my savior. I guess I waited a month or so without anything before I tried it though....

I'm a fan of the parmesan ones... can't even tell the difference. <shrug> But I know most people here swear off of all the fake cheeses. I think it's a matter of just getting used to it. I thought I was still craving cheese, then my friend waved a piece of greasy pizza in my face. I think that cured me for life. <shudder> Funny, before I went vegan I thought I'd really miss it, but now it almost grosses me out as much as meat...:surprised