So a quick break from recipes.  I wanted to take a moment to recommend a couple things that I have just discovered, so that hopefully you can discover them earlier in your vegan career.  :)  And also because oh my god yum – can’t not write about them immediately.  I’m surprised I’ve restrained myself for 2 days!

The first is Dr Cow cheeses, specifically the aged cashew nut cheese.

If you thought being vegan meant giving up that pungent rich wonderful flavor of aged cheeses – think again.  It took all my willpower not to devour the entire little cheese round in one sitting.  But they are not cheap, so I really wanted to save some for a second sitting.  Do yourself a favor and run, don’t walk, to the closest location selling Dr Cow, and give it a try for yourself.

Wine and cheese tasting anyone?  :)

The second item I tasted within the past couple days is Primal strips – vegan jerky.  I was never a jerky eater as an omnivore.  Had it for the first time less than a year before I became vegan.  It was tasty, and a useful snack for hiking, but not something I would devour like I’ve seen others do.  I want to say that Primal’s strips are even better than beef jerky.  They had the exact right texture, great flavor, and a moistness that makes them much more appealing than the tough dryness of beef jerky.  I could easily eat the whole package, and while I have made my own tofu jerky before for convenient hiking snacks, I may be switching to the Primal strips.  I can’t wait to try all the flavors!