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Sunday, February 05, 2006

Greek fasting cheese

Has anybody heard of this? If so, do you know where to get it? I have tried various vegan places with no luck.

It apparently tastes and behaves like mild cheddar (melts when heated, &c.), but is completely dairy-free. If this is available, it may be the only thing that gets me through Lent without charges of GBH.

If anyone can help, I'll be grateful.

Thank you. :-)

11 comments:

Jo said...

what is GBH?

Anyways at least here in the states there is a company called "Central Soy Products" that makes a really good cheese similar to what you described.

Try soy cheese. Its really not as bad as everyone claims, particularly when you go for the higher end soy cheeses.

Joe Zollars

Eric John said...

Yeah, what IS GBH? Great Britain Ham? German Burger Hash? Gelatinous Blueberry Hotcakes? (I've made something similar before, but not intentionally.) Inquiring minds want to know.

If you're looking for protein, I'm sure Joe and I can send you some good bean and lentil and whole grain recipes.

Perhaps, since you're not American, you won't like peanut butter, but for me it's a staple. Without it, I don't know what I'd do during Lent--probably add on a stone to my weight from having to eat pasta and potatoes. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on whole grain bread with an apple or banana can keep one going for a long time.

I also REALLY love tofu. I know that makes my a bit weird, but I was that way before.

Maybe you want a cheese substitute because you have a healthy relationship with cheese. (I do. But I live in Wisconsin, the cheese capital of the world--after France.) Joe's absolutely right. Soy cheese isn't bad. I use it to make little pizzas on English muffins or pita bread.

Jo said...

very good points Eric.

However on second thought, I would point out that people who are not already aquinted with soycheese and soy products in general, should sit down and gorge themselves on it all at once. Will result in, erm, frequent trips to the lieu.

Joe Zollars

Jo said...

BTW I also use peanut butter as a staple, but I use fresh (as in homemade) peanut butter made from organic peanuts. You can also make cashew, almond, and filbert butter using the same techniques.

Joe Zollars

Jacob Hicks said...

GBH=Grievous Bodily Harm.

Rather than frequent trips to the loo, it demands visiting the clink (i.e., prison/gaol/jail).

Jo said...

hmmm very interesting. I don't picture either you or michael being able to do such things. Of course I see you guys as two people who like to sit in a Queen Ann chair reading first edition Dostoevsky's (aka my kinda people).

Joe Zollars

Michael said...

What Richard said. GBH is sever physical damage to another person. You know what it's like when you're desperate for some food you really like but that you can;t have. You're all on edge and then someone comes along and says something really horrible to you, like 'Hello', and something just snaps. ;-)

Thanks for the vegan suggestions. I may well try that. I investigated at our local vegetarian and vegan store, the Eighth Day, and they sell a few varieties. They specially recommended this, which looks really good and apparently melts quite well.

I may well pop in soon.

:-)

Jo said...

I have heard rather good things about that brand, though I've never tried it. Do let me know how it turns out.

Joe Zollars

Anonymous said...

It's probably too late, but I just stumbled on this via shipoffools (I'm Real Ale Methodist btw). I have a Vegan friend who swears by the stuff they sell at eighth day.

Anonymous said...

I don't know anything about fake cheeses, but I have a question about fasting in general.

My understanding is that the Orthodox all fast from the same foods, as opposed the "Western" way of each person deciding for himself. What happens for those for whom this poses a problem? Someone such as myself, who has officially had an eating disorder at one point, and still suffers from disordered eating from time to time, and for whom "food rules" lead to restriction, to guilt, to binges, etc.

Michael said...

Dear confused rambler, the Orthodox fasting rule isn't a "rule" in the secular sense, as in something that must be followed. It is a rule in the sense of something to strive for in our way of living, and each person will do as much or as little of it as his/her circumstances permit.

There is no sense of having fallen short or any sort of failure or guilt if one hasn't done the full thing. Each of us is different from the next person and each person would ideally have a spiritual guide (parish priest or not) who would offer guidance based on the individual's circumstances.

I hope that helps.

:-)