Oh Flvegan...Oh Leftymom..Oh any other vegans in the lounge...

[youthere]

I have a question...I bought my first block of soy cheese ever...it's the "Mexican Style" block (I assumed it's something similar to mozzarella)
Does this stuff melt like regular cheese? What is it best used for? Does it taste like crap? Please help indoctrinate this poor soy cheese virgin.

I'm slowly trying to get the animal products out of my diet, but I can't seem to part with eggs, and my beloved mayonaise (haven't had the courage to try veganaise yet), although I've made the switch from dairy milk completely to soy,rice, or almond milk. I'm working on the cheese now.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[LeftyMom]

1. Veganaise is really good. My omni sister kept stealing mine when we lived together

and she had plenty of mayo.

But as far as soy cheese goes? Don't let your expectations get real high, okay?

[youthere]

2. Is that a gentle way of saying it's nasty?

This is going to be tough for me..I grew up in Wisconsin so I like my cheese.

[LeftyMom]

4. Pretty much.

I keep hearing rumors that there's some soy cheese that's not.

Some friends smuggled me some Cheesely from the UK, and that was pretty good, but not worth raving about or anything. Definitely better than anything I've had stateside- in that it was actually decent uncooked and did melt.

I actually have some soy cheese from a new brand that's supposed to be delivered today- I'll report back with the good news if it's any good. I've heard positive things, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.

[youthere]

7. I'll keep my fingers crossed...

and wait for your report. Damn. That really disappoints me about the cheese. Sigh. I'll just have to keep telling myself what I'm gaining instead.

[flvegan]

3. There is no vegan cheese that melts and tastes good.

It's the Achilles Heel of the vegan movement to take over the planet. The only "cheese" I really care for is Galaxy's Vegan parmesan sprinkle stuff. I put that on salads sometimes. Some of the block cheeses are good if you cube them, or slice them for crackers. But melting? Not gonna happen. Burning? Yes. Turning into plastic? All the time.

When you do try Vegenaise, go for the grapeseed variety (purple label). It tastes so very good.

You've come a long way, so don't be too rough on yourself not having yet given up on the few things you're still eating.

[LeftyMom]

5. I have an order of Teese coming today

It's mozzarella from the people that make Temptation soy ice cream.

If it's actually any good, I promise I'll call and make happy eating noises in your ear, just to make you jealous.

[youthere]

6. You've broken my heart...

really. No melty gooey vegan cheese? Dammit dammit dammit. I suppose it's a trade off though..In the last few years I don't eat near as much cheese as I used to, so maybe I won't miss it as much as I think I will. I found that since I stopped eating meat, there was a lot of foods I thought I'd go crazy craving...but so far not, well hot dogs maybe.
Maybe I went in the wrong order...Maybe if I got used to vegan mayo, it would cover the taste of the cheese?

[flvegan]

8. Not that I've experienced.

As LeftyMom mentioned above, Teese is an option. Allegedly, Follow Your Heart makes one that melts and tastes good. I can't bring myself to try it, as it feels like Silly Putty in a wrapper when picked up at the store.

Using Vegenaise, tofu and a couple other things, I make one hell of a ricotta cheese that melts together, but doesn't "spread out" like it should for pizza. Great for manicotti, etc.

[LeftyMom]

9. FYH mozzarella is okay if you melt it.

Raw, it tastes and looks more like tofu than cheese. Melted, it's rather cheese-like, if a touch on the bland size. The trick is, you have to undercook the rest of the pizza and then throw it under the broiler just long enough to melt it, it takes a real high temp. It won't melt if it's not on the top layer, either.

Supposedly this Teese stuff has a stronger flavor and actually melts (they have video on the website of it melting) but again, not getting my hopes up. I'll report back late tonight or tomorrow sometime.

I had a pretty good pizza at Lanesplitters the other night with a similar faux ricotta on it. 'Twas nummy.

[RadiationTherapy]

10. Almond Rella is really good.

But it has casein in it.