Cheese Craving!

I suppose I'll have to admit that one of the reasons I have found myself here in the throes of Gallbladder Disease is my love of cheese. Its wonderful. I love all different types of cheese, good cheese - mind you none of this processed nonsense! Strong Cheddar, Chevre, Brie and Camembert, Blue Cheeses like Stilton and Gorgonzola - you name it I love it! So you can imagine how difficult to follow this detox diet and go dairy free. I can live without Ice Cream, Milk, Cream etc - but not cheese. My Waitrose trip did not produce any vegan cheese. I knew it existed - but where to find it? Then I remembered a small health food store in Marlborough. I made my way over there dreaming of something that might assuage my cheese cravings only to find they had not had their delivery due to the deep snow and they had dissapointingly empty refridgerator shelves - NO CHEESE!!!

I sulked all the way home vowing to search online to find something available somewhere nearby. I did discover a wealth of vegan "cheese" online available to order and relatively inexpensive - but after selecting a few different types to try I discovered that the shipping cost over over £6 - which was ridiculous. So I sulked some more refusing to spend so much on shipping and consoled myself with a raspberry and mango smoothie. The next day I had to go to Newbury (some 20 miles away) in a search for Duck Feed as the delivery lorry for that had not made it to Marlborough either. With the snow on the roads and lots of ice, the journey to over twice the time it usually does and getting the duck feed to the car was torturous as I had to carry the huge sacks quite a long was as there was a snowed in lorry was blocking the road to the feed store. I did remember though that there was a good healthfood store (Natures Corner) in Newbury, and guess what they were crammed with cheeses of all different types as well as lots of other things - like egg replacer, lovely Dr Karg Spelt Crackers, Oatcakes, and other goodies - I say goodies - well they are to me in my deprived state! So I have stocked up on Toffutti Cream Cheese - plain and garlic and herb, Sheese Mature Cheddar, Cheezely Hard Cheddar, Sheese Blue Cheese, Paremesan and a cheese sauce mix.

So as I type this I am snacking on a few of the delicious Dr Karg Spelt and Poppy Seed Crackers - topped with Toffutti Vegan Cream "Cheese" with Garlic and Herbs. Yum (ish.) Actually in all honesty its really very good, I may have to go back for a second helping - are second helpings allowed on this detox - I don't think so... oh well - everything in moderation! My next test for it is to use it in cooking and see how it shapes up - time will tell but at least I've an inkling of cheese and for now its sorted out my craving!

Reports on the other cheese replacers to follow but so far - so good!