Skinny Bitch_ Ultimate Everyday Cookbook - Kim Barnouin [23]
Here they are, in no particular order, the three cheese alternatives that saved me from a life of Cheddar-free remorse. Amen.
DAIYA CHEESE
A welcomed addition to the vegan cheese market, Daiya is a plant-based, soy-free cheese that could hardly be considered an “alternative.” It comes in block or shredded cheddar and Italian blends that melt like chocolate in 110-degree heat. Besides being loaded with vitamins B and B12, Daiya has gained the vegan blessing with no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or cholesterol. Did I mention it’s low in fat? Say cheese, baby. Available at Whole Foods and natural health food stores. www.daiyafoods.com
TEESE CHEESE
Someone pinch me. Teese is like a trip to the movie theater with the chips and cheese sauce, but oh so much better. Low-fat and made from non-GMO soybeans with no cholesterol, Teese comes in mozzarella and cheddar blocks, and cheddar and nacho cheese sauces. For those with allergies, Teese is made in an allergy-free facility with no egg, dairy, peanut, tree nut, or sesame. Available in restaurants nationwide and some natural health food stores.
www.teesecheese.com
SHEESE CHEESE
Ooh la la, the choices! The brainchild of three cute studs from Scotland, Sheese Cheese is soy-based and gluten-free. It comes in nine flavors of block cheese and five flavors of cream cheese called Creamy Sheese. Aside from the basics, they also offer blue cheese and Gouda. Genius!
Visit www.buteisland.com or purchase online at www.veganstore.com.
PART THREE
A PARTY IN YOUR KITCHEN
Your kitchen has been bad. Very bad. In fact, it’s time you showed it just how bad it’s been. Toss your hair into that cute little bun, push pause on your silly TV programs, get in the kitchen, and . . . Cook. You heard me. Get cooking. Use and abuse your stove. Flirt with your oven. Get frisky with your pantry. Quit playing hard to get.
Your kitchen should entertain you. If it does nothing to reel you in, do something about it. Let loose a little bit and cooking can actually be rewarding.
Cooking gives you an opportunity to challenge yourself, unwind from work, strengthen friendships, spark some romance, get laid, and get creative. The beauty of cooking is that you can create whatever the hell you want. There are no annoying referees blowing whistles telling you the oven was not done pre-heating. It’s just you and the kitchen. What you do with it is entirely up to you.
Now, let’s get this party started. Shall we? If only I remembered where I put my disco ball. . . .
WHERE’S THE PARTY AT, BITCHES?
Your kitchen is your playground. You’re not five anymore. You can’t climb the jungle gyms, rock on the squeaky pony, or slide down the shiny pole. Okay, maybe the pole. Just make sure the kids aren’t watching.
Hopefully you love spending as much time in the kitchen as I do. In that case, these tips may just give you new reason. Who knows? Hobbies turn into professions all the time. But if you’re one of those that have tried to rent out your kitchen on Craigslist, then you need some help. Maybe more than I can offer. But I’m willing to give it a shot.
In this section, you will find a handful of ideas and tips that have helped my friends, family, and Skinny Bitch fans discover new ways to have fun in the kitchen. May they bring you some enjoyment, too.
GIVE YOUR KITCHEN SOME LIFE
A blender is not a decoration. It is an appliance, Einstein. If you are going to spend some time in your kitchen, then start making it a place you want to be. Breathe some life into it. Make sure there is good feng shui (See “Feng Shui” on page 110). Create an environment that is you. Don’t be shy.
Small kitchens shouldn’t hold you back either. I suffer from small kitchenitis, but I refuse to see it as an obstacle. I customized some cute curtains, found wall space