A DF/SF Ricotta- that actually tastes good!

[crunchy_mama]

Having a huge pregnancy craving for lasagna so I succombed to try yet another cheese substitute(despite being so dissapointed in the past). I was so well pleased! It had a nice creamy flavor to it.

http://www.bookofyum.com/blog/soy-fr...sagna-366.html

Here is the link- I just made the "cheese" though and mine wasn't exactly lasagna as I used penne noodles- I did a meat sauce as well. I made a parmesan as well- w/ cashews- nutrional yeast and salt and it was pretty decent as well. Of course not ok for those w/ nut issues but I hope someone else enjoys it.

[lil_miss_understood]

I never would have thought of pine nuts. I think they're the only "nut" DS2 didn't react to through bm when I ate them... Not that I ate many nuts after he reacted to almonds, cashews and walnuts.
Thanks for the link!

[dannic]

Wow, that looks scrumptious! I loved the tomatoes at the top of the page, too! I'll have to trial pine nuts for dd2--so far, she reacts to almonds, so I've kept her off all, but this--this would be worth it! Is there a drooling smiley?

[lil_miss_understood]

I'm wondering if pine nuts were safe because they're actually a seed rather than a nut?

[kjbrown92]

If DS reacted to baker's yeast but not brewer's yeast... which is nutritional yeast more like? And is it grown on corn like the rest of the yeasties?

Because if it's okay, I'm soooo there.

[lil_miss_understood]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

If DS reacted to baker's yeast but not brewer's yeast... which is nutritional yeast more like? And is it grown on corn like the rest of the yeasties?

Because if it's okay, I'm soooo there.

I'm pretty sure that Wugmama uses it... Isn't she corn free?
I'm not sure which it is more like though, so I'm absolutely useless there.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by kjbrown92

If DS reacted to baker's yeast but not brewer's yeast... which is nutritional yeast more like? And is it grown on corn like the rest of the yeasties?

Because if it's okay, I'm soooo there.

I think nutritionally yeast is closer to the brewers than the cooking yeast. It is traditionally grown on beet or sugar cane it says. (Edited to add: This link says that brewer's yeast is actually a byproduct of making bread yeast and is still active whereas nut. yeast is not related at all.
http://vegetariancuisine.suite101.co...ritional_yeast)

Dh had too huge bowls of supper as well and he still gets to eat real cheese. He said it didn't taste just like regular lasagna but was pretty good. The kids having never really ate cheese don't appreciate it and was wondering what the heck was on the pasta. I guess I am lucky they don't know what they are missing. I had to restrain myself from eating too much. I would really like to try it in a real lasagna next. I have some block "cheese" recipes I want to try to use with it.

Oh- and if anyone does try it in that link she isn't very clear about it but you do drain the water off of the nuts before you blend them w/ the other things.

Oh and different brands taste differently I tasted some NOW brand before and remember it tasting gross- however perhaps that is because I am several more years into df though!

amazon has bob's red mill
http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-...2557910&sr=8-1

It is rated very well as tasty. It says that it is ok for those sensitive to yeasts but of course we know that everything is individual.
http://www.amazon.com/Bobs-Red-Mill-...2557910&sr=8-1

Oh- and I was thinking of trying this cookbook it seems to be pretty well rated as well- expect for people complaining about hard to find ingredients OR the fact that it doesn't taste just like real cheese(duh!) But I have a few more recipes to try- will let everyone know. Next I think I will try the grilled "cheese" recipe- first I have to have a decent bread though!
http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Unche...2557910&sr=8-6

[chlobo]

Does whole foods sell Bob's Nutritional Yeast? I"d like to try it. I think the stuff we have doesn't taste so good so I'd like to try it with something folks recommend to give the recipe a fair shake.

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by chlobo

Does whole foods sell Bob's Nutritional Yeast? I"d like to try it. I think the stuff we have doesn't taste so good so I'd like to try it with something folks recommend to give the recipe a fair shake.

I have never seen the Bob's brand, but I have only made it WF's a couple of times as there isn't one close. I think I will try that brand when what I have runs out although I have been well pleased w/ it.

We had leftovers today and oh my goodness it is so creamy and yummy and good! Too bad the pine nuts are so expensive as I could have easily doubled the amount- I am dreaming of stuffed shells now.

[chlobo]

What brand nutritional yeast are you using now?

[crunchy_mama]

Originally Posted by chlobo

What brand nutritional yeast are you using now?

The one I have now is KAL- just double checked and I have liked recipes with it. It makes me wonder are my taste buds that far gone from being df so long? However, as I said dairy loving dh ate it up as well- and I am craving again- will definitely have to work it into the menu rotation.

I am dreaming of a nice grainfree and allergy friendly lasagna made w/ roasted zuccini slices for noodles-mmm! I just have to work on the block cheese to get something to melt on top!

[chlobo]

My DH & DD loved it too & I used expired pine nuts & not so good nutritional yeast.

What is block cheese?

[crunchy_mama]

So- glad you liked it.

I mean like fake cheese that you make in a block and can be grated and such. I have some bookmarked but they are the laptop- will try to link later.

[kjbrown92]

Eggplant parmesan....

Also there's this restaurant that does this stack it's breaded chicken cutlet, something else (maybe egglplant), roasted red peppers, and mozzarella. That would be a good one to try with it too.

Just looked at the charts. DD2 was tested, and it's "mild" so could go on rotation. DS wasn't tested for it...

I need to get some pine nuts...and some nutritional yeast... though I don't know if I want to trial both in the same day...

Looked it up and Wikipedia (who knows how accurate that is) says it's close to brewer's yeast. DS says that's a green/safe food and DD2 as well BUT brewer's yeast was DD2's only IgE reaction... Maybe I could make it just for ME!

[crunchy_mama]

mmm.... Kathy- more recipes to try! Chicken parmesan sounds so good to me(I am not an eggplant person)!

Here are my links to some block cheeses:
http://www.veganchef.com/ndswiss.htm
http://www.recipezaar.com/Vegan-Shar...-Cheese-130826

[kjbrown92]

2 nights ago I made this:
I had 2 au gratin dishes
I made a tomato sauce with tomato paste + water + oregano + garlic
+ sweet sausage
put a little sauce in the bottom of each dish (so it wouldn't stick)
thin sliced a zucchini - layered half in each dish
divided the sauce between the two dishes
put the "ricotta" on top. Cooked at 350F for 30 minutes.
It was good. I ate one (mooooo). And then yesterday I heated up the other one in the microwave, and it was even better.

Now I'm thinking of making a calzone with the buckwheatpete.com English muffin recipe dough... this has potential... I just wish pine nuts were cheaper!

Does anyone know if pine nuts count as a tree nut for allergies?

[lil_miss_understood]

I'm not certain but I don't think so... I believe they're considered a seed.

According to the botanical definition, they're not a nut.
From wiki (yeah I know.. I use it too much):

A nut in botany is a simple dry fruit with one seed (rarely two) in which the ovary wall becomes very hard (stony or woody) at maturity, and where the seed remains unattached or unfused with the ovary wall.

[crunchy_mama]

Kathy- so glad you liked it! I bought more today for taco night. I just told dh I am going to have to price them online to see if I can buy these cheaper. Unfortunately I don't see dairy coming back and having a cheese sub is just too awesome!

Oh- and I thought it tasted even better the day after as well.

[dannic]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mama

The one I have now is KAL- just double checked and I have liked recipes with it. It makes me wonder are my taste buds that far gone from being df so long? However, as I said dairy loving dh ate it up as well- and I am craving again- will definitely have to work it into the menu rotation.

I am dreaming of a nice grainfree and allergy friendly lasagna made w/ roasted zuccini slices for noodles-mmm! I just have to work on the block cheese to get something to melt on top!

Can you do eggplant? Mushrooms (portabella) would be good, too. (You know, those hearty vegetables...mmmm.)

[kjbrown92]

eggplant doesn't sound as good without all that yummy breading on it... which of course I can't have. But calzones and pizza sound good.