Insomnia: of course I’m thinking about food at 5am

Two entries within a 24-hour time span… I know, unusual behavior, but I really feel I need to share my dinner from last night.

There are certain meals that, when I became vegan, I feared I’d never again enjoy. This one, a version of the dinner my dad always made for my brother and me when my mom went out of town, is one of those. Before this, the encounters I had with soy cheese were far from pleasant. However, as with well made soy hot dogs and sausage, I’ve found that certain foods are so processed in their “real” forms that the “fake” versions are easy to pull off. Soy-based “Kraft singles” fall into this category, if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon a well-made version. (Now Vegan gruyere… I’m a little skeptical)

With that said, I give you…

Happiest Cow Grilled Cheese and Ghetto Tomato Soup

INGREDIENTS:
(for one; multiply the recipe accordingly to the friends at your table)

For the Grilled Cheese…
-2 slices lightly toasted Ezekiel bread
-2 slices good faux sandwich singles (from my experience Daiya and Trader Joes make tasty ones- though be warned that the latter has “milk protein” which is probably a vegan oopsie. As much as I love Tofutti Cuties, I cannot recommend their cheese. It’s pretty gnarly.)
-1 tsp good mustard. I used my roommate, Sabine’s fancy stoneground mustard and it was delicious!
-1 tbsp of your favorite futter. Earth Balance is good, though Smart Balance Light is probably still my favorite.

For the soup…
-2/3 cup premade chunky Marinara sauce (I’m serious! This is where the “ghetto” element comes in. But I’m telling you- read the ingredients and google a homemade tomato soup recipe. See? They’re the same. I used the Trader Joe’s roasted garlic kind, which I guess isn’t exactly ghetto, but it was excellent)
-1/3 cup water
-2 tsp low-sodium vegetable broth powder
-1 tbsp good soy sauce (adjust to the saltiness of your marinara; mine needed a little oomph, but most premade sauces are pretty salty on their own)
-2 tsp crushed garlic (probably optional, but tasty)
-a good figerful of fresh basil leaves, if available. Get a plant! They’re only $4 or so and you’ll have fresh basil leaves as long as you remember to water it!

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all soup ingredients in a pot, and warm until bubbling on low heat, stirring every few minutes.

While that warms, spread the mustard on the inside of the bread and place the cheese in between the two slices (in case y’all have never made a sandwich in your life…. You never know). Melt futter in a small frying pan or skillet, and once it’s sizzling, plop the sandwich in. Turn over periodically, every 90 seconds or so, until the “cheese” is gooey and delicious and the bread has that wonderful crispity crunch.

Now that, my friends, is comfort food. Perfect for a lovely, rainy afternoon, or any time you’re just craving a yummy, easy Dad Meal. Happy chowing!

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