One time I was buying some packaged fresh mozzarella and noticed the container said 'vegetarian' on it. That's odd, of course cheese is vegetarian, it isn't meat... that is a pretty hard line definition there. Then I found out how cheese is made. It's surprising to me that even though we have plant-based enzymes that can culture cheese the same way as animal-based enzymes, most cheeses are not technically vegetarian. That's an annoying technicality I usually overlook myself, but if I notice the label says vegetarian, I'm more likely to buy it.
Another thing is gelatin, which is used in so many things that seem vegetarian like jello, fruit snacks, jams/jellies, marshmallows, mints, and more. With the press around omega-3s over the past decade or so, food manufacturers have been adding fish oil to things like orange juice, breads, and vitamins. And my most recent discovery (and reason for this rant) is caesar dressing includes anchovies!? Seriously!?!
Well, the easy solution for me was to swap in buttermilk ranch dressing into my 'caesar' salad instead (I like it better any way). But that's not all! Grilling your romaine adds a little crunch and a bit of sweet smokiness. And then making your own croutons means you're in control of the flavor. Altogether, this makes one awesome salad that is totally satisfying by itself or as a side.
