Posted by alisa on May 31, 2011 | 33 Comments
I see it all the time; the mother, single guy, or college student with both almond milk and regular dairy cheese in their cart at the grocery checkout. For over a year I stood there puzzled, wondering what in the world they were doing. Why buy non-dairy milk if you still eat dairy?
But over time, I realized two very important facts. One is that many people are opting to cut back on dairy, but have yet to break the cheese addiction (hence why that seems to be the only dairy item I see in ALL of these carts). And two is that milk alternatives are pretty awesome in their own right. A lot of people simply like them better than dairy milk! How cool is that?
Seriously, you can’t get that delicious, natural almond flavor that pairs so well with breakfast and dessert from cow’s milk. It is a little earthy and a little elegant all in one and the creamy sweetness of nuts is second to none.
And some days, I can’t get enough of that almond flavor, so I double or even triple its essence.
Sweet Almond Breakfast (or Healthy Dessert) Shake
Recipe adapted from Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook. This recipe is Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free (some almond milk brands do contain soy lecithin), Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, and optionally Sugar-Free.
- 1 Heaping Cup Ripe, Frozen Banana Chunks (or 1 large banana, frozen and broken into chunks)
- 1 Fresh Medjool Date, pitted (the larger the date, the sweeter the shake)
- 1 Tablespoon Creamy Almond Butter (I use unsalted raw almond butter from Trader Joe’s)
- 1/2 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk Alternative, plus additional if desired (I used Almond Dream brand, which is shelf stable – You can use regular vanilla or unsweetened)
- 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- Pinch Salt (omit if using salted almond butter)
- Ice, optional
- Sliced Almond to Garnish, optional
Note: Since I use a lower-power blender, I typically tear up the date or mash it a bit before adding. Even so, I sometimes have a few little date chunks in my shake, but definitely no harm done – I eat my shakes with a spoon, so I often like them a little chunky.
Add the banana, date, almond butter, almond milk, cinnamon, and salt, if using, to your blender. Blend until smooth. If using a lower power blender, pulse on high several times to help break up the chunks before whizzing away. If needed or desired, add more milk alternative to thin. If needed or desired, blend in ice to desired consistency and temperature (I use crushed ice and pulse it first since my blender is wimpy). I like my shakes thick.
Pour into a glass and garnish with sliced almonds if desired.
Serves 1
Blog Events:
Have you tried almond milk? What do you think of it? I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!
Posted by alisa on May 26, 2011 | 29 Comments
This was actually dairy-free. Can you believe it?
Healthy? Not so much. But seriously, bakery-made brownies that I could eat … with frosting! How could you expect me to resist this frosting …
I think I just injected like 100 grams of pure sugar into my veins and it was so frickin’ good.
Posted by alisa on May 26, 2011 | No Comments
Congratulations to Alena Mack! You’ve won a copy of Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour by Elana Amsterdam.
For the rest of you … go buy it! No seriously, this is a full color cookbook for only $10 or so on Amazon. I’m still not sure how they did that so cheap. It is seriously gift-worthy. Unreal.
Posted by alisa on May 24, 2011 | 32 Comments
Last week, I somehow found myself heavily dependent upon bread. Breakfast was two slices of toast with nut butter, and while running around town we picked up sandwiches. In the past I have treated wheat like what it is, a single ingredient. As my own personal rule, I don’t like to have more than two servings a day of a single food, and I like to keep things varied, rotating between meals throughout the week. But with a busier than usual schedule, I reached for more convenience, and it made me realize just how reliant our culture is on wheat.
I believe I’m the only one in the 30 Days to Easy Gluten-Free Living event who isn’t strictly gluten-free. But, I followed this “easily” process to create my own strictly dairy-free life, and believe it or not (last week being the exception!), I do eat gluten-free by choice for most of the week. The fact is, the very concept of gluten-free living has enabled me to think outside of the bread box and expand on my diet. Yes, you heard me correctly. Removing what we often think of as a “food group” can actually help you to diversify your diet! Wheat out, but more foods in … more options definitely makes things easier, don’t you think?
So as I embark on my cleanse, moving myself away from a heavy reliance upon bread and gluten in general, I want to share just a few of these naturally gluten-free bread and tortilla alternatives that I have discovered over the years. Sure, it takes some thought, beyond picking up a regular sandwich, but healthier eating in general requires at least a little planning, don’t you think?
Okay, lets get to it. Forget the bun, and pass on that wheat tortilla with these nifty and edible food containers …
Lettuce – This is more awesome than you may realize. Lettuce wraps are popular on Asian restaurant menus, but they can wrap up so many other foods with ease. Plus, a lettuce leaf is so much lower in carbohydrates, sugars, calories, and fat than bread, leaving you more room to enjoy ample filling (the best part in my opinion!) and also preventing that horrible belly bloat.
Leafy lettuce that is somewhat sturdy (Boston, green leaf, or even iceberg) works best for wrapping up burgers, sandwich fixins’, and even something as simple as hummus and shredded carrots. But sometimes I like to have fun by making things like Romaine Boats with Meatballs …
Collard Leaves – Collard greens are surprisingly rich in non-dairy calcium and other vitamins and minerals, but in terms of replacing tortillas, they are also extremely sturdy. I cut out the tough stem in the middle, and use the two leaf halves to rolls up some flavorful goodies. Since Collards (and other greens for that matter) can be a bit bitter, I prefer to use bolder fillings. You may wish to do this too if bitter isn’t one of your favorite tastes.
Nori – You don’t have to love sushi to appreciate this awesome seaweed. I’ve been known to roll all types of leftovers into nori wraps … from teriyaki chicken to roasted vegetables to tuna salad. You can even stick to simple veggie fillings for a light nori roll snack. I buy them in bulk on Amazon (I’m not brand loyal for nori), where they are immensely cheaper than in stores.
Nori is more fragile than collards, so it is best not to be too aggressive when rolling, nor do you want them to get too damp. Nori is also rich in natural iodine, and considered one of those healthy sea vegetables. To get the hang of rolling nori hand rolls, click the picture below to see my post for Spicy Shrimp & Avocado Hand Rolls (for a vegan filling, try the Tofu version) and some simple instructions …
Socca to Me – Made with just a few simple ingredients – mainly chickpea flour and water really – socca is one of the simplest “breads” you can make. Many socca recipes come out more like a dense flatbread, but you can do a thinner version in the oven or on the stovetop to make it roll like a wrap, or even cut it into quarters and enjoy it as the world’s easiest sandwich bread. For the most tested recipe, I always look to the socca experts, the Pure2raw Twins. This is their pan-fried Socca Wrap …
Other Types of Tortillas – Corn tortillas are cheap and easy to find, and make a great alternative to flour tortillas for Mexican food. However, since they are typically quite small, I find them limiting and a bit too “corny” for many other types of fillings. You can seek out gluten-free “wraps” in stores. The brown rice tortillas are getting easier to find, and if those are too rigid for your tastes, companies like La Tortilla Factory are using tapioca, teff, and millet as the base for their more pliable Gluten-Free Smart & Delicious Wraps. But this post isn’t about tracking down unique products, it’s about simplifying. So why not just make your own? Trust me, tortillas aren’t as difficult to make as you might think, and you can make a batch on Sunday to enjoy throughout the week! …
Grain-Free Egg-Free Tortilla Wrap Recipe from The Spunky Coconut
Okay, so those are my ideas, but please do share … What are your favorite ways to sandwich or wrap up a delicious filling?
Here’s the list of the 30 bloggers and the days that they’ll be sharing their easy gluten-free living tips and recipes!
Posted by alisa on May 19, 2011 | Comments Off
I almost forgot! I’ve got a guest post and recipe for y’all to check out over at Attune Foods. It just went up! This one is dedicated to all of my gluten-free friends, in honor of Celiac and gluten-free awareness month … but, I think everyone will like this recipe. I mean, who doesn’t like granola?
Click the picture and you will be magically transported to the recipe …
P.S. ~ I’m closing comments here, but you can comment on that post. I will read them (and respond, if needed), I promise!
P.P.S. ~ The recipe is also vegan! Yes, it is dairy-free and egg-free, plus soy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, and free of refined sugars. You can even use seeds and seed butter in place of the nuts if you want nut-free. I’m all about versatility.
P.P.P.S. ~ There’s still a Giveaway going down. Gluten-Free Cupcakes (do I sense a theme) by Elana Amsterdam. See the Giveaway Post Here to enter.
Posted by alisa on May 18, 2011 | 100 Comments
I’m heading out to BlogHer Food first thing in the a.m., but didn’t want to leave y’all without something fun. Since its gluten-free and Celiac awareness month, I thought a delicious, brand-spankin’ new gluten-free cookbook would be the perfect giveaway item …
Yes, I’m giving away Gluten-Free Cupcakes: 50 Irresistible Recipes Made with Almond and Coconut Flour by Elana Amsterdam. Technically, this is a grain-free cookbook (well beyond gluten-free!) with very easy recipes that contain just a handful of ingredients (my kind of recipe). To get a taste, click the picture below to see the Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Frosting Recipe from this cookbook …
Note to those with food allergies / intolerances: this book is completely gluten-free (obviously) and soy-free, and mostly dairy-free, but does use quite a few eggs and a lot of the recipes use nuts.
What are Giveaway Wednesdays? (Almost) every Wednesday I will host a giveaway. It may be big, it may be small. It may be hosted on Facebook, Twitter, Alisa Cooks, or Go Dairy Free. You never know where I’ll pop up with Wednesday’s giveaway! But this week, it’s here on Alisa Cooks.
How to Enter? Just comment here and let me know why you want to win this book! If you feel so inclined, you can also share a link to one of your favorite gluten-free recipes. That would just be a bonus for all of us 
How to Get a Second Entry? Tweet, Facebook, or otherwise share this giveaway with others, and leave a second comment letting me know that you did!
Deadline? I will plan to pick the winner on Monday, May 23rd!
Good luck! I’ll be back soon to report on the conference.
Posted by alisa on May 15, 2011 | 26 Comments
Do you ever find yourself muttering not-so-nice words under your breath when you discover that your “loved one” has eaten the prettiest star from your batch of baked goodies before you’ve had the chance to photograph it? All you recipe bloggers out there must know what I’m talking about.
This issue occurs on random occasions in our home, but I now empathize with the temptation that my husband sometimes can’t resist. The draw to that perfect looking product. You know, the one that you might drool over in a magazine, or specifically request (no, not that one, THAT one!) in a bakery. Because this time, I ate the perfect looking scone before I had photographed the recipe, and by the time I got my camera out, all that was left was this one …
You see, I baked them for Mother’s Day, and took four of the “almost” perfect ones to my mother-in-law (shhh! Don’t tell!), and kept the “perfect” one and the lesser-looking beauties for our morning treat. But, I just couldn’t resist. My tired taste buds had to have that it-feels-like-I-got-up-at-6am-just-to-get-the-best-scone-from-the-bakery treat. And I sure wasn’t in any mood to take photographs.
So, if you want to see that perfect looking scone, you’ll just have to make this healthy breakfast recipe for yourself …
Apple Cinnamon Whole Wheat Scones
The whole wheat pastry flour definitely makes for a heartier scone … something my palate prefers in the a.m. …
A little texture close-up of my whole wheat version to give you an idea.
If you prefer something fluffier, feel free to sub all or part of the flour with all-purpose flour or even cake flour. Also, I’m sure you can easily make this recipe gluten-free, if desired, with your favorite gluten-free flour blend and a little xanthan gum or guar gum (or even an egg added).
These are gently sweet, but I like to add a little crunchy sugar on the tops for that extra oomph of indulgence.
This recipe is Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Soy-Free, and Refined Sugar-Free.
- 1/4 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Coconut / Palm Sugar, divided (I’m enjoying a 5 lb bag of Blue Mountain Organics brand, but you can sub Evaporated Cane Juice or Brown Sugar if needed)
- 2 Cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/3 Cup solid or softened Coconut Oil (I use Nutiva brand, but you can sub Dairy-Free Margarine or Shortening)
- 1 Apple, peeled and shredded (about 1 cup of apple shreds)
- 1/2 Cup Milk Alternative (I used Coconut Milk Beverage, which is a little higher in fat – feel free to use any plain, unsweetened, or vanilla milk alternative of your choosing)
Preheat your oven to 425ºF, and line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
Place the 1/4 cup coconut / palm sugar in your spice or coffee grinder and give it a quick whiz to powder it; this should take more than 10 or 15 seconds. You can skip this step if using brown sugar.
Pour the powdered coconut sugar (or brown sugar) into a large bowl. Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until everything is well-combined. Add the coconut oil (or other fat) and using a fork or pastry blender, cut it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in the apple and milk alternative, until the mixture starts to come together. It should be a little crumbly, but fairly easy to handle (not sticky) and easy to form into two balls. If it is too wet, add a little flour, too drink, sprinkle in some more milk alternative.
Take those two balls of dough, and gently flatten them into two disks that are about an inch to an inch and a half high on a baking sheet . Sprinkle the scones with the remaining tablespoon of sugar (the stuff you left coarse) or even a little more if desired. Cut or score the disks into 4 or 6 triangles (like a pizza), and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the scones begin to take on a nice golden brown hue on the tops and edges.
Makes 8 to 12 scones
Blog Events: Entered in the giveaway of coconut oil @ Cara’s Cravings
Posted by alisa on May 12, 2011 | 6 Comments
Okay, Random.org told me that these people are the winners of the FREE Product Attune Foods Coupons:
And, Random.org told me that this lucky person is going to the Fitness & Health Blogger Conference:
Congratulations to everyone! I’ll be emailing you all shortly.
For everyone else, a recipe is coming up next …
Posted by alisa on May 11, 2011 | 39 Comments
On Friday, I will be making a quick trip south for CDF (to be held Saturday, May 14), the Celiac Disease Conference in Los Angeles, CA. I’ll be working at the Attune Foods booth, handing out chocolate samples, free product coupons, and even selling some of my books! Stop by and say hi if you are going to be attending the event. It should be quite the informational gathering, and though I don’t have a Celiac diagnosis, I’m very curious to learn more.
Now, for those of you who can’t make the event … have no fear! I’ve got some free product coupons for you too!
First, what does Attune make (and what can you get with these coupons)?
- Attune Probiotic Chocolate Bars – The dark ones are dairy-free! All are certified gluten-free.
- Attune Probiotic Granola Munch – I hear it is awesome, but it isn’t dairy-free, so alas, not on my menu (I’m working on them though!).
- Erewhon Cereals – Many awesome ones to choose from (the Strawberry Crisp and Crispy Brown Rice being my Favs), and all gluten-free ones are certified gluten-free.
- Uncle Sam Cereals – Ah history. This cereal has been around for decades!
- New Morning Graham Products - The do contain honey (not 100% vegan, but the above noted products are), but if you are good with this, the Grahamwiches are not to be missed!
- Skinner’s Cereals – Hmm, haven’t tried yet, but looks like a good healthy staple.
Okay, so three of you (U.S. only for this one) will receive three free product coupons to use on the Attune products of your choice!
To Enter: Simply head to the Attune Foods website, and then comment below, letting me know what product(s) you would pick up with these coupons.
Additional Entries: “Like” Go Dairy Free and or Attune Foods on Facebook, and let me know you did (or already do) in another comment.
Deadline: This is a one-day-only contest (I’ve got to pack!), so enter by 6am EST, Thursday, May 12, 2011.
One More Giveaway Announcement! I just found out Attune Foods is giving away copies of my book, Go Dairy Free, on their blog! If you don’t already have it, or want a gift copy, head over to this post, and enter to win!
Posted by alisa on May 9, 2011 | 21 Comments
Oh do I have a giveaway for y’all … or at least for those of you who will be (or can be) in beautiful Boulder, Colorado from June 24 – 26. I’m going to be speaking with the lovely Elana of Elana’s Pantry at the Fitness & Health Blogger Conference … and as a speaker they are allowing me to giveaway one free ticket to the event!
This is a full-fledged, fun-packed conference (a busy 2-1/2 days) that will include:
- Tech, Community, Writing, and Fitness & Health learning sessions
- Awesome keynote speakers
- Optional guided fitness activities throughout the event (indoors and outdoors)
- A sponsored dinner event
- After hours parties
- And last but not least, hobnobbing with dozens of health-minded bloggers and fitness gurus!
To enter to win: Simply leave a comment and tell me why you want to attend this event. The winner will be selected on Thursday, May 12th!
If you can’t make it for those dates, then please(!) do feel free to share this giveaway with others who might want to attend. This is going to be a very, very fun event, and I want to make sure everyone who might be interested knows about it!
For more information on the event, visit http://fitnessbloggersconference.org
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