Dairy Free Hollandaise Sauce

So being dairy free – do you remember the smooth, creamy, buttery taste of hollandaise sauce? Don’t worry, I won’t make your mouth water for nothing!

When I lived in Kelowna, I used to go on Sunday’s with friends to a place called the Jammery for Eggs Benny!   They would do English Muffins w/cream cheese, apricot jam, ham, eggs and hollandaise sauce – it was TO DIE FOR!!!! 

So I was thinking about that – mouth watering and decided to try out a recipe and see what happened?    Now it’s been a long time since I’ve tasted hollandaise – but I felt like it was close!

This recipe is by no means good for you!

Dairy Free Hollandaise Sauce

1/4 cup dairy free margarine

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp turmeric ( I added more but I love turmeric!)

1 tsp lemon juice

Whisk together all ingredients over medium heat!   Add salt to taste.  Depending on the coconut milk you use, you may need to add some thickener to it – I added about 1 tsp sifted cornstarch.   Continue whisking together until everything is combined and warmed!

I served over a peice of dairy free toast (which I cut the corners off of to make it look pretty), sautéed kale  and of course with a perfectly poached egg!

It was oozy and delicious and perfect for a lazy weekend treat!

Sorry it took me awhile to post – but I hope you enjoy this recipe!!   Next time I will recreate the Jammery’s recipe with dairy free cream cheese and apricot jam!! Mmmm!!

xo Jessica

Dairy Free Christmas Treats

Hey everyone!!  Finally a post from me!    I apologize for not posting, but I have only been cooking 1x per week due to my work schedule (working nights) and our busy weekends! 

I’m starting my holiday baking though, which reminded me of a few treats I made last year when I was writing for Our Big Earth!

Here you go!!  I will try to post more baking – as I am obsessed with this caramel recipe and I’m trying to make lots of Christmas caramel treats!

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It’s amazing that the store shelves have been stocked with Christmas decorations for a month now, and that Christmas is just around the bend, which means it’s a perfect time to start Christmas baking!  

As many of you know, if you don’t bake or make treats that means you probably won’t get any treats at Christmas. Every treat laid out beautifully at family and friend’s homes that you can’t touch. For me baked goods don’t call my name as much as chocolate does! One of my favourite Christmas treats were my Grandma’s chocolate covered dried fruit and nuts, oh the horror when I couldn’t even have a single bite!

If you are dairy-free or vegan I know you feel my pain. But I have a bunch of great alternatives for you this holiday season! Each one of these is very fast to make, cheap, gluten-free and make fantastic gifts. I don’t often go anywhere over the holidays without a plate of these goodies and they are typically the first ones to disappear (I promise I’m not the only one eating them!) All the goodies can be frozen, to pull out before guests arrive.

After a few years of buying very expensive dairy free chocolate, I was ecstatic to find out that President’s Choice, “The Decedent” chocolate chips are dairy-free. They have a great rich chocolate flavour, and are the chocolate that I use in all the recipes.  I also buy a 10lb box of chocolate chips at Costco – and they are dairy free and tasty!

Peanut Butter Cups

These little beauties are a favourite around our house. Also last year they won a Christmas baking contest! They are so simple, yet so tasty!

• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 TBSP coconut oil (optional, but adds to the flavours)
• 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup icing sugar
• Mini cupcake liners (Dollar store often has fun holiday themed ones!)

-Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in a double boiler until smooth.

-Mix peanut butter and icing sugar together to form a dough. If dough is sticky to touch, add extra icing sugar.

-Add a bit of melted chocolate to cupcake liner. Tap on counter until chocolate fills bottom of liner.

-Once all liners are full, put into fridge or freezer until solid.

-Once chocolate is solid, take a dime size amount of peanut butter dough and roll into a ball, then flatten.

-Add to liner; keep the peanut butter dough away from the corners of the liner.

-Cover with a bit of melted chocolate – tap until peanut butter is covered.

-Return to fridge/freezer until harden.

Fruit and Nut Bark

• 1/2 cup toasted, unsalted nuts (can be assorted), pistachios look beautiful!
• 1/2 cup dried fruit (chopping into small pieces )
• 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1 TBSP coconut oil

-Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in a double boiler.

-Once melted, mix nuts and dried fruit into chocolate mixture.

-Pour onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet

-Smooth until 1 inch thick

-Place in fridge or freeze until solid

-Break into assorted sized pieces and serve slightly chilled

Marshmallow Snowflakes

Great recipe for left over chocolate!! Looks beautiful on a plate with other goodies.

-Dip marshmallows into melted chocolate and roll in coconut.

-Place on parchment lined baking sheet and place in fridge until chocolate is solid.

Chai Tea Candied Nuts

I have made this recipe with a few different flavours of spice including chilli pepper, cinnamon, curry and they are all delicious but this is my favourite and most festive! Plus your house smells amazing while cooking!

• 3 tea chai tea bags (or more if you like more spice)
• 3 cups unsalted, raw nuts (I used almonds and pecans)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp. earth balance butter (or butter of choice)

-Break open chai tea bags, pour chai into coffee grinder or spice mill to grind into a powder.

-Add nuts, water, sugar, butter and chai tea into a pan.

-Turn stove to medium heat and stir nut mixture until the liquid has dissolved and nuts are caramelized.

-Stir constantly to prevent burning.

-Transfer onto a parchment lined pan and put into fridge until cooled.

-Break apart once cooled.

Hope you enjoyed these!!  I will have more for you soon – I promise!

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Empty the Pantry Granola!

So if you knew me in my pre-dairy free days, you would know that one of my FAVORITE things was yogurt with granola and fresh fruit!  

I NEVER buy soy yogurt because it’s so expensive,  but the other day a 12 pack was on sale for under $5!!  I get this brand – and it’s very tasty!

So I had this 12 pack of “yogurt” so I KNEW I needed some granola to go with it!

Voilà -  I made some and it was perfect!

Empty the Pantry, Dairy Free Granola!

I call this empty the pantry, because I pretty much just used anything I had little bits of!!

2 cups oats

1/2 cup chia seeds

1/2 cup dry millet

1/2 cup dry buck wheat oats

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Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix all above ingredients into a large bowl

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Add to the mix;

1 TBSP Mesquite (optional)

1 TBSP Lucuma (optional)

1 TBSP cinnamon

1 TBSP vanilla

1/8 cup oil

1/4 cup liquid sweetener – I used maple syrup.

Mix together – taste and adjust flavours – you may want to add some salt to the mix too!

Put mixture on a baking sheet – and bake for 10 minutes

After 10 minutes flip granola and pop back into oven.

At this point – watch the granola so it doesn’t burn.   After about 5 minutes – I turned off the oven and just let the granola sit in the hot oven for a couple hours!

It came out perfect and crunchy!

The buckwheat grouts and millet added an awesome crunch and the mesquite and Lucuma added a really satisfying flavour (as well as boosted the nutritional stats!)

This granola would be great to wrap up as a gift for someone too!!   It should last awhile in an airtight container!!

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Do you have a favourite granola recipe?

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I’ve noticed a bit of a fade in the 30 miles in 30 days challenge!  Don’t loose hope!

I know though, I’m having a hard time with it too – because I am doing so many fitness classes at work – I’m tired when I get home and want to just hang out!  But we can still keep going!   We are only on week 2~~~  So feel free to join still!!

Honey Almond Thumb Print Cookies

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadian Folks! Eh!

Guess what I’m doing today?

Wooooo!!!!  I’m doing Zumba in the parade!!   1.25 hours – 11 songs x 2 – I’m going to be one tired – but super pumped cookie!  SO excited!! Hopefully someone will take pictures so I can do a re-cap!!

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Moving along…

There is this amazing gal in my life.

I call her (and her sister) – my little sisters!

My parents and her parents have always been good friends and when I was 18, I moved to their town – they were the only people I knew – so needless to say I spent a lot of time with them and they became my family!

This amazing gal was a bridesmaid in my wedding (obviously), even though she was always supposed to be a flower girl (what can I say, I waited a long time to get married!).  She also graduated from high school a few weeks ago, and I’m one proud big sis!!

ANYWAYS – this whole segue is because when I go visit, she always makes some dairy free treats (she’s an amazing cook!)  Anyways, last time I went to visit she made me these amazing cookies!   And I stole the recipe from her!

I hope you enjoy these yummy cookies!

Honey Almond Thumb Print Cookies

2 cups flour

1 cup almonds (or cashews)

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup honey

1/2 cup oil

Jam for filling (I use only the best – Newfoundland Nan’s Homemade Raspberry!)

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Pre-heat oven to 325.

Put almonds (or cashews) in a blender or food processor and chop until it becomes a chunky flour consistency.

In a bowl – add flour, almonds, salt, honey and oil and mix until it looks like this…

Next – roll dough into balls and place on cookie sheet.  (the dough will seem crumbly, but go with it!)

Put a thumb print in each cookie (think – the deeper the hole, the more jam!)

Add in jam or other goodies into the hole (peanut butter and jam is awesome)

Bake cookies for 15 – 20 minutes or until they begin to brown!

Let cool – and drool!!

These cookies have an awesome flavour – the roasted almonds provide a crunch, and the honey adds an awesome sweetness!  Plus the jam becomes oozy and caramelizes a wee bit!

Hope you give these a try – they are fantastic!

Enjoy your Canada Day or July 1st!!

Are you up to anything fun this weekend?

PS.  Update of the cute puppies coming up next week!

Healthy Banana Bread

I asked the hubby the other day what we wanted me to bake, and without hesitation he said BANANA BREAD with chocolate chips!   Just the thought of that made my mouth water!!

Okey dokey, I’m on it!!

Healthy Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

First mix together in a bowl

2 c flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

Then combine in a separate bowl

• 3  very ripe bananas squished and squashed!
• 2 chia eggs (2 table spoons chia seed + 6 TBSP water – let sit 15 minutes) or 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup brown sugar ( may want to use less if adding chocolate chips, it was a tad sweet)
• 1/2 c almond milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• zest of an orange

Mix wet and dry ingredients until just incorporated.

Preheat oven to 350.

Grease a bread pan and add mixture.

Bake for an hour or until tooth pick comes out clean!

Slice and enjoy!

Well… a few more hours of work for me and then I am off for 3 days!!  So excited!!

I hope you enjoy your weekend!!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls

The first of many guest posts coming up in the next week!!  

Kristina from Spa Bettie is here today, with another tasty dairy free treat!!

Make sure to check out her blog, it’s wonderful and jam packed full of beautiful bright photography and the cutest puppy around!

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I am honored to guest post for Jessica while she is getting married and enjoying the sunny beaches of Mexico! Congrats, again, Jessica! So happy for you and excited to hear about all the details!

First I'm sharing my recipe for a great energy snack I make all the time, then showing the special adaptation I made just for Valentines Day and for Jessica!

Of my many no bake energy ball recipes, and this is the most popular at our house:

peanut butter chocolate ball

1 cup peanut butter 1/2 to 3/4 cup millet puffs 1/4 cup cocoa powder

Combine peanut butter and cocoa until blended; add puffs. You may need to mix and adjust, mix and adjust. I added more peanut butter after I started rolling – they do stick together.

Makes 20 one inch balls, with some sampling as you go. Store in refrigerator.

For Valentines, for friends getting married, for a Saturday afternoon, I made this recipe into a tasty treat.

Instead of shaping into bite size pieces, simply flatten the mixture into a pan -

I used a 9x9 square. Melt a package of vegan marshmallows -

I used Sweet Sara chocolate peppermint

YUM! Spread the melted marshmallows over the top, refrigerate to set.

The chewy top with mild peppermint flavor is a perfect marriage with the nutty chocolate base. Thank you again,

Jessica for having me here while you are in Mexico! I wish you and David the best!

Dairy Free over the Holidays

Christmas is fast approaching, and that can be a scary time for Dairy Free people.

I know that my first 2 Christmas’s dairy free were a total drag.  No deserts, no cheese plates, no mashed potatoes… ugg..

So here are some suggestions,  they won’t work everywhere, but you can try!

Please be cautious, these are things I have found to be dairy free, that doesn't mean that it still is 100%, products and labels change often.  You are best off reading boxes, or not eating something if you are unsure.

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At HOLIDAY PARTIES

Christmas Dinner

(source)

I wish I had better news here… 

Unless I know the person well (and ask them to let me know what I can and cannot eat) I bring my own plate of food.  Many people will accidently cook with margarine or put a splash of milk into things, which equals a turkey and a dairy hangover!

It’s just so much safer to bring your own, or if it’s a family ordeal, cook with them to do your own mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing etc. 

Some good alternatives

Bring Earth Balance Butter with you! (I even trek mine to Newfoundland)

Chicken or Veggie Stock in mashed potatoes and stuffing is awesome.

Safe Appetizers Eats

I am basing this on what usually shows up at my parties – if you have any questions let me know.

Shrimp Cocktail

Crackers – Triscuts (be aware there is 1 flavoured with parmesan), wheat thins, saltines, water crackers, “mary’s gone crackers” crackers, most rice crackers, graham crackers,

Anything pickled – onions, pickles, asparagus

Olives, antipasto,

Spinach dip is a no no, but it means there will be sourdough bread – which is dairy free.

Fruit or Veggies – beware of dips though.

Smoked Salmon is fine

Salsa and guacamole (usually ok)

Sushi

Bacon wrapped scallops

Meatballs* this is one I would check for sure, usually these are ok, but there are some people who put parmesan cheese in them.

Devilled Eggs are usually dairy free, but double check if you can.

Chips – nacho chips, plain, ripple, for Canadians, most ketchup chips are dairy free, pretzels,

Nuts

Stay away from or beware of; cold cuts (meat), any dips, crackers (except the ones listed above), chocolate anything, anything that looks deep fried or store bought, chicken wings, always ask before eating, quiche,

Candy & Treats

Junior Mints, wine gums, jube jubes, suckers, jelly beans, candy canes (I have never seen one with dairy, even the creamy sounding ones, again double check those ones), candy corn.

Stay away from – cookies of any and every variety (sorry), caramels, chocolate anything (including white chocolate), peanut brittle unless you check first!

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Starbucks drinks or goodies – Dairy Free

I don’t know about you guys, but I spend a lot of time at Starbucks over the holidays,  I think it’s because of all the visitors.  This list can work good at other coffee places too!

Soy Chai Latte

Soy Misto

Soy Cappuccino

Soy Toffee Nut Latte 

Soy Steamed Milk with Toffee Nut (my fav), Caramel, Vanilla.

Soy Peppermint Latte

Any of the Teas

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Lucy’s Cookies (in the little baggies)

Just Peeled Snacks

The Sahal Nut Snacks

Shaken Ice Tea Lemonade (the passion one is awesome)

BEWARE OF – anything egg nog, the crème brule, caramel, their smoothies have whey powder, but they are good about not adding it, and using soy milk.

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They are great (at my Starbucks at least) about helping me figure out what to order, so ask away – this goes for any coffee houses.

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I hope this helps, even a bit!   Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions!!  I know I probably missed lots!

Cheers to a happy and healthy holiday season,

Jess