11 Things

My blog buddy Elizabeth tagged me in this fun post.  I love stuff like this, and I love reading about other people’s randomness!

RULES

1. Post these rules.

2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3. Answer the questions the person who tagged you set for you in their post.

4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

Without further ado, eleven random things about me:

1 – I have an obsession with lip smackers.  I ALWAYS have it with me,  If i get caught without it, I’m not  a happy girl.

2-  I love trashy reality tv.   My favorite is the bachelor and ANTM – I don’t enjoy drama in my own life, but I love it on TV!

3-I’ve travelled to Mexico about 8 times!  Feeling kind of done with Mexico, I’m ready for somewhere different!   3 of the trips were missionary trips, 4 were vacation and 1 was for our wedding! I still love it though!

4 –I have an irrational fear of spiders being in my shoes.  I usually shake my shoes out before I put them on! Weird thing is, I’ve never had a spider in my shoe! ha

5- I’m cheap with most things in my life.  Lots of my wardrobe is from thrift stores or crazy sales – I rarely spend full price on anything.  Two areas I am not cheap – healthy foods and lululemon (and bath and body works is beginning to be a problem too).  That being said – I think of health food as an investment and I wear my lulu every single day at work!!

6 – I put nutritional yeast on just about everything!  It’s an absolute must in my world

7- I love magazines! Especially Vegetarian, Chatelaine, Best Health and my # 1 favourite is Alive.

8 – I’m finding it hard to come up with random things about me…

9 – I ALWAYS take the isle seat – I like a quick get away! If I’m not on it, I get anxious.

10 – I am VERY addicted to Pintrest.   But that being said, I have made a lot of things from there – including a Valentine’s Day Gift, a chalk board, sauerkraut, homemade make up wipes…

11- I think everyone that reads my blog is incredible.   I really appreciate your support and hope that my blog helps you with the challenges of being dairy free.   I really do hope to make a comeback soon! (maybe when the days are brighter and my pictures look good again!)

 

Here are are Elizabeth’s  11 questions for me:

1. If you could pick your theme song, what would it be?  Hmmm… 
2. What is your favourite local restaurant?  A local sushi place – best sushi I’ve found anywhere!!
3. What day of the week were you born?  Saturday!
4. Tea or coffee?  Herbal Tea! (I have a bit of a tea problem!)
5. Pants or skirts?  Pants for sure!!  As much as I’d love to be girly… pants are practical
6. Where would you go on your ideal vacation?  A lovely quiet beach with crystal blue water, hammocks, snorkelling, fresh food and my husband!
7. What’s your favorite day of the week? I don’t really have a favourite.  I enjoy my job, so the whole week is fine.
8. Are you an early bird or a night owl?  Early bird…  10:00 is usually bedtime!
9. What is your favorite sport to watch?   I don’t watch any sports
10. Do you have a secret talent?  I don’t think so?
11. What is your go-to workout song? Sandstorm by Da Rule – gets me motivated anytime, anywhere.

 

Now 11 blogs that I nominate; (not all dairy free, but all of them are lovely!)  There are so many wonderful bloggers out there that I’d love to nominate – but here goes my random 11!

Dairy Free Omnivore

Non- Dairy Queen

A Life Without Ice Cream

Happy Go Lucky Vegan

The Purple Carrot

Girl on Raw

Toronto Girl Out West

Voracious Eats

Everyday Foodie

Thrive Style

And even though she’s off on adventures in India – Healthful Pursuit

Ok and the 11 questions you must answer!

1. Why did you start blogging
2. What is one food you could NEVER live without
3. What’s your biggest fear
4. Name 3 things always in your purse
5. Favorite flower
6. Favorite ethnic food
7. 3 bloggers you would love to meet in person
8. Something we would never know about you
9. If you could spend 1 month anywhere where would it be
10. If you could name a nail polish color, what color would it be, and what would you name it?
11. Favorite recipe you have found on someone else’s blog?

Can’t wait to read all about your answers!

Dairy Free on Valentine’s Day

Being dairy free on Valentine’s Day feels like a drag – all those velvet covered  heart shaped boxes of yummy chocolate.  Chocolate roses, chocolate fondues… everything about Valentine’s day is about indulgence – and indulgence usually means full fat cream, butter and dairy laden chocolate!

I’m here to save you! 

(Sweet hearts above are dairy free!) – source

You can check out my post from Valentines last year – full of Valentine’s Day treats including a nut based lemon cheesecake, banana lemon pie, banana soft serve with caramel and chocolate sauce and my favorite – chocolate love affair cookies!

Up at the top of my list today – Fruit Kebabs with Brownies and Chocolate Drizzle

A link to a few other tasty treats – (note the rolos are not dairy free)… this link includes – chocolate dipped figs with pecans, chocolate drizzled jube jubes (sooo good!)

I made this chocolate fudge at Christmas time and it was LOVED by everyone.  I also warmed up some peanut butter in the microwave and swirled it through – SO good!

My ABSOLUTE favorite caramel recipe – I used this to make turtles and peanut clusters – it takes about 5 mins total, and your dairy free loved one will feel SO loved!

Over Christmas I made Oh She Glows Sinless Sticky Toffee Date Pudding – it was incredible and gooey!!

 

Not a pretty picture but what can you do?

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.

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Something I want to make very soon – Chocolate Dipped Oreos!! (yes Oreos are dairy free!!)

(source)

Melt some dairy free chocolate (like Endangered Species 72%) with a little coconut oil in a double boiler on the stove. 

Dip the Oreos in the chocolate and cover completely.  Place  dipped Oreos on parchment paper – now’s the fun part! Decorate with sprinkles, or edible sparkles – you could have fun with this one!!

Place dipped Oreos in the fridge until hardened, and then place each Oreo in a Valentines (or red) cupcake liner!!   Voilà – a beautiful jester of the deepest dairy free love! 

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How about some chocolate fondue??? (I loooooove chocolate fondue)

Make this to taste (may need to adjust ingredients – this is just a rough guess of what I put in);

1 TBSP - Raw Cocoa Powder

2 TBSP - Maple Syrup (or Agave)

2 TBSP Warm Water

vanilla

Optional;

spices if you like – get creative – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, chilli powder, curry

1 TBSP – Peanut Butter, Tahini or other nut butter (Cashew would be dreamy)

1 tsp. – macca powder (optional – but good to help with the feelings of LOVE!)

Liquor – Sub Kahlua (which is dairy free) or an orange liquor for the water.

Mix it all together and get dipping!

Ideas for dippers – fruit, dried fruits, angel food cake, graham crackers, marshmallows, brownies

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Oh and then there is Chocolate Covered Katie's 20 Valentines Day Treats! (SERIOUSLY drooly)…

Remember – ANY vegan recipe is dairy free – and 99% of Raw recipes are dairy free (there are a few with Raw Dairy in them?!)

 

Hope you have a beautiful Valentine’s Day and you find something sweet for yourself and for your sweetie!

Alive… I am Alive!

Well hello there.

I was a little shocked to see that I haven’t posted for almost a month?  How did that happen?   I know how that happened, I have been a busy bee!!

I thought I’d do a little iPhone drop to show what I’ve been up to!!

First off any ideas what this is?  Isn’t it beautiful?

Any ideas?    

 

It’s the ice pattern on my car!!  So beautiful – it’s not my iPhone background!  

 

Ok – you aren’t here for ice patterns…

What’s been on my plate lately?

black berries – lots of them… and they are soooooooo good!

 

The other thing that I have been eating lots of is this detox salad.

It’s sooo incredible and awesome on everything – including this turkey burger!!

 

If you follow me on facebook you know that I found a real treat a few weeks ago in Nanaimo.

I saw it in the mall – and walked in to ask if they had anything dairy free… AND THEY DID!!

A berry sorbet – and it was awesome!  Topped with fresh fruit and coconut!  I was in Heaven!

How nice to know when I got to Nanaimo to shop that I can have a treat!!

Speaking of Nanaimo – after a quick stop we were on our way to Victoria for awards for work!

I do not usually wear aviators – actually I think they are terrible..but it was sunny and they were the only sun glasses the hubby had in his car! (hence the silly photo!)

 

Funny story about the awards dinner – they were super accommodating (through email) regarding my allergy (which was awesome)… when it came to the meal though – it was a bit of a mess!   It all turned out and I appreciated it… then was dessert – I was getting some  fresh fruit at the dessert table and the waiter came up to me to say they made me a special dessert.  I was SO excited!  Here is a picture of what it looked like…

It was a huge bowl – the blue was 1/2 a blue berry (for a total of 1 blueberry).  The red was was thumb nail sizes of strawberry (in total less than 1/4 of a strawberry).  The green was mint and the yellow was an even smaller size of pineapple (in total maybe 1/1000 of the pineapple).. 

I soooo wish I would have taken a photo of it!  You would have laughed with me for sure (everyone at my table was laughing!)   Anyways I totally appreciated it anyways!! It’s just a funny dairy free story!

Moving on..

Once to Victoria – we headed to Cafe Bliss (drool).  All vegan and mostly raw I love this place!

I got this mango pudding with coconut cream – which was fantastic!  (I love that they serve everything in mason jars – which you can return to get your deposit back)

I also got some ginger kombucha, and a bunch of other fantastic desserts!  If you head to Victoria – check it out for sure!!

As you know I work 4 evenings per week – which makes dinner a huge  challenge (hence the reason I haven’t been blogging much)…  but this Sunday yummy food was made!!

Veggie chow mein, roasted asparagus and cauliflower and honey sesame chicken (from Pintrest)

such an awesome meal!    If you don’t follow me on Pintrest you should – I have a bit of a problem with it, and pin LOADS of goodies!

Also I tend to chat a bit on facebook – so I’d love it if you joined me there too!  (I tend to post short tips, ideas, recipes daily there!

Ciao for now,

Jessica

Gaining Weight Dairy Free

I know many of the people that read my blog have children with dairy allergies/intolerances.  I was asked on facebook one day to write about  “Helping Children gain weight without dairy, eggs, peanuts, wheat or soy.”

I have never had this problem before (aka needing to gain weight) so I had to do a lot of research on this topic.

I also don’t have kids, so I’m not an expert by any means…  but I have worked with kids for 12+ years, so I know they are picky – but I thought I’d put every suggestion I could think of.

Here is what I found out.

 

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#1 – Avocado  -  a great way to get in healthy fats – I know kids may not love avocado – so a few ways to incorporate it into your diet – blend up in smoothies, make pasta sauce, guacamole dip for veggies.  Or what about avocado pudding?  It’s great in chocolate or lemon flavour, they won’t even notice the avocado! I’m not personally a fan of cooking avocado – but you could always give it a try?

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#2 - Oils! Olive Oil, Grape seed, Flax Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil, Walnut Oil – find different ways to incorporate them into your diet.  Most oils can be blended into smoothies, drizzled on popcorn instead of butter (I love flax seed oil on butter) or on veggies?  I know kids love dipping – so you could add some herbs or spices to some oil – and get some great bread!!

#3 Coconut – coconut sometimes gets a bad wrap – but according to this 160 ways to use coconut oil – it shows that it has many benefits!   Kids love the process of buying a fresh coconut – shaking it to listen to all the water inside and then helping to open it, peeling out the inside and eating it!!  Fresh coconut is awesome with some lime squeezed on it!  Costco also sells dried sweetened coconut chunks – which are an awesome snack.   If you are lucky enough to find coconut cream – it’s delicious too!   Coconut milk can be added to recipes which you would like creamy – recently I used it to make FUDGE (I subbed coconut milk for unsweetened condensed milk)!

#4  Nuts/Seeds – Cashews, Almonds, Macadamia Nuts, Ground Sesame Seeds (tahini) etc.  These can be blended into soups – to make them creamy.  Homemade nut milks.  Make your own nut butters. Or make sauces like mmmm sauce.  With the left over nut pulp from the above almond milk – you can make almond cheese!!  It’s tasty, and somewhat like cream cheese!   As for tahini you can make caramel sauce which is an awesome dip for fresh fruit.   Nuts are a great base for making creamy salad dressings too! 

#5 Dried Fruits – I’m not saying not to get your kids to eat fresh fruit – but sometime swap out dried fruit for fresh.   Think about it, it’s way easier to eat 10 dried apricots than it is to eat 10 fresh ones.   Especially for kids.   Raisins, apricots, dried mango etc.… awesome snack to have with you! 

#6 – Fish! You all know I LOVE fish!  I know kids may not be huge fans of fish though but try to make it fun by making healthy fish sticks, or making a salmon or tuna dip (think tuna/salmon salad but without that kid disapproved word salad)

 

Another option…  Limit liquids before and after meals – I know when I was nannying, the boys would easily fill up on liquids before a meal, which meant they weren’t hungry for the meal.

From Web MD

“Have meals with the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and the right kinds of fat (such as unsaturated and monounsaturated fats, olive oil, canola oil, pistachios, almonds and walnuts). Heinemann suggests the following ratio: 60%-70% carbohydrates, 10%-15% protein, and a small amount of fat.”

As for babies and formula – I know a few people have said that there is a soy free, dairy free formula out there, but it’s quite expensive.  If you know any more on this – please leave a comment.

Please add any suggestions to the comment section or facebook.

On my plate

Morning!

So I mentioned on facebook that I am doing a post about how to gain weight while being dairy free – as per a readers request.  I don’t want to half ass the post – so I am taking some time and doing research on it – keep your eyes open for it next week!

I just uploaded the photos from my iPhone and didn’t realize I had so many meal photos!!   I know a few of you newly dairy free friends are having a hard time figuring out what to eat – so maybe these will help you out!   Just a snippet of my eats as of late!

I’ve been on a healthy eating kick lately – and feeling awesome!

Snack plate – one of my favourites!  Green peas, tomatoes & carrots.   Gluten free crackers, smoked salmon and guacamole (I only ate about 1/2 the guac and salmon!!)

 

Salmon – pan fried with BBQ spices.   Roasted veggies and black quinoa that I cooked with chicken broth and dried mushrooms.

 

Trout with BBq spices, steamed kale and asparagus with a grain medley from Costco – also cooked with mushrooms and chicken broth.

Smoked salmon, dairy free cream cheese with cucumbers on toast.   and a few olives.

Another snack plate – hummus, veggies, pickles, rice crackers and canned fish

Blackberries, multigrain cibbattta bun with mayo, nooch and cucumber

Green smoothie – mangos, mixed frozen fruit, orange juice, spinach and loads of macca

Lunch yesterday – steamed kale, chickpeas with oil & vinegar dressing & sweet potatoes fries.

Apparently I only take pictures of my food if it’s fish?  I also eat chicken and tofu!!

These meals are all pretty healthy, but I assure you sweets/treats were eaten too!  I try to keep my main meals as healthy as I can – but no one is perfect!! 

Hope this helps anyone struggling with what to eat!!

Resolution Update!

Wow – hard to believe that 2011 is over!   2011 was a year of challenges & obstacles, celebrations & smiles! Coming to the end, I look back and I learned a lot and was lucky enough to be surrounded by lots of wonderful things and people!

2011 New Years Resolutions Post -  http://www.dairyfreebetty.com/2011/01/its-new-year.html 

UPDATE

being more positive (seeing the opportunity in everything) – I have fallen into a pattern of just automatically going negative with most things…  no more!  - DONE!!  I’m very happy with life right now, and am trying to live by the quote “Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful”

---More yoga!! Nope – I’ve gone to a class or 2, but never got the yoga bug.

---Maybe run a 5km race?  Nope – I’ve been loving Zumba and other classes at our gym lately – I have gone for a run or 2 this year (hehe)

---Make more healthy foods!  Yes, although this has been a challenge.  I have been trying my best to eat whole foods (but those damn ketchup chips always sneak in)!! 

---BE PRESENT – This is a hard one.  I try to recognize good things on a daily basis…

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This year has been a challenging one, but I am SO happy with life these days.  I haven’t been blogging because I am out enjoying life!

I’ll be working on a recap of the year for the next few days!  Lots has happened & lots of good recipes have been made!

Also I am looking for blogging inspiration, so if you have any suggestions please let me know!!  I’m up for a challenge!

 

Jessica

What was baked!

Hey guys!

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas?  Time flies when you are having fun!!  This has been a whirlwind kind of week.  My husband finished his masters degree on Tuesday (YAY), I had a surprise party for him Friday, tonight is my Christmas party and the hubby’s parents are coming to stay with us for a week – so as you can imagine, life is busy (but wonderful)…

I’ve had a few emails regarding surviving over the holidays being dairy free.  I highly recommend taking a look at my Dairy Free Survival Guide for ideas and also my post, Challenges of Being Dairy Free is a great one with tips for what to do where!   These posts and a few more can always been found at the top of my blog under Dairy Free Resources.  

Moving on – I have been terrible at taking food photos – so bear with me.    I wanted to compile a list of all the things that I baked this Christmas!!

Ready?

• Mama Pea’s No Bake Snowball Cookies – easy, fast and gooey!  I love them, the hubby thought they were too oatmeal.
• Dandelions on the Wall’s – Allergy Free Fudge. (OMG). So good! Made two batches – one I melted some peanut butter and swirled in and the second I added super finely ground espresso beans!  SOOOOOOOOo good!!
• Made a double batch of the Chocolate Love Affair Cookies!
• Oh She Glow’s Egg Nog Biscotti’s – which have become a favourite around here!
• Haven’t’ made these yet, but I may!!  Of course sub the butter for either DF butter or coconut oil! Low Fat Gingerbread Cookies.
• I also made Caramel Chocolate Goodies.  Super easy caramel recipe – I have used it for a few things including – turtles (caramel and chocolate covered pecans) and caramel popcorn with peanuts and peanut clusters!!  Best Caramel Recipe I’ve found!
• Still on the list to make – probably for Christmas dinner - Sinless Sticky Toffee Pecan Pudding!!  Droooooooooooool.    Funny story – before becoming dairy free and when I lived in Calgary, I often went for “dinner” at Earls, and actually only would eat a sticky toffee pudding…  It was warm and drippy and had a caramel lattice on top that was crunchy and sticky – such a great combo!!
• Peanut Butter Cups – of course!!  I had one of my Special Olympics girls say they were the best peanut butter cups EVERRRRRRR!!  hehe  

I baked 2 other kinds of cookies – a gingersnap and a banana snicker doodle -  they were just ok though and I want to only give you the best of the best!!

What are you/did you bake this Christmas?

Nog… Dairy Free Nog…

Hiya loves!

Want to know something interesting?  I’ve never gotten the whole “egg nog” thing!   Like most people, I try it every year and never really understand the excitement.   Until this year.

I have bought tons of soy nog – and I have thrown it away every time.   Then I decided I wanted to make Oh She Glows Egg Nog Biscotti's (which are incredible FYI)… so I bought this.

Sorry to you guys in the US – I don’t think you guys get this?  Anyways I am loving it heated up!! It’s SO good and so festive!!  It’s cheap too – I bought it for $2.99 I believe?

You could always use my recipe from last year…

As mentioned I used it for Oh She Glow’s Egg Nog Biscotti's this is her picture since I banned all my biscotti’s to the freezer for Christmas!  Thank you Angela for the permission to use it!  

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Another great Egg Nog recipe in blog land that looks tasty?  Leanne from Healthy Pursuit  posted this recipe for Egg Nog Smoothie with 1 minute vanilla whip.

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Also on facebook there were a few suggestions as well!!

Zen Zero (my favourite raw/vegan place in the Comox Valley) sells this - 8oz almond milk, 4oz carrot juice, 2 dates and 1/8tsp both nutmeg and cinnamon blended with ice. It is shockingly delicious!!  (Maurissa – once again – must come visit!)

Karen suggested this recipe - Matrioshka Egg Nog

Stephanie from Dairy Free Diva suggested this recipe - More of a to taste thing.... 1 1/2 c Unsweetened almond milk, heavy pinch freshly grated nutmeg, pinch cinnamon, a good squeeze of agave nectar or honey, and a drop of vanilla. Froth with an aerolatte wand  or in a blender and enjoy :)

 

Do you have a favourite dairy free egg nog?  Do tell!!!  (feel free to link drop!)

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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Dairy Free Cookie Recipe Swap

Hey guys!  Stephanie at Dairy Free Omnivore emailed me with this awesome idea to do a Dairy Free Cookie Swap!  Christmas is a fun time get stuff in the mail, especially dairy free recipes!!  Please read below for more details! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a special Dairy Free Christmas event, Stephanie @ Dairy Free Omnivore and I have decided to do a Dairy Free and Vegan Blogger cookie recipe swap! But, we're going to do it a little differently.

We are going to trade recipes, instead of cookies.  Each participant will pick their favourite dairy free/vegan Christmas cookie recipe and mail it in a card to the person they are assigned.  The recipient will make the cookies and post the recipe on their blog, linking back to the sender.

If you want to include the cookies with your recipe you can!  Everyone likes to get goodies, but you don't have to send the cookies too if you don't want to.  

This is to not only share recipes, but to connect us as a Dairy Free community. 

If you are interested, you can email your mailing address to Stephanie at dairyfreeomnivore@gmail.com , or email myself at dairyfreebetty@hotmail.com

If you have other food allergies, such as nuts or gluten, please include that in your email so we can pass that info along:-)

Please send your address to us by Dec. 3rd so we can organize the addresses. 
Please send your recipe to your assigned recipient by Dec. 15th

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Thank you Stephanie for organizing this!! What a great idea!!  This is open to anyone that is dairy free or vegan that has a blog!! 

DYI Body Products

Hey guys!

Been forever, but I’m still alive!!  I hope you are on facebook because even though I don’t do posts, I try to pop in with tips or quick recipes or just to say HI!!

Pintrest has stole my heart once again – I LOVE it, it’s so inspiring!!  I’ve been on the look out for DYI body products and found some good ones I thought I’d try!

I found a few great ones on there but this was my favorite.

Homemade Baby Wipes/Makeup wipes – Ok… confession.  I HATE (yes mom, I said hate) splashing water on my face – I don’t know why?  And that leads to me not liking to wash my face often – which leads to not taking my make up off at night (I know bad bad bad)…  This “recipe” answered my prayers!   It not only takes off make up and is incredibly cheap but it also leaves your face feeling moisturised!   And' it’s easy peasy!

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The rest of them are some of my favourites!

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Body Scrub

#1) My favourite body scrub is sugar or coarse salt or a mixture of the two with equal parts olive oil.  You can add in your favourite essential oils too! I love lemon grass/lavender mixture!   Rub onto your dry skin before turning on the water in the shower, it exfoliates and moisturizes at the same time!

#2) This one is messy, but your skin will be happy afterwards!   After your morning coffee, take the grounds and add a pinch of cinnamon and then scrub away (not good on your face).  You can thank me later!!  

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Bath Salts

1 cup Epsom salts + 1/2 tsp. ginger, + 1/2 tsp. cinnamon + 1/2 tsp. nutmeg = chai bath salts! (delish!)

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DYI face mask.

Honey – yup that’s it!  It’s messy, but your skin will sing afterwards!

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Do you have a favourite natural body treatment?  Please share either here or on facebook! 

Vegan Moroccan Stew

Another recipe from my Our Big Earth days!!  This one is AWESOME!!

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When it comes to fall cooking, I think pumpkin, butternut squash, warm apple pie and steaming sweet potatoes. Smells like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, curry, chilli powder, cumin and ginger fill the air. Just thinking about these ingredients makes me feel warmer and wanting to curl up with a good book and a comfy blanket!

This cozy dinner recipe!  Just like a good book, this is a meal to warm up with.

Moroccan Stew

Serves 4 very hungry people or 6 not so hungry!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 – 2 green peppers – seeded and chopped into 1” chunks
• 3 cups sweet potato – peel left on
• 1 cup onion – chopped
• 1 cup grated carrot*
• 1 can chickpeas/garbanzo beans – drained and rinsed
• 1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic – minced
• 2 tsp. grated ginger*
• 1 tsp. curry powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 tsp. chilli powder
• 3 tsp. peanut butter (optional)
• Raisins (I usually leave this out and serve in a dish, as many people dislike raisins)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Chopped cilantro for garnish. Or if you are a cilantro fan like we are, feel free to add a whole bunch of cilantro, reserving some for a topping.

Directions:

1. Toast spices at the bottom of your soup pot in a little bit of oil, stirring often to prevent burning. This step will add a richer element to the stew. *Optional, if you are making a quick dinner.

2. Add in garlic, green peppers, ginger and onion. Stir to coat with spices. Sauté for 2 minutes.

3. Up next, add your 3 cups vegetable broth, sweet potato, carrots, tomatoes (including juice) and chickpeas.

4. Cook until sweet potato becomes very soft (about 20 minutes)

5. Just before serving add in peanut butter and raisins, mix until it gets creamy!

6. Top with fresh, chopped cilantro.

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Recipe alternatives:

• Could be served over rice, couscous, quinoa or just eaten alone
  
• Can use pita, poppadum's or roti for dipping
  
• To make it more “picky eater friendly”, you could make up the stew, excluding chickpeas (I have to do this at my house), peanut butter, raisins, cilantro. Serve these ingredients in small bowls on the side, so each person can customize their own meal.
  
• For the non-spice lovers – exclude chilli powder and be sure your curry powder is of the mild variety.
  
• Great recipe for freezing

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*I am lazy with the carrots, and I just pop them into the food processor, and it’s done in about 30 seconds, with no grated fingers anywhere!
*Tip regarding ginger. Buy a large knob of ginger, wash thoroughly and toss in freezer. This makes it much easier to grate, and you will always have ginger on hand. No need to peel, especially if it’s organic, the skin has extra nutrients.

Hope you enjoyed!! I like this with a little extra PB and raisins! Must make again soon!

Like it, Love it–Dairy Free Treats Vlog Post

Hey guys,

So I made you a “Vlog” post today!!  I have a cold so don’t mind my snuffly sounding voice!!

I rounded up a bunch of new to me treats that I LOVE, LIKE or am not a fan of!!   Hope you enjoy the video!

Here is the link to the Navitas Naturals website too for more info on the yummy products!

Please let me know what products you are LOVING right now (dairy free of course!)

Mom’s Oat Bran Muffins Revised

First off – DFB is close to hitting a pretty incredible milestone – 750 page views away from 100,000!!!! That is SO crazy – blows my mind and totally humbles me. 

Thank you, thank you!

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Moving on………

Awhile back I posted a recipe for my FAVORITE muffins in the whole wide world!  My mom always made them and they are so tasty, but they weren’t dairy free (and they had shortening in them).  She had made them dairy free a couple of times but now they are off travelling for 6 months, so I had to revise them for myself…

Long story short… this is what I came up with and they are fantastic!

Mom’s OAT BRAN MUFFINS
(with Dairy Free Betty alterations)

300 DEGREES FOR 20 MINUTES
MAKES 45 MEDIUM MUFFINS

2 CUPS BOILING WATER
2 CUPS BRAN
PUT IN A BOWL 1 AND LET SOAK

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5 CUPS FLOUR

5 TSP BAKING SODA
1 TSP SALT
PUT IN BOWL 2 TOGETHER

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3/4 CUP SMASHED BANANA

1/4 CUP OIL (I used grape seed)

2-3 CUPS SUGAR – BROWN & WHITE MIXED
4 EGGS (Vegan Option – 4 TBSP chia with 8 TBSP water)
4 CUPS ALMOND MILK + 4 TBSP VINGEAR
4 CUPS OATS

1 TBSP PUMPKIN PIE SPICE  (I like them spicy)

4 PEELED AND LARGE GRATED CARROTS + 1/4 CUP MULBERRIES (I ran out of dried fruit)

other options - 2 CUPS RAISINS OR ASSORTED OTHER THINGS
IE: SHREDDED CARROT, BANANA, DRIED APRICOT ETC.
Into bowl # 3

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MIXED ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND BAKE

Hope you enjoy!!

They are perfect to toss in the freezer and then pull out for lunches! 

Pumpkin Soup with Balsamic & Rosemary Croutons

Hiya!

Hope you all had a fantastic Halloween!!  I’m sure everyone has had their share of treats!?!  Today I’ll bring you something from the vault.   This is THE BEST pumpkin soup I know of! __________________________________________________________________

It is officially fall, there is no denying it now! The air is crisp, the leaves are turning colors, Christmas commercials are beginning to flooding the airwaves and Starbucks has re-launched their infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can’t get much more fall than that! Fall for me is time for the summer clothes to be packed away, time to send the patio furniture to its winter home, and best of all it’s time to start hunting for the perfect pumpkin at the pumpkin patch!

Pumpkins are so versatile; you can make pumpkin pie, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin brownies pumpkin curries, and best of all pumpkin soup! Not only are they versatile, pumpkins pack a healthy punch too; 1 cup of pumpkin is around 50 calories, 0 fat and 4 gram of fibre and it has over 100% of your vitamin A.

What’s not to love?

This recipe was graciously given to me from my Mom. She has been making it forever, and anyone that has tried it has fallen in love. It is a definite company pleaser and a great appetizer for a turkey dinner feast. At the bottom of this recipe I also give instructions for using fresh pumpkin, which is a great use for all the creepy jack-o-lanterns leftovers, as well as some gluten and allergy friendly garnishes.

Pumpkin Carrot Soup with Balsamic and Rosemary Croutons
Makes about 4 cups

• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 3 medium carrots (grated and chopped)
• 3 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 2 green onions (chopped) + 1 extra for garnish (cut on an angle)
• 1 orange or yellow pepper (seeded and chopped into small pieces)
• 1 teaspoons ginger (grated)
• 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock (The chicken makes the soup more buttery tasting)
• 1 398ml can of pure pumpkin *
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Sauté green onions, garlic, carrots and peppers in olive oil for about 2 minutes. Add in ginger.

2. Place sautéed mixture in blender – add about 1 cup vegetable stock. Blend until smooth. (This may have to be done in bunches, depending on the size of your blender.

3. Place blender mixture back into pot, and add remaining stock.

4. Add can of pureed pumpkin and stir until mixed together

5. Cook on medium for about 10 minutes or until croutons are complete.

6. Serve with croutons and green onion.

A few options:
- To add sweetness to soup add in _ apple before pureeing
- Add curry powder for an ethnic flare
- Use pumpkin pie spice (all spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)
- For a protein boost add rinsed and drained canned chickpeas after pureeing
- To make for a complete meal, serve over quinoa
- To use fresh pumpkin – Wash outside of small pumpkin, remove seeds, cut pumpkin into large chunks. Place pumpkin chunks onto a baking pan and roast at 400 degrees until pumpkin is soft and has caramelized. Let pumpkin cool, and scoop flesh out of skin. Add pumpkin flesh to the blender and puree with chicken or vegetable broth until smooth. Add puree to soup.

Balsamic and Rosemary Croutons

• 1/2 French Baguette – or favourite type of bread
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary.
Preheat over at 350 degrees.
Cut bread up into 1 inch cubes
Drizzle with Olive oil, Balsamic Vinegar and Rosemary*
Stir until all pieces of bread are coated
Put in oven for 10 – 15 minutes, stirring _ way through
Make sure to watch, it will burn quickly
Cook until bread gets crispy

*Alternatives crouton flavours:
- Coconut Oil and curry powder
- Olive oil, cinnamon and sugar (would be fantastic with the apple version of this soup)
- Butter and Garlic

Gluten free garnishes :
- Parsley, chives, dill
- grated cheese
- chopped apple
- cashew cream (soak cashews for 4+ hours and blend with a bit of water or milk of choice until smooth, you can also add fresh herbs or spices for an extra flare)
- crème fresh or sour cream
- toasted pumpkin seeds
- buttered popcorn (yes you heard right, buttered popcorn is awesome on this)