This is one of those things that has always puzzled me... So, I was at the grocery store this weekend, stocking up on my weekly provisions, which almost always includes milk alternative.  This week I thought perhaps I would treat us to some regular Almond Milk rather than the unsweeteened (I know, REALLY adventurous).  However, I noticed something interesting about the price.  The varieties that were sweetened, cost less than the ones that were unsweetened, regular price!  This is not a new phenomenon by any means.  I have seen these strange price markings elsewhere.  Yet, the only difference between the two is that one has additional sweetener.  Add sugar, pay less.  And we wonder why the American diet is suffering! 

I think this must have been dairy week.  As I navigated through many of my favorite foodie blogs, it seemed as though all those not specifically targeted at dairy-free, vegan, or food allergies, had dairy loaded recipes.  Beyond my personal diet, milk and cream just doesn't say "lite and refreshing summer fare."  But hey, who am I to judge.  Luckily, I did find a few great posts that seemed a bit more summer-relevant, and I uncovered a few blogs that I will have to add to my personal blogroll:

Once again on my Asian food kick, these Cold Soba Noodles with dipping sauce from Just Hungry seem like a perfect summertime dish...

A good story and a recipe 'how to' accompanies this Grilled Tomato Salsa (yes I said grilled, vegetables should have a place on every barbecue) from Orangette...

Finally, Gluten-Free Girl posted 'Summer Beckons."  It is her simple story about summer and cherries that reads almost like a short poem, and made me want to run to the store for some cherries!

In looking for dairy-free inspiration, I come across so many wonder wonderful recipes and ideas.  Therefore, each week, I plan to take a little slice of my favorites to share.  This week seems to have a a vegan slant, with Banana Split Cupcakes, Eight Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy, and some Green Tea "Ice Cream."

VeganYumYum is right....check out these Banana Split Cupcakes with a recipe to boot!

Cybele Pascale is well known for her best-selling title, The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook.  But even with this great title under belt, she can't seem to stop creating.  She tackled 8 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy, with several great recipes, such as the Monte's Mango Madness and Tomato Basil Hummus pictured below...

This one comes from one of the writers for Go Dairy Free, Hannah Kaminsky.  She keeps the Bittersweet Blog busy with her many crafting projects, recipes, and of course, product reviews.  Last week she featured It's Soy Delicious Green Tea and Coffee "ice creams."  The pictures alone made me want to run to the store...

I love baking from scratch.  There is something so fun and rewarding about transforming ordinary ingredients into a delicious dessert.  But lets face it; sometimes we have a sweet tooth with no time or energy to play Rachael Ray.  In our household, the cravings come most often from my husband.  Sudden bursts of “I need dessert!” usually have me scrambling to appease the cookie monster.  This usually requires at least a half hour break from whatever I am currently doing, but the other day, I opened the cupboard to a friendly site, cookie mixes.

Admittedly, I have only trialed a cookie mix once or twice in the past, but the cute labels screaming “Speedy-Bake” were just too enticing to pass up.  The mixes came from Gluten-Free Essentials.  Yes, they were even “free-from” cookies.  Yet, as luck would have it, they were deliciously soft without a single note of gluten-free oddity.  I played ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ with my husband on their gluten-free nature, and he was none the wiser.  In fact, I baked up the entire batch (12 cookies) of chocolate chip cookies, and all but three were gone by day’s end.  The other three were eaten for breakfast of course. 

Just a few days past before the dessert demands returned, and I quickly went back for the second mix, Double Chocolate.  We had a repeat performance, consuming nine between the two of us, and my husband enjoying a cookie breakfast the next morning.  Alas, the cookie mixes are now gone, and I have become spoiled by the ease of pour, stir, and bake.  I am certain that I will once again enjoy that “from scratch” feeling, but I won’t be so quick to snub my nose at dessert mixes in the future.

Interestingly enough, the Speedy Bake line was created for kids.  They require just an egg (or egg replacer) and ½ stick of margarine (I used Earth Balance Buttery Sticks) to bake.  And, get this, each package has instructions for how to bake the goodies in one of those toy “easy bake” ovens.  Very cute.  Still, in our childless household, they went over very well.  Not to mention, the slightly smaller bag meant the perfect amount of cookies for two (had we actually saved a few more for the next day) … no freezing required!

Somehow last week Peanut Butter and Jelly came onto my radar numerous times.  A meal which I had taken advantage of so much in the past, and seemingly outgrown, has returned in full force to prove its current value.  It started innocently enough when Janelle at Brown Bag Blues sent an email requesting our favorite PB&J style sandwich.  Having given up the jelly and the whole closed sandwich a while back, my contribution was in fact open-faced (a.k.a. toast) with almond butter, cinnamon, and perhaps some honey.  Obviously a slice of bread could slide on top to complete the sandwich image, but it was still apparent that I had not yet grasped the full value of this meal.

 My eyes were opened a bit to its true potential by one reader's response of a Thai style PB sandwich.  Intriguing.

My next PB & J encounter happened the next day, as I was trialing some bread from Kinnikinnick.  The flavor was good, but the plain bread screamed for that sweet fruity taste that only jam could offer.  As it was lunch time, I decided to give in to Janelle's coaxing and make the first PB&J I had tasted in years.  I must admit, it was excellent, and somehow comforting.