Recently, I stumbled across the idea of Cauliflower “Rice” on a Paleo / Primal Diet blog. Smitten by this idea for incorporating even more veggies into my dinner (and sneaking cauliflower in on my husband, hehe), I went with it. My first attempt was this Cauliflower “Risotto” with Fresh Basil, which amazingly turned out awesome right out of the shoot!

I have since made it a few times with the nod of approval from my usually cauliflower-hating husband. I have also made some basic cauliflower “rice” to serve as the base under stir-fries. It has worked out well, but my husband agreed that the risotto is just better.

Another Bonus: Surprisingly, a large head of cauliflower makes about 3 to 4 healthy servings. When grated, the cauliflower seemed much less overwhelming than eating large florets. To view the recipe, see my full post on One Frugal Foodie.

In the past there were foods that I considered "luxuries," but thanks to online purchasing, I can get many of my loves for a fraction of grocery store prices. This month's mega-deals (as rated by me) seem to revolve around the sweet stuff (tis' the season). I have just recently ordered the honey and maple syrup, and am attempting to hold off my temptations to buy the hot chocolate and candy, but may give in before month end! Okay, onto the deals and discounts ...

Coombs Organic Maple Syrup - Just $26.00 for 64 ounces of the pure stuff, delivered! Combine this month's 35% discount (use coupon code ) with Amazon's already discounted price, throw in the Subscribe & Save for 15% off and super-fast shipping (Subscribe & Save is free, and can be cancelled at anytime without loss of your discount). Head to the Coombs Sale to take advantage of this crazy deal! (Note: Amazon offered this deal last month, but it seems they have extended it through October 31, 2009)

Ambrosia Pure Honey - Just $11.77 for 64 ounces (4 lbs) of Ambrosia's Colorado gold. This raw and unfiltered honey is surprisingly smooth, flavorful, and mild. We fell in love with it immediately. To get this price, use the Subscribe & Save for 15% off and free (priority) shipping. See above notes for the safety and ease of Subscribe & Save.

We're not done yet! Keep reading for the dairy-free (and vegan) hot chocolate and candy dealios ...

This nutritious recipe was delivered to us from Kristin O'Connor at Nourish This. By using a poaching technique rather than pan frying, Kristin infuses flavor into the salmon without the need for any added oils. In addition to the recipe below, she details a few added tips and notes on salmon and this recipe in particular:

"Clean it: Choosing wild salmon instead of farmed reduces your exposure to contamination and pesticides such as PCB’s.

Green it: Eating raw foods reduces the amount of energy needed to cook your food, so keeping at least part of the meal raw is not only good for digestion, but great for the environment!

Make it Fun!: I think this recipe is inherently fun! It’s always more entertaining when you have to interact with your food, I’m convinced that’s why tacos are such a popular family dinner choice. Think of this as a slightly more sophisticated but just as simple version of an old classic!"

Now onto the recipe ...

Sometimes I think October should be dubbed "pumpkin month." It seems everywhere I click that bright orange flesh is calling my name with yet another recipe idea. But, thus far this year, nothing has topped a recipe that I discovered last year for Dairy-Free Pumpkin Bread Pudding. Bread Pudding is something I have only indulged in a few times, but this version offers bold and spicy flavors, and condiments (like caramel) that put it over the top. The recipe is by Hannah Kaminsky, blogger at Bittersweet and author of My Sweet Vegan.

Hannah writes, "For ages, some sort of pumpkin bread pudding had been on my “to bake” list, and finally, I can cross that one off for good. Simple as all get-go, I might argue that it’s even better than that ubiquitous pumpkin bread that everyone and their best friend feels the urge to make around this time of year.  Warm, creamy, and comforting, it’s the perfect dessert to ward off those autumn chills while celebrating the season’s bounty. It’s a snap to customize depending on your preference; consider the spices as a mere suggestion, and a handful or two of nuts, chocolate, or dried fruit never hurt anything." Hungry yet? Here is the recipe ...

Approximately five years ago, when I founded Go Dairy Free, the blogging world had yet to take off. But I quickly discovered one comrad out in the field, Sarah of No Whey, Mama. It was hard not to fall in love with her mom-friendly (aka, quick and easy) and kid-friendly (aka, really yummy) recipes, but beyond the food, she quickly evolved into a very good, dairy-free friend. Sarah has since served as a recipe tester and editor for the book, Go Dairy Free, and is a regular reviewer and editor for this website. But I just realized the other day, I haven't featured any of her wonderful recipes in quite some time.

Well past due for a No Whey, Mama feature, I thought two of her fantastic, oat-based, dessert recipes would surely be well received. Not to mention, warm apple crisp and hearty oatmeal cookies seem quite seasonal, don't you think? Enjoy ...