Nothing beats the smell of freshly baked goodies on a relaxing Sunday morning.  Of course, the morning would not be very relaxing if a great deal of labor was required to make those gifts from the oven, so muffins seem to be the ideal option.  In this post, Veggiegirl shares not one, but three fabulous muffin recipes from her baking collection, each vegan (egg-free, dairy-free) and made with whole grain flours.  But don't worry, the indulgence factor is not sacraficed ...

Earlier in the week, I visited my grandmother and chatted about the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner she would be hosting. Being conscientious, she stated, "I have an apple pie, but I know you eat healthy, so I wanted to get a sugar-free pie for you."  Rather than try to explain a healthy diet, I simply let her know that there is no need to go to that trouble, the apple pie will be excellent.  At the grocery store, while picking up a few items to make my contribution to the family dinner, I spot a woman scanning labels of a regular and a low fat product.  She is obviously not concerned with the ingredients, but rather the fat content as she sweeps the low fat version into her basket ...

So maybe that turkey doesn’t fit your vegan diet.  Perhaps those mashed potatoes are off limits due to a milk allergy or lactose intolerance.  And yes, that stuffing might not look Celiac-friendly.  But no one, and I mean no one, should have to go without dessert on Thanksgiving!  Whether you are on a diet or living with food allergies, there is most likely a pie for you among these selections…

The time has come!  It is finally that time of year for joyous holiday celebrations ... and stressful eating situations for anyone on a special diet.  But have no fear; I have scoured the internet for some of the best holiday tips, Thanksgiving recipes, and menu ideas that I could find.  From dairy-free to vegan to gluten-free to generally food allergy-friendly, you are bound to find something that sparks your appetite ... Enjoy ...

Shelly Butcher, Well Fed on the Town - Vegan baked goods are an odd lot. Without butter and eggs, they are like photocopies of a photocopy of a photo–pale imitations of the original. I do enjoy trying my hand at vegan baked goods, and have managed a pretty decent cornbread. But I’ve wondered about those vegan goodies one sees in Bay Area markets. Are they tasty? Do they come close to their butter- and egg-laden cousins?  Out of curiosity, I bought a sampling of locally produced vegan cookies and taste tested them all. Cookies are rated on a scale of one to five chips.

Hannah Kaminsky, My Sweet Vegan - If there’s anything I like more than good old granola, it’s definitely granola bars. I know, many prepackaged varieties are complete gimmicks and rip-offs, because what could be easier than sticking those dry ingredients together? Plus, the increase in cost can become astronomical when you factor in the extra “labor” and excessive packaging itself… Thankfully, I happened to have plenty of raw materials still on my hands, so I decided to cut out the middleman in this situation and just use what I had on hand to make a cohesive pan of chewy granola bars... View the Recipe