Recently, I had the opportunity to taste test some "superfoods." And though I am not yet on the Goji bandwagon, I have to admit that I am falling quickly in love with a few wonderful superfood companies. First up was Amazing Grass. The smoothie recipe below doesn't need that scoop of Berry Amazing Grass to be delicious, but if given the choice, I would always include it. It adds a wonderful flavor that puts the sweetness over the top and some good greens to boot.

Second up was POM Wonderful. Those attractive hourglass shaped bottles of 100% pomegranate juice offer a sweet-tart punch that I enjoyed as is, but that I positively loved in smoothies. Those who would choose apple juice over cranberry juice should probably look elsewhere, as this isn't a super-sweet beverage. But if you like a little contrast, it is definitely worth a try. I keep meaning to try it in recipes, there are so many sweet and savory concoctions swirling around in my head, but, I just can't seem to stop making these smoothies ...

Preparing your own alternatives for dips and cheeses may sound like a complicated process, but this couldn't be further from the truth. This smoky, spicy, and creamy "cheese" can be whipped up in mere minutes, and be ready for you to enjoy as a dip with vegetables, tossed with spiralized zucchini noodles, or with macaroni (brown rice versions to keep it gluten-free!) for a semi-traditional comfort food.

The recipe was shared with us by Navitas Naturals, an excellent retailer for organic and raw "superfoods." Regarding the health benefits, they state, "This cruelty-free [recipe] uses cashews full of minerals to keep our skin radiant ... Cashew nuts are a satisfying and nutritious snack, and offer a rich portfolio of beneficial oils -- including an ideal ratio of healthy saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. Navitas Naturals Cashews are also a good source of plant-based protein, iron, and other trace minerals." Now that you know how good this recipe is for you, it's time to whip up a batch, so here is the recipe ...

Technically, this recipe should be called "Raspberry-Ginger Pudding Parfait with a Dark Chocolate Crunh and Silky Dairy-Free Coconut Whipped Crème," But we couldn't fit that whole thing in the title bar. Who would dream up such a fantastic trio of dairy-free and vegan recipes that could be enjoyed individually or altogether in this harmonious parfait? Why, Hannah Kaminsky of Bittersweet and author of My Sweet Vegan of course!

She elaborates on this creative and creamy dessert, "Chilled and refreshing, pureed raspberries cooked with a touch of agave conceal a handful of diced crystallized ginger at the very bottom, making for a spicy surprise. Crunchy, chocolate-coated rice cereal is sprinkled on top, lending a crispy contrast to the previous smooth layer. Finally, my standard coconut whipped cream tops things off, and a few shreds of lightly toasted, fancy flaked coconut crown the whole piece. In short, it’s delicious, easy to eat and enjoy, but complicated to explain."

As I looked around for ideas to use up some organic apples that I found in the discount bin (still nice and firm, but begging to be turned into a baked goodie!), I came across oodles of recipes for one of our favorite desserts, Apple Crisp.

Feeling that it needed something extra, I drizzled the Crumbly Apple Crisp with a modest amount of pure maple syrup before popping it in the oven. The result was incredible! My family devoured the crisp in one evening, but if we had come up for air from our dessert plates for just a moment, we may have thought to heighten the experience even more with a scoop of vanilla dairy-free ice cream. Either way, this dessert won't last long, and when made as is, it is vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free!

Sarena of The Non-Dairy Queen took the Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks for a test run, and it resulted in some delicious and power-packed cookies:

"When I first started baking dairy free I had no idea where to start. I was really quite clueless about vegan products and how useful they would be in my baking now. I asked a fellow blogger about dairy free butter substitutes and she recommended Earth Balance. I have been a loyal user of Earth Balance ever since. It is the perfect safe alternative for all of my dairy free baked goods that need butter for their structure. Back when I first started using it, I could only get the tub. This was a little difficult for measuring, but worth the trouble at the time. Now I can get the sticks and I love how easy it is to measure! It is especially useful in my oatmeal cookies! ...

What could be more frugal than an in-season (and consequently on sale) fruit-based recipe? And what could be more refreshing on an Independence Day weekend (or any old hot summer day for that matter) than a cool smoothie? This dairy-free and vegan Strawberry-Watermelon Soul Smoothie combines the best of both worlds, using sweet ripe watermelon and strawberries to create a quick, easy, and slushy beverage that will settle you into that hammock with a smile, and send the kids off running through sprinklers with a burst of energy from the natural sugars. This recipe will surely become a 4th of July favorite. It is heavily inspired by the cookbook, Vegan Soul Kitchen by Bryant Terry. He truly is a master of simplicity and flavor.