Hannah Kaminsky, My Sweet Vegan ~ Having been on the culinary scene in one form or another for over 4,500 years, yogurt is a staple in many diets, and for good reason.  All you have to do is watch TV for five minutes before being bombarded by the recent ads touting yogurt’s healthful bacteria and restorative properties.  The non-dairy version has been around for barely a fraction of the time as the original, but like a newborn modeling their older sibling, it has progressed rapidly to a more mature and delicious form.  The latest mutation of this vegan delight is made by Turtle Mountain, previously known solely for their decadent frozen desserts.  Coming from such a sumptuous background, I naturally assumed that these newest offerings would share that level of luxury, a step above the standard cultured soy- And even with such high expectations, I wasn’t disappointed ...

Alisa Fleming - www.GoDairyFree.org ~ The Mambolicious Recipe Cook-Off is official, but the deadline for submission is just over a month away (June 6, 2008).  To enter, simply submit an original recipe using one of the products from their sponsors listed below and you could be rewarded with a year’s supply of products or other great prizes.  Finalist recipes will be featured on the Mambo Sprouts website where visitors to the site will help in judging the winning recipes.  You may enter in more than one category. However, each entry must be a different recipe and must be original. Three of the feature categories (which are suitable for dairy-free and other special diets) are:

Alisa Fleming, www.GoDairyFree.org ~ With so many recipes available, it can be hard to decide what is really worth making.  To eliminate the guesswork, Vegan.com selected the ten best titles from among the hundreds of vegan cookbooks on the market.  From there, they asked the authors of these gems to share their favorite recipe.  The results were seven savory and three dessert recipes guaranteed to knock your socks off.  Each of the following recipes is dairy-free, egg-free, meat-free, honey-free, and ... delicious:

Alisa Fleming, www.GoDairyFree.org ~ From now until Mother’s Day, Divvies will automatically include a complimentary box of Divvies Dozen Cookies with every order ... you don’t even need to ask for them.  Divvies will surprise you with a flavor from their line of cookies, which includes Chocolate Chip, Molasses Ginger, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal Raisin.  In addition to the cookies (a $10.00 value), mom may enjoy Divvies’ gourmet popcorn, cupcakes, or assorted candy ... all peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, and egg-free (consequently vegan), and “Made to Share.”  Visit the Divvies website to order.

Alisa Fleming - www.GoDairyFree.org ~ Close your eyes, and imagine the ability to vacation in a beautiful seaside resort town dedicated to catering to allergies.  You awake to the warm scent of freshly baked gluten-free bread from the shop next to your hotel, where your room is prepared for sensitivities, down to the mite-free mattress.  You start your day with a stroll along a street free of pollen-rich trees, stop in to get your hair done at a salon offering allergy sensitive products, and finish off the relaxing afternoon with a generous scoop of milk-free ice cream.  You can open your eyes now; this town really does exist …

Alisa Fleming - www.GoDairyFree.org ~ On Tuesday, April 29, Ben & Jerry's will celebrate their 30th birthday with their annual free cone day! Trying not to leave anyone out, Ben & Jerry's offers five sorbet flavors which are made without dairy ingredients: Berry Berry Extraordinary™, Jamaican Me Crazy, Lemonade Stand - Lemon Sorbet, Mango Mango (New - Mango sorbet with a hint of lime), and trawberry Kiwi.  The free cones will be scooped out between noon and 8pm at participating scoop shops. 

Orlando, California - Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, invites animal enthusiasts to its May 3 Country Hoe Down at the California Shelter. One of the non-profit’s largest and most anticipated annual events, the Hoe Down boasts hayrides, meet and greet time with hundreds of rescued farm animals, inspiring presentations, down-home vegan cooking, a boot-stompin’ barn dance (led by celebrated Chico band, the Pub Scouts) and, of course, plenty of breathtaking scenery and fresh country air.

Alisa Fleming - www.GoDairyFree.org ~ Last week, two Dunkin Donuts stores in the Washington D.C. area (addresses below) began serving soymilk as an option for those who don’t consume dairy.  While the donuts may still be off limits, all containing milk in some form, vegans and milk-free dieters in the D.C. area can now enjoy the inexpensive convenience of bagels and a “creamy” coffee beverage of their choice at this institution of donuts.  Though this may seem small scale, the friendly people at Compassion Over Killing (COK) and SuperVegan have confirmed that Dunkin Donuts is listening to consumer requests …